Merely a flesh wound?

[XanRules]

Yeah, that looks totaled.

[GoldDust]

Originally Posted by JS + BRZ

I sure wouldn't be satisfied even if it gets repaired.

Even a minor bumper to bumper accident will make me fucking sad, if it happens to my fairly brand new car.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way I worked hard to get this car, worked hard to keep it in pristine condition, and would rather not drive it after it was busted to smithereens after all that effort.

[thill]

Originally Posted by GoldDust

Oh, the guy didn't get away. His axel bearing broke so he was stranded in the middle of the freeway. He was cited and the officer listed him as at fault.

That is great news!

That definitely gives you some more ammo.

[GoldDust]

Originally Posted by Kimsey47

Where in TN are you located? I'm assuming central to west as I can't see any "Smokies" in what pics you have.

Glad to hear you're OK!

Southeast, actually. Right in the TN Valley.

[GoldDust]

Originally Posted by codesplice

'Tis but a scratch!

Seriously though glad you're ok - it looks like the car did a great job of keeping you safe.

Here's to a speedy recovery/replacement.

Thank you

[JS + BRZ]

I hope you get to total that and get a brand new one!

[extrashaky]

I think Tennessee is a 75% state. If the cost to repair the car adds up to more than 75% of the market value of the vehicle, the adjuster is supposed to total it and pay you the market value plus tax, tag and title. That gives you a starting point to know what to expect. You can look up values online, but your body shop should also be able to tell you what it's worth because they'll be working from the same books the adjusters use.

If you have a cheap or old car, the adjuster will usually just try to total it because the insurance company can turn around and sell it for scrap and come out better on the back end than if they pay to have it repaired.

However, for a newer car, they'll likely try to keep from totaling it out by lowballing you on the estimate. Don't trust their estimate. Get one from a body shop you trust. Get more than one if you don't like the first one. Estimates are usually free and don't take very long.

One tactic the adjusters use is to sell you on "supplemental payments." They tell you that the lowball estimate they give you is just a starting point, and that they'll pay you more if you get into the repairs and find out something needs to be done that wasn't included in the original estimate. The problem with that is that if they originally quote you below the 75% threshold, and the supplemental payments take it above the 75% threshold, they can total the car out after the repairs have already been started. Then it becomes a question of whether you get the full amount for the car and who pays the body shop for the work already done. They do this so that you'll take the repair payment, get into the work and then not file for the supplemental payments for fear of having the car totaled and taken away from you.

If you want the car totaled and the insurance company won't budge, I would suggest that you get a personal injury lawyer to take your case on contingency. If you want to handle it yourself, you usually have some time before the statute of limitations runs out on filing a suit against the insurance company. In my state it's a year, but I don't know what the statute of limitations is in Tennessee. In my last accident I had a lawyer on standby, ready to file if the adjuster tried to screw me, and I think just knowing that made the adjuster a little easier to deal with.

Also, if you have any aches and pains at all, go to the emergency room or a doc-in-the-box and get checked out, then file a personal injury claim. You may think you're okay, but you should make sure, and the insurance company should pay for you to make sure. Not only should you be compensated for aches and pain, but having a personal injury claim in the mix can help get what you want on the damage claim side.

Remember, the adjuster is out to screw you, but it's not personal. They are paid to reduce the cost to their company as much as possible. Just keep it professional.

[GoldDust]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Also, if you have any aches and pains at all, go to the emergency room or a doc-in-the-box and get checked out, then file a personal injury claim. You may think you're okay, but you should make sure, and the insurance company should pay for you to make sure. Not only should you be compensated for aches and pain, but having a personal injury claim in the mix can help get what you want on the damage claim side.

I actually went to the ER last night to get checked out and had x-rays taken that show I have neck strain. I haven't filed anything for that yet, however.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by GoldDust

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way I worked hard to get this car, worked hard to keep it in pristine condition, and would rather not drive it after it was busted to smithereens after all that effort.

Then if you've put so much work into it just to toss it IF it's fully repairable (this is assuming there's no significant frame damage). Body shops can do some amazing work in returning the car to pristine condition.

If this was a garage or driveway queen, that'd be one thing. But a driven car is going to get banged up. This one got WAY more than normal, but if the body shop can return her to "can't even tell by looking or driving that she was in a major accident" and insurance is covering it, then why try and get a replacement. Instead it becomes a "beauty mark" you can't even see, and a testament to good workmanship.

Don't throw all those hours of you maintaining her away just b/c she got seriously banged up.

Now, if there's frame damage, then yes, I hope you can get her replaced. That's another story entirely. She won't drive quite right afterwards most likely if that's the case, even if they bend the frame back.

[GoldDust]

We shall see how it goes. I may just be biased from the number of people I know that have had problems with the repairs that were done to their car, but I am sure there are body shops that can do a great job.

[Mr.]

did it happen in slow motion >?

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by GoldDust

We shall see how it goes. I may just be biased from the number of people I know that have had problems with the repairs that were done to their car, but I am sure there are body shops that can do a great job.

I found my body shop by asking the local FT86ers who they'd recommend, when I got rear-ended a week into owning my BRZ (my car was still very driveable, though... only the rear bumper, backuplights, and stock axleback needed replacing, in addition to the rear safety bar, etc... no frame damage as it never reached there). The work done was absolutely pristine and you couldn't tell she'd been hit. Then again, the parts hit were replaced.

But I'd try asking around and see what shops local 'vette owners would entrust their babies to for automotive damage repair.

[BRZfan]

Totaled, like, totally.

[GoldDust]

Originally Posted by Mr.

did it happen in slow motion >?

Slow motion compared to other things I've done with this car