Update -

Insurance adjuster looked at the vehicle today. I am shocked, but they are going to repair. The car is already at the body shop. I was there when the adjuster looked at it. She estimated $9K in repairs. She is expecting a bit more once the body shop starts disassembling it.

She said she probably would not have totaled it until repairs reached around $17K. I was stunned since that is about $1K away from full retail value of the car.

But, good for me. I get to keep a known entity. I get to keep a car a like. And I get to keep no car payment.

Original Post -

Well, damn. My Friday evening wasn't good. This is going to be a hassle for the foreseeable future.

Heading home from a work event on Friday. Stopped at a stop sign with an overhead red flasher, looking at the car ahead of me. I hear the squeal of locked up brakes and tires sliding on asphalt and I start to look towards my rearview mirror. But in the fraction of a second it would take to move my eyes and focus, my world explodes. The car behind me was also stopped. And a 15 passenger airport shuttle van slammed into that car at 40-50mph, pushing that car into me.

By some miracle, neither myself, the two people in the blue car, or the driver of the shuttle van needed EMS transport to the hospital.

You can see the damage to my car. Plus I had a bike rack and three bicycles installed on the back of my truck with had a value of well over $30k.

My truck was in amazing condition, but it is still a 2015 with 230K miles, therefore its value was only $11-$12K. I am hoping the insurance company agrees to repair it rather trying to total it. I do not want a new car, I just want mine fixed.

My second call, after I called my wife, was to a friend who is partner in one of the largest personal injury firms in Florida. And then today I consulted with two other attorney friends and a relative who is a commercial insurance agent. So, I have a pretty good foundation with which to proceed.

I guess I am just here venting. And hoping for well wishes on getting this resolved as easily as possible. Be safe out there on the roads.

My truck, what is left of my rack and the bikes.


The car that got sandwiched. Notice there is no trunk left.


The van. It had a camera, so the whole thing is on video somewhere.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: holdem,

Dang man. That looks like a lot of damage. How did you feel today?

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Dang man. That looks like a lot of damage. How did you feel today?

Well, I think I am ok. But the relative I mention above, he got rear ended about 5-6 years ago. He walked away from the wreck, but a few days later started hurting. Went to the doc and had 5 ruptured discs. So I am thankful so far, but I am not counting my chickens until they hatch.

I'm glad you're okay.

I'm not an adjuster, but I wouldn't be surprised if your car is totaled, since it's only worth ~$11k. I've seen basic fender benders that easily hit $8k-$10k in repair costs these days, and the visible damage to yours is much more extensive than those.

Damn, glad you guys are ok it seems. I think it would be wise to go be checked out. That was not a a minor accident. Good luck with it getting resolved vehicle wise.

Glad you're Ok and also have an attorney on board. Photo everything and figure out your losses beyond your vehicle. Contents can get lost once it's towed.

I agree it’s likely yours is totaled.

How will the bikes be handled?

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
I agree it’s likely yours is totaled.

How will the bikes be handled?

My understanding is that when stuff like that is attached to the vehicle, it is considered part of the vehicle.

Your SUV is fixable. Not totaled.

Glad you're ok.

Glad to hear that everyone is o.k. at this point!

Was your Suburban pushed off of the road as a result of the accident or did you drive it there to get it out of the street?

Good luck on getting everything resolved and for your / everyone’s continued good health!

Glad you survived. Hate to see nice vehicles crunched but they can be fixed or replaced. Don't be surprised if you're REALLY sore tomorrow. If you experience any sharp pains, head to an urgent care.

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:

Was your Suburban pushed off of the road as a result of the accident or did you drive it there to get it out of the street?

I was pushed partway out of the road. Once I came to my senses I put the car in park, got out, looked around, then moved the car out of the street.

The blue car, where you see it in the pic, that is where it ended up. It never moved again after the impact until the tow truck showed up.

Three bicycles, each worth as much as your SUV.

Glad you are OK and hope you stay that way. While your vehicle can be fixed, the damage is over $10k. I'm basing that having been rear ended a few months ago while driving my wife's Explorer. In the pictures I took, you could barely see any damage. The paint wasn't even scratched, but it cost $4k to fix. Looking at your picture, I see at least $4k to $5k in just parts then add labor and paint work to that. It's a shame it was a beautiful vehicle and you haven't had it that long as I recall.

Glad you’re ok..

Ask one of the attorneys you talked to about how to make sure the shuttle company keeps the video footage. Don't let it get timed out or deleted. Whatever law enforcement agency that took the report might be able to make sure it is kept.

Bet they fight you on who is actually liable for the damage to your SUV.
Then try to fuck you on it's true value and deny the bicycles.
I speak from experience...

I can't give you legal advise but I have rejected offers and forced a restoration repair on something I didn't want to lose. It wasn't for sale. And there was nothing comprable for sale.


Oh go buy a GOOD 2 camera dash cam.
I have a 4 camera. Marzy got one after that lying bitch sideswiped him through a green light.
But his front only caught enough to get him paid after a LOT in obtuse bullshit from their "adjuster".

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Your SUV is fixable. Not totaled.

Totaled doesn't mean "not able to be fixed".

It can be totaled simply due to it costing more to fix than the vehicle is worth.

quote:

Originally posted by SigSAC:
Ask one of the attorneys you talked to about how to make sure the shuttle company keeps the video footage. Don't let it get timed out or deleted. Whatever law enforcement agency that took the report might be able to make sure it is kept.

I made the FHP officer aware there was a camera. The driver of the van admitted that the camera works. The FHP officer asked multiple times about the footage. Finally got an answer that it could not be downloaded remotely. Made sense to me, probably on a SIM card. So at the very least the responding agency is aware it should exist and the drive admitted so.

And, since it was a 4 way stop, there were cars in each direction. There were multiple witnesses that stopped and gave their information.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: holdem,

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Three bicycles, each worth as much as your SUV.

I totaled it yesterday so I have it ready for the adjuster. Just shy of $36K.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Your SUV is fixable. Not totaled.

Totaled doesn't mean "not able to be fixed".

It can be totaled simply due to it costing more to fix than the vehicle is worth.

^^ THIS

I grew up with a Dad in autobody. On thing Dad always says is whether or not the airbags deploy (i.e. high dollar item) is often the difference between an older vehicle being totaled or not. In other words, being totaled is the combination of parts and hours for bodyman, painter, and mechanic.