Crashed Scout....:(

[mike4514]

It starts like this, I get a knock on the door from a cop this morning..... Anyways, I will get into the story in a bit, I thought I would post up my problem and ask for some advise from the IH community. I went to get estimates and was told the truck is totaled and to let the insurance company value the truck, pay me and then buy it back. But I only have an idea what the value of the truck is, so maybe ya'll can help out with advise on value and dealing with the insurance company.

Here in WI Scouts are very rare, due to rust so it is hard to check the classified to get a value.

Now the story, today we had an ice storm, everything is covered in ice. I drove home at 15 mph in 4x4. Anyways, I parked in front of my house. A silver car was traveling east bound on Orange St. and a black lexus was traveling South on 8th Street. I live on the corner. Lucky for me the whole this was caught on my security cameras. The silver car is going at least 50 mph in 25 zone, blows the yeld sign and smacks into the black lexus. The lexus was traveling at least 40 mph. The lexus slides sideways 1/4 of city block, hits my Scout in the rear which moves it about 5 feet, then the lexus bounces off about 30 feet before stoping. (The same body shop said the lexus is also totaled.) Because the cops were there when I there no one was hurt!!! If you know what I mean.

So, who's insurance pays for my damage. I live in WI and only have liability ins.

Lastly, how do I get an accurate value of my truck?

Thanks, please feel free to post up any thoughts, ideas, past experiences.....

Mike

[SCscoutguy]

Man I hate to see that happen to such a nice looking truck. I think your plan about buying it back from the insurance company is pretty good. I did that with a vehicle once and was able to negotiate with them to not make the truck have a salvage title. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Robert JetFxr]

Your Scout is an easy fix, there are plenty of folks here that can walk you thruogh the repair or do it for you at a very reasionable cost. Good luck...........

[Super Scout]

You need to contact you insurance, even if you only have liability its good to a lert them. Second the Silver cars insurance should pay for all damages, as it is wholey there fault. Make sure you get a copy of the police report. As for value well with older cars there is a lot of gray area. Look it up on NADA pick the condition that best fits yours and go with. I honestly think their values are on the high side so that will work out well in your favor.

The down side to the buy it back from the Insurance plan is (Atleast in PA). The truck will have a salvaged or Junk Title. You will have to get it inspected to make sure repairs are done safely and correctly. The resale price will be REDUCED quite a bit because of the title. The only way to get around is to buy another Scout with a good title and re register it. That maybe a better plan. Personally I would fight to keep it from being totalled. I know in PA it seems like there is a big push to keep older vehicles off the road. Keep in mind this is all PA law, your situation may be completely different but you may want to look into whats all involved with totalling that scout and bringing it back.

[Mitch Neal]

I would look for a different body shop. That is not a major repair in my opinon, and I wouldn't think that Lexus is totalled either, unless it has high mileage or some damage to the suspension. I have seen body shops fix a lot worse than that.

I wouldn't let it go to salvage. I would force them to fix it.

[Jay Tabor]

its your truck, dont even let them try to total it.
demand payment to fix it>
gather adds from all over the usa, for scouts.
add in all the mods you did to it in dollar amounts
its a vehicle in the vintage/antique because of age.
get 3 or 4 body shop estimates to fix it. slap those on the insurance companies desk and say pay up!

[rworm]

If thats totaled....Mine was totaled when i bought it

[scoutboy74]

I'm with the others. Your Scout is nowhere close to being totalled. The rear quarter damage can likely be fixed with a combination of inside popping and exterior pulling, or in the worst case, a replacement quarter panel could be installed. The end cap can be replaced via several LL vendors. The rear bumper can be straightened or replaced with another.

[Tim Potter]

Originally Posted by mike4514

I went to get estimates and was told the truck is totaled and to let the insurance company value the truck, pay me and then buy it back. Mike

That's totaled? HAHAHAHAHA! Did the rear quarter get pushed into the bed area area?
You know man, the reason the body shop told you that is because they do collision repair on new vehicles and they know they aren't going to call their supplier for skins. They also know there's no money in fixing your body damage because they can't just go by what the insurance company pays to fix the newer plastic cars.

I'd take the truck to three "real" body shops, the best ones you can find and get real estimates to fix your truck. Don't let an insurance company "total" your truck. Make them pay to fix it, and fix it right. Probably need a complete repaint.

I would notify my insurance company of the incident and I would get them to pursue the insurance company of both other drivers involved and let them fight it out. And, since this is your daily driver, you should get a free rental car while your truck is being fixed.

[Pascoscout]

About $350 will buy both the quarter panel and the end cap new from LL vendors. I'd guess it would take about 2-3 days for me to swap them out so a decent body shop could do it in 1. The bumper can be fixed easily by someone with a good size shop press. For that matter you could probably take off the access door for the fuel filler and pound out most of the damage with a big hammer. The nice thing about these older trucks is that it takes a very serious hit to damage any of the frame or suspension components which would cause it to be unsafe.

The salvage title thing with a totaled vehicle is pretty common, thats the way it is here (Washington) and was in California.

If they would go with NADA value for that truck you might be surprised, low retail is $4500 and average retail is $10,500. Way out of line in reality but if they'd give it to you....