Insurance Dealings
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Oh, one bit of advice after being through a car accident - the insurance company will probably offer a settlement to remove their liability for medical costs associated with the accident. DO NOT DO IT. It's not worth even a few thousand dollars if they offer it.
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From: Roseville, CA
Originally Posted by ChefJ,Oct 14 2010, 04:24 PM
If he truly was "t-boned" and it wasn't his fault, there is alot more to be had if he wants to go after it.
I have a friend that was "t-boned" by a trucker when she was 18. she'll never have to work a day in her life.
I have a friend that was "t-boned" by a trucker when she was 18. she'll never have to work a day in her life.
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From: SLC, UT
Originally Posted by Sabre,Oct 14 2010, 07:10 AM
You can negotiate with the insurance, but you'd be hard pressed to get them to pay more than KBB.
However, the idea is that they would have to pay you out for what it would cost to REPLACE the car. If you couldn't pick one up for less than $2000+, you'd have a case to argue, but I doubt you'd get anywhere.
Same deal happened to my mom with her own insurance when she hit a deer.
They tried to offer her $3500 for a car (she only has a 250 deductible) she just bought 6 months ago for $5000. She gathered a lot of dealer price listings for her same car as well as autotrader and CL postings with prices closer to 5-6k and the insurance ended up giving her $4800 or something like that.
However, the idea is that they would have to pay you out for what it would cost to REPLACE the car. If you couldn't pick one up for less than $2000+, you'd have a case to argue, but I doubt you'd get anywhere.
Same deal happened to my mom with her own insurance when she hit a deer.
They tried to offer her $3500 for a car (she only has a 250 deductible) she just bought 6 months ago for $5000. She gathered a lot of dealer price listings for her same car as well as autotrader and CL postings with prices closer to 5-6k and the insurance ended up giving her $4800 or something like that.
I would get some papers together with prices of other comparible Geo Metros and explain why they are going for a lot more than KBB.There are a few cars out there that are worth A LOT more than what KBB says, I know for a fact that the Geo Metro and old school Honda Insight are two of those vehicles. Heck, when gas prices went up a couple years back, the old Insight prices went from around $4000-5000 up to $10k+ because of the gas mileage they got, same with the Metros.
Another car that comes to mind is the Acura NSX, a couple years ago I was looking at buying an NSX, one was "blue booked" at $14k, yet it sold for $38.5k
There are reasons why certain cars are worth a lot more than KBB says they are, but KBB doesn't take those reasons into account, they just use their set depreciation formulas, etc.
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From: On yo puter screen
Originally Posted by YoZUpZ,Oct 14 2010, 06:11 PM
I would get some papers together with prices of other comparible Geo Metros and explain why they are going for a lot more than KBB.There are a few cars out there that are worth A LOT more than what KBB says, I know for a fact that the Geo Metro and old school Honda Insight are two of those vehicles. Heck, when gas prices went up a couple years back, the old Insight prices went from around $4000-5000 up to $10k+ because of the gas mileage they got, same with the Metros.
Another car that comes to mind is the Acura NSX, a couple years ago I was looking at buying an NSX, one was "blue booked" at $14k, yet it sold for $38.5k
There are reasons why certain cars are worth a lot more than KBB says they are, but KBB doesn't take those reasons into account, they just use their set depreciation formulas, etc.
a Geo metro is no NSX 
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Do what I did: Dont accept the money until they pay what you feel the car is worth. Once you accept the check its over.
I had a 88 firebird that was T-boned, geico offered me 1800. I said "screw you, the only formula firebird for sale is 7K down here"...and I showed them all the formula firebirds for sale in hawaii. and I didnt accept anything until they gave me 4.5K + the car. I parted out the car for about 1K and I was pretty happy with the outcome. I purchased the car for 2.8K and it needed work, put in about 2K into it so I came out pretty even.
I had a 88 firebird that was T-boned, geico offered me 1800. I said "screw you, the only formula firebird for sale is 7K down here"...and I showed them all the formula firebirds for sale in hawaii. and I didnt accept anything until they gave me 4.5K + the car. I parted out the car for about 1K and I was pretty happy with the outcome. I purchased the car for 2.8K and it needed work, put in about 2K into it so I came out pretty even.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
Thanks for the advice everyone.
To clarify, it has been determined the other driver's fault and her insurance is already working with us. I'm not an advocate for lawsuits unless you actually need the money for medical bills or something, which isn't the case.
We'll go back to the insurance company and do some negotiating. Hopefully we can talk them into some better numbers.
To clarify, it has been determined the other driver's fault and her insurance is already working with us. I'm not an advocate for lawsuits unless you actually need the money for medical bills or something, which isn't the case.
We'll go back to the insurance company and do some negotiating. Hopefully we can talk them into some better numbers.
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From: Roseville, CA
Originally Posted by txchopper5,Oct 15 2010, 12:23 AM
Thanks for the advice everyone.
To clarify, it has been determined the other driver's fault and her insurance is already working with us. I'm not an advocate for lawsuits unless you actually need the money for medical bills or something, which isn't the case.
We'll go back to the insurance company and do some negotiating. Hopefully we can talk them into some better numbers.
To clarify, it has been determined the other driver's fault and her insurance is already working with us. I'm not an advocate for lawsuits unless you actually need the money for medical bills or something, which isn't the case.
We'll go back to the insurance company and do some negotiating. Hopefully we can talk them into some better numbers.
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From: SLC, UT
Originally Posted by zzziippyyy,Oct 14 2010, 03:31 PM
a Geo metro is no NSX 