Was in Accident--Opinions on Whether Car is Totaled?

[Flynfishmedic]

Stoo I would like to agree with you but I cannot. Yes those lawyers go after the companies but my attorney is a close friend and even then could not get more out of the company. The truth is the insurance companies pay a calculated sum and then get you to release liability in perpetuity. Spinal conversion injuries, concussions etc linger for years and are a major contributor to chronic musculoskeletal disabilities. Insurance companies know this...but they won't pay for years of pain and suffering!

 

[stoopid]

Stoo I would like to agree with you but I cannot. Yes those lawyers go after the companies but my attorney is a close friend and even then could not get more out of the company. The truth is the insurance companies pay a calculated sum and then get you to release liability in perpetuity. Spinal conversion injuries, concussions etc linger for years and are a major contributor to chronic musculoskeletal disabilities. Insurance companies know this...but they won't pay for years of pain and suffering!

If that's what your friend said, then I would have suggested getting a second opinion. My GF as one random anecdotal example, made out 'well' from her incident and that was with the at fault being an uninsured driver. If you were carrying the bare minimum insurance, then that could explain some of your specific case issues. If that was the case, it would be a good lesson on why insurance is there to protect both parties. In our case keeping above the bare minimum insurance ensured all of our economic issues were handled plus some. Zero cent policy increase, too. Again, not knowing the specifics on your situation and wanting to focus on the OP's, it doesn't sound like you got good legal representation.

 

[Flynfishmedic]

Lol...lets agree to disagree and not threadjack! OP cover all your bases the best you can and then cover them again!

 

[Kamauxx]

If you're hurt in a wreck, call one of those scumbag attorneys on TV. Really, they do this for a living. You got screwed because you didn't get one. They don't even require a retainer in most cases. On top of that, if you had any injuries related to the accident you would have been fully compensated for repair/replacement plus pain and suffering/medical (whether his or your insurance). Having an attorney keeps all parties involved 'honest'.

Maljey, same applies to you. My GF had a 35-ish MPH accident similar to yours and had a concussion that affected her for months after (plus her knee hit somewhere under the dash on impact). It took a few days after the accident for the effects of the concussion to become apparent. Lawyer up or lose out.

Not horrible advice.

I have a few relatives that have been involved in relatively minor accidents that used TV attorneys to make out with tens of thousands of bucks. Back in the 90s, my uncle made $100k from a wreck and it wasn't even his car nor was he driving.

One caveat, though: from the details I've heard of their cases, the attorneys make out nearly as well as they do, often taking up to 35% of the negotiated settlements.

 

[SIMONGUEY]

Well my friend I have a story for you...pull up a chair! I got into my stinger from an Audi S4. Fully paid off and since it was...I tuned, exhaust and intake, and it was fun! I have been with my insurance carrier for 18 years now...no issues!
I was rear ended by an F150 driven by someone with no DL but insurance on the vehicle. Police ticketed him, gave me info. His company accepted liability but wanted to further investigate and would not give me rental, towing or initiate medical until they were complete.
I was hurt, numbness to left foot, left arm and pain.
Car was totaled. I went to an attorney who suggested I let insurance companies fight it out! Well I now have an exorbitant rate, got less than half of what my Audi was worth and found out his insurance weaseled out of coverage by saying he was not a covered driver!

GOT DAMN,. that blows. why did they only give you that amount? is it because the car was valued at that price?

 

[stoopid]

One caveat, though: from the details I've heard of their cases, the attorneys make out nearly as well as they do, often taking up to 35% of the negotiated settlements.

The average take for cases that settle is 30-50% [definitely run away from any law office that takes more than this]. Considering they require no retainer fees and absorb all costs related to the case (but take a higher percent if it goes to trial), it's reasonable. Could always hire an attorney on retainer and deal with the nickel and dime costs but I suspect it wouldn't end up putting much more $$ in the pocket.

I need to note that although law is not my profession, I work with many law offices and have an above average knowledge of their inner workings as well as my own experiences in varied legal matters. In others words - not just some schmuck who stayed in a holiday inn express last night.

 

[Flynfishmedic]

GOT DAMN,. that blows. why did they only give you that amount? is it because the car was valued at that price?

They paid what they determined was replacement value! I was fine eating the cost of the aftermarket stuff but replacement value does not take into account the actual cost of replacing that vehicle. I told them if you can find the same car for that cost I would gladly take the car instead of the money. Well fortunately for me I landed in Stingerville!

 

[cjbigcog]

Calling General Vodka

 

[CDv6]

Car was totaled. I went to an attorney who suggested I let insurance companies fight it out! Well I now have an exorbitant rate, got less than half of what my Audi was worth and found out his insurance weaseled out of coverage by saying he was not a covered driver!

Similar thing happening with my rental car wreck. The at fault driver's insurance had lapsed, so my insurance company is attempting to collect from him directly, but my rates will go up if they don't make recovery in full.

 

[P22Tyler]

Totaled. Glad you're okay though.

 

[General_Vodka]

Calling General Vodka

I have been summoned.

Ugh this f*cking sucks.

Was driving home from work on a two lane road at night. It's lightly raining, and the roads are wet from continuous rain all day. One car passes by me in the opposing traffic lane, and then immediately behind that car is a pickup truck sliding sideways into my lane. I end up hitting the passenger side of the truck (t-boned it), as it was completely sideways in my lane.

Gonna be talking with insurance adjuster today. Airbags went off--the steering wheel and driver footwell.

Taking a poll to see if any of you think the car will be totaled!

I am so pissed....

That's better bad of a hit, however the force distributed across the entire front so it didn't go that deep. Glad your ok, people harder to replaced than metal.
As for the car, it looks pretty expensive. If they go with brand new parts your looking at a big bill. Probably enough to total it depending on the frame state. I mean mine was worse, and I could probably fix that damage but insurance will probably write it off. It could be rebuilt, Honesty the only damage would be resale value loss due to it being a branded title. I don't plan to sell my car anytime soon so I'm fine with that.

 

[5tinger]

100% write off.
I've seen econoboxes with less damage being totalled.

 

[General_Vodka]

This was mine btw. Now you can't even tell it was damaged. Take one of the engine strut braces and try to bend it by hand. Won't budge even with weight on top of it. Lol the force folded it like origami and ripped it out of the front support. Blew pretty much all of the airbags except the passenger ones since no one was in it. Oh and a turbo ate an metal intake part so yeah, that was a write off.

 

[Devin]

OP, do the doors open and close just like before the accident?

 

[Maljey]

Small update: heard from insurance and the car is being totaled. Hallelujah!

Now begins the search for another Stinger.

Thanks to all for insight and advice.

 

[RedCal]

Glad to hear you aren't going to get a rebuild! cast a wide net, or make use of a broker to save you all the hunting (and maybe a few $$)

 

[JSolo]

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www.garylangkia.com

This place is selling below msrp. I see one gt1 awd in stock, pearl white. If you call there, ask to speak to Dave S.

 

[rpoffen]

A co-worker told me a story of what happened to him about 30 years ago. Had a cherry Corvette that was only a couple years old that he was selling private party.
Some guy came to take a look and test drive. My friend went with him while he test drove it and after going a couple miles the prospective buyer stops the car, pistol whips my friend and shoves him out of the car and takes off with it. Of course he called the police.
A few days later he was informed that they recovered the car, but the low life used it to rob a bank and go on a high speed getaway chase. After crashing the car, the guy gets out of the car and aims a gun at the police who open fire and riddle him and the car with bullets, blood everywhere, holes everywhere.
Now the kicker, the insurance company wouldn't total it! He had to fight tooth and nail to finally get them to total it.