Vannin' Home Forums General Discussion General Discussion My k5 blazer was hit/ insurance question

On 06/10, police woke me up and said my blazer was hit in front of my house. Driver took off but I tracked down the car about two miles away. Cops impounded the car. I got the insurance card out of his car, I only have liability (dumb.)

He's with Allstate. They suck. My blazer was hit hard in the rear corner, moved it 15 feet and knocked the axel out, driveshaft wheel gone, bumper, rear quarter etc.

Allstate accepted liability and their adjuster came out and said "repairable" here's a check for $2200 to which I handed it back and laughed. She said my blazer was worth $8200 by two comparable sales in Missouri and Iowa. It wil be totaled if 65% of $8200 about $5000. This is state law in Nevada.

My shop says $5800 to repair so Allstate wants to send me a check for $8200 with the option of me buying it back for $500. I value it about $15-20000 by comp sales on eBay. I have hired an appraiser for $300 to determine value. I want it fixed not a payout. If I get the value up, the 65% goes up right?

Advice? My body guy says don't hire a lawyer or it will get tied up,for "two years."

What does your body guy know about the law? When dealing with insurance companies it is always best practice to get a lawyers. The insurance companies certainly use them and insurance lawyers know how to screw you out of money.

You have to remember that when the insurance company gives you a check, they are buying your right to sue them, NOT compensating you for any damaged to or loss of property. If you don't accept the insurance adjuster's offer, you will ultimately bear the burden of proving the value of your vehicle. A lawyer will likely be able to assiste you in negotiating with the insurance company and getting you a larger settlement.

Hey mrtoni,

Always a bummer when our vehicles get smashed, glad no one was hurt. Sounds like it could have been worse.
I'd want my K5 fixed.

So, toss up between a salvage title, or if you ever sell, you get beat up with a Carfax anyway. Soo close.
I personally wouldn't want the salvage title.

I defer to Reed, our resident Vanner legal guru on any lawyerly advice.

Pedal to the metal on resolution!
At least your in good hands with Allstate

I am a cirminal lawyer in Washington State, not a civil attorney in Nevada. The law varies wildly from state to state on these issues. For example, in Washington we don't have to buy back the vehicle. I have had two vehicles totalled and both times I just got a check from the insurance company. No title branding, no having to buy it back. My point is you need to contact someone who knows your local laws.

My post was just general suggestions and should in no way be considered accurate legal advice. All I am saying is that if I am going to fight with an insurance company, I want a knowledgeable lawyer on my side. If all you are disputing is the value of the vehicle, then a lawyer can likely get you a satisfactory settlement with just a few letters and with minimal cost to you. I still strongly advise you to get a lawyer.

With any of my older vehicles, including my van, I have had them professionally appraised by a person who is certified in the state of Pennsylvania, he figures out an appraisal dollar value, gives me a detailed copy and will go to court and testify if need be. I also save all my documentation of parts and repairs I have done since day one of owning the vehicle.

Didn't Friske1 go through something very similar to this? He had a hell of a time and had to jump through tons of hoops, but his van got fixed and not written off. You might contact him for input on this if he doesn't see this thread first.

How do you even get a lawyer to mess with any of that since no one was hurt.
20 years ago I completely lost a car that I was paying on due to my brother wrecking it.
The at-fault driver's insurance only paid to get the 3rd car fixed, and by then, they claimed that no money was left for me.
No lawyer I contacted would help me, and they said I was screwed. WTF?
So I paid off the loan anyway, to save my hard earned credit rating.
I lost the car, didn't get a dime, and still had to pay the balance of the loan.

That sucked, but you took care of it quick, I'm sure Rusty. The goal is what matters.

For Big Red it was the same thing, and it wasn't a pretty process, but it got done. Frscke1's G30 4x4 thread in RR outlines a little bit of the story.

Need to do, Have to do, Want to do. Whatever it takes. Pros and Cons is a good list too.

In this situation, alot of things are different. Allstate accepts liability, big plus. The value is almost there. That is always going to be a battle.
IDK what is the best way to push this over the finish line, in this situation. Whatever it takes?

I'd certainly not be enthused about having to take that check. But it is there.
Sure would be a turn of events if it went into the shop, and the repair costs went up. But that hardly ever happens...

A nightmare to say the least !

Ins co wanted to scrap it ... put a $3800 on it. Sent DMV a salvage on it.

I said no way, found out they had compared it to a G20 5 yrs older than mine and a SUV 2 yrs newer but had 3 times the miles. I told him its a 1 of 3 what do you have to compare it to ? The guy was floored.

I ended up taking the $3500 from un ins motorist, even when they raised the value of it the damage was more. I ended up taking out a $10 K loan had the van fixed.

So in this process, My van got hit without me in it, paid the drive shop the $3500, estmate to fix the body was $11.6K said he do it for 10K, Ok, found out some other things to fix, $12K + $3K in new parts &1.5 yrs with out my van.

So even tho is wasnt my fault it still cost me $15K & the ins $3500. But it does not have a salvage title & I got my van back in showroom condition, well almost.

I looked for a lawyer but no takers, not enough money in it for them. Tried small claims to no avail.