308 accident. I could use some advice.

Clyde, I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune yesterday. I am glad you did not get hurt. I would not worry about the carfax issue if there wasnt a police report written. If there was, it still does not guarantee it being on carfax. Definitely pick a repair shop and bring it there asap and let them deal directly with the insurance company as has been mentioned earlier. Another thing to keep in mind is if you want the car back or not. If you dont want the car back, it would be very easy for the bodyshop to talk the adjuster into the car being a total loss, as adjusters /insurance companies hate dealing with exotics and would rather total the car and finish the deal than drag the repair out over a couple months and keep on paying for the unknowns that keep popping up. My personal opinion, as much as you like the car, if it is as bad as you say, get it totaled and use the money to get another one, so you can get back on the road and not pass through the whole summer without an F-car. Also speak with your agent and see if falling debris is under a different coverage than stationary debris, before you give him the details of the accident, if there is a difference go with the one that is handled under your comprehensive coverage, not the collision, this would save you from a potential rate increase down the road.

 

+1

Excellent advice. Been here, done this. A repair shop familiar with exotics, and a shop owner or manager willing to fight the insurance guys tooth and nail will get you the best result.

There are a couple of shops in the philly area that do this all the time that I've used.

Delphais Collision in Exton PA is one and the other is Karosserie in King of Prussia.

Mike Franz at Delphais and Dick von Medicus at Karosserie.

I'm sure there are a couple of them up your way too, but what's a flatbed ride in terms of cost to get the best possible result.

DM

 

Clyde,
I am so bummed to hear this happened, and right at the beginning of the driving season

I hope you get her fixed soon so you can enjoy the upcoming months.

FYI, I got advice on fixing my 355 last year, and everyone pointed me to Classic Coach. I ended up using someone else to do the repair, but I wish I had used Classic Coach instead. Hope this helps.

 

IF your carrier is reasonable, they should not code you at fault for this and code it as a comp loss. Comprehensive is generally referred to as a falling object or a "missile" type object. You are within your rights to dispute their liability decision should they give a decision you do no agree with. Weather they overturn the decision depends on who the carrier is and how easy they are to deal with.


As to having it repaired, the damage appraiser from the carrier who comes out is not going to know where to begin when estimate that thing. They will write what they think might be reasonable, but undoubtedly will expect an estimate supplement for things they missed upon teardown. Happens all the time.

 

Clyde

Sorry to hear about this and glad to hear you are fine.

I have had NJM for my daily drivers for years and have had a varity of claims, two on my former Audi S8 - all aluminum car, and others on my wife's cars. One a break in (door replaced), the other a parking garage accident. In both cases they let me pick my shop which in both cases were specially certified for all aluminum vehiciles and while there was some back and forth with the adjuster, in both cases NJM paid the bills to get it done right.

I don't have the Mondial with NJM as they wanted $1,100 for the year versus $575 for Hagerty.

 

Clyde,
I don't think the value of your car will suffer too much if the car is properly repaired. Be up front with the potential buyer and tell them the story about how you hit a queen-size on the highway back in '07, what the damage was and save all the receipts for the work that was done to repair it. It's not like you rolled it while racing. The car will probably be in better shape after it comes out of the shop then it was before you went bed hopping on the freeway.

 

Been there and done that.....I wrecked one of my Studebaker Avanti's years ago and if you want to have fun with an insurance company, tell them you were just hit by one of their insured, you need to get your car repaired and your car is a 1963 Studebaker!

My advice......follow Rifledrivers instructions. He deals with them all the time and will save you a lot of aggravation.

You're lucky, the car sounds salvageable, parts are still available and there are shops that know how to fix 308's

In my case, since there are Few Studebaker Avanti specialists and most Corvette shops seem to believe in repairing fiberglass panels and the use of buckets of bondo. I got smart, and got estimates from shops that do work at a level I would except with only genuine and first rate parts. I also had a list of cars like mine for sale to prove the value to keep the car from being totaled once I faced off with the insurance adjuster the insurance company. The insurance company gave me a rough time at first, but I enjoyed beating them and getting exactly what I wanted in the end!

 

Dr. Wolinsky (308GTB here) speaks very highly of the group at Classic Coach as well, I'd be inclined to move the car to them as opposed to the opinion of the "local independent" shop...

You are gonna need someone that can quote 'Ferrari component costs plus labor installation' off the top of the head......

The 308s are very tough cars, I know it looks bad now but the frames are very stout and if C.C. has the jigs already it'll go smoothly.......

 

It does not sound like you'll get to the 70% threshhold value to "total" it, but be careful, that's where you have to work with the shop sometimes, but as noted YOU have to be completely happy with the repairs...

Good Luck, sorry to hear of your troubles.......

So much $#&$&(*%*(^ in the roads down here, I hate to even drive mine in town much anymore.....

"Give me a home, where the buffalo roam....."

 

Take lots of pictures NOW for your files. They are very useful during the insurance appraisal, during the repairs and as part of your maintenance log and when you sell the car.

The guys here would also probably like to see what happened to your car.

Doug

 

Man, I am glad I am not you. Keep a stiff upper lip (and an even stiffer middle finger if the insurance geeks try to side step this) looks to me like your playing it right so far. Godspeed to full recovery.
-L

 

Firstly, Clyde, I'm glad to hear you are OK. Sounds like your car will be OK as well (meaning not totalled).

I'm dealing with my insurance company over my Dino. And maybe I should just ask my questions here as opposed to starting a new thread. My accident happened back in November of 2006, Thanksgiving. And I'm still dealing with my insurance company now.

My shop estimated the damage to be near $80K. All panels being hand made from scratch. My insurance company took photos and got an estimate for under $25K from another shop. I was amazed that another shop could give such an estimate sight unseen. So I went to visit that shop and they explained to me that there would probably be a supplement once they tear the car down. I also noticed their labor rate as $38/hr. My shop's rate is $85/hr.

I was able to find panels and now, after going back and forth with the adjuster, the estimate is at just under $50K. This, my shop tells me, is the number that the adjuster said they could authorize. The party at fault's policy maxed out at $25K so my carrier is trying to minimize their loss.

The adjuster is no longer with the company and a new adjuster has been assigned. He faxed over his estimate at $26K! WTF???!!! WE'RE BACK AT SQUARE ONE!!! My shop says they basically took his hours and applied the lower shop's labor rate to it. My shop says there's nothing more they can do. They've already reduced their hourly rate to get the number down for approval.

I'm waiting to hear back from the adjuster. But I'm really pissed off about this. My initial blood boiling reaction is to take legal action. But I've cooled down a bit and searched for similar cases here on FCHAT. I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Manny

 

Living in Morris county NJ we have a lot of deer choosing to commit suicide by bumper and I, like Lenovo65, have had good luck with NJM. However, on my 308 I also, like Lenovo65, use Hagerty. I am unclear, is a declared value, restricited use policy, what we are discussing in this instance?

 

Living in Morris county NJ we have a lot of deer choosing to commit suicide by bumper and I, like Lenovo65, have had good luck with NJM. However, on my 308 I also, like Lenovo65, use Hagerty. I am unclear, is a declared value, restricited use policy, what we are discussing in this instance?

 

Living in Morris county NJ we have a lot of deer choosing to commit suicide by bumper and I, like Lenovo65, have had good luck with NJM. However, on my 308 I also, like Lenovo65, use Hagerty. I am unclear, is a declared value, restricited use policy, what we are discussing in this instance?

 

When they started to give me the run-around, I brought up that a rental was going to be necessary for the term the car was being repaired. And I would accept a similar car, not an American sub compact. You priced a rental Ferrari lately? The charges will be from day ONE.

Then ask about coverage for mental duress, you are having issues at work and at home due to your concern for your beloved Ferrari, you might even have to take a lot of time off work and start seeing a therapist regularly......sounds like the beginning of a law suit doesn't it.

I called my adjusters supervisor, and let him know all the issues. The amount he is trying to save his insurance company is a tiny drop in the bucket to a large insurance company. Tell them it's time to pay up and get this behind all of you.

Good Luck

 

Manny,

Time to talk to a lawyer. Most states have laws that protect consumers from arbitrary action by insurance companies. If the insurance company acts in "bad faith" as it sounds like here, you can sue them, recover treble damages and attorneys' fees. But you need to check your rights under state law where you are. If the first adjuster said the company would authorize $50K, and the new one has cut that in half, that sure sounds like bad faith to me. Get a lawyer, have the lawyer talk with the adjuster, mention bad faith on their part, and chances are a check for $50K will miraculously appear at your repair shop to cover the cost of having the car done.

 

If they keep dragging there feet, (one of the insurance companies tactics to wear you down) tell them you are going to file a complaint with the state insurance commissioner. I have done it before and it worked very well. I had a check in my hand the next day. Insurance companies have rules to follow just like everybody else. Good luck.

 

FasterIsBetter & Betelgeuse,

Thanks for the advice. I'm waiting to hear back from the adjuster. And if that goes nowhere, I'll speak with his supervisor. My lawyer is standing by if that fails.

Thanks again,

Manny

 

If you can't manage to get the car repaired, I hope the silver lining for you is the fun of car shopping for a new toy. I know how you feel; I'd rather have my car repaired than totaled if I smashed it up, but at least with the "agreed value" coverage, I would have the money and the fun of getting a new toy. Maybe you'll be able to try something different if it comes to that?

Ken

 

Sorry to hear of their decision. Is there any chance you talk them out of it. How much did the body shop say it would cost to repair?

Did you hang on to the accessories from the car? I am looking for a few things...Tool kit?

Doug