On Tue, 3 Nov 1998 18:06:05 -0500 (EST) krisn@iname.com writes:
>Doesn't look TOO terrible (though any damage to my poor car is
>terrible to me), but he definitely caused some damage. The bumper is
>now no longer set away from the backend--the body's caved in a smidge
>and my trunk is difficult to open/close because it hits the license
>plate frame now. The body also seems to have buckled slightly above
>the passenger's rear wheel.
>
>Just needed to share, I guess! Anyone have any ideas on how much this
>will cost to fix? Wild guesses (I know you can't really tell without a
>close inspection) welcome. His insurance will cover it (I hope), but I
>still have to get it done. Grr.
I dont want to appear alarmist - or worse, litigious, but you might have
a bit of a problem here.
1)This type of distortion to a monocoque body is usually quite difficult
to straighten -
Make sure you get at least two estimates preferably from MG speciaizten
(love that expression!) and make sure they check the drive train
alignment et al - a shunt like that can knock all sorts of things out of
kilter, even little things like the fuel filler to tank seals - so make
sure its a thorough inspection
2)You can bet a dollar to a pinch of sh*t that the other guys insurance
co is going to value your car as a 21 year old POS worth $500 and tell
you its totalled!
Make sure you involve your own insurance co to fight on your behalf -
Give them a full accident report .They may also be a**holes but your
paying them to be on your side - Do you have a collectors agreed value
policy on the car? - if so you will be better off than if you just have
regular coverage
3)Tell YOUR inse co that you suffered whiplash in the accident - it will
give them ammunition to fight on your behalf - the prospect of a personal
injury claim should send the other guys inse co rushing for the checkbook
4)Do all this without any delay, a sense of urgency is anathema to
bureaucrats especially if you hassle them every couple of days - "squeaky
wheel" syndrome is very real in insurance matters!
Good Luck, as i said i dont want to appear alarmist and it might well all
go very satisfactorily but you need to be proactive to protect your
interests
mike robson
69 roadster
70 BGT
53 Riley
|