Accident Damage Help

[Gino]

Good afternoon all,

Well, it's not a good afternoon for me.... while I was eating my lunch at home a bus hit my car damaging o/s/f wing, alloy & ripped the bumper from the car. There maybe more damage that I haven't seen yet.
Fortunately, the driver left his details so I'll be claiming from their insurance on Monday. My fear is that this will result in a write off. Obviously I will fight this, I have spent far too much money on it in the past few months having the rot in the rear sills cut out & replaced - I had only just had the tracking done yesterday & was supposed to be having a stainless steel back box making up & fitted on Thursday!! - let alone in the years I have had the car to let them write it off.
Hopefully I can secure a payout so I can rectify the damage. To that end I am now on the hunt for replacement parts. If anyone can help with the below list I'll be forever in your debt;

o/s/f wing (maybe nearside too as there is rust coming through on mine)
Mk 1 bumper
Chrome grill
One Union alloy
Diesel undertray
Mk 1 projector headlight

I've still to check properly so I may have to add to the list.

Many thanks for whatever you are able to do, or simply for your support,

Rob

[YHT]

Hi Gino, sorry to read of your loss. I suspect Insurers will try and write the car off and give you the market value. IF you accept their offer after haggling try and keep the car as salvage and do whats needed if you can. Fortunately the "market" value of R75s is going up but not fast enough I fear. Good luck.

[planenut]

So sorry to hear of this. Don't take the insurance company's first offer. Good luck!

[Gino]

I have no intention of accepting the 1st offer, I have spent far too much to be insulted like that.
Unfortunately I fear I will have to be realistic & take a payout, I can't see them paying to have the work done. Apart from the parts I'll need, there's the respray to factor in plus any damage to the steering/drive shaft to consider.
I guess I'll be looking for a new Tourer in a week or two :mad:
To say I'm not happy is an understatement

[MSS]

Your worst case situation is the insurer paying out market value minus what they would get for it from a salvage company and allowing you to keep the car. Being able to show receipts for recent work to improve the car would increase the likely payout to an extent. Tracking is just maintenance.

At the end of the day, you do need to be realistic that it is a 19 year old car with a market value around its scrap value. Discussing the offer with the insurer's valuer/engineer politely as opposed being on the offensive charged with emotion would be my recommendation. The engineer will not be out to insult you!

These things happen. It's not the end of the world - as I kept reminding myself when first my pride and joy Rover 820 and later Rover 420 were written off many years ago. :mad:

[macafee2]

Sad news but at least you have driver/company details and it was not a hit and run.

How about asking the bus company to foot the bill? You will still need to tell your insurance company but you wont be making a claim and write off should not be an issue.

How can I tell the difference between a projector and any other? I have a donor MK1 so I can check the headlight if I know what I am looking for.

macafee2

[SD1too]

I'm very sorry to hear of this tragedy Rob. I hate to sound negative but we have to be realistic in situations like this. Other posts mention "market value". As I understand it, that doesn't come into it. If the repair cost exceeds the trade-in value, which it undoubtedly will, the insurer will write-off your pride and joy.

But all is not lost! What you'll need to do is to buy back "the salvage" (a horrible term) from the insurer then pay for your own repairs unless the bus company's insurer agrees to pay on the grounds that their client is entirely to blame as Ian has suggested:
How about asking the bus company to foot the bill? You will still need to tell your insurance company but you wont be making a claim and write off should not be an issue.
That's true if Rob has a TPF&T policy but I expect it will be comprehensive in which case it's more difficult to achieve that outcome.

Simon

[Gino]

Thanks guys,

As much as I hate the thought I do expect the result to be a write off. And I do expect the payout to be much less than what I would need to get another in similar condition. I am insured fully comp, with a value of £1200 I think, I don't suppose that will make any difference. I certainly will be wanting to keep hold of the car so that I can remove all the parts I may need - its quite a list. All the brakes & suspension have been rebuilt front & rear, new fuel tank strap last week, the radiator & a/c condenser are only a few years old too. What irks me the most though is the rear sills. I brought the panels from Tom Hobbs & had them fitted by my friendly garage only a month or so back. Knowing the chances are I'll have to do the same again with the replacement is very annoying.

Macafee - thank you for the offer, don't worry about it just yet as I can't make a decision until I've spoken to their insurers. But thank you anyway :}

[macafee2]

ask for a cash settlement instead of it being written off, this my be better for reinsuring but others can advise better I hope

macafee2

[Gino]

Cash settlement is what I'll be aiming for. I should imagine parts will be easy & cheap enough, it's just the respray that will be expensive. I had both front wings & bonnet done a few years back, that cost in the region of £500....
Not much I an do now until Monday, fingers crossed they'll be helpful.

Rob

[bsafly]

Sorry to hear about the accident,
If you can find good condition panels in the correct colour maybe you won’t need to factor in a respray
Is your car an unusual colour?
Good luck, Paul.

[Gino]

It's not the most inspiring of colours, Zircon Silver (MUM), but I don't think it is an unusual colour

[GJ53 DGO]

I can help out with both wings, a projector headlight (needs polishing up) and possibly a front bumper if that is needed as well. Wings and bumper are in dark green (don't know the colour code off hand) but feel free to PM me:}

[Gino]

I can help out with both wings, a projector headlight (needs polishing up) and possibly a front bumper if that is needed as well. Wings and bumper are in dark green (don't know the colour code off hand) but feel free to PM me:}

Thank you, I may take you up on the offer, depending on the insurance people. No matter how good the replacement panels are, they are bound to need some attention now due to how old they are.

Thanks :D

[GJ53 DGO]

Next time I'm at the garage I'll have a look and see if I have a bumper available, I'm fairly sure I have, the wings are in good physical condition but are scratched, shouldn't be an issue with them needing a colour change anyway.

[MSS]

I'm very sorry to hear of this tragedy Rob. I hate to sound negative but we have to be realistic in situations like this. Other posts mention "market value". As I understand it, that doesn't come into it. If the repair cost exceeds the trade-in value, which it undoubtedly will, the insurer will write-off your pride and joy.

But all is not lost! What you'll need to do is to buy back "the salvage" (a horrible term) from the insurer then pay for your own repairs unless the bus company's insurer agrees to pay on the grounds that their client is entirely to blame as Ian has suggested:

That's true if Rob has a TPF&T policy but I expect it will be comprehensive in which case it's more difficult to achieve that outcome.

Simon


Hi Simon, my experience (last two occasions) is that the other party's engineer looked at three advertised cars at local (Suffolk) garages and offered us the highest selling price of the three. So as true to market value as reasonably possible. He even emailed me scans of the adverts to underpin his valuation.

The insurer should be putting the third party owner in the position that he/she was prior to the accident consistent with local market values.

[rovermech]

Hi
I bought a damaged 2005 connoisseur se for parts for £450 the only damage was two deep groves on n/s doors, found out it had been written off cat N non structural damage I suppose the ins company was thinking two new doors fitting & paint more than the cars worth, I bought a dent puller kit, paint & lacquer and repaired it myself for under £100 its just past its mot no problem, its too good for parts so going to keep it as a second car.

[R75800sd1]

In my 25 plus years working for and running bus companies, I've found that most of them of any size self insure up to about 10k. Upshot of it is that they will usually come to a reasonable agreement, especially in a case where there was no Personal Injury. I would certainly have been interested in settling in the couple of years I managed claims.
Good luck, hope you manage to come to an agreement.

[Gino]

Evening all,

I have a courtesy car & the engineer has been. Now I just have to wait for the insurance companies offer. Whatever it is, I'll be retaining the car & repairing - those who have advised they have parts I can buy expect some messages in the next week or so :}

[polinsteve]

In my 25 plus years working for and running bus companies, I've found that most of them of any size self insure up to about 10k. Upshot of it is that they will usually come to a reasonable agreement, especially in a case where there was no Personal Injury. I would certainly have been interested in settling in the couple of years I managed claims.
Good luck, hope you manage to come to an agreement.

The last bus company that I worked for in the appropriate capacity self insured up to £500,000. Very costly when a driver decided to drive a brand new Scania Omnicity down a bank, through several gardens and into a house. Bus was a write off and house moved partially of its foundations.

[trikey]

The last bus company that I worked for in the appropriate capacity self insured up to £500,000. Very costly when a driver decided to drive a brand new Scania Omnicity down a bank, through several gardens and into a house. Bus was a write off and house moved partially of its foundations.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Gino]

Good morning All,

my saga is nearly at an end, but not without further twists & turns. The bodyshop finished the panels Dec 23rd, however, I was unable to collect as I was at work. I then had to wait until Jan 4th for them to reopen to collect the parts. All back together by the evening of the 5th only to find I needed a new battery.... then to find my MOT had run out too :duh:
Before I could have the MOT I needed to have the exhaust replaced as the welds to the hangers on the back box were broken & leaking. I did have this booked back in November, unfortunately due to the accident I wasn't able to attend.
So, on Friday 14th I visited Powerflow @ Risby & had a S/S backbox, plus a new flexi joint as mine was disintegrating, made up & fitted. Followed by an MOT at my local ATS, which it promptly failed as both front springs have snapped. What is really frustrating is that these springs were only fitted about 2 1/2 years ago. :mad:

I'm now back at work for the week so I am unlikely to be able to get the springs replaced until next week, unless I am able to book a days holiday anyway.

To say I am frustrated is an understatement, but at least there is now an end in sight. I do hate not having a car & having to ask for lifts to work. Oh, well. Worse things happen at sea...

[macafee2]

Thanks for the update, long time with no car. What happened with insurance, did they write it off?

macafee2

[Gino]

Yes it is a Category N write off. The payout I wasn't enough to cover all the work sadly, not helped that I decided to do additional work while I had the chance.
The passengers front wing was unaffected by the accident but I still chose to have it blasted & repainted as rust was showing in places.
New intercooler was fitted as the fins on mine were disintegrating, one alloy refurbed (still need to get another one done, although ideally I would get all 3 done but cost will be an issue), I also replaced the spacesaver with a full size wheel plus a new tyre.
The additional costs of a new battery, both front springs & an MOT were not welcome, I can tell you that!!
When the insurer paid out, they didn't tell me I'd only have a week with the courtesy car, so I was somewhat surprised when Enterprise phoned me when the week was up asking for me to return it!! Fortunately I have been able to get lifts into work

[polinsteve]

Your worst case situation is the insurer paying out market value minus what they would get for it from a salvage company and allowing you to keep the car. Being able to show receipts for recent work to improve the car would increase the likely payout to an extent. Tracking is just maintenance.

At the end of the day, you do need to be realistic that it is a 19 year old car with a market value around its scrap value. Discussing the offer with the insurer's valuer/engineer politely as opposed being on the offensive charged with emotion would be my recommendation. The engineer will not be out to insult you!

These things happen. It's not the end of the world - as I kept reminding myself when first my pride and joy Rover 820 and later Rover 420 were written off many years ago. :mad:

When mine was written off as a result of an oncoming car misjudging a corner, the resulting head on collision destroyed the front end and popped 3 out of 4 new tyres. Luckily for my partner who was driving, the cabin remained intact and the doors still opened, although they stuck slightly. My insurers paid out within a week, a very fair settlement well above my expectations. They also paid for the scattered Christmas shopping and full tank of fuel. My frantic Ebay, Autotrader and other advertisers checks was a waste of time because the offer was so good.

[Rich in Vancouver]

When my ZT190 was written off I got a very fair settlement and a cheap buy-back from my insurer, in large part because the estimators at the claim centre were so impressed by the car. You know it's going to go well when the head estimator calls and says, "All of the boys in the shop were checking out your car.":D

[Typhoon190]

Just remember the car is yours. It does not belong to the insurer unless you allow them to 'purchase' it from you by accepting a pay out without confirming you are keeping the car.

I would say this should be the first part of the communication with your insurer. Explain the car has been damaged in an accident and you will be keeping the car with a view to have it repaired one way or the other.

When my ZT-T was deemed uneconomical to repair, I think I was initially offered £800 minus the buy back/scrap value. After a few discussions I received £1100 minus scrap value. Quite a considerable percentage increase.

Good luck. I'm sure there will be plenty of help from us here. :} Some parts are getting a bit harder to find now so you may need to wait a little.