[Shotimes] Insurance claim: Looking for input.

[Donald Mallinson]

Carl,

YOu can negotiate with the company (or YOUR company should be doing 
this).  They will almost always low-ball you to start off.  Main thing 
is this was not your fault, you should not sign off on anything till you 
are happy.  Maybe a little visit to the doctor for a neck brace, or a 
hint that you won't sign a release till you know about 20 years down the 
road exactly what effects the wreck may have on  you.....(assuming you 
were in the car when it was hit).

Tell them to go find you a replacment car that is as good for $1499?  If 
they are totalling the car, then they should replace it 
Get some information to back you up off the SHOclub.com web site (used 
falues) and the other used car value sites.  If they support your 
argument, print it out and show it to your insurance agent.  You really 
should not be dealing with the other guy's insurance company, that is 
what you pay your company for.  At least that is the way it works 
between State Farm and Me.

Don Mallinson


Carl Prochilo wrote:

>The estimate to fix my car was $1825.  The insurance company of the party at fault says that the value of my car is less than the repair costs so they want to settle for $1499.  I don't know how they determined the value, but I suspect most of it has to do with the mileage on the odo of 215K.   Now, the car has several upgrades, and they are telling me these have no bearing on the value of the car.  Is this true?  Is my logic valid or should I just forget about it.  My letter back to them has stated the following.  
>
>b"	UPGRADE:  The replacement engine is an increased displacement one at 3.2 litres (original was 3.0 litres).  It had 80,000 miles at time of removal from donor car.  The original motor had 197,000 miles when it failed.  Therefore the total mileage on the new motor is approximately 98,000 miles.
>b"	UPGRADE:  The front brakes work referred to below are another performance upgrade.  These brakes are upgrade to the larger 12b brake size used by later year SHOs.  In addition, steel braided brake lines were installed.
>b"	UPGRADE:  The car also has a new $1100 wheel/tire package upgrade from discounttiredirect.com.
>b"	Collectively, these items increase the value of this car.
>
>
>====
>Cheers,
>Carl Prochilo
>1992 Ultra Red Crimson