Im still haunted by Buck Jones!

SVX92-97 · #1 07-08-2008, 08:03 AM

Well, I have some terrible and depressing news. Our totalled 96 Lsi is only worth $2,100 according to the persons Insurance company (Infinity) that hit my wife. You saw the pictures, the car is toast. It just figures that we have an accident with a previously salavged car. The claims adjuster called me and obviously ran a carfax and saw that the car was previously salvaged, Thanks Buck Jones, and Im guessing their offer is 50% less because it was previously salvaged. So thats the sad story, give them the car for $2,100 or keep the car for $1,646. What a damn shame. I have almost $10k invested in this car, not to mention all the mental anguish I went thru just to get the Title and dealing with Buck Jones and his cohorts. My wife was very distraught over losing her red svx and possibly something happening with her pregnancy, and now she hears this news. Obviously I will NOT give the ins. comp. the car, so they can go sell it at an auction somewhere. I will either part it out, which would make me the most money, but dont really have the space to keep it laying around, or try and sell it whole as is. Everything was done to the car in the last year, complete engine reseal, tires, brakes, struts, you name it. Just spent $1100 a month ago at Tom K's house. Only put 18k highway miles on it since last July and now its gone.

We have already hired an attorney and will sue both the person who rammed my wife from behind and the person making an illegal U-turn in front of us who my wife was pushed into. Its a sad, sad day.

SilverSpear · #2 07-08-2008, 08:11 AM

Sorry again to hear about this

... but... and this is my opinion... since your wife is pregnant, you shouldn't have told her the truth until everything is sorted out. Well you should have done your best to keep her away from all of this...

Good luck with the lawsuit tho

ensteele · #3 07-08-2008, 08:12 AM

I am so sorry to hear this. It is not right that an insurance company can give you that amount instead of replacing the car. That is what you want right now, your car back. Maybe through the court system there will be some justice. It really get me and I am sure others, that we pay the money that we do for insurance and what good does it do us when there is an accident. It seems that it is an institution that just takes money and when it costs them too much, the trim the losses.

I hope things get better for you. Good luck and hang in there.

SVX92-97 · #4 07-08-2008, 08:24 AM

Silverspear, my wife and I dont keep things from each other. Believe me, its so much easier when you tell the Truth, not to mention its also good for your health.

SubaruSVXCrazy · #5 07-08-2008, 08:49 AM

That thing's worth so much more. SCAMS! Man, have a heart your in a jam.

I really hope the lawsuit works out in your favor.

mikecg · #6 07-08-2008, 10:40 AM

If you have receipts for the $10K worth of stuff you did to the car, you should be able to argue the price up some. That is what I was told by an issurance adjuster when I totaled my Mustang.

joe62890 · #7 07-08-2008, 10:59 AM

Wow, that made me really, really sad. I hope to high hell that you get everything and more for that car from the insurance company.

deuce · #8 07-08-2008, 12:15 PM

Before settling with Infinity Insurance have your insurance company give you a quote for the vehicle. I did this in December & my insurance gave my double what they other guys insurance was offering. It wasn't an SVX but a salvaged '98 Chevy Blazer with very low miles. My insurance wrote me a check minus my deductible (which I got back this past month) & then filed the claim with his insurance.

SVX92-97 · #9 07-08-2008, 12:57 PM

I did NOT have collision on the car, so my insurance Allstate wont give me a dime. My only hope is the lawsuit and parting the car out piece by piece.

Zandar · #10 07-08-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuce

Before settling with Infinity Insurance have your insurance company give you a quote for the vehicle. I did this in December & my insurance gave my double what they other guys insurance was offering. It wasn't an SVX but a salvaged '98 Chevy Blazer with very low miles. My insurance wrote me a check minus my deductible (which I got back this past month) & then filed the claim with his insurance.

I'm guessing that, as he is settling with the adverse carrier, he doesn't have collision coverage.

You can try to argue the price up some if you have receipts for the work put in, but it doesn't always equate dollar for dollar in the real world value of the vehicle (kind of like investing $40k in your kitchen won't increase your house's value $40k). Still, they should give you something more for it. The salvage title is what will kill you, though; but it never hurts to fight for more.

Small claims court is also not a bad option, but don't expect to get anything from the guy in front, illegal U-turn or not. It's worth a shot at the guy in the rear; here's hoping you get a sympathetic judge!

The long and the short of it: don't take the first offer at face value. Ask to see the comps they used. Argue why yours is worth more than the vehicles selected. Provide proof (find your own comps, receipts, etc.). Infinity is a crappy company who will try to lowball you, so push back and see what you can get. Good luck!

biggrizz · #11 07-09-2008, 08:39 PM

hey there...

I just went through this with my insurance carrier. I work in Windsor, CO and we got hit by a big tornado in May, totalled almost every car in the parking lot, including mine. After they totalled my truck I picked up an SVX and that is what brought me to this site. I used to be a claims adjuster for a large insurance company so I have some knowledge of the process.

Most carriers use a 3rd party source to run vehicle numbers. The company I use, gets their reports generated by ADP Autosource. This shows was similiar vehicles to yours (make, model, miles, options) have been selling for historically in your market area. Since these are rare cars and yours was in great shape, I would not settle for the $2100.00. I would show them receipts and then I would do an exhaustive internet search for a similiar vehicle. There's some out there. Sold vehicles are better prospects to show then for sale vehicles...Print and show them the comps you found.

At this point, ask them to meet you at the dealership and to bring the checkbook.

The point to argue is that you have damages because of their tortfeaser that they accept premiums from and that the promise that they sold to thier customer is to cover damages that the client is legally liable for. Advise them that at $2100, you still have damages. Advise them that you will take the at fault party to court, this means that they will have to defend him.

You might want to talk to the other party and let them know this, and that Trinity is handling the case in bad faith. (Bad Faith Lawsuits scare the crap out of insurance companies...FYI)

You might also file a complaint with your insurance commissioner and see what kind of response you get. Trinity is a high risk insurance company....so they charge crazy premiums....trust me, they have the money to pay what they owe you.

Is it worth a couple hours on the phone, IMO yes.

Good Luck
I digress.

Subie59 · #12 07-09-2008, 09:46 PM

The above response was worth the price of admission. I will keep this in case I ever get caught in the position.... Well done...

ensteele · #13 07-09-2008, 10:33 PM

This story led me to talk to my insurance agent today. I ask what would happen if I totaled one of my SVXi. They said that they would compare the car with others of the same mileage, condition, year, etc. I asked about a couple of them about the possible settlement. I asked if $2100 would be realistic and they said not. They know my cars better than that and said that it should be much closer to what I should expect the price to be. I explained why I asked and they said that it was a much lower value than should have been offered.

pearlm30 · #14 07-09-2008, 10:42 PM

I had similar problem with my Audi A6 as well. Its a major pain to deal with insurance company( in my case, Ceico ). It took almost 7 months for me to bring their offer up but still not what the car actually worth

.
Good luck

Zandar · #15 07-10-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensteele

This story led me to talk to my insurance agent today. I ask what would happen if I totaled one of my SVXi. They said that they would compare the car with others of the same mileage, condition, year, etc. I asked about a couple of them about the possible settlement. I asked if $2100 would be realistic and they said not. They know my cars better than that and said that it should be much closer to what I should expect the price to be. I explained why I asked and they said that it was a much lower value than should have been offered.

I would take whatever an agent says with a grain of salt. Agents are generally nothing more than glorified salespeople, and they usually don't know how the claims process works (unless you have one of the dying breed of agents who actually will be processing your claim; rare, but still out there).