Accident Damage Help

[Gino]

Good afternoon all,

Well, it's not a good afternoon for me.... while I was eating my lunch at home a bus hit my car damaging o/s/f wing, alloy & ripped the bumper from the car. There maybe more damage that I haven't seen yet.
Fortunately, the driver left his details so I'll be claiming from their insurance on Monday. My fear is that this will result in a write off. Obviously I will fight this, I have spent far too much money on it in the past few months having the rot in the rear sills cut out & replaced - I had only just had the tracking done yesterday & was supposed to be having a stainless steel back box making up & fitted on Thursday!! - let alone in the years I have had the car to let them write it off.
Hopefully I can secure a payout so I can rectify the damage. To that end I am now on the hunt for replacement parts. If anyone can help with the below list I'll be forever in your debt;

o/s/f wing (maybe nearside too as there is rust coming through on mine)
Mk 1 bumper
Chrome grill
One Union alloy
Diesel undertray
Mk 1 projector headlight

I've still to check properly so I may have to add to the list.

Many thanks for whatever you are able to do, or simply for your support,

Rob

[YHT]

Hi Gino, sorry to read of your loss. I suspect Insurers will try and write the car off and give you the market value. IF you accept their offer after haggling try and keep the car as salvage and do whats needed if you can. Fortunately the "market" value of R75s is going up but not fast enough I fear. Good luck.

[planenut]

So sorry to hear of this. Don't take the insurance company's first offer. Good luck!

[Gino]

I have no intention of accepting the 1st offer, I have spent far too much to be insulted like that.
Unfortunately I fear I will have to be realistic & take a payout, I can't see them paying to have the work done. Apart from the parts I'll need, there's the respray to factor in plus any damage to the steering/drive shaft to consider.
I guess I'll be looking for a new Tourer in a week or two
To say I'm not happy is an understatement

[MSS]

Your worst case situation is the insurer paying out market value minus what they would get for it from a salvage company and allowing you to keep the car. Being able to show receipts for recent work to improve the car would increase the likely payout to an extent. Tracking is just maintenance.

At the end of the day, you do need to be realistic that it is a 19 year old car with a market value around its scrap value. Discussing the offer with the insurer's valuer/engineer politely as opposed being on the offensive charged with emotion would be my recommendation. The engineer will not be out to insult you!

These things happen. It's not the end of the world - as I kept reminding myself when first my pride and joy Rover 820 and later Rover 420 were written off many years ago.

[macafee2]

Sad news but at least you have driver/company details and it was not a hit and run.

How about asking the bus company to foot the bill? You will still need to tell your insurance company but you wont be making a claim and write off should not be an issue.

How can I tell the difference between a projector and any other? I have a donor MK1 so I can check the headlight if I know what I am looking for.

macafee2

[polinsteve]

Originally Posted by MSS

Your worst case situation is the insurer paying out market value minus what they would get for it from a salvage company and allowing you to keep the car. Being able to show receipts for recent work to improve the car would increase the likely payout to an extent. Tracking is just maintenance.

At the end of the day, you do need to be realistic that it is a 19 year old car with a market value around its scrap value. Discussing the offer with the insurer's valuer/engineer politely as opposed being on the offensive charged with emotion would be my recommendation. The engineer will not be out to insult you!

These things happen. It's not the end of the world - as I kept reminding myself when first my pride and joy Rover 820 and later Rover 420 were written off many years ago.

When mine was written off as a result of an oncoming car misjudging a corner, the resulting head on collision destroyed the front end and popped 3 out of 4 new tyres. Luckily for my partner who was driving, the cabin remained intact and the doors still opened, although they stuck slightly. My insurers paid out within a week, a very fair settlement well above my expectations. They also paid for the scattered Christmas shopping and full tank of fuel. My frantic Ebay, Autotrader and other advertisers checks was a waste of time because the offer was so good.