- Joined
- Dec 7, 2012
- Messages
- 3,603
On Saturday, July 14th at 3:37AM, I was sleeping on the couch and hear what sounded like someone hitting some garbage cans and hundreds of empty plastic pop bottles bouncing on a hard floor.
I looked out my window and saw a wheel laying in the road and noticed that the girl who lives next door's Saturn Vue was awfully close to the rear of my wife's Civic. I go outside to find a Jeep all smashed up, the Vue rear-ended and completley side-swiped and my wife's car side swiped, rear-ended (from Vue), quarter panel messed up. There was a wheel laying in the road that ended up belonging to a 2018 Ram pickup.
All down the road there was aluminum drag marks... person driving the Ram drove down the road and parked in the lot of a church down the road from me. Ripped the wheel off, part of the control arm and was smashed up. Also, found out that he lives in a house next to the church. Police were called and couldn't find or talk to the guy -- I speculated drunk but without them talking to him I guess they couldn't get him for DWI. I have yet to check with the police if he was charged with hit and run. Guy was a kid only 22. He was OK.
We got the police report stating all three vehicles were not at fault as they were parked and the Ram was at fault. Police report says he swerved to avoid hitting an animal. Obviously why didn't you stop, but that is beyond the point. At this point, and I make sure to say my whole spiel every time I talk to his insurance company (because I am ruthless when I am wronged
):
So I tell Travelers every time how drunk their client must have been. Probably doesn't do much but makes me feel better. Hoping they'll drop him or his insurance will go SKY HIGH. Any ways...
I have Geico as an insurance carrier and from info on the police report, they were able to determine this person had Travelers insurance (from the insurance code). We called Travelers together, filed the claim and setup an appraisal date/time. I had to wait a week becuase Travelers couldn't get ahold of him to verify anything happened.
Travelers inspected the car and their estimate is around $1900. My body shop guy that I go to, who does phonemical work, quoted $3800. He is going to remove and replace the ENTIRE damaged panel (whole side of the Civic) with one from Honda in addition to the other quality work. This guy has a lot of sweet cars. Done super nice Corvette restorations/repairs, old C10s. This is the kind of guy you want to fix your vehicles. Travelers wants to pay to just repair the panel and light reconditioning. I am going to have Geico appraise the damage this Thursday to see where their quote lies just to have on file.
I want the car returned to how it was before their client decided to mess up three cars. I am thinking I am going to call Travelers today and say "I will have this car repaired how my shop prefers and recommends to a condition of before your client decided to go on their tirade or you will be hearing from my lawyer and see me in court" and threaten legal action. If they don't want to play ball, I am seriously considering legal action.
Another friend of mine who is a mechanic says he has done this before when a semi totaled his Foxbody and has won -- also sued for the legal/lawyer fees.
Am I out of my gourd for what I want fixed? I don't have an issue suing if by any chance some of you think this is normal or reasonable? I just don't want a half-buggered botched up repair on a relatively new car (2014 Civic). I really don't know how to proceed.
I know I can have Geico pay to repair the car, rental and then enter subrogate for my deductible... but at this point I really want it fixed like my guy wants to. I'd also prefer to not have to front the deductible. I have already had conversations and he will repair the panel if that is all Travelers wants to pay for, but I don't feel it is right.
Also would like to sue for my time having to deal with all of this. Truthfully I want this kid to cook. Good lesson to learn. Don't get hammed up and drive.
PS: Can I ask the police if he was charged with hit and run? Is this something you do?
Also, how do I figure out diminished value at this point? Thanks and sorry for all the questions, I am kinda lost.
I looked out my window and saw a wheel laying in the road and noticed that the girl who lives next door's Saturn Vue was awfully close to the rear of my wife's Civic. I go outside to find a Jeep all smashed up, the Vue rear-ended and completley side-swiped and my wife's car side swiped, rear-ended (from Vue), quarter panel messed up. There was a wheel laying in the road that ended up belonging to a 2018 Ram pickup.
All down the road there was aluminum drag marks... person driving the Ram drove down the road and parked in the lot of a church down the road from me. Ripped the wheel off, part of the control arm and was smashed up. Also, found out that he lives in a house next to the church. Police were called and couldn't find or talk to the guy -- I speculated drunk but without them talking to him I guess they couldn't get him for DWI. I have yet to check with the police if he was charged with hit and run. Guy was a kid only 22. He was OK.
We got the police report stating all three vehicles were not at fault as they were parked and the Ram was at fault. Police report says he swerved to avoid hitting an animal. Obviously why didn't you stop, but that is beyond the point. At this point, and I make sure to say my whole spiel every time I talk to his insurance company (because I am ruthless when I am wronged
- He had to of been drunk
- If he swerved to not hit an animal, why didn't he stop
- If it was an animal, was a raccoon or a possum, no dogs or cats are out, so (sorry animal lovers) hit the varmint
So I tell Travelers every time how drunk their client must have been. Probably doesn't do much but makes me feel better. Hoping they'll drop him or his insurance will go SKY HIGH. Any ways...
I have Geico as an insurance carrier and from info on the police report, they were able to determine this person had Travelers insurance (from the insurance code). We called Travelers together, filed the claim and setup an appraisal date/time. I had to wait a week becuase Travelers couldn't get ahold of him to verify anything happened.
Travelers inspected the car and their estimate is around $1900. My body shop guy that I go to, who does phonemical work, quoted $3800. He is going to remove and replace the ENTIRE damaged panel (whole side of the Civic) with one from Honda in addition to the other quality work. This guy has a lot of sweet cars. Done super nice Corvette restorations/repairs, old C10s. This is the kind of guy you want to fix your vehicles. Travelers wants to pay to just repair the panel and light reconditioning. I am going to have Geico appraise the damage this Thursday to see where their quote lies just to have on file.
I want the car returned to how it was before their client decided to mess up three cars. I am thinking I am going to call Travelers today and say "I will have this car repaired how my shop prefers and recommends to a condition of before your client decided to go on their tirade or you will be hearing from my lawyer and see me in court" and threaten legal action. If they don't want to play ball, I am seriously considering legal action.
Another friend of mine who is a mechanic says he has done this before when a semi totaled his Foxbody and has won -- also sued for the legal/lawyer fees.
Am I out of my gourd for what I want fixed? I don't have an issue suing if by any chance some of you think this is normal or reasonable? I just don't want a half-buggered botched up repair on a relatively new car (2014 Civic). I really don't know how to proceed.
I know I can have Geico pay to repair the car, rental and then enter subrogate for my deductible... but at this point I really want it fixed like my guy wants to. I'd also prefer to not have to front the deductible. I have already had conversations and he will repair the panel if that is all Travelers wants to pay for, but I don't feel it is right.
Also would like to sue for my time having to deal with all of this. Truthfully I want this kid to cook. Good lesson to learn. Don't get hammed up and drive.
PS: Can I ask the police if he was charged with hit and run? Is this something you do?
Also, how do I figure out diminished value at this point? Thanks and sorry for all the questions, I am kinda lost.
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