Well here's the quick lo-down on how it happened. I was on a 4 lane road (2 lanes each way), and in the left lane when some jackass talking on his cellphone decided to pull out in front of me to turn onto the opposite direction. Well, he fu<ked me in the @ss good! He tagged my drivers side fender, headlight, curled the hood down, also very slightly, i mean i can fix it with my bare hands bent the frame down (behind the headlight) and also destroyed my stock crx front bumper. Here's the deal. His insurance company and I already talked and they claimed full responsibility for the accident (which i knew was gonna happen). But, obviously CRX's aren't worth that much to an insurance company (Even tho mine is worth the world to me.) I've already invested so much into it especially with my B20 swap and all my bolt ons. I've actually got a pair of aftermarket fenders, corners, and a WW front bumper in my garage. I would only need a hood. The claims guy is gonna look at it next wednesday at a dealership. I have to drive it there. What do I do if he totals it? I am obviously gonna buy it back because of the motor and what I have invested. I don't feel like strippin' it and searchin for a new rex. Well, if he totals it, what's gonna happen. Lets say I buy it back, then what? Is that gonna mess up my title and registration because it would be a salvaged vehicle? I would have to get it inspected and go thru emissions again right? I can pass emissions so that's not a problem. Basically, i'm saying I would buy it back, and take the money (prolly 1300-1500) and use that to buy a hood and bolt on my garage pieces. I would fix the frame myself...it's not even major because it steers fine. What is your guys opinion on this oh sooo fine matter?

 

Maybe just ask for enough to not total the car if thats what they want to do. Otherwise good luck . You're going to need it.

 

They don't HAVE to total it. (you'll get more money though). If you can find out where you can get the parts to fix it (dealership, etc. ) and show proof that there are legit places where you're getting the parts, they'll deal with you. If not. You can get a lawyer. If they start getting smart *** just tell them that if you can't work out an agreement that you'll have to get a lawyer, then you can mention that you already went to the doctor. They'll get scared, giving you a couple grand is better than you getting a lawyer, it'll cost them a lot. But you can also mention that you cannot drive the car (if your lights don't work %100 and/or it does not steer right or is unsafe for any reason). You'll get money for your inability to drive it till it's fixed. Just let them know you're not stupid and they won't be as likely to try to rip you off. Just tell them you ran the number for what everything is costing you and it's 900 bux (parts, labor, opportunity cost, lack of ability to drive, etc). Or more than 900.. not too high, or they'll not go for it.

 

Thanks for the info. I have a friend that works at a dealership...I've used him before. I'll go there and have him create an estimate that totals near $900. So i'll show this when the claims adjuster looks at my car? I wasn't sure if he is supposed to total up the damages or not...
anyways...ill do this
like i said, all i need is a hood (but i could hand fix the one that's there now) because i have aftermarket fenders, and a Wings West RS front bumper in my garage as well as an extra set of headlights...
maybe i'll get a CF hood outta all this and a paint job...

 

Stay cool and do everything by the books.

Go to the dealer and ask them to recommend three different shops. Then get estimates from them. Make it clear that you will not except non-Honda parts. Make sure that the work includes having the frame checked for straightness after the work is performed.

Make it clear with the adjuster that you do not want to "total" the car due to the decreased value of it if you buy it back with a "salvaged" title.

Insurance companies are much like you and me, they don't mind paying what is reasonable, but also don't want to take it up the rear.

If they will not put out what you feel is a reasonable amount to repair the car and also keep it from having a salvage title, get a lawyer.

Most of all, don't sign anything or except any money until you are happy with what has been agreed to!!!!!

I've also got to say that if you use an estimate from your friend to "puff-up" the amount you expect beyond what it costs to fix, then you are as much a poop as what you are expecting the estimator to be.

Wes

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wes V &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I've also got to say that if you use an estimate from your friend to "puff-up" the amount you expect beyond what it costs to fix, then you are as much a poop as what you are expecting the estimator to be.

Wes</TD></TR></TABLE>

He was going to do that so he could prove that they didn't have to total the car, in other words it would be less than what anyone else would say.

Good thing you didn't have that wings west stuff on when you got hit. Good luck!

 

man that sucks i just got rear-ended last week my car is at the body shop getting torn down now and they r gonna deffinetly total it (my bumper supports in the back are touching my spare) im gonna try to get the most out of the insurance company considering i just put in a new tranny last year and have a new fender from an earlier fender bender and a bunch of other stuff i just bought for it. as long as you have all your reciepts for everything you've done you should be able to get more, i dont know how things work in Ct. but in maryland if you buy your car back you can fix it but then it has to be reinspected and then you would have a repaired salvage title. good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civic90 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">man that sucks i just got rear-ended last week my car is at the body shop getting torn down now and they r gonna deffinetly total it (my bumper supports in the back are touching my spare) im gonna try to get the most out of the insurance company considering i just put in a new tranny last year and have a new fender from an earlier fender bender and a bunch of other stuff i just bought for it. as long as you have all your reciepts for everything you've done you should be able to get more, i dont know how things work in Ct. but in maryland if you buy your car back you can fix it but then it has to be reinspected and then you would have a repaired salvage title. good luck</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm gonna have an estimate made for around $900 which is a few hundred below book value to be safe. I honestly don't want any money out of this. To tell you the truth, if i had the decision to either total the car or just not recieve any money, i'd choose to not recieve any money because I really don't want my car to be totalled. I mean I can fix it, but then it would have a salvaged title, and I would have to go thru inspections and stuff...and I really don't think they would like my B20 or exhaust and hi flo cat n wut not...lol.

So let me get this straight, they won't total the car unless I allow them to?
I really need to know cuz I DONT want to total the car. I'm not trying to make any money off of this. I could fix the car myself tomorrow and you would never know I was in an accident...because I have all the parts.
I don't want to lose my precious rex!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bambam &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm gonna have an estimate made for around $900 which is a few hundred below book value to be safe. I honestly don't want any money out of this. To tell you the truth, if i had the decision to either total the car or just not recieve any money, i'd choose to not recieve any money because I really don't want my car to be totalled. I mean I can fix it, but then it would have a salvaged title, and I would have to go thru inspections and stuff...and I really don't think they would like my B20 or exhaust and hi flo cat n wut not...lol.

So let me get this straight, they won't total the car unless I allow them to?
I really need to know cuz I DONT want to total the car. I'm not trying to make any money off of this. I could fix the car myself tomorrow and you would never know I was in an accident...because I have all the parts.
I don't want to lose my precious rex!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would assume that if your friend at a dealership quoted you for like the hood or something, basically cheap, and it was not near the total mark, then you would be fine giving that estimate to the insurance company for them to use.

It really sucks that it takes next to nothing to total our cars.

 

you have the option of not accepting the insurance companies offer and takin your car the way it is and not get any money wich sounds like a good idea in your case so just dont call them leave the case open itll **** the insurance company off but oh well

 

FYI, they don't have to go by bluebook. It goes by what the car could resonably be sold for and what it would cost to buy another just like it. Blueblook on those cars are low, but it actaully cost a lot more to buy. Look on autotrader or something and find a bunch of cars like yours to see what it would cost. Make sure you consiter mileage, condition, etc. get one as close to yours as possible, and let them know that your car is what you want, and for you to buy another it'll cost X amount of $$$. Bluebook or not, price is price.

My 240 bluebooks for a lot less than I could actually sell it for

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95240sxer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">FYI, they don't have to go by bluebook. It goes by what the car could resonably be sold for and what it would cost to buy another just like it. Blueblook on those cars are low, but it actaully cost a lot more to buy. Look on autotrader or something and find a bunch of cars like yours to see what it would cost. Make sure you consiter mileage, condition, etc. get one as close to yours as possible, and let them know that your car is what you want, and for you to buy another it'll cost X amount of $$$. Bluebook or not, price is price.

My 240 bluebooks for a lot less than I could actually sell it for </TD></TR></TABLE>

I know what you're saying. But, would I tell him that the car has 197k on it (body) or 35k on it...for the B20 motor swap. Also, what about ALL the parts i've invested into her? Do those count towards her worth? I mean, the aem cold air, the header, cat, and exhaust cost me 1000 right there. Don't forget that my B20 is the one with the rare P8R head and i've got an SiR tranny in thereas well...along with my AZ mounts and linkage. My swap cost me 1900!
Should I just tell him that I just spent 1900 replacing the motor this summer (not mentioning it's not the stock motor)?
I was gonna tell him i don't want to total it because it's a family heirlume (how do u spell it) and tell him that my father and I have been building it for 2 years now (bullshiot) and tell him i don't want to total it no matter what.

If I have to, I won't take any money just so it won't be totalled and i will fix it myself.

But please someone answer me this, he doesn't have to total it unless I allow him to right?

Also, blue book on my car is roughly 1200, If you go by the miles on the body. But when they calculate blue book, do they also add in the new engine, wings west kit, etc?

 

Hopefully they dont total out your car, b/c say if you buy it back then u have to get inspected which costs me like $200 They inspect the whole car, you wont pass even if u have camber wear on the inside of your tires, or a corner light bulb is out...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JapJunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hopefully they dont total out your car, b/c say if you buy it back then u have to get inspected which costs me like $200 They inspect the whole car, you wont pass even if u have camber wear on the inside of your tires, or a corner light bulb is out...</TD></TR></TABLE>

but do they check to see if u still have the stock motor? I can get new tires, bulbs etc.