08-27-2007, 12:13 PM
white_2kgt Wrote:Dave Wrote:...The value of my truck was based on local prices for similar vehicles, not NADA (I have no idea how they got the number, but it was definitely in my favor), less damages prior to accident, then settled.
RE the part in bold. I would have told them to take that number and shove it up their lilly white asses. Who gives a CRAP if there was 'prior damages' in court it doesn't matter. If you have a bumper on your car with a few scratches on it sure, it's not 'new' and nobody would pay like new prices for it. So if someone then rams into you cracking the same bumper in 1/2 they don't buy you a new bumper 'less prior damages'. That's BS. They pay for the ENTIRE cost of a NEW bumper. You could have gone the rest of your life living with those scratches but you won't go riding along with a bumper that's cracked in 1/2! I hope you didn't settle with them on a price for your truck minus prior damages. If so you just got a screwing. I would have told them see you in court, at that point they would have raised the price b/c they KNOW they'd lose in court.
Actually the adjuster I ended up working with was really cool, he knew it was a bullshit move. Based on their calculator, which took average price for sale, less damage to entire car prior to wreck, I would have owed them a couple hundred $$ :-D. He threw out their estimate, deducted a little and comped me for a rental :-). He was a fellow racer actually, and totally understood how much it screwed me to lose a reliable tow vehicle, regardless of what it looked like.
Yeah, I probably could have pushed for more, but to what end and how much? We all know the truck wasn't worth a lot, despite how well it ran and how sturdy it was. We'll make up for it on medical compensation.