That all said, the board sponsors would have to OK it. This is their forum, it has to be respected.

b

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https://tinyurl.com/yynpj4v2

Free legal price is worth what you pay for it. I have been down this road a few times in my life, and to me it is worth going to a brick-and-mortar building to speak face-to-face with an attorney. Nothing against the lawyers on this board, but you have to realize the liability they face even if they offer a disclaimer. Not only that, laws vary from state to state, so what might be best practice in one state may not be legal in another.

Personally, I wouldn't seek surgical consultation over the internet, I would sit face to face with a doctor. And lawyers are, essentially, doctors of juris prudence. I've had to sue three times over a car; it's the cost of driving an antique.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

I am sort of (very) surprised to hear that the insurance company did this.

I am no attorney. But I watch a LOT of court TV stuff...LOL.....my fave is Peoples Court....Judge Millian rocks! But I digress....

She constantly preaches about how the idea of the court is to make people "whole"......and for vehicles, its always blue book value.

I have seen folks try and get $4k for repairs on some really nice older cars worth $2k bluebook and all she can award is the $2k....the laws dont allow for more.....regardless of what someone has into the vehicle.

So naturally I figured that insurance companies would follow the same practice.....never figured that an insurance company would even CARE what you spent, time or money, on refurbing a car 2 years prior.....

I insure my barracuda using antique insurance that is "agreed on value" in the case of a total situation......I have damn near every receipt I ever had for this car and it totals way more than that....LOL....

I guess the only other way to go would be to have an actual appraisal done and documented maybe?

Yeh, I guess this could have been considered an appraisal after the accident.

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

@imanexcellentdriver get hold of me - I owned an insurance adjusting company (for several years) and was a licensed appraiser & adjuster for auto, motorcycle, heavy equipment, and specialty vehcles (like yours). Spent 21 years in the auto industry - perhaps I can lend some insight.

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'68 Barracuda - taking advice on increasing street torque, power, & road handling. Click To See It

So...who decides what is a "special interest " car versus just an old car?

@shadango Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose. Seriously though, it typically just signifies an uncommon vehicle (by today's standards). Doesn't necessarily imply collectability or of having significant value. "Special" goes as far as you want to insure it $$$ or how much risk an insurer is willing to cover it.

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'68 Barracuda - taking advice on increasing street torque, power, & road handling. Click To See It

Slightly off track, but- My friend in the sales business says that it DOESN'T MATTER what the thing is actually worth. It matters what you the salesperson can get the customer to PERCEIVE it is worth that matters, ie, "PERCEPTION OF VALUE". Colleges give Bachelor's, Masters, and PHd's in the science of getting you and me to buy stuff we don't want or need. 4 years of high school Latin taught me this: "Caveat Emptor": "let the buyer beware". I'm low budget.

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

Correct.

Not to get too deep in insurance stuff... but

In most cases, it is easier as a claimant (victim) than going through your insurance, though. The sole exception is if you are insured with a specialty insurer like Hagerty, those contracts are quite different than the standard car policy.

Also, there is the possibility in some states for collecting for Diminished Value, which is the *perceived* loss in value the vehicle suffered following an accident - even after proper repairs. This is over and above all other settlements. There are firms that specialize in this type of work in most states.

An insurance company is only - contractually - obligated to pay what the vehicle is worth on your policy. This *vehicle value* is defined and outlined somewhere in your policy (referred to as ACV, Actual Cash Value, or Stated Value). Unless you notified them (your insurance co.) of any refurbishments and or customization, your policy is likely only to pay for standard book value (NADA most common). As a claimant, however, it's a different ball of wax; you're not bound by your contract/policy limitations. The paying company, in that case, is obligated to indemnify you for your loss, which in this case would include refurbishments and custom work so as long as it can be verified or otherwise corroborated. They (paying insurance company) will need papers and proof; it's stated in every policy I've seen as well as within most every state; that insurers are bound to pay no-more & no-less than what is customary and fair for the repairs to an auto. There's plenty of wiggle room in that statement.

In all cases, providing itemized part descriptions, list pricing, and sources along with shipping costs will usually assure you get the exact parts you need to repair your vehicle - and speed up the claims process. Don't forget to include notes for procedures, such as unibody/frame repairs, paint matching, paint blending, buffing or hand-sanding beyond adjacent painted panels, under coating, rust/corrosion coatings, sealants, fasteners, hardware, torque settings, wheel alignments. Also, be sure to note what trim and glass needs removal for proper painting processes and add new gaskets for putting some things back together if the gaskets are not reusable. All this is fair and customary.

Just be fair - if your car is mostly stock, demand factory parts; otherwise, pick the aftermarket vendors you prefer. You actually have more influence for how your car gets repaired than you might realize.

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'68 Barracuda - taking advice on increasing street torque, power, & road handling. Click To See It

So the adjuster came by today and took some pictures...said it'll take a few days for them to get back to me. I'll give you a shout, csheehy, if they come back with something unreasonable. In reality, it's not that much damage and almost all bolt on parts so, aside from paint, the big drag is finding the parts...but at least now I get to pull the fender off and hammer it back into some sort of shape so I can drive her (in daylight).

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Greg loves his daily driver.
1973 Swinger 225 /6 Seats 6

Curious reply, since that is exactly NOT what is being
proposed, unless somehow the posts from the 18th are missing on your
screen.

we have a forum (actually, more than one) for lawyers in my state, but you have to be a lawyer to be able to log in.

the problem comes from someone relying on their interpretation of your words, then having disastrous results, and then claiming to the bar that it's your fault. i simply won't do it.

that's not the same as lawyers having a conversation, which is what the forums here do, but it has to be limited access to protect the innocent.

funny how many attorneys are old car guys! i love my driver-quality 75 4 door valiant, because even though i could likely never replace it at this point, at least i don't have a fortune tied in it if the unfortunate were to occur. i have learned to get my jollies off of cheap things, like old cars, guitars, boats, etc.