bug vs. hummer - MUST SEE
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green65bug
- Posts: 980
- Joined: Sun May 25, 2003 10:51 pm
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Oh, man after being hurt if it was phisicaly posible I would has beat the piss out of that punk, and this is comeing from a small guy!
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VWGirl
- Posts: 895
- Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2002 12:01 am
it will probably depend on what the laws there are in cali. In FL a vehicle is considered totalled if the cost to fix the damage is at or above 80% the value of the car. in my case they valued the car at $2500 and the repairs in excess of $2300 (and this is with some crappy parts that were actually incorrect for the car... but I wasn't going to try and make it more).
So to add in to the mix a little bit... in FL when a car is "totalled" now if the car is valued at over $1500 the car gets a salvage title... if it is valued under $1500 they don't really care what you do with the car (i guess they figure there are already enough beat up cars that hardly roll down the street but are driven here regardless so whats one more?). So that's where I stood with the car... fortuneatley the damage was mostly just the front end of the car (where it had been hit in a prior accident with a rodeo and been repaired) though I think that is how my tranny got screwed up (who knows what happened in that accident, i am still trying to figure out how i cracked the dash behind the steeringwheel)... so a week later I settle for $1500 PLUS the car it was easiest on me. I could have shown them receipts to try and bring the value up... but i dont know that it would have been worth my time and i would have risked my car becoming a salvage car... people say i made a stupid decision, but hey, it's ,my first car... and I plan on it being my last!
So to add in to the mix a little bit... in FL when a car is "totalled" now if the car is valued at over $1500 the car gets a salvage title... if it is valued under $1500 they don't really care what you do with the car (i guess they figure there are already enough beat up cars that hardly roll down the street but are driven here regardless so whats one more?). So that's where I stood with the car... fortuneatley the damage was mostly just the front end of the car (where it had been hit in a prior accident with a rodeo and been repaired) though I think that is how my tranny got screwed up (who knows what happened in that accident, i am still trying to figure out how i cracked the dash behind the steeringwheel)... so a week later I settle for $1500 PLUS the car it was easiest on me. I could have shown them receipts to try and bring the value up... but i dont know that it would have been worth my time and i would have risked my car becoming a salvage car... people say i made a stupid decision, but hey, it's ,my first car... and I plan on it being my last!
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Advokat
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2002 12:01 am
Alright, VW Girl, you should see a good recovery because your injuries appear to be permanent in nature. If you have an attorney, you may want to suggest that he think about having a physician give you a permanent disability rating. This is a method whereby a numerical, percentage value is assessed to your injury. For example, the physician may believe, in writing, that your leg now has a 20, 30, 40% impairment. This can be a useful tool when it comes time to settle the claim.
Corrado, if you're car is totalled by the carrier, it will likely give you less than the vehicle is worth and probably screw you in the process. If, on the other hand, you want the vehicle totalled as you have no true intention of fixing it, then you still must be prepared to argue over the true value of the vehicle so that your total loss figures are not quite so offensive. Then, if you wish to keep the car for a parts vehicle, you can purchase it back from the carrier for what is called "salvage value." Some carriers even try to bone you on this issue as well. Salvage value basically means the amount that the carrier could sell your totalled car to a junk yard.
So, even if you score well with the figures that are offered to you, do not let them tell you that the salvage value is more than a few hundred dollars. On a few occasions, we have even gotten the carrier to let the client keep the car and waive the salvage value.
Just do it all with your eyes open and don't let yourself be taken advantage of. Like I mentioned yesterday when I forgot to log in and my handle was "guest," an attorney can definitely help you out-but, there aren't that many that will want to be involved unless there is an injury claim to pursue or you are willing to pay an hourly fee for the property damage issues alone. If an injury claim is involved, then the property damage issues are generally handled as a courtesy at no additional fee. At least that's how we have always done things.
Good luck,
Rick
Corrado, if you're car is totalled by the carrier, it will likely give you less than the vehicle is worth and probably screw you in the process. If, on the other hand, you want the vehicle totalled as you have no true intention of fixing it, then you still must be prepared to argue over the true value of the vehicle so that your total loss figures are not quite so offensive. Then, if you wish to keep the car for a parts vehicle, you can purchase it back from the carrier for what is called "salvage value." Some carriers even try to bone you on this issue as well. Salvage value basically means the amount that the carrier could sell your totalled car to a junk yard.
So, even if you score well with the figures that are offered to you, do not let them tell you that the salvage value is more than a few hundred dollars. On a few occasions, we have even gotten the carrier to let the client keep the car and waive the salvage value.
Just do it all with your eyes open and don't let yourself be taken advantage of. Like I mentioned yesterday when I forgot to log in and my handle was "guest," an attorney can definitely help you out-but, there aren't that many that will want to be involved unless there is an injury claim to pursue or you are willing to pay an hourly fee for the property damage issues alone. If an injury claim is involved, then the property damage issues are generally handled as a courtesy at no additional fee. At least that's how we have always done things.
Good luck,
Rick
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wchiro
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2002 1:01 am
Hey just a thought...If his family could afford a Hummer maybe they could get you another bug without going through the insurance company (a bug with a little extra...big motor, built trans....) and take care of your medical bill. Might be cheaper for them in the long run and you get another car. Oh yeah and you get to keep your old car for parts. 
Of course this could only work depending upon how big your medical bill ends up being. And if they agree to it, there is no law suit. A threat of a law suit gives you some leverage.
Just a thought!
Aloha from Hawaii,
Wayne
Of course this could only work depending upon how big your medical bill ends up being. And if they agree to it, there is no law suit. A threat of a law suit gives you some leverage.
Just a thought!
Aloha from Hawaii,
Wayne
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sixty5vdub
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2003 2:30 pm
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BrianVW
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2003 8:52 pm
DONT S
Sorry for you loss man I cried myself to sleep 
What you gonna do with the Bug? dont sell it! or give it to a scrap yard its to nice to be sitting in the rain while annoying short people (you know who I'm talking bout if you live in GA. Sorry) tear it to shreads! if your going to give it to the yard and you live in GA think about contacting me I'll try and get some cash to buy it from ya. Rather it sit under a tarp than in a yard.
Brian
What you gonna do with the Bug? dont sell it! or give it to a scrap yard its to nice to be sitting in the rain while annoying short people (you know who I'm talking bout if you live in GA. Sorry) tear it to shreads! if your going to give it to the yard and you live in GA think about contacting me I'll try and get some cash to buy it from ya. Rather it sit under a tarp than in a yard.Brian
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gcorrado
- Posts: 955
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2003 12:42 am
thanks for the support everyone. it helps to have your sympathies. not everyone understands that i'm as upset about the car (god, when i think of the hours i put into that thing) as i am about my injuries.
advokat, thanks for the advice. there will be an injury claim, as there is physical therapy and the possibility of a permanent facial scar in play. do i really need to get a lawyer for this, or should i just see what they offer first (after a little negotiation)?
thanks again,
gcorrado
advokat, thanks for the advice. there will be an injury claim, as there is physical therapy and the possibility of a permanent facial scar in play. do i really need to get a lawyer for this, or should i just see what they offer first (after a little negotiation)?
thanks again,
gcorrado
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Dimitri
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2002 12:01 am
hey my friend rolled his truck on the road, and it had a ton of expensive aftermarket stuff. Basically the insurance co said it was totalled, gave him X dollars for it, then they sent it to a junkyard. But the thing is they have to offer you the chance to buy back your vehicle insted of selling it to a junkyard, at whatever price they found a yard willing to pay.
He got around 5 grand if I remember right, then bought the truck back for 800 bucks (it had about 3 grand in aftermarket parts alone) and stuck a new cab on it, and is driving it around with 4k left over.
This was in california too.
You might have trouble getting them to cover aftermarket parts, some wont, some will require reciepts and have a $ limit on that stuff. But since they have to offer to buyback your car, you can strip the stuff off and stick it on a new car.
I would definately get a laywer since you have injuries.
He got around 5 grand if I remember right, then bought the truck back for 800 bucks (it had about 3 grand in aftermarket parts alone) and stuck a new cab on it, and is driving it around with 4k left over.
This was in california too.
You might have trouble getting them to cover aftermarket parts, some wont, some will require reciepts and have a $ limit on that stuff. But since they have to offer to buyback your car, you can strip the stuff off and stick it on a new car.
I would definately get a laywer since you have injuries.