I got hit. before and after pics of my 300zx

[Sportzcoop]

Here's the story:

I was heading home crossing a big intersection at like 1230am. when my car was hit by a guy who went through a red light. I didn't even see him until he hit me. he was heading south and I was going west. He hit me towards the back of my passenger side and at my rear wheel with his front driverside. I was sent spinning into an oncoming traffic lane. luckily no one was coming. I ended up next to a gas station, and when i stepped out of my car the guy was cursing to himself, and then at me. He was trying to make a scene yelling i went through the red. At this i shouted for everyone to look up at the light which was still green for me and shortly thereafter turned red (meaning it was green when i crossed it). No one stuck around to be a witness. the cops showed up and it took a report. My car is probably totaled because of this A-hole, who by the way was carrying an expired insurance card with him at teh time of the accident, and i have yet to find out if he has insurance. What can i do?

Links:Before
http://www.z32.org/unsorted/IM000059.JPG
http://www.z32.org/unsorted/IM000061.JPG

After:
http://www.z32.org/unsorted/IM000063.JPG
http://www.z32.org/unsorted/IM000064.JPG

[pennypinch]

How about thank your lucky stars that no-one was sitting in the +2 portion of the 2+2?

Seriously, though, I'm not really familiar with multi-car accident insurance claims, but I'd wager you'll just have to state your case and hope someone believes you. More than likely, it'll be shared liability and you're ****ed.

[Nanotech9]

its a real bummer too - cause you had such an awesome car...

him not having insurance (if he really didnt have any) will make you go to small claimes court. They will probably be sympathetic to you cause he had no Insurance, and he will end up paying the court such-and-such an amount, then they will pay it to you. If he stop payments, then he goes to jail, and you have to wait for your money al ittle longer. Youll prolly get to keep the car though cause he has no insurance company to claim it.

[Sportzcoop]

Jenny my car is only a 2 seater not the four seater model, but you are right i am lucky no one was hurt I had just dropped off my girlfriend minutes before the accident.

Dark Fury, luckily I have uninsured motorist insurance i am just bummed out over losing my car, even if they give me market value it wont be enough to get another one in such great condition. I invested thousands getting it where it was. And I am sorry about the pic size I dont know how to modify them because it is not my site, if you could tell me how then I would do so I hate the big pics.

Nanotech thanx for the compliment and advice I will kee u all updated on the situation once the insurance claims adjuster visits and makes it all official.

[TheLoneGunman]

Here is the answer. Please contact me directly and we can talk about your specifics further.

1. Accidents are judged on fault and probabilities. I would guess that there is no way you can be judged to be 51% or greater at fault (the other guy tends to lose a lot of credibility over not having insurance). Therefore, they can't count this against you.

2. If you have uninsured motorist, make a claim and then your insurance will go after him. Either way, you won't have higher premiums

3. If you DON"T have UM, then I hope you have Collision. Make a claim against your OWN insurance and then when they investigate and see it isn't your fault, THEY will sue him to collect.

4. Do NOT sue this guy or even contact him unless you have NO insurance but Liability. Let the insurance company do it. They have lots and lots of attornies who love to go after uninsured guys (I know, I used to work for a major firm that represented the insurance companies -- our letterhead took up half the page)

5. Piling on the insurance is not that much more than basic coverage and you really appreciate it when you have something like this happen. Check out - http://www.smartmoney.com/insurance/auto/index.cfm?story=assessment2 (I am quoted :-) )

6. There are a lot more security and other cameras all around than you might realize. Chances are the gas station or others caught the accident on tape. Insurance investigators are good at finding these tapes (and they will be pretty damning when they cross examine the guy and show him the video)

7. Wasn't the other guy ticketed for expired insurance? If not, he can get ticketed and they can impound his car.

Bottom line -- Let YOUR insurance company do the work for you.

[Sportzcoop]

I appreciate it. I will post specifics in the morning if i find anything out.

[overama]

Sportzcoop,

I used to work for an auto insurance company and wanted to clear something up for you (and others):

UM (uninsured motorist) coverage is coverage for INJURIES to you as a result of being in an accident with an uninsured motorist. UM does NOT cover damages to a vehicle.

The only type of uninsured motorist coverage that covers your actual vehicle is called UMPD (uninsured motorist property damage). This coverage is not available in all states. Check your insurance dec page to see if you have it. If you don't, and it's available in your state, you should probably add it - it's generally pretty cheap.

As TLG stated, hopefully you have collision coverage on your vehicle - this coverage will pay to have your vehicle fixed (less your deductible).

Good luck.

[LPMiller]

Originally posted by Sportzcoop
Jenny my car is only a 2 seater not the four seater model, but you are right i am lucky no one was hurt I had just dropped off my girlfriend minutes before the accident.




Um the gotapex logo does not instantly indicate the person commenting is in fact, Jenny. I will admit, she IS a talker.

[Sportzcoop]

My fault I had just read one of her posts in another forum, and just still had her SN in my head I guess. I didn't reread the post right before I replied like I usually do.

[TheLoneGunman]

Sorry, I guess I was using shorthand there.

Just as I normally refer to Comp & Collision as one unit when they are actually separate, it is the same thing for UM. In California (where I am), they have multiple forms of coverage (injury, propery, and even deductible waiver). Normally you just buy them all as a package.

The bottom line is that regardless of whose check you cash, if you are not at fault, your rates won't go up.

[dleinbach]

Gotta dispute that - your insurance can go up even if you're not at fault.

My wife was hit broadside by an 83 year old driving a Buick LeBarge, and pushed end-on into a guardrail at 50. She was 8 months pregnant at the time. The other driver was heading across the street, in his hometown, to a body shop, in a rental car. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm.

Our insurance has gone up because no-fault means your medical bills go to YOUR insurance company, and since they paid a claim, bingo. Ours is up $100/year for 3 years for $800 paid (scary since some of her individual medical expenses are over $2500); that stays on our insurance record for 7 years, making it damn near impossible to change companies without getting hit with insanely high fees.

As for the car, we had his insurance, the rental car company's insurance, and some other insurance in the fray. I fought like hell to get a reasonable amount of money out of them for the car - it was mint, low mileage, all options; they compared it to high mileage (or unknown mileage), stripped pieces of crap. Initial offer for our '90 Probe LX value was about $1500. I ultimately got them to $4800 or so. Find comparable cars on http://www.classifieds2000.com and http://www.traderonline.com, use http://www.kbb.com and http://www.nada.com, and don't take any crap from them.

We're planning to sue him - my wife has three herniated disks from the accident; can't pick up our son without severe pain. But, on the bright side, our son is none the worse for wear from the accident. Also, we had had the car for three weeks, and the one it replaced had frame rust and would have folded in half upon hitting that guardrail.

[Sportzcoop]

Ok I got there first offer which is actually higher than I would've expected but still not enough for me to get another Z in such excellent condition. They are offering 9,629.38-500(deductible) and I need your help to get more. I have been searching local papers for ads for 1990 na's (or non turbo) Nissan 300zx's that are advertised as more than that. These are the Z's in excellent condition. You can all help me out by looking in your local papers for similar ads, and scanning them and emailing them to me. Please help if you have ever driven a Z you would understand why I want another one in great shape so badly. Any help is appreciated.-Pete

[Ice-9]

I'll keep an eye out for 'em in the papers. Good luck, man.

[dleinbach]

Nutshell dump about what you had? Year, options, miles, where you're located, etc...

When our Probe was hit, I found two online for around $8K... I actually sent the claims adjustor a 30 page fax of examples and book valuations at one point. I went so far as to use the ones they had found (BTW, ask how they arrived at the number they offered - they eventually provided me with the list they had used, then I disputed it item by item) on http://www.kbb.com and http://www.nada.com, to point out how invalid they were as "comparable vehicles".

[styleee]

that is almost exactly what my audi looked like when my sister (who was borrowing my car) decided it was a good idea to cross the road when a car was coming at 60mph. only, she got hit on the drivers side, and was in the hospital for 3 weeks w/ injuries.

but i guess that is beside the point...

what i was going to say when i first started reading this was that if they total your car, and you could get it fixed with the money the insurance money... DON'T DO IT

just because, i'm a complete moron and i fixed, actually a different car... i never had good luck with the whole automobile in one peice thing, my lovely car. only to have it die completely 3 months and 5K later. because i was a fool. so, just don't do it. ;)

but, then i read on, and it doesn't seem like the thought even crossed your mind, smarty.

[Sportzcoop]

1990 300zx non turbo (na) 2 seater
Stillen GTZ-r Front end $700+install and paint
Eclipse Stereo System (took most of it out all thats left are doors speakers)$200
Pioneer 12 Disc changer sent flying during accident. $330
Leather seats power driverside
Climate Control a/c
T-tops
Hornet Alarm w/ remote start keyless entry, keyless trunk (all required additional motors to be installed.
New tranny with only 27k on it
New alternator
New battery
4month old Z rated tires with almost all tread left.
Power windows
heated mirrors
too much to list
Basically the car was spotless and in perfect running condition, all the flaws that nissan made on teh mechanics of 1990 300zx's were replaced.

[dleinbach]

They (insurance companies) will probably say some examples are too far away... so just to get an idea, what state are you in? Other than confusion, assuming you're in my perpetual state too.

[Sportzcoop]

New York, Long island, Huntington Station,
I would think NY NJ PA or any where around here would be fine. I am gonna fax them most of the info tomorrow. so please help everyone.

[Sportzcoop]

any ads with 1990 300zx na(non turbo) over 8875 will help me, it turns out that is all my car was valued at the rest was tax that they added on. Scans of ads would be most beneficial but even location/number/some details will do.

[dleinbach]

80K miles, 8300 OBO, Monticello, NY
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A0+R1183519+Q353251297
87K miles, 10,000 OBO, Chicago area
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A0+R1206028+Q553252429
48K miles, 12,500 OBO, Maine
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A0+R1198376+Q553252429
96K miles, 10,000 OBO, Brookline, MA (Boston)
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A0+R1184864+Q553252429
150K miles, $9000 firm, Richmond VA - yeah, it's down south, but even 150K at $9K?
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A0+R1185841+Q553252429
29K miles, $17500 OBO, Clifton, VA
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A0+R1171267+Q553252429
35K miles, $10,995 OBO, Midlothian, VA, no power windows, etc.
http://www.classifieds2000.com/cgi-cls/ad.exe?P1+C14+A282+R512116316+Q553252429

Now what I did when trying to value my Probe, I took each one of the examples I found, and started from their asking price, then added the options mine had had. It even had options which didn't show up in the list on kbb, etc. Full digital dash and trip computer, for example.

Hope some of that helps...

BTW, NADA book value is one that they usually profess to go by. But... they use a local book. What you can do is: go online (unfortunately, they only allow something like 5 online valuations per day) and compare the localized value from your local, physical nada book to the online value which is nationalized. Now you have a basis on which to compare cars to your local area.

I just overwhelmed the #)%(*)#(*%)( insurance guy with paper - took over two months(and they would only pay for a rental car for a month), but got me there. More logic: the other driver has deprived you of transporation. You don't have the time to shop around for a good deal, so you're going to have to pay retail. So they can't lower the number since "nobody pays the asking price". :-)

Good luck...

-Dan

[El Scorcho]

call larry h. parker...he'll fight for you

[Sportzcoop]

Thank you. I am hand delivering or faxing all of my information that I have collected from them tomorrow. They gave me a list of cars that they considered comparable to my car but all they took into account was the yr and the mileage, not the maintenance or the condition of the cars. I called some of the "comparable" car owners only to find that many numbers were no longer in service. A few cars had blemishes and dents, mechanical problems, never had routine maintenance performed(ie: timing belt changed, didn't have working a/c etc. I can't wait to talk to them tomorrow. I hope I get good money because I am considering a silver 93 with black leather, going to check it out tomorrow.

[TheLoneGunman]

Originally posted by dleinbach
Gotta dispute that - your insurance can go up even if you're not at fault.

Our insurance has gone up because no-fault means your medical bills go to YOUR insurance company, and since they paid a claim, bingo.

Yes, you are correct. In a "no fault" state, YOUR insurance goes up because you had the misfortune of allowing someone to hit you.

In California, we like to assume blame so your insurance doesn't go up.

However, divorce in California is NO-FAULT, which means it's the guy's fault (but isn't it always :-) )