Accident and injured in a concours 72 240z

[richard1]

Some of you will recognize me and what happened this week to my car and injuries during an errand for parts to fix a u-joint problem at a nearby local store.

For more details about the story look at my last posts.

I need advise on some subjects because my car is appraised for a replacement value of $18,000.00 and covered by my insurance company.

I have been injured (broken hand with serious surgery next monday) and not at fault. The accident happened the 9/14. One more car is involved with very serious damage but no apparent personal injury to the other driver. The faulty driver maybe seriously injured, having left the site by ambulance.

9/16, a letter of the faulty driver's insurance company was in my mail box telling me that their client was not covered enough for my medical expenses and the car's restoration (for them, a 1972 is a piece of scrap) and she don't understand why I am covered for replacement value for a so old car with appraisal.

Yesterday, the appraiser wanted to come home to take pictures of my injury and I refused. She was already at my front door. The faulty driver drives a car registered in my state(Nevada)but a driver's license from Hawaii.

Does this means that my insurance will have to handle everything for the restoration of my car and I will have to rely on my car andhealth insurance to cover this accident?

For sure I am in the process to have a "dog" attorney.

The car may have about $5,000.00 damage. It is not appraised yet.

[Grim]

I hope your surgery goes well. I would let your insurance deal with the other insurance company. I was t-boned by someone 2 months after I bought my jeep. My insurance company asked me if I wanted to handle it or let them. I let my insurance company deal with it. Who better to fight an insurance company than another insurance company.

[beandip]

You have them by the short hairs and don't forget it and dont' sign anything . remember you are covered by your Insurance , take your time and dont' be in a hurry here . Make them wait . There is no need to be a arse H with the adjusters ,They are just doing there jobs. Be pleasent and stick to your guns . Dont threaten with a Lawyer as this will make them stop any contact with you. the Insurance Co that you have should handel everything . Let us know how this all comes about. I know Hagerty just takes care of things . Gary

[EScanlon]

Although the at-fault driver's insurance has limits, and there are some basic LEGAL minimums that must be met, it's entirely possible that they've capped the TOTAL amount of coverage. Usually those limits are set so that even a stay in the hospital (of a certain duration) would be covered. Washington and Oregon have $100k for the liability portion of medical if I recall correctly. I'm sure other states and yours also have specific minimums.

Your insurance would kick in after they've met their TOTAL cap, and your expenses were above that.

She's probably just trying to bluff you to sign off cheap. Don't let her do that to you. You have a policy with another company for an APPRAISED VALUE. Whether they think so or not, the value of the VEHICLE is $18k, as that is what you've insured for. What they think is not germaine to the discussion of what YOU have negotiated.

Don't argue with her, don't allow her to cajole you into signing off, inform her that you will contact her through your agent OR you will see her in court if you don't get satisfaction. Don't do anything more. Don't be a nice guy and allow her to sweet talk you into being cheated, and believe me, that is their ONLY intent in dealing with you. Their intent is to get you to accept as LITTLE as possible, and will use every trick in the book to do so.

Step out of their game. Inform them that your medical bills will ALL be met and paid for IN FULL, and that INCLUDES ANY REHABILITATION afterward, AND that your vehicle will be RESTORED TO IT'S AGREED UPON AND APPRAISED VALUE. Tell her that this is NOT NEGOTIABLE. If she starts giving you a song and dance story, just tell her that it's obvious you will have to go to court to get settled.

Believe me, they'll come around. This isn't the first accident reported on the sites I've visited. When you search for the other incidents, you'll see that I've advised the same thing each time. When they've taken my advice, and other's supporting comments, the individuals involved have received amounts well above what they were initially offered. And what's more...to their satisfaction.

The other guy's insurance company just wants to get your claim OFF the books, CHEAPLY, QUICKLY, and WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK. You can see that it is NOT in their interest to go to court. This applies even more so, if the traffic citation clearly blames their insured.

As others have said, YOU get to decide what IS agreeable to YOU, not them.

Contact your insurance company, and inform them and if necessary, let them fight it out.

2¢

Enrique

[AChev]

If you don't mind me asking, what type of surgery are you having performed on your hand? The reason that I'm curious is earlier this year I feel skiing and had to have a metal plate and 5 screws put in my thumb, aparently it is a common procedure. All in all the surgery was not too bad. The worst of it was the evening after surgery when the anestetics wore off, fairly painful. Plus they made me go to physical therapy which was such a painfully slow process

[dogma420]

Sorry to be slightly off subject, but if you go to haggerty ins website, and put in my rig 1972 240z with my age, etc (birth 1971)...the total yearly cost at 18,000 value is only $174 per year...can anyone explain this to me? If I did have this insurance, I'd probably also have my farmers on the same rig, cause my insurance is only like $60 more a year with multiple car discount having the Zed on it.

They also talk about cars up to the year 1969 a lot, so what does that mean? Does my 72 not qualify in the same?

Lastly, Scanlon and Bean--who would you recommend for appraisals? I don't have any clue....

Richard--I feel for you, and wish you the best of luck. I would definitely discuss this issue with your attorney, or find one that has experience with this. Don't give in as has been said your isurance if you need it, will cover it.

It isn't unreasonable IMO that another's insurance company isn't going to think a hill of beans on the 18000 value of your rig--hence your insurance...but first things first your medical bills are the concern here and I find it real real hard to believe that the faulty driver's insurance doesn't cover your medical bills...I am not an expert on these issues, but I always thought other partie's medical bills when you are at fault are the most basic of car insurance...if it isn't, man that is just wacked...I mean, why is the guy paying for insurance....one more idiot in the gene pool (and insurance co).

Just my .001 dollars. Take care Richard and keep us current if at all possible on the situation.

[EScanlon]

... if you go to haggerty ins website, and put in my rig 1972 240z with my age, etc (birth 1971)...the total yearly cost at 18,000 value is only $174 per year...can anyone explain this to me? If I did have this insurance, I'd probably also have my farmers on the same rig, cause my insurance is only like $60 more a year with multiple car discount having the Zed on it.....

Haggerty is a specialty insurance company. They will insure you for the agreed upon value that YOU place on your car whereas Farmers and other insurance companies usually do NOT address your "classic" as anything else other than an "old" car. Ask them SPECIFICALLY what value your Z has as far as they are concerned, you'll note that the average car insurance company will try to classify it as a 30+ year old car and not a Classic Collectable. Haggerty will also look at your existing car policy to determine their coverage with you. Beandip just recently insured with them, ask him about the limitations / requirements.

As far as appraisers, I haven't had mine appraised so I'm in the dark on this. However, call an insurance company or an Auto Dealer who deals in classics. There are a couple in the Portland area that should be able to give you source names.

For the others who read this thread, check your insurance policies carefully. Don't presume that because "everybody knows" that your insurance company will be so enlightened. In fact, you'd be surprised at how selective their knowledge is, and how biased in their favor it turns out to be. Remember, if an insurance company NEVER has to pay out on any claim, then, as far as they're concerned and as long as they can still receive your premium, business is good. Don't kid yourself about their motives.

2¢

Enrique

[znovice]

I am not a personal injury attorney (I practice probate and conservatorships), but I think you should still consult an attorney for your injuries. You may have sustained permanent injuries to your hand, which entitles you to pain and suffering. In terms of the car, you should let your insurance handle it. That's the reason why we all pay insurance premiums. I would collect any and all receipts you have showing your investments in the car.

[montoya_fan01]

From my conversations w/ Hagerty, I have found that they will limit the # of miles you can drive your Z per year, they will require that you have another car as a daily driver, and that the car they insure MUST be garaged. If you cannot meet ALL of those requirements, they will not insure your Z.

I'm not saying they are a bad insurance co. (they are a good company) but, I'm saying that they insure collectable cars, and they expect a certain (higher) level of care to the car than a "regular" insurance company expects to an ordinary car.

[richard1]

Montaya is right about Haggerty. They have limitations and restrictions. It is the reason I have not insured the Z with them.

My 1949 Buick Riviera was not a regular driver and I was insured with Haggerty until I sold it two years ago.

I have been refered by a friend of my son to an injuries attorney that is also a cars collector. I will call him monday for an appointement next week.