Huge light post fell on wife's car...what to do?!

PM FarmerDave. He is in the insurance business and can give you good advice.

 

I'm no help with the insurance advice, but I'm glad your wife wasn't hurt and your kids weren't in the car. Good luck with the whole thing...

 

Glad your wife wasn't hurt, must have been a shock.........good luck with your insurance claim, shouldn't be a problem.

 

I'm not an expert, but diminished value on a 3 year old car isn't going to happen. If it were <6 months, maybe you stand a fighting chance.

It really depends on how indented the car is. If the structure is damaged, it might be a total. Is it a unibody? or Full frame?

 

Hopefully the Budweiser truck didn't leave the scene - you didn't say - this should be covered 100%+ by their insurance.

Glad to hear that your wife is OK.

 

I might be inclined to speak to the Bud distributor and ask them if they want to keep this off of their insurance by settling with you directly. Before that, determine what you want dollarwise. Be generous with yourself. Negotiate something you are happy with. Don't absolutely state that your wife is OK. Don't lie about her condition but imply that she might want to visit a doctor. If you are dealing with their insurance company you will be lowballed at every turn so you need to play that same game ... use every advantage you have.

 

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WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART?? WHERE IS ART??

 

Glad your better half is OK!!! Cars can be fixed...
On your questions, I am not an insurance agent, but...

1) Rates wont go up for a no-fault accident

2) They should yes, it's part of the damages you suffered. Call them and get them to set it up with the rental company. Have them do it directly with the rental Co if possible, because if they reimburse you a flat rate it probably wont cover whatever you rent

3) I think DV varies by state. In some states they allow it, in others not. If your state allows it I would definitely go for it! If it was a local bottler for Bud, they probably have to carry some pretty decent insurance, so it hopefully shouldn't be too big a deal to get what you are owed.

Good luck and glad the wifey is OK!

 

Bo, glad she is OK. Amazing how our lives are lived (or taken) by inches.

How unfortunate.

 

First off, as you mention, the important thing is that your wife is unharmed, cars and lightpoles can be replaced, loved ones cannot.

First off, it won't go through your insurance as long as the Bud truck was properly insured, and I can't imagine a beer distributor rolling with no insurance. Net result is that this shouldn't have any effect on your insurance although it may still appear as a not-at-fault incident in the "great big insurance database in the sky." Which shouldn't negatively impact your rates but when combined with lots of other stuff can be the straw that broke the camel's back IN RARE CASES but it happens.

Other guys should cover

I bet it's totaled so it shouldn't matter. If it's not totaled, no harm in pursuing diminished value, that has so many variables regarding whether you'll actually get it that I can't speak knowledgeably about whether you'd be successful, but go for it if the car's not a total loss.

 

I'm not an insurance agent, but DV I believe depends on the state/policy. At least I know for Ontario Canada for a lot of policies there is a clause "Depreciation waiver" I think its called, that pretty much says if your caris totalled in 2years from the date of purchase, you get a check for the entire amount including taxes, etc. Some states and some companies do have this as well, so it depends.

My guess on the above though is it applies if you're at fault, not if it was somebody else. I'd assume Bud has a good policy either way so that shouldnt be much of an issue.

 

I work in the insurance feild

You are a "third party" to the "other guys" insurance company, providing that you can track down the policy number and person who actually is the insurer.

Second, if you do not have rental coverage (SEF 20 depending on location but I do think this applies to all ) then your insurance company will most likely not cover you unless they track down "the other guy"

If your adjuster is good, they will track down "the other guy"

I hope this helps, If you have any other questions, just give me a holler, I will do my best to help you out.


Ian

 

sue GE

 

Maybe he was drinking and driving! Man I crack my self up......... On a serious note, I am glad that nothing happened to your family, the car can always be repaired.

 

Forgot? What an idiot!

I had a situation where the back door of a semi trailer flew open and ripped to roof off my BMW while I stood there watching in shock! After the driver gave me all the info, he begged me not to mention it to his boss and I laughed in his face. He then drove to his place of business, left the truck on the street outside the gate with keys and a note on the seat saying "I'm sorry but I quit". They paid me off without claiming it on their INS, due to embarrassment. Apparently, this driver had crashed before.

 

I'm sure it will hold up just fine after the repairs, but I see it as more than just $8K. There will be little gremlins with the repairs... I'm quite sure of it. This is replacing part of the unibody frame of the car, not just a body panel.

http://search.ebay.com/2006-honda-odyssey_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQpqryZ2006Q20hondaQ20oddessey

Any thoughts on talking with a Honda body shop and what their experience is in similar repairs?

 

if that minivan were ever to be sold it would seriously be depreciated or only be sold on ebay due to possible carfax pings etc.

they need to cover the depreciated value, which to me is the entire vehicle. I know insurance likes to deal in simple bottom lines, but this sort of accident always irks me. I've had about 5 [yes, and don't let me tell you the jokes I get because I live near SF, CA] rear ended collisions ALL totaling my car. ALL at a stop light/sign. ALL cases never got me satisfaction including the two times [10 years apart] I was receiving physical therapy.

You need to get a good lawyer. I can tell you, my father's business was bud and a few other products, and his guys would sometimes pull a boner: he paid dearly....cost of doing business. BUD, does NOT like poor publicity...stick it to them.

AND DO NOT settle early....a good case takes about 1-2 years min. if injury is involved and I expect if her car were moving, this is very serious.

 

You don't HAVE to fix the car.

First get the highest repair estimate that you can.
Then, get some salvage yards to give you an estimate on buying the car as is.

Repair cost plus salvage value should be close to what you need to buy another car.

 

agree. dump the vehicle. they will NEVER be the same: one of [my several stop accidents] was in a brand new Toyota celica I had purchased, not kidding, two day prior. Truck rammed me and into the shop it goes. Get it out two-three weeks later and same day take the mom to see her sister and on a slow down crossing the Golden Gate bridge got hit my some old lady: Hated the car after that.

as for your wife's neck I can say this with first hand knowledge: check it out. It probably is NOT more than a stress issue, but, take care of it. The very next stressful item will make her neck not only feek like it does now, but I can almost guarantee it will even be worse: trauma has an almost built-in memory chip.

get some massages for a few weeks and some of the stresss will be addressed, and you probably can't get medical for such, but highly recommended. This may be a life long issue. You'ld be surprised how easily trauma can affect one.