BZBZZZ down ... but not for the count!

[tom4bren]

& the saga continues. Traded the Yaris in on ... another Yaris. Sitting at a stoplight last week with the defrost at full blast = 12" crack magically appears.

Shop just called ... they are having trouble sourcing parts

I gave them Merlin's number & the parts list.

[tom4bren]

The insurance company (USAA) has totalled the VX. They are offering $8200 for the VX, $6534 settlement if I want to keep it.

I'm about to send them the attached spreadsheet to see if I can get a better settlement.

[VXorado]

The insurance company (USAA) has totalled the VX. They are offering $8200 for the VX, $6534 settlement if I want to keep it.

I'm about to send them the attached spreadsheet to see if I can get a better settlement.

That's too bad Tom. Did the VX end up having frame damage?


What's the plan? Keep the VX and fix it?

[vt_maverick]

The insurance company (USAA) has totalled the VX. They are offering $8200 for the VX, $6534 settlement if I want to keep it.

I'm about to send them the attached spreadsheet to see if I can get a better settlement.

Tom - The accident I had with my current VX was also on the driver's front corner and required a new hood, fender, front cladding, headlight, and a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff. In other words, it sounds like you had a very similar accident.

If you're interested I can send you the itemized receipt from the body shop that fixed the damage so you can compare it to what USAA received from your/their body shop. That should allow you to do a true apples-to-apples comparison for the insurance company that may be more realistic.

FWIW the damage rang up at only $4,672.90. Unless your VX has frame damage or some other issue that's not readily apparent from the pictures I think you're getting hosed.

[evillecutter]

sucks that its totalled but not too bad buying it back for $1700 - im sure you could get more than that for the remaining parts or it could come in really handy if you get another one

[tom4bren]

That's too bad Tom. Did the VX end up having frame damage?


What's the plan? Keep the VX and fix it?

Keep it & fix it.

Tom - The accident I had with my current VX was also on the driver's front corner and required a new hood, fender, front cladding, headlight, and a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff. In other words, it sounds like you had a very similar accident.

If you're interested I can send you the itemized receipt from the body shop that fixed the damage so you can compare it to what USAA received from your/their body shop. That should allow you to do a true apples-to-apples comparison for the insurance company that may be more realistic.

FWIW the damage rang up at only $4,672.90. Unless your VX has frame damage or some other issue that's not readily apparent from the pictures I think you're getting hosed.

Garage estimate for repairs is $5236.95 so the settlement will cover the cost of repairs ... IFF ... there is no hidden damage not covered in the estimate.

I called USAA again & they are playing hardball. They refuse to give any value increase based on rarity of color. This is the situation where both parties having the same insurance is a problem. I don't have anyone 'in my court' to fight the other driver's insurance for me. They also refused to contact Richard to get a value estimate like they did for you (because he doesn't have any on his lot right now). The only way that they'll even look at the spreadsheet is if I send them a copy of each web page that I linked in the spreadsheet. They won't give any value added for the lift kit either.

I'm not giving up though. I'll be 'made whole' ... even if it kills me.

BTW, they actually assessed the value of BZBZZZ at $7950 but bumped it up to $8200 for taxes & stuff.

sucks that its totalled but not too bad buying it back for $1700 - im sure you could get more than that for the remaining parts or it could come in really handy if you get another one

I won't let it die. BZBZZZ will be back on the road .... hopefully in time for Moab 2013.

[vt_maverick]

I don't get the problem here... they say it's worth $8200 and the repairs are only $5,236.95. On what basis are they totaling it?

[tom4bren]

I don't get the problem here... they say it's worth $8200 and the repairs are only $5,236.95. On what basis are they totaling it?

Actually they say it's worth $7950. The $8200 value is with taxes & titling added in.

Nevertheless, I've asked them what the basis was for them to total the VX but they haven't responded yet. In VA if the repair estimate is in excess of 75% of the value of the vehicle before damage, then it is required to be totalled. The estimate provided to my insurance company is significantly below that amount (about $750 below).

[evillecutter]

in indiana i think its 70% - im sure the insurance agent does not want to mess with a long drawn out repair thats just more pwk and phonecalls for them to have to deal with

[tom4bren]

in indiana i think its 70% - im sure the insurance agent does not want to mess with a long drawn out repair thats just more pwk and phonecalls for them to have to deal with

Even at 70%, the repair estimate is less.

Also, if they total it, they don't have to pay for the rental car anymore.

[nocturnalVX]

I hate hearing about wrecked VXes, and I am sorry to hear yours is "totaled". I hope you get your VehiCROSS back on the road. Glad the accident was not worse.

[Ldub]

I won't let it die. BZBZZZ will be back on the road .... ABSOLUTELY in time for Moab 2013.

Repaired your post for Ya Bro...

Good luck with the fix-um-up...

[vt_maverick]

Actually they say it's worth $7950. The $8200 value is with taxes & titling added in.

Nevertheless, I've asked them what the basis was for them to total the VX but they haven't responded yet. In VA if the repair estimate is in excess of 75% of the value of the vehicle before damage, then it is required to be totalled. The estimate provided to my insurance company is significantly below that amount (about $750 below).

The key thing here is to make sure USAA clearly understands that you do not wish to settle and that you intend to fight the total loss. Insurance companies metric how quickly their agents close claims (because they know the longer it draws out the more likely it is they will face legal action) so you'll probably find them more pliable the longer you hold out. The problem is there's a law in place that's designed to prevent you from essentially blackmailing them into doing what you want; it's called "loss reduction." My rough understanding is that if you delay closing of the claim for an unreasonable length of time such that you incur significant additional costs for the insurance company (in your case by keeping a rental) they can force you to take their settlement, or deduct some portion of their costs from their original settlement offer. Of course you can challenge that settlement but in my research I found that the typical person can't afford those legal bills.

Do you have the ability to get to work without a rental car? If so you might consider dropping the rental car to gain leverage to keep your VX from getting totaled. If your rental is costing USAA $50/day and all they need to do is raise the value of your VX by a few hundred bucks to keep it from being totaled that should be a no-brainer for them. I would ask for a supervisor the next time you talk with USAA and see if you can negotiate something. But all that's after they provide a reasonable answer to why they can total something that has a repair cost less than the 75% stipulated by Virginia law.

[tom4bren]

Yah, I'm turning in the rental car on Friday. So that bargaining chip will be back on the table.

[evillecutter]

Also, if they total it, they don't have to pay for the rental car anymore.

losing the yaris is going to be heartbreaking