[TP2SS]

Originally Posted by cdubbs

The adjuster and the shop both noted the repair needed to be $30k to total the car, but the initial estimate came in at $25k. Sucks that the final bill was $40k (although im sure they dont count the rental cost) but your right the car should have been totaled.


Im still torn between keeping it and selling it. For the offer I got from Carmax I can still walk away +$10k positive. Would like a little more from a private sell but it will take a long time I think.

The shop probably lowballed the adjuster to get the work, knowing it should have been a total and the actual cost would overrun. The ins co should have figured they should add at LEAST 10% for overruns, which would have put it at $27,500, then figured in the rental coast since THEY had to pay it. That would have tipped the scales to a total.

This is just an eff'd up situation for all involved, except the shop and the rental car co. You have a car, that if you keep, will be worth nearly nothing once used prices come down and any potential buyers discover the amount of repairs done to it; if you sell to CarMax, some poor schlubb is going to buy that car from them for MORE than 40k and at some point realized he/she was fleeced. As someone else said, you have to be assertive with insurance co's when it's that close to a total.
As much as I hate to screw the next person, I too would take that cash from CarMax as fast as you can!

[cdubbs]

Originally Posted by TXCSSU

What's your insurance rate going to be the next time you go to renew would be my next concern. Hell, I'd look at another carrier if I were you. This of course would be after you sell the car to CarMax.

Luckily my insurance just renewed at my normal rate a few weeks ago. I also got a quote from Statefarm recently that was competitive, and they noted the incident. I think insurance is the one positive point for me in all of this. Luckily it was covered under my uninsured motorist policy which seems tp have given me a bit of a pass.

[TXCSSU]

Looking at what you described, I've been in a similar situation, some tool made a complete stop at a highway on-ramp. I drove around the idiot and as I was accelerating onto the highway, the tool decided he wanted to get on the highway. I did the same thing you did, "instinctively move over", but then an 18-wheeler clipped my driver's side. The guy that caused the accident began to drive off, but I chased him down and called the police. The police told me that I should've let him hit me, but since I didn't that they couldn't go after him for causing the accident. It's infuriating when some tool causes an accident and doesn't get cited for it. I also couldn't believe that the cop told me that I should've just let this idiot hit me.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by TXCSSU

I also couldn't believe that the cop told me that I should've just let this idiot hit me.

I think that's because there is no way to prove he did what you are saying he did (I believe you but just pointing out the cop would need to see evidence to believe you). That being said it's kinda hard to let someone hit you. It's everyones instinct to be defensive in the scenario that happened to you and the OP.

[MightyBobo]

Dash cameras.

I keep seeing stories like this, and nobody has footage.

Get...some freaking...dash cameras, guys.

[cdubbs]

Originally Posted by TXCSSU

Looking at what you described, I've been in a similar situation, some tool made a complete stop at a highway on-ramp. I drove around the idiot and as I was accelerating onto the highway, the tool decided he wanted to get on the highway. I did the same thing you did, "instinctively move over", but then an 18-wheeler clipped my driver's side. The guy that caused the accident began to drive off, but I chased him down and called the police. The police told me that I should've let him hit me, but since I didn't that they couldn't go after him for causing the accident. It's infuriating when some tool causes an accident and doesn't get cited for it. I also couldn't believe that the cop told me that I should've just let this idiot hit me.

Yeah for sure it would have been best to just let the guy hit me but I reacted right away without really thinking about it. Hopefully I won't be in that situation again. I hope your police report and insurance still deemed you not at fault. That has seemed to help me out a bit.

[cdubbs]

Originally Posted by xqwisit23

If Carmax is offering you $40k for it and everything is disclosed and they are aware of the accident; take the money and run. Just my two cents having owned a few cars that were unfortunately in accidents. This used market is going to fizzle out and no one will give you anywhere close to the $40k when said and done. Good luck!

Yeah I am definitely considering it. I am going to shop the car to a few Chevy Dealerships around me and let it sit a few days online, but I think I will make a move on it sooner rather than later.

I don't want to end up regretting it later on when issues start appearing and it is less than a year of being out of the manufacturers warranty.

[v8fanboy]

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Dash cameras.

I keep seeing stories like this, and nobody has footage.

Get...some freaking...dash cameras, guys.

The camaro as is comes with limited visibility...and seeing most of us would already have a radar detector mounted on the windshield....throwing a dash cam as well will really take away whats left with the joke of the visibility. Another thing is in California, you cant mount anything on the windshield at all.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by v8fanboy

The camaro as is comes with limited visibility...and seeing most of us would already have a radar detector mounted on the windshield....throwing a dash cam as well will really take away whats left with the joke of the visibility. Another thing is in California, you cant mount anything on the windshield at all.

My (front) Blackvue dashcam is mounted right behind the radar detector and is practically invisible from the driver seat, no reduction in visibility. The detector does block out a small bit of the front view, but at the least practically important angle.

[TXCSSU]

Originally Posted by cdubbs

Yeah for sure it would have been best to just let the guy hit me but I reacted right away without really thinking about it. Hopefully I won't be in that situation again. I hope your police report and insurance still deemed you not at fault. That has seemed to help me out a bit.

The 18-wheeler stopped, but I informed him that I was going to chase down the person that caused the accident. By the time the police pulled us both over (essentially me calling 911 and flagging a cop down to pull him over as he didn't want to stop after he caused the accident), the 18-wheeler had left the scene, so they marked it as a hit-and-run. I just found it irritating that the POS that was the cause of the accident essentially got away without any consequences. The reason I hate that they get away with it is that they continue to drive like morons on the road. Sadly, it makes me want to take the officer's advice even though it goes against what you're taught in defensive driving.

[AZIROC]

Out of curiosity, the shop the insurance company took it to, is it the 1 you picked? If not I'd request a 2nd option and find another qualified shop to get an estimate and not one ur insurance picks.

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by v8fanboy

The camaro as is comes with limited visibility...and seeing most of us would already have a radar detector mounted on the windshield....throwing a dash cam as well will really take away whats left with the joke of the visibility. Another thing is in California, you cant mount anything on the windshield at all.

About California: oh yeah?

All of what you said is just an excuse. They fit just fine without impeding vision. Stop.

[cdubbs]

Originally Posted by AZIROC

Out of curiosity, the shop the insurance company took it to, is it the 1 you picked? If not I'd request a 2nd option and find another qualified shop to get an estimate and not one ur insurance picks.

Yes, I picked the shop. It was the most highly rated one in my area within 50 miles and came recommended from a few people I know. They were honestly pretty good and easy to talk to so I am not sure they were just playing with the estimate to get the work. In fact, they seemed to really not want to do the work and to have the car totaled so they tried to write up as much as they could to get it there. At least that is how they talked, they were in agreement the car should be totaled.

[wavsine]

Originally Posted by cdubbs

I think insurance is the one positive point for me in all of this.

Because they paid out $32,000 for repairs and another $8000.00 for a rental?

And left you with a Carfax Scarlet Letter.

Your adjuster didn't do you any favors. I've had many encounters with insurance adjusters over the years and learned a couple of things. They will always hit you low on the initial claim knowing that the body shop will ask for additional money. They will always try to convince you that your car will be as "good as new" when the body shop repairs it.

The fact is that adjusters have discretion and can total a car even if it doesn't meet the monetary figures on paper. You need to scream and kick and let them know you don't want the car repaired. Your adjuster was a moron because when you add in the 8 grand in rental fees, they could have just bought you a new car and you would have been done with this long ago.