Beginning of a nightmare

[Mr.Cool]

Our nightmare began several weeks ago on a beautiful Sunday evening cruise. We were returning home from a club cruise along Florida's Gulf Coast. We had stopped at Seaside, Fl. with several club members for ice cream after dinner. The t-tops were removed and the windows rolled down as we crusied back home. As we neared our home county the speed limit was reduced down to 45 mph due to the 4 laneing of the highway. As we approched an intersection an older beatup white ford van was slowing as he approched a stop sign. I saw him look to his left but he never looked to his right. He spedup to cross the intersection of the highway to beat out some approaching cars. But it was too late for us the remaining tenths of a second were counting down and he still did not see us. Then the van hit, the drivers door of our car took the brunt of the impact. I heard that horrible sound of the crunch and grinding of the impact and the scream of my wife as our car was thrown sideways off the highway. We came to a stop very quickly and looked at each other, except for bruises from the seat belts we were ok. But we knew it was destroyed my wifes beautiful silver green 82 show car was destroyed. I peered over the drives door it looked as bad as it sounded from the front wheel to the back wheel the car was torn up. I had to climb over the door to get out.
The sheriffs dept showed up quickly and took down our information. The nose of our car was sticking out into the highway slightly and the officer wanted to push my car back with his car, after a small argument from me about not doing anymore damage he left me alone. As we waited for the tow truck we notice the officer spending alot of time with the other driver.
Son of a B..tch he's giving him the DUI test I said. Then on go the handcuffs and into the back of the patrol car. The officer began walking over to us and I started to get nervous. I hope he's not planning on testing me, I said to my wife. I still feel dizzy from the impact.

To be continued ...

 

[Macgyver]

Very sorry to hear about your loss. I know how it feels to have someone wreck your car to shreds while you were minding your own business, but nothing ever that valuable. At least he went to jail eh?

Man thats tuff! Sorry bro.

 

[matchframe]

So sorry to hear of your loss. I hope it will turn out well in the end, as far as settlement is concerned. Keep us up to date as to what happens.

I look forward to hearing the rest of the story.

Bill

 

[MaineShark]

Grrr...

Maybe "Bubba" in the holding cell is a fan of classic 'Vettes, and taught him a lesson about respect

Joe

 

[78SilvAnniv]

This is a shame.

I know nothing could replace your wife's car. I'm glad the other driver was arrested and I certainly hope he was insured.

Please tell us the rest of the story...you cut it off in mid-story!
Heidi

 

[Tifton81]

What a terrible loss. I was hit in the side while driving my truck three years ago. It was the other guys fault, $1,800.00 damage to his, total loss on my end. To this day, when I come to an intersection and I'm driving my vette, I look at the drivers and if they are looking the other way, I blow my horn.....just to make sure they see me. I don't know if it helps, but it makes me feel just a little better going through the intersection.

So what happened after they arrested the other guy? How bad is you 82? Can it be repaired?

Wiley

 

[Flared69]

what a shame such a beautiful car

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

I truely feel for you. The front end of my 80 was quickly removed from the car two years ago by a guy who said he just didn't see me. Now who could miss a jet black 80 Corvette going down the road.:duh I have the driver's door still put away somewhere if you need one, but somebodies insurance should buy you a new one.

Now where is the rest of the story?

Gary

 

[69MyWay]

Tom,

Good talking to you the other day. I wish I had some better suggestions for you, but right now you just have to wade through this mess and keep looking for the bright side of things.


Good luck!

Most of all, I am glad to hear the Mrs. is doing okay.

Chris

 

[Eddie 70]

Good to hear no one was hurt. That is the main thing. Sucks that you have to lose a nice vette to a drunk driver though. I know how it feels to lose your pride and joy like that. I lost my 79 by being rear ended. Total loss. I hope things turn out for the better for you guys.

 

[Patrick]

Tom,
I am so sorry to hear about this. At least you and your wife were able to walk away from it.

Do you know if the van driver had insurance? Man, I hate hearing about accidents, because they always disrupt lives, even if there's no serious injuries.

Good luck to you. And please keep us informed.

-Patrick

 

[Mr.Cool]

...Part two

The officer came over and explained that the other driver was being cited for failure to yield and dui and that he was being placed under arrest. He handed us a copy of the report as the tow truck pulled up, traffic on the highway was stopped as the truck pulled into position and dragged up our car. Both rear tires were flat and the left rear wheel was pointing out at about 10 o'clock the bird cage was damaged so the t-tops would not go back on but we got the car loaded without incident.

The insurance company requires us to protect the car from further damage so we had it towed to our place where I could cover it for the night. Tomorrow morning I'll replace the wheels and back it into the garage. I told my wife it will be alright for tonight.
When we got home we pulled his license up on the DMV website. Well that figures he has SR 22 insurance and his license is being pulled in 5 days for not paying his insurance bill. The next day we contacted our insurance company. They said an appraiser will contact us in a day. In the mean time I emailed Chris (69myway) with the pictures of the car and a description of the damage I could see. He was nice enough to allow me to call him at work and explain what I could expect from the insurance company and the outlook for our car. He also recommended we track down his insurance company which we did and he had paid his bill so his insurance was still in effect.

It was the end of the week before before the appraiser came out took pictures and asked if I was planning on fixing the car myself. FIX IT! How am I going to fix this? Besides the obvious, I know the bird cage is bent in because the dash is buckled, the windshield is cracked and the t-tops won't go back on. He explained he really did not know older Corvettes and that we should take it to a shop so they could evaluate it.

Saturday night at the local cruise in we were able to narrow our shop choices down to three from talking to alot of people there and one of those was only two blocks from where we had the car stored. We made an appointment and tried to call the appraiser but he did not return our call. The shop looked at the car and told us it looked like it was totalled. They explained that even if they tried to repair it we would never be happy with the repairs. They said they would try and contact the appraiser and have him come over so they could do a tear down and show him that it was not repairable. In the meantime we took the car back and stuck it in our shop.

A fax was waiting for us from the insurance company when we got home. It was an estimate for the repairs for $7800 with the probability of a supplement being needed and that we could use the shop of our choice to repair the car. I knew the night of the accident the car was totalled, Chris knew when I sent him the pictures, the shop knew, everyone who saw the car knew except for this appraiser. I called the insurance company and they said the appraiser would have to go over the car at the shop. So back to the shop I went. I'm sure by now they were getting tired of seeing me but they were very nice. They knew the appraiser and said he was not the sharpest knife in the drawer but don't worry they would do the tear down and be able to explain the prohibitive cost involved to even attempt to fix the car.

Thursday the shop said bring the car in that afternoon, which we did. Late Friday afternoon I stopped in to check on the progress. The appraiser did not show but had called and said he would be out Tuesday. The shop could keep the car out back but with the weather not looking that great for the long weekend it might be best if I took the car back.

To be continued ... The End of a Nightmare?

 

[Eric]

Tom,

Glad everyone is okay but of all Vettes to loose, a Silver-Green 82 - geez man! Hands down that is one of the most beautiful cars GM has ever built in my opinion. Best of luck in getting this all sorted out.

 

[Guy]

Tom,

It's so fortunate you two are ok!
I'd hate to see anyone's car get hit, but owning a show quality silver-green 82 myself, I feel your pain. Good luck and I hope there will be another silver-green in your wife's future. Many of you know there where only 723 silver-green 82's and they are gorgeous.

Good luck!

Guy

 

[Mr.Cool]

Tom,

Glad everyone is okay but of all Vettes to loose, a Silver-Green 82 - geez man! Hands down that is one of the most beautiful cars GM has ever built in my opinion. Best of luck in getting this all sorted out.

Although The car was not my first choice when we bought it, it had really grown on me to the point were it was always our only choice when it came to cruising. The car received alot of attention wherever it went. It will really be missed.

Guy

I remember when you got yours not to long ago. If I rememeber correctly you picked it up in Atlanta. We have a line on two of them right now. We just need to get the old one sorted out before I can turn my attention to a new one.

Tom

 

[Guy]

Guy

I remember when you got yours not to long ago. If I rememeber correctly you picked it up in Atlanta. We have a line on two of them right now. We just need to get the old one sorted out before I can turn my attention to a new one.

Tom

Atlanta it was, Tom. I wasn't looking for another 82, but I loved that sliver-green. As you say, sorting things out has to be done first and I hope down the road you find the one that's just right.


Guy

 

[sac001]

Tom,

Sorry to hear about your loss, what a waste. Most important though is that you and the Mrs. are around to complain about it, with no major aches or pains.

Cars can be replaced, lives on the other hand are precious.

Good luck sorting this out.

Steve

 

[Evolution1980]

What about your insurance coverage?

Man...sorry to hear baout your loss, and as everyone else has stated, most of all you are OK though. Obviously things could have been much worse!

I guess this would bring up another question, and one that I have considered in the past and acted accordingly.

Figure if the insurance company marks the car as a "total loss", they give you the blue book or whatever on the car. Well, if the listed value is only, say $9000, you know for sure your car was worth more, hence you can't just go out and replace it!
That's what I learned about mine, so I had to have a "stated value" insurance on mine.
So, I have my car insured for a "stated value" of $30,000. Now, if my car is ever totalled, I'm getting a check for $30K and gonna go right back out and replace it!

Also, you can buy your totalled car from teh insurane company for dirt cheap. You'll get your title back as a "total loss", but you can take the remainder of the car and part it out on ebay and make some money back on it...as I've found, every little pieces part will sell on ebay. Rear bumper still intact and in good shape? Ebay it!

 

[JohnZ]

Re: What about your insurance coverage?

That's what I learned about mine, so I had to have a "stated value" insurance on mine.
So, I have my car insured for a "stated value" of $30,000. Now, if my car is ever totalled, I'm getting a check for $30K and gonna go right back out and replace it!

If you read your policy and you REALLY have "stated value" coverage, you won't get a check for $30K in the event of a total loss - you'll get whatever the insurance company thinks it's worth, just like regular daily driver coverage. The only coverage that will pay you a fixed amount is "agreed value" - BIG difference. "Stated Value" only caps the maximum amount the insurer will pay, but the actual value determination is still up to the insurer - does absolutely nothing for the policyholder.

 

[Evolution1980]

Re: Re: What about your insurance coverage?

If you read your policy and you REALLY have "stated value" coverage, you won't get a check for $30K in the event of a total loss - you'll get whatever the insurance company thinks it's worth, just like regular daily driver coverage. The only coverage that will pay you a fixed amount is "agreed value" - BIG difference. "Stated Value" only caps the maximum amount the insurer will pay, but the actual value determination is still up to the insurer - does absolutely nothing for the policyholder.

Good call. Made me check on it. here was the reply I got from my agent on the inside...
"the last post is correct on stated value. You have stated value. Again as I have stated previously per the claims department, you have to show receipts showing that to replace your car at value to get the 30K."

I'm pretty sure I have just about every receipt and service record over the past 8-9 years. Even if it's not $30K, it's darn close! :cry :cry :cry :L :L :L


...still better than $7800!