Hit by a drunk driver at 10am in the morning!?!

[Morella]

In Tucson, I used King & Frisch. Avoid those phone book cover places, and anything with a bird on it, like the plague. I would just go ahead and call them now. You don't have a thing to lose, and they do all of this shit that you're wondering how to do for you. If the lawyer is pushy, find another one. You want one that will tell you what offers are made, and give you the option of whether to accept it or hold out for more.

-denise

[Custom Coffin Works]

So I now have to prove the value of the Commercial Chassis to the insurance agency. The NADA and Kelly doesn't help here. Any one got any idea's? I wonder if they would accept one of our members as a expert opinion here.
By the way...the drunk made bail and was contacted by Gieco and did accept responcability for the hit and run. That's one bit of good news. Now we are waiting on the owner of the car to say he gave permission to drive it.

[hotroddwayne]

So I now have to prove the value of the Commercial Chassis to the insurance agency.

Got any "collector car" dealers like we do here in Ohio? Go to one or two of them & have them do an appraisal on it for you. They determine value from knowledge of the collector car market... not a NADA book...

[Custom Coffin Works]

I know of one...I'm going to be up the street from them Sunday. I'll stop by and ask. Thanks

[Morella]

Sucks that they can't just make a fender for you and braze it in. A pro could make that part with a planishing hammer for less than what they're going to pay you. Of course, you would have body filler on your quarter, but that's not as big a deal as it used to be. They're even using that green body filler around the edges of brand new cars now, to make sure that there aren't any waves around them. Black is easy to match, too.

-denise

[Zachary]

I have dealt with this sort of bullshit before. I am going to be brutally honest in hopes that you will listen to my advice. Sometimes people need some harsh advice to actually help, so that is what this is, and none of it is anything meant to be hurtful, but it is strong.

YOU ARE FUCKED. Why? Well two reasons really, first is that apparently the cops and the insurance are too damned lazy to do the work they are legally obligated to do. Secondly you sound like you're going to let them fuck you over. Listen to me, really LISTEN. Don't be a pussy, don't be their bitch, because by the way you're talking, it sounds to me like that is what you're fixing to do.

First off...the police...they are apparently trying to dodge paperwork...seeing if he will accept responsibility? FUCK THAT! You have motherfucking witnesses, there is no "Seeing" to anything, press those fucking cops to go after his ass and press charges, they are legally obligated to get off their lazy asses and prosecute this asshole. PLUS, they were on the god damned scene, they performed breath tests, they HAD HIM THERE, they saw the damage, there is corresponding damage on the vehicle he got out of, there is no damned question here, drunk driver hit your car, he doesn't NEED to accept responsibility, there is sufficient evidence and it is now apparently up to you to make sure the cops follow through.

As for insurance, they are COUNTING on the fact that you won't know what to do, will get intimidated or discouraged. They are going to nickel and dime you and discount your vehicles worth. Got any receipts for the car? I sure as hell would add up EVERYTHING I ever spent on it, if you don't have a receipt for a major repair, paint, etc, I would go back to the shops and see if they will print you a duplicate. They will, I promise you, make this hard on you and hope you will be pushed around, don't be. Your persistence will pay off. Be polite, but firm, let them know you are not going to be screwed and are NOT going away and will not relent.

Bottom line man, you have three groups here that are going to try to fuck you, the cops, the insurance and the drunk ass piece of shit who hit you, but the only one to blame in the end if you don't fight and kick ass on your own behalf, will be you. That is my honest advice, it's not meant to be personal, but it's a negative situation and you need to man up if you're going to come out on top.

[EternalCombustion]

Tough words Zach, but very true. Insurance companies are out for themselves. No matter how many nice, friendly and "we are on your side" commercials and slogans they put out.

Here is piece of advice for the future. Everyone here should take notice of this too. If you have a relatively nice coach and you want to try to protect yourself a little in case something like this happens. Get an appraisal before you have a problem. Make sure your insurance company has a copy of this appraisal and set your insurance values accordingly. Don't trust your insurance on this "agreed upon" value bullshit. Get that value on paper from a licensed appraiser.

[Custom Coffin Works]

Bottom line man, you have three groups here that are going to try to fuck you, the cops, the insurance and the drunk ass piece of shit who hit you, but the only one to blame in the end if you don't fight and kick ass on your own behalf, will be you. That is my honest advice, it's not meant to be personal, but it's a negative situation and you need to man up if you're going to come out on top.

Well thanks for putting the fire under my butt to get a grip of whats going on. I have no intention to just bend over and take it up the ass.
The driver is gong down for extreme DUI. He just made bail, thats all. The owner is gone until the end of July (according to Gieco). Police reports are on order and should be here any day now. Once we get those in hand, I can go straight to an attorney.
I have been asking friends and family about a good lawyer but it seems they all have a good one when you don't need one, but when it comes time for one they draw a blank.
I know this is going to be a present to any accident lawyer I call due to the witnesses and evidence so I'm not worried about being burned.
To bad your not an attorney...the fire you have burning inside you is just what we need to prosecute these repeat offenders.

Thanks Zack...

[Morella]

Bottom line man, you have three groups here that are going to try to fuck you, the cops, the insurance and the drunk ass piece of shit who hit you,

That's why you need a lawyer. Don't talk to anyone else. They will do all of that shit for you, and it won't cost you a dime unless you win money, and they may even be able to talk your expenses down. I know that you didn't have medical expenses, but mine were talked down to almost nothing. Chances are that a lawyer knows a body shop who gives them a discount for throwing business their way.

BTW, after a careful look, it appears that you have some body filler on that quarter already, near the bottom, maybe done for rust repair. You might want another quarter anyway, because there could be cancer in there.

-denise

[Zachary]

Glad to hear it's at least looking up a bit, I just hate to see people get screwed on stuff like this. I've been through this more than once and almost every time I had to really fight them to get a decent treatment!

[Custom Coffin Works]

Got my 2 reports from the Police dept. The driver is going down with "Super Extreme DUI". Which is bad for him. I have spoken with three different Attorneys all which tell me this is a Property Damage case since I was not in the car at the time and they don't handle them. So I am waiting on a call back from a "Property Damage" lawyer who was recommended by one of the ambulance chasers. The owner of the car (which was not the driver) is a member of a band called "Zuco103". They have been out of the country touring, that's why it took so long to get in touch with them.
I have a meeting tomorrow to have the Gieco rep look at the damage and evaluate the repairs. They wanted me to just drop it off with this body shop and drive away their rental car. I can see them towing my ride away after realizing it ain't worth the money to fix ( in their eyes)...I 'll keep you all up to date...
You can have my Hearse, after you pry it from my cold dead hand...

[Boogeyman Con Carne]

I know you have reservations about driving away in the rental car, so let me add to your possible discomfort. Who will pay for that rental car? Under what ledger heading will it be alotted? It will go against the estimate for your car I'm betting. Stand there and watch them do the estimate. If you can, seek out 3 coaches like yours for sale and print up the ads. Your coach isn't in any estimate guide I have ever seen. An item is worth what people will pay for it. Once the estimate process is over, drive the car home, and when/if they are ready to do the repairs, make arrangements for your own alternative transportation.

[Custom Coffin Works]

17.2 hours to repair. I made sure he knew it was not to be totaled. He had to improvise as his books did not show any Comm. chassis caddys. He has it listed as a 1978 Cadillac Sedan. Gieco cuts you a check right on the spot. $911.94 to have their body shop repair it and repaint it. I think thats a little under what it would cost normally. He said it would take 5 days to repair.
Now heres the thing. I know an employee at this body shop personally. The body shop is independent of the insurance shop. They do work for several dealers in the area. I trust this kid with my car. He came out and was asked point blank by the adjuster if 9oo bucks seemed fair and he ( a body repairman by trade) said no it's not enough. So I am off to get a couple of different opinions on the repair.
Now it was explained to me that Gieco has to send out an adjuster to where ever I take the car to get repaired if it is not the shop they recommend. If the cost is more than the check they gave me, then the agent deals with the shop directly and writes them a check. This seems strange to me. I can understand why they want me to just have them do it. Keeps people from having inflated estimates and pocket the money. I think that even if I decide to have Joe blow down the street fix it on the side, the 900 still wouldn't cover the cost.

Good news is they hate to total cars now. Too much hassle with owners he said. This car is special and would require special attention from Gieco. I'll keep you all up to date on my drama.

[Hearse_Guy]

sucks it got hit sorry man

[Custom Coffin Works]

Well no matter where I go,the bottom line is they pay for it. They do not give you 4000 bucks to fix it and you go out to have it done for 2000. Just don;t work that way. At least it won't have a salvage title on it.
I drop it off tomorrow at the body shop for a week. They are footing the bill for the extra cab pickup truck. I think there must have been about 15 seconds of silence when I told them I need a truck to haul caskets around town. I will be very picky about the repair. If it don't look good it goes back. I have that right.

Funny story, one of the shops I took it too had an issue with the body guy not wanting to work on it. He came in while the manager and I were out surveying the damage. He told the shop Foreman that he was not going to work on the "Hurst" if it was dropped off. The shop manager called me after I had left and referred me to a different shop because of the problem with his employee. The body-man was a native American. Only reason I found out is that my friend that told me to go there is friends with the front desk girl. He said the manager and Foreman had a closed door meeting about the issue before they called me. The redskin was not hesitant to say out loud that he was not to work on the car. I wish I could have been in there when he was going off.