Hit and run..Seeking advice!!

1592 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Angry, Apr 6, 2007

88si

Discussion Starter · Apr 5, 2007

3

Ok so about 2 weeks ago my 1988 Honda CRX was hit and ran...somehow some broad hit me from behind causing me to go into a little landscape tree they have in the shopping plazing, causing it to lift literally 2 feet off the ground wedged into the tree. Luckily there was a witness and after a restless week they found out who did it and I know have spoken to the owner and she gave me her insurance, its a long story of why I feel I should not pursue it as a hit and run. (her daughters friend was driving and she didnt know)

Anyway, it ended up cracking my radiator, bending the radiator support inward, front and rare bumper is dented along with there supports, and the light in the back is cracked. I took it to a honda dealer and they proposed $2,400 in damages...The ladies insurance came today and propsed it was only 1,600. The thing that has me the most angry is that the insurance estimator says my blue book value for the car is only $850 and that thats how much I will be getting since it is totalled from the price to be repaired is twice as much. I find it crazy that it can only be in the blue book for $850. I have a full DC sports exhaust on it that it came with. I'm pretty sure that that thing alone is atleast half of $850. I dont know if modifications effect blue book value though? It's a 1988 Honda CRX SI with 165,000 miles on it. Does anyone know the blue book value on it?

Any advice is appreciated!!

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bil

· #2 · Apr 5, 2007

You can run a bluebook value on edmunds, but I think that's about right. Bluebook doesn't deal with much except general condition, age, and original cost.

If you can't come to terms with the insurance company, I'd suggest contacting the owner of the other car and the driver's parents and seeing if they'll agree to make up the difference out of pocket (but get that in writing if you do, and make sure you get down all the particulars about the accident in that document.) If you're willing to be nice about filing charges, they should be nice about the money (a lawdog would cost more).

88si

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 5, 2007

Yeah, that idea sounds like its in my best interest. I cant pay a deductible because I only have liability insurance. The insurance is offering me $850 which is probably more than enough to fix the damages in reality and to keep my car. Though I'd get marked with a salvage title. I dont think I want to do that. If I take her to court I can just sue her for what it costs to fix my car without dealing with the situation of it being totalled, right??

tyson

· #4 · Apr 5, 2007

ive heard ppl argue their cars worth over kbb by collecting classified ads of the same car and showing the real worth of your car.

dont focus on the specialty parts. its a lost cause if it wasnt already declared.

but really, i would just take the $850 and replace what needs to be replaced. its more than enough to cover the damages yourself i think. if theres frame repair to be done, then dont even bother and keep the money.

downest

· #5 · Apr 5, 2007

A friend of mine totalled a car and was only going to get 800 or so for it. He talked to the insurance company and faxed them receipts for everything he put into it, aftermarket parts and all, and ended up getting 2500 for it AND bought the car back for 50 or so.

bil

· #6 · Apr 5, 2007

88si said:
Yeah, that idea sounds like its in my best interest. I cant pay a deductible because I only have liability insurance. The insurance is offering me $850 which is probably more than enough to fix the damages in reality and to keep my car. Though I'd get marked with a salvage title. I dont think I want to do that. If I take her to court I can just sue her for what it costs to fix my car without dealing with the situation of it being totalled, right??

Generally, it's hard for anyone to really win if you go to court. If these folks are reasonable, and you're resonable, you should be able to come to terms without going that far. Mark's advice sounds pretty good, too. And there's nothing wrong with saying to everyone involved that you really just want to get your car back into the shape it was before the accident, and sticking to that goal. But document _everything_!

88si

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 5, 2007

I just found out that he deducted 700 out of his own opinion of the condition of the care for normal wear and tear!?! It should really be 1550 and he just decided to chop it in half...I really dont understand how he came to that conclusion it runs perfect, I have fixed all the rust...I think I'm gonna call and yell at him and his boss till I see it my way. If I had the oppurtunity to buy my car for 850, let alone any running CRX Si, I'd be all over it...

bil

· #8 · Apr 5, 2007

88si said:
I just found out that he deducted 700 out of his own opinion of the condition of the care for normal wear and tear!?! It should really be 1550 and he just decided to chop it in half...I really dont understand how he came to that conclusion it runs perfect, I have fixed all the rust...I think I'm gonna call and yell at him and his boss till I see it my way. If I had the oppurtunity to buy my car for 850, let alone any running CRX Si, I'd be all over it...

Don't yell.

I think you already see it your way (;

Of course they want to pay out as little as possible, that's their business.

What you want, at least at first, is for everyone you deal with in this process to think that you are the most reasonable and nicest person they've ever met. Get some estimates from local shops as to what it will cost to fix the car like it was. Get some quotes from ebay for cars similar to yours. Treat the whole thing like a negotiation, 'cause that's what it is.

Angry

· #9 · Apr 5, 2007

I just recently had to deal with this BS...Only the police caught the runner.

How can my 88HF book for 1400 (in is current condition) and an 88 SI book for only $850?

I went to kbb.com AND NADA and printed out the values of my car, and printed an auction from ebay of the same model/year as mine. I got a little over 1300. I also told them about all the "time" I had into the car and that I was an enthusist. They acknowleged some of the time I had in it since I had just gotin the car a month before. And they got me a rental.

And yes if possible have as many receipts as possible. They also have to compensate for any days you may have missed at work, incovience. It wont be much but it will help.
^^^^
:edit: It really is an negotiation, but if they dont cooperate, you will have to stress with them what you car is really worth. NO INSURANCE COMPANY can PERSONALLY deduct from the value of the car based on thier opinion. Thats Sue worthy material there. Nationwide (the companyt I delt with) told me the value of what the car was actually worth and all. Threaten them with a lawyer if they dont cooperate, they will think different then. They were REALLY nice after I went and talked to a laywer. :twisted: But before I got anything, even a real comment from them, I had to.

:edit: I also realized, you dont have a police report do you? Thats probably why the insurance company is trying to deduct so much from the value of the car. Thats going to be a problem.

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88si

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 5, 2007

You are in the exact same situation I am in! I am also dealing with nationwide. I cant describe how pissed I am over them. My dad has been the talkin to them cause I figured my dad knows what hes doing. I'm gonna get things straight tommorow or there will be hell to pay. If I could find a good condition running CRX for 850 I'd buy it in a minute! Idiots.

rex2nr

· #11 · Apr 5, 2007

As long as you have the receipts, they should be covered. This was the case with my truck when it was totaled a couple years ago. I put new ball joints in and could have had the whopping 24 added to the pay out. I read it after everything was settled, and didn't fell like dealing with them for 23-24 and change.

88si

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 5, 2007

I dont really have any receipts I just feel that my crx is worth a little more than $800 and I dont know how I can go about showing this to them other than showing them ebay sells, what more can i do?

Angry

· #13 · Apr 6, 2007

Where are you located?

88si

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 6, 2007

I am from Pittsburgh, PA. I have found multiple CRX's on ebay with more miles than mine all above 2,000. I think I am going to go to a honda dealer and as many other places I can go to and have them estimate what my car was worth before this incident had happened.

ZeniceguyCRX

· #15 · Apr 6, 2007

get a laywer, they wont even charge unless they win. you have a aging(in a good way)vehicle that has factory oem parts that must be replace with oem parts, sue the #$#^ and get your car fixed the right way

Angry

· #16 · Apr 6, 2007

Yeah it sounds like your going to have to get evil with them. Which sounds about right. Tell them your going to get a lawyer, and go seek some free consoltation from a lawyer that provides it. Then they might listin, if not go ahead and sue. It will be a pain but worth it in the end.

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