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Car Flood & Insurance
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| ÖZmözis |
So this is a question for the insurance guru's.
I was driving down at unwind road off Cheery St. yesterday after my soccer game during the downpour (which was insane).
Long story short, my car hit a big pothole or something, couldn't see what as the road was like a river. The driver side sank side ways into some sort of mud/sewage. All my team mates stopped and tried to help but none of us could step inside the ground as we would just simple sink on the side that the car was stuck. The water was almost up to our knees. I phoned the police and a tow truck company, it took about 10 minutes for them to come but by then my car had filled with disgusting black sewage water up to the steering wheel.
Both the police officer and tow truck guys said that it was a write off. They also said that it would be covered by insurance if I had full coverage. However, I didn't get any report from the police office, all he did was take my information down and told me to just report to insurance since this was an 'act of god'. I know I should have done this, but I forgot to get his badge number since he didn't give me any sort of paperwork or report. Will this be an issue? I also should have taken pictures with the car filled with water but my cell phone out of commission.
The car is now sitting in the pound and inside was still filled with some water and stinks like a sewage.
I called my insurance company yesterday to let them know what happened. I have to wait for a call from the adjuster tomorrow or tuesday.
I do have full coverage, I doubt they will be able to fix my car. How do I get the maximum back for my car? A similar one sells for around $4,000. It was a 1998 Crown Victoria and the car was in mint condition, not a single rust on it. Doubt that matters, but will I get anything?
Has anyone on here been through a similar situation? |
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| VDub |
| So the boat didn't float eh??? |
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| chinamon |
| quote: | Originally posted by VDub
So the boat didn't float eh??? |
:haha: |
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| ÖZmözis |
| quote: | Originally posted by VDub
So the boat didn't float eh??? |
No, the previous owner lied :( |
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| E2EK1EL |
Wow dude, hope the insurance will take care of you without any hassles.
Keep us updated pls. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| Oz... If you have collision coverage you should be okay. Collision covers damage resulting from a collision with anything that is in or on the ground and with the ground itself.... technically, what you did (if hitting a pot hole/sink hole/ditch) was collide with the ground. It is likely that this will be ruled an at-fault accident... all collisions with the ground are (unless your insurer is kind and waives the liability but that's not likely). Your vehicle will be deemed a total loss if the cost to repair it is greater then the ACTUAL CASH VALUE of your vehicle less any salvage the insurer will receive.... I would suggest that if you have extensive interior water damage plus some collision damage then this is exceedingly likely. If your vehicle is a total loss then you will receive the ACTUAL CASH VALUE of it less the deductible. ACV is the amount you would receive for the vehicle if you were to have sold it immediately before the accident.... NOTE: SOLD not BOUGHT. Essentially, the insurer will determine what vehicles significantly simillar to your own are being purchased for by resellers, average those purchase prices out and come up with a range. Generally, the first offer you receive will be in the middle of the range... for a vehicle like yours the range is probably $500, so you should be able to negotiate up $250-$500. As far as getting the maximum value out of it... there isn't much you can do... just make sure that the appraisor is aware of anything that would increase the resale value of your vehicle (low mileage, upgraded features, aftermarket accessories, etc). |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| The only thing I would add is ask for a copy of the appraisal document before you negotiate any settlement with the insurance company. The appraisal document should have a breakdown of how they came up with a value to the vehicle. I would also suggest doing some research on autotrader.ca and see what other people are selling the vehicle for. The more information you have regarding the value of the vehicle the better position you are in to negotiate. If you have any aftermarket parts on the vehicle or upgrades then make sure you have copies of receipts to give the adjuster. |
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| E2EK1EL |
| quote: | Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
The only thing I would add is ask for a copy of the appraisal document before you negotiate any settlement with the insurance company. The appraisal document should have a breakdown of how they came up with a value to the vehicle. I would also suggest doing some research on autotrader.ca and see what other people are selling the vehicle for. The more information you have regarding the value of the vehicle the better position you are in to negotiate. If you have any aftermarket parts on the vehicle or upgrades then make sure you have copies of receipts to give the adjuster. |
That's RIGHT! I did this and it worked out for me!
(Don't PLAYA hate, negotiate!)
*Also dont accept the first offer they give you ... you didn't hear this from me* |
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| ÖZmözis |
Spoke with the insurance company.
They told me the car is a write off without even going to the pound to inspect the car? Nor has a mechanic even taken a look at the car yet? They assume the engine sucked in water. How can they tell if the mechanic hasn't even inspected the car? If I could get it fixed I would love to, but im sure the whole interior carpets, seats, electrical need to be replaced.
The tow truck company is trying to milk the situation with a bill of $1,500! (For initial car, towing, using wheels, using a wench to pull the car 60ft out, km's etc etc etc)
I need to find the police office that arrived at the scene since I didn't get his badge number, there was just too much going on at the time my head was a mess.
I assume they would have a record of my call since I called 911 and that's how the call got out to the police. I'm going to try every division near by, but its going to be hard without a report. All he did was take all my information down and my drivers license number.
Insurance says that they don't want to pay such a ridicolous amount to the Tow Company. I don't blame them but the Police Office told me it would be all covered and didn't write a report because he considered this an 'Act of God' Insurance company says this is a 'single car accident'
The police officer's car was the black models, traffic police? Not sure if that will help in my search.
The insurance company says they believe everything I say but would like to speak to the police officer in order to avoid the tow truck company from milking em.
Ay ay ay! We'll see what happens...
Anymore suggestions? |
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| StereoPrincess |
| quote: | Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
The only thing I would add is ask for a copy of the appraisal document before you negotiate any settlement with the insurance company. The appraisal document should have a breakdown of how they came up with a value to the vehicle. |
i tried getting that document from my claim rep but she didn't offer it easily. i had been in a rental for over a month tho and was very happy with the settlement. way more than i expected in total and they adjusted it based on new tire receipts and what the car comes in as standard and the lower than expected milage. so i was ok with the settlement. just be careful, the insurance company will try to drag it out so you are forced into a settlement. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by ÖZmözis
Spoke with the insurance company.
They told me the car is a write off without even going to the pound to inspect the car? Nor has a mechanic even taken a look at the car yet? They assume the engine sucked in water. How can they tell if the mechanic hasn't even inspected the car? If I could get it fixed I would love to, but im sure the whole interior carpets, seats, electrical need to be replaced. |
Given the value of the car it is probable that it is a total loss. The problem with inspecting the engine to determin if it did suffer from hydrostatic lock is that they will need to pay someone to pull the engine, open it up, and inspect it. Given the costs involved and the minimal difference there is likely to be between repair (if there is no damage to the engine) and ACV (if there is) they are making an economic decision to consider it a total loss (trying to control costs). This is entirely their decision to make. If you would like to fix the vehicle then what you would need to do is to settle for the ACV and purchase the salvage -> you have first right of refusal on it; essentially you would just need to match the highest salvage bid... on a car like yours we're probably talking no more then $500. If you purchase the salvage you can then do with it whatever you like; including repair, at your own cost.
| quote: | | The tow truck company is trying to milk the situation with a bill of $1,500! (For initial car, towing, using wheels, using a wench to pull the car 60ft out, km's etc etc etc) |
that doesn't surprise me... although depending on how far they towed it that's not really too bad considering they had to winch it out.
| quote: | | I need to find the police office that arrived at the scene since I didn't get his badge number, there was just too much going on at the time my head was a mess. |
Contact the local division, they will have a record of who responded to the call, pass that info to the adjuster, they can then order his notes.
| quote: | | Insurance says that they don't want to pay such a ridicolous amount to the Tow Company. |
but they will... or they will negotiate something, either way it isn't your problem.
| quote: | | Police Office told me it would be all covered and didn't write a report because he considered this an 'Act of God' Insurance company says this is a 'single car accident' |
It is a single vehicle accident. The officer characterizing it as an act of god is also correct; however, only as far as the Highway Traffic Act is concerned (meaning he didn't want to charge you under the HTA so he declared it an Act of God); it has no bearing on the insurance coverage... it is an at-fault collision.
| quote: | | The insurance company says they believe everything I say but would like to speak to the police officer in order to avoid the tow truck company from milking em. |
Yeah, essentially they are just looking for the officer to confirm the use of the winch, the distance winched, and the time the truck was on site so that they can compare it to the bill.
FUN FACT: the most expensive recovery and tow I ever had to pay for was $78,000. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by StereoPrincess
i tried getting that document from my claim rep but she didn't offer it easily. |
I hate when adjusters do that... truth is they have to provide it to you if you ask for it... this is your claim, they are obtaining the appraisal on your behalf, they must provide it to you if you request it (unless litigation has commenced). |
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