I'm going to smash your car, but don't worry I got a guy that can fix it. NOT They did WRONG, you TELL them how to make it right!!! Derek
You should get to choose. Ask them about steering laws if they object to you choosing. They can debate price they pay with shop. Texas Insurance Code 1952.301 (b) It doesn't matter where the truck and driver are from if vehicle and accident were here in Texas. I agree with other comments, they will put you back in the same "condition" your vehicle was in. Like new would involve "betterment" which they could technically charge you for. Now, what is same "condition" can be debated.
No insurance company would do that. That doesn't make any sense. Some parts would be better. For example if my brakes were 50 years old before the accident they not going to go out and put some old brakes on my car. They are going to put new brakes on there which means it will be better than it was before the accident plus the comment was made about what it take to make it right. I think a better statement should they are all only going to fix what they damaged.
The car should be as it was before it was damaged. New parts, when available, to replace those that were wrecked, not used. The estimates should show exactly what is being replaced/repaired and where the parts are to be sourced from. And, as the shop gets into repairs, there may be more to add that isn't obvious in the first estimation. That part gets handled between the repair shop and the insurance company. I hope it doesn't come to this, but If the trucking company, its agents or the insurance company do not want to do the job correctly, I'd get an attorney involved.
I think they are going to total it out. I think it would be cheaper to that than it would be to fix it. It's not like you can buy a quarter panel down the street.
I can literally go about 10 miles down the street from me to Sherman auto body parts warehouse that sells quarter panel skins for IIRC you have a '71 Skylark; https://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/base/dropdowns.php?make=Buick&model=Skylark&year=1971 What parts does your car need? They want to try and total it because they're trying to screw you over it sounds like! That custom paint work you just had done would cost around $10,000 to do that to another car! You need to remind them of that or they're going to try and give you the blue book value of the car, which is probably squat, less than what that paint job would cost. Tell them if they don't want to fix the car that you will fine a replacement they can buy for you or they're going to try and settle with you pennies on the dollar on what the car is worth. Or tell them they can fix your car. You may just have to get a lawyer involved like Smokey mentioned. "How much do I think they should give you for your car?" As much as it would cost to buy an replacement in similar condition. So you might want to do some research on what your year car recently sold for and what's for sale now that would have a new paint job on it. Sometimes people that work for insurance companies aren't very knowledgeable about old cars and what the different models were with the same name and what they're worth compared to their other variations. You should try to use that to your advantage if you can because they are going to do everything they can do to their advantage to pay less. GL Derek
In the scenario you suggest, they might give you new brake pads, but they could elect to go with remanfactured calipers for example. I do know of one carrier that has requested money back from an insured for replacing a 40k mile tire that had 30k+ miles on it.
All I saw was your paint job thread, but what was the overall condition of the car? Can you post pics of the car after the accident?
I've been a service manager and dealt with insurance adjusters quite a bit. They will normally total a vehicle at about 60% of the value of the vehicle.
Lets not confuse common sense with the law. The insurance company will manage the transaction based on what they are legally required to do - nothing more. Goodwill is not a variable they manage. You may be able to extra some additional $$ based on your ability to justify increasing the car's fair market value but that's it. (6K seems very low -- what Hagerty say??) It's really no different than if it was a 2015 Camry. Beyond that, you will need to go after the trucking company for damages. I would consult with a lawyer to determine how best to pursue getting fairly compensated for your loss. Crappy way to spend your time -- sorry this happened.
Who do you have your car insured with? Might be time to get them involved if you haven't already. Did you have collector car insurance (agreed value) or "regular car" stated value insurance?
I've heard many cases of people having trouble getting fair value when they insure collector cars with 'standard' insurance companies. Their 'knowledgeable' agent will agree to insure the car for whatever amount the owner says he wants. Then, comes the catastrophe and the negotiations start with a lowball offer from the insurance company. Then the runaround with all the finger pointing claiming that the amount the owner wanted the car insured for was unreasonable. That is why I have, and recommend, insuring with a specialty car insurer.
The car was running good. I have talked to 5 different lawyers and none of them can help me since I wasn't injured
It's not that they can't help you, they won't help you because there was no bodily injury involved only property damage to some old car. Not enough for them to get to the deep pockets. You did have your car insured, right? Have you contacted YOUR insurance company? If you were insured with a Antique and Classic insurance carrier, you should report the claim at once and let them get started. That's what you pay your premiums for. I really hope you have coverage on your car yourself....
