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Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:49 pm

My wife drives her '71 SB to work daily...
well, Lady in SUV was traveling down center turn lane, another car ( VW Jetta, I think ) pulled into the lane to turn and they collided... ( the Jetta was totalled )
well the SUV plowed into that and bounced across the 2 lane rd. hit the curb, took out a signpost and ended up in the drivers side of her '71.

This one is going to the shop, from what I noticed... the door is pressed in... the window was up and I am surprised that it didnt shatter.

The running board is pressed down where its not level anymore...

my biggest concern is the B pillar or frame ( pan ) damage? ...
can this screw any type of repair?

If anyone has any suggestions on dealing with Insurance co's it more than welcome.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:02 pm

Robert -

Sorry to hear about accident - drivers here in NC can be like anyplace else...

If the shop is looking at the SB, the damage - from what I see - looks like the running board is simply bent down; it's just sheet metal & not structural. The door can be replaced, but the big question is this - is the B-pillar and door threshold on body (at bottom of door) damaged heavily?

Can door be opened? If it can, does the threshold appear to be bent inward toward the seat base?

Bryan (bnc)

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:17 pm

Hiya NCd,

It looks to me as if the B pillar has been tweaked a bit. But not to worry, a good bodyman can straighten that out and bring any resultant deformation back into spec. A new door and running board, a little paint, and you're back on the road.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:40 pm

You & your wife are very fortunate, but you still could loose the car.
Be very aware that the cost of that repair at today’s shop labor & parts costs could "total" the car.
Be very careful dealing with the insurance companies to insure you get satisfaction.
The SUVidiot's insurance company will no doubt try to low ball you ($800) for what appears to be a very nice car.
Be prepared, get estimates, and figure out how much the car is worth to you.
The actual work to repair the car is easy, and all the parts are available,
It is the insurance companies that will make getting that car repaired complicated.
I'm curious did the SUVidiot roll over while it was hitting everything on the street?

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:43 pm

ach60 wrote: You & your wife are very fortunate, but you still could loose the car.
Be very aware that the cost of that repair at today’s shop labor & parts costs could "total" the car.
Be very careful dealing with the insurance companies to insure you get satisfaction.
The SUVidiot's insurance company will no doubt try to low ball you ($800) for what appears to be a very nice car.
Be prepared, get estimates, and figure out how much the car is worth to you.
The actual work to repair the car is easy, and all the parts are available,
It is the insurance companies that will make getting that car repaired complicated.
I'm curious did the SUVidiot roll over while it was hitting everything on the street?

He's not gonna lost the car. CMon...the door and frame can and most likely will be fixed. This is not that bad of a hit! Sheeeeesh.....drama not needed. The car looks solid...I dont even think any other glass broke accept for the door.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:46 pm

Looks like replace the door and some paint.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:53 pm

Robert - call me (I'll PM you my #). My wife was recently in an accident, and I learned a lot about insurance here in NC. I have an idea where you can keep from being jerked around.

David

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:55 pm

weekendwarrior wrote: Robert - call me (I'll PM you my #). My wife was recently in an accident, and I learned a lot about insurance here in NC. I have an idea where you can keep your car.

David
So if Im understanding correctly, in NC, if you are in an accident, they can just take the car from you if they feel it is a total loss?

Is this possible?

Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:56 pm

No, they don't just "take it". They total it, and you buy it back with a salvage title (from my understanding).

EDIT - if they show the repairs being equal to, or greater than 75% of the value of the car (based off the books they use), it is totaled.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:12 pm

weekendwarrior wrote: No, they don't just "take it". They total it, and you buy it back with a salvage title (from my understanding).

EDIT - if they show the repairs being equal to, or greater than 75% of the value of the car (based off the books they use), it is totaled.

Thats not cool. I dunno if its like that here in Texas, but I dont see why someone cant simply fix the car no matter how bad it is. I can understand a car that is twisted and turned into a pretzel, but a door dent like the situation here should not be considered "totaled" by anyones standard.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:51 pm

Thanks for the replies...

WHAT!!! :shock:
I didn't get a single "That Sh!t will BUFF OUT!" post? :lol:

My wife drove it home, no fluids leaking, and I kinda hope that it knocked that 45-50 mph shimmy out. :wink: No Luck.
I haven't tried to open the door yet... ( looks like the door seal finally is tight! ) LOL
the vent wing wont close. door looks to be an inch lower from the top at the B pillar.

Hopefully the door threshold will be OK.... I will try to open it tomorrow.

the worst is that this was my wifes dads VW and we got it when he passed last year in a MC wreck, so its kinda special to her.

plus its special to me as its the first VW that I restored.

I may contact or drive it down to MonkeyNut in Charlotte and see what they say... I am thinking they are on this forum. I have seen the ads in the classifieds.

Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:56 pm

i'd say you were pretty lucky for getting hit by an SUV. i was expecting a hardly recognizable vw when i clicked

Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:56 am

benCarn wrote: ach60 wrote: You & your wife are very fortunate, but you still could loose the car.
Be very aware that the cost of that repair at today’s shop labor & parts costs could "total" the car.
Be very careful dealing with the insurance companies to insure you get satisfaction.
The SUVidiot's insurance company will no doubt try to low ball you ($800) for what appears to be a very nice car.
Be prepared, get estimates, and figure out how much the car is worth to you.
The actual work to repair the car is easy, and all the parts are available,
It is the insurance companies that will make getting that car repaired complicated.
I'm curious did the SUVidiot roll over while it was hitting everything on the street?

He's not gonna lost the car. CMon...the door and frame can and most likely will be fixed. This is not that bad of a hit! Sheeeeesh.....drama not needed. The car looks solid...I dont even think any other glass broke accept for the door.

READ THE MY POST!
The guy needs to be prepared for dealing effectively with the insurance companies.
No they don't take your car, they just f@#k you over, and then hand you a salvage title if you decide to keep the car.
There are plenty of post on TheSamba with guys whining about getting ripped off by insurance companies.
Don't be a victim, be prepared.

Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:06 am

Here in PA, if they total your car you have the option of taking the money (FMV) or obtaining a replacement vehicle of the same kind and condition. Ins. company won't tell you that though... it's cheaper & less trouble for them to get one of the "independent appraisers" from their back pocket to throw you a bone. I was in that situation about 4 yrs. ago when my wife's car was totaled. I got my own appraisal, sued & won after a hearing. I didn't have any atty. fees, though so it was worth it to me. Good luck.

jlex

Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:18 am

unknown force wrote: i'd say you were pretty lucky for getting hit by an SUV. i was expecting a hardly recognizable vw when i clicked

Remember that these cars are made out of "REAL:" sheet metal////not the paper thin stuff of today. :roll:

Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:12 am

Was your ins policy for liability only, or full-coverage?

I was hit in my '85 300TD Mercedes wagon back in 1998 - hit by a uninsured woman - totaled my car. Had to fight for 5 months to get a fair settlement, and it took me 4 trips to court to get the charges against her settled - speeding/running red light/no insurance - just to get a $6500 settlement on wagon, plus medical/loss of work reimbursement/etc. Originally, ins co was going to give me $3000 on my clean, excellent condition, low mileage, two-owner car... bastards.

My mom just had an accident in her 1994 Mercedes wagon here in NC; ins co was going to total car & offer her $2500 on her clean, two-owner well-maintained & literally showroom condition car... she had to fight the ins co to get a higher valuation on the car. My folks had full coverage/comp/collision on the car...

My car buddy bought a very rare 1990 Porsche 944 S2 special optioned with all the bells & whistles back in January - in February; hit patch of black ice & met a guardrail here in NC. Insurance was going to total the car & offer him $5500; car was clean & mint condition, he had to get valuation/comparable pricing on equivalent car. As only 449 total were made & shipped to US in 1990, and even fewer were made with his car's exact package of options, he went round & round with ins co for 6 months... only to end up with a crap settlement & he got to keep a car that's damaged but repairable - last word from bodyshop showed repair bill estimate at $20k for parts/labor... needless to say, car is looking to become a parts donor. They were going to total car & offer him $14k, but let him keep car & gave him $11k -

Your best option - IMHO & seeing that I have lived in NC all my life & dealt with ins companies since 1980 - is to get an estimate on repairs from 3 quality, reputable bodyshops. Get three estimates & take the highest to SUV owner's insurance company. Is the ins co of the SUV driver offering any assistance to you in getting your vehicle repair assessed? UNDERSTAND that if the other party is offering to take care of your car, they will use a bodyshop that is on their 'buddy list' & will try to shortchange you. You also need to try to get some type of valuation on your car - e.g., what would replacement or collector value be on your car?

Do some homework - and if car is totaled in NC, they make an offer of let's say, $2000 & they keep car, or $1500 & you get to take car home with you. It isn't listed as totaled or rebuild if you take the car & a lesser dollar value settlement, from my experiences & those of family/friends.

Good luck!

bnc

Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:37 am

I have full coverage on the bug.

I go today to pickup the police report... it will say who is at fault...

My wife drove it to work and parked it ... so nobody was in it at the time...

3 cars total were involved...

Car 1 was pulling out of gas station after being waived on by another motorist that was letting him out.

Car 2 ( SUV ) was in the turn lane passing cars

when Car 1 came through into the turn lane, Car 2 stuck them and bounced off crossing the oncoming traffic lanes... ( how no cars were coming in this direction is beyond me ) hit the curb, took out a sign and plowed into our parked car.

I have someone emailing me photos from the scene before I arrived.

Jake from MonkeyNut already emailed me back, and I will be calling them on Monday to schedule an appt.

I appreciate everyones input on the INS.

Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:27 pm

I agree, this isn't a big deal. You can even get a brand new OEM door for about $350 from Mid America. Considering the impact was high, the rocker/threshold should be fine. The damage to the forward area of the quarter is also easily fixable. The only challenge, although not a big one, is to the hinge area. This are will need the most amount of attention.

With today's body shop labor rates, this could easily run you 2-3k for the repairs. Since you pay for full coverage, stand tough. You don't have to wait for police reports, that's your insurance companies issue. If you pay for collision insurance, then they have to fix it regardless of who is at fault.

Best thing you could do to prevent them from offering a settlement fi they feel the repair costs are too high, collect a half dozen examples of similar car values [ads for sale]. So even if their guide says it's worth $2500, and you have examples that show it's worth $5000, your evidence will help them make the right decision.

It's an insurance adjusters job to determine the correct value of a car. Often their tools do not cover vintage cars as well as they should so any resources you can provide will be in your favor.

-jeffrey

Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:38 pm

Thanks for that info!

Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:02 pm

There are two ways this can go.

1) through your collision coverage, after which point your insurer will subrogate for the monies they paid + your deductible from either or both of the insurers of the other two cars. Once they get the money back, you get your deductible

2) One, the other or both insurers of the other two cars pay for you damage directly.

There is always the slim possibility that the responsible parties were uninsured, but let's not go there unless we have to.

If you have questions or concerns about how to proceed and pursue your claim, please contact me. I am a property/casualty insurance adjuster and have handled thousands of claims just like yours.