Wagon Almost A Total Loss After Encounter With Retaining Wall

If you have been following along, last week my wife hit the retaining wall next to our driveway with the Roady.The appraiser came out this morning, and as I predicted (I used to be an insurance appraiser, remember) it was a close call for the Roady. The damage estimate came to $3200 and change, but it is fixable. He allowed enough for the right side chrome trim to cover my deductible (500) so I am in good shape. By the time I get it fixed, the whole right side will be painted, and it will give me a chance to also take care of a few annoying door dings as well. While I am glad to spiff up the wagon, this is sure not the way I wanted to do it. Oh well, my wife is fine, our rates won't go up, and the Roady gets fixed mostly on State Farm's dime.

glad to hear it wil be getting fixed up

Good deal...in the end!

Need before and after pics!

-Mike

Great to hear that you will save her.

The theory is not to look gift horses in the mouth.

Some might say that you get to have it painted with someone else's money, but you've been paying your premiums, so it's more like getting some of your money back.

Dave

Saweet great to see your fixing it back up.

Yup. If you find yourself in Mark's situation, it's probably a good idea to talk to the appraiser going in to let him know what you want to get out of the claim. As long as you are reasonable, it might happen. ( If you are trying to squeeze a $10,000 payment on a legitimate $5,000 claim, no that's NOT going to happen. ) Going in without talking to him, the appraiser might have assumed the owner would want a 17-year old wagon totaled out.

When I was doing insurance appraisal and wrote $10k in damage and could spend maybe a total of $11k before it would 'total', first thing I did was call the owner to find out where they were at on the vehicle. If they were 'in love' with it, i might work a little harder at coming up with a reasonable repair cost. If they told me they were concerned with the vehicle "never being right again", that's all the response I would need to write it off........

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Great to hear that you will save her.

Must be talking about the wife, 'cause why would anyone get rid of a Roady!

Krash Kadillak wrote:

Yup. If you find yourself in Mark's situation, it's probably a good idea to talk to the appraiser going in to let him know what you want to get out of the claim. As long as you are reasonable, it might happen. ( If you are trying to squeeze a $10,000 payment on a legitimate $5,000 claim, no that's NOT going to happen. ) Going in without talking to him, the appraiser might have assumed the owner would want a 17-year old wagon totaled out.

When I was doing insurance appraisal and wrote $10k in damage and could spend maybe a total of $11k before it would 'total', first thing I did was call the owner to find out where they were at on the vehicle. If they were 'in love' with it, i might work a little harder at coming up with a reasonable repair cost. If they told me they were concerned with the vehicle "never being right again", that's all the response I would need to write it off........

I approached it exactly the same way when I worked, and today as well. It turns out I kind of knew the appraiser (I used to be assistant manager at a body shop where his brother worked) and on the phone before we met, I told him I was a retired PA appraiser. When he walked into my driveway, we sort of recognized each other, and in a moment put the pieces together as to where we had met before. I told him up front I did not want it totaled, and I had already estimated in my head how much the estimate would be. Thankfully I was right, so it all worked out for the best. Guys, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, be sure to speak up before the appraiser starts writing so there are no disappointments!!

Mark,hopefully the wife will stop fretting over the accident now that everything is settled and you are happy with the settlement.Kinda nice to know she cares about your wagon almoat as much as you do!

Mark 96 Roady wrote:

and the Roady gets fixed mostly on State Farm's dime.

Insurance companies don't give you money, they only loan it to you...

buickwagon wrote:

Mark 96 Roady wrote:

and the Roady gets fixed mostly on State Farm's dime.

Insurance companies don't give you money, they only loan it to you...

Well, I suppose you are right-with 3 houses, 4 cars, and all of them insured with State Farm, we do spend a buck or two yearly with those folks.

Well, great news today. I went to the body shop today, with my State Farm estimate in hand. I explained that I already had the chrome moldings necessary to fix the car at my house, and we went over the estimate. I am getting all the damage my wife did fixed, as well as the 2 small door dings, and some previous damage to the lower right quarter panel fixed, for about $200 LESS than what the appraiser wrote! Not only do I not pay my deductible, but I get to keep almost $200. Sometimes it is nice to win one!!

Nice!

Good deal!

Thats a happy ending now take the wife out to dinner.When she asks whats the special occasion,tell her nothing just smile and enjoy your meal.