How to get the most from an insurance claim without totaling my Mark?

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dosMarkos8to's

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I suffered a collision on the rt.rear quarter above the wheel ystday on my '95 Mark. Initial estimates range between $2.6-3.6k depending on whether the quarter is replaced. I have receipts for about $3.5-4k of recent work done(ie complete susp rebuild etc.).one body shop looked up the cars value on NADA at $3,150. Apparently NADA is what most adjusters use to determine value for totaling the car. The car is in EXCELLENT condition, 156k, one owner before me {Dad), extreme family sentimental value. Does anyone have any feedback on how to get the most from the ins.co(the perpetrators), if possible w/o totaling as I want to maintain ins. and not have the car show up as a total, which is laughable.....to me anyway,unfortunately I am not the adjuster. All help is appreciated.
Thanks. Texas Marked Man
 
Unfortunately it is up to the adjuster and with the age and miles it will likely be totalled.
 
Have the insurance pay out the maximum amount without totaling it and pay the rest out of pocket if the car means that much to you. Hunt for as many cheap parts as you can and provide reciets for them if necessary so that way all the body shop has to do is body and paint work and reassembly.
 
if the car has sentimental value and you are keeping the car, what difference does that make?
 
marked8 said:
Unfortunately it is up to the adjuster and with the age and miles it will likely be totalled.
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I am an adjuster for a major insurance company, unfortunatly you do not have a choice. It is the adjusters decision weather to total a car or not. We(my) insurance company does not use kbb or nada, we use.an outside third party calledd ccc. Once value is determined cost or repais plus unknown damage plus where its being repaired are considered. I have been in situations where I "saved" the.car for the owner and it always bit me in the ass. If the car is being repaired at a shop that breaks balls and asks for everything and amything I will total the car, even if its repairable. The reason why is cedtain shops will supplement us to death, and they pushed it to the point where its a legitimate total but we payed out to much to total it when its almost complete. If you have any other questions just ask. Depending on if your an insd or clmt and what insurance company you can get more money.
 
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I am the claimant against Farm Bureau. My shop of choice says RR the quarter feeling the metaa is too stretched. Another shop says he can repair w/o new QP. Difference is $3600 or $2600. For me, finances are presently an issue which is why I am asking for feedback on how to get the most possible from a settlement.

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TEXAS MARKED MAN said:
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I am the claimant against Farm Bureau. My shop of choice says RR the quarter feeling the metaa is too stretched. Another shop says he can repair w/o new QP. Difference is $3600 or $2600. For me, finances are presently an issue which is why I am asking for feedback on how to get the most possible from a settlement.
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It looks like a borderline repair, although it is stretched and kinked its probably a 12-15 hour repair plus the blends on the door and the trunklid us all the r and I"s. The problem is you cant see if tjere is damage to the inner/oiter wheelhouse, and if there is can it be properly repaired without replacing the qp to gain access to repair it. You would be better served to have it totaled and retain the car, you will lose salvage value but you can still argue the value, give them receipts for repairs done in the pasr 12 months, that will get pro rated on the value. Then you can attempt to recover diminshed value(you can recover.that as a clmt not an insd)
 
Great feedback....much appreciation. Will the salvage value go up for them because the car is in great shape? I was going to do a good cleanup before the adjuster sees it hoping to show the car is well cared for, but could that work against me if it comes to establishing salvage value? Can DV be claimed without selling the car and does DV get filed against the insd or against my ins co.?
Don't want to come off as being too anal about this....just really love the ride and want all it deserves.
Thanks TMM
 
depends on what you want...if you want a new paint job just key the **** out of that bitch....then call the cops and file a report....make sure you have full coverage on it.
 
When mine was totaled they took everything into consideration even the tires.
So being in great shape got me more money and cost me more to buy back.
 
PARK IT until you can afford the RIGHT way to have it repaired. That 1/4 panel will look like a washboard after they're done with it from the amount of body filler they are going to need..they can only straighten the metal so much..and the rest will be filler. Gauranteed you will be kicking yourself down the line for not holding out to have it done right.
 
I'm dealing with the exact same problem, my other car was hit last week but someone who didn't stop before making a right on red.

My insurance company is willing to repair it with a $2600 check. She said that it was going to be a total but because it's so nice and kept up that they would work with me. I plan to deal with the other peoples insurance directly but they conveniently can't even look at it for another 10 days from now :( So I guess I wait.

I'm going to get a hold of all of the chrome and clips on my own. I really don't want to get screwed.

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I would say get every bit you can from them and then pay the difference out of pocket if you can. Having it done right seems like the way to go.
 
TEXAS MARKED MAN said:
Great feedback....much appreciation. Will the salvage value go up for them because the car is in great shape? I was going to do a good cleanup before the adjuster sees it hoping to show the car is well cared for, but could that work against me if it comes to establishing salvage value? Can DV be claimed without selling the car and does DV get filed against the insd or against my ins co.?
Don't want to come off as being too anal about this....just really love the ride and want all it deserves.
Thanks TMM
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Yes I would make the car look as good as possible, the onsurance company I work for I/we rate the car in mechanical, paint, body, glass, dashboard, headloner, carpets and tires. Average condition does not add value but if it is above average it will add value to the car. again my company deducts salvage based on year and acv. A 93-98 american car has a salvage value of 300, as long as the acv does not exceed 6k. I would make the car look nice, if they decide to total it, retain it, and do not accept there offer until you find at least 3 comps to yours( same year, make,model, mileage needs to be close, and generally within 200 miles of your garaged zip code) and thats how you negotiate for more money, by demonstrating that these cars sell for more then what is offered to you. Dv would be claimed through the other persons insurance. The next question you need to ask your insurance company is if your car is declared a total can you still keep full coverage on it(assuming you have full), that goes state by state.
 
that car is going to be totaled by the insurance.....my suggestion is to take it to a paint shop and have em fix it....all you need fixed is the rear panel...they can cut that section out and solder a rear panel from another 8.....but finding another 8 would be the fun part.
 
Went in to see the adjuster today, my car hadn't looked so good in a while. Took receipt's and comps,
ready to lay my case out. The guy came out, took pictures, didn't do an estimate asked if I had gotten an estimate, yep, he says "between $2,5-3,500?" yep and I give him my high est. which was $3.680. He looks at it, makes sure nothing was left out, says 'You're right in there, clean car, not gonna haggle with you, I'll get the check out to you tomorrow". Didn't even have to sign anything!

All the angst for nuth'in. A great day. Farm Bureau did me right. He had 1 comp for $12k on a '95 with 34k on it! Go figure.

Any one have a 93-96 DS quarter panel?
Thanks for all the input guys.
TMM
 
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