Author Topic: Hit & Run (Read 4471 times)

Traktor · « **on:** September 28, 2006, 07:47:57 pm »

Got rear-ended yesterday in traffic. The wanker who hit me said he was pulling into the gas station to exchange info but took off. I had a couple good people give me his plate #'s and agreed to be witnesses so I imagine the cops have him by now anyway. The officer I gave my statement to said he was known to them and that was probably why he fled.

Unfortunately I had just made the decision to repair my beater and spent over $750 in the past two weeks on parts. Now I think the body damage is going to be enough to write off the little beast. I was able to drive it home and have yet to take it in for an estimate.

I have never had this happen before and I have a few questions I hope you can answer:
- should I strip what I want to keep now?
- can I use the receipts for recent work for additional value?
- how long before I get any money out of this?
- anything else I should know?

And I need a replacement. At least we weren't hurt.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2006, 08:27:50 pm »

I have no helpful information unfortunatly but I'm glad to hear that you weren't hurt

LeeG · « **Reply #2 on:** September 28, 2006, 10:22:32 pm »

I wouldn't strip it, yet.
I would get together a file of all the reciepts you have ever had for it. If you have done work on it yourself, call around a get estimates what the labor is worth. Make a list of everything that makes you car worth more than the average. Search around to get some comparable add prices from ebay, buyandsell, autotrader etc. Factor in what the PITA value of finding a replacement is worth (if you spent 3 months looking for this one, tell them that). Expect them to start with a lowball '86 Golf are only worth $500' offer. Also expect them to want you to pay the deductable, which you should not have to do with witnesses to the hit and run.

Be pleasant but stand your ground. Don't threaten to sue the insurance company, they get that all the time. Ask instead what it will take to get a resolution so that both you and the adjuster can put this behind you (they want it off their case load and you can always threaten later).

Don't sign over the car to them until you have a settlement. Don't strip it after they have appraised it without their permission, they will be pissed and may charge you with fraud.

If they say its going to be fixable, dont let on that you will take the cash equivalent of the damage until after they have told you what the repair bill is.

Glad your OK, lets hope the wanker is spending the night entertaining big ugly thugs down at the lockup.

jtanguay · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2006, 06:02:10 pm »

when i got into an accident, the insurance company let me keep the car for $100. Too bad i was too busy working to actually tow the car where I wanted (nice 1.6TD engine in it... with amazing transmission... yea i know.. im stupid for that)

and I told the appraisor that the car's motor had just been rebuilt (new rings, machined crankshaft.. bearings.. etc) new struts, wheel bearings... the guy appraised a 1986 1.6TD (mech head) for $2260. The car also had around 290'000KM on it

macsdub · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2006, 08:01:49 pm »

bump
did the cops find the guy yet?

TomB · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2006, 01:42:48 pm »

The only advice I would give following a situation in which I had a scrap with my insurance co. over my Corrado that got written off, would be to stick to your guns with the insurance!
The onus is on them to provide you with a direct replacement for the car that you have lost. If they make you an offer which doesn't meet those criteria, then hold out until they do, or get them to find you one.
Hold off in the stripping for now though.
Good luck with it,
Tom

Traktor · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2006, 06:44:38 pm »

Quote from: macsdub

bump
did the cops find the guy yet?

No.

Almost bought a 1990 gti yesterday. Think I'm going through withdrawal.