Discussion
Had the engine oil changed in the new engine, driving home from the garage, some absolute chav in a pimped MG ZR pulls out in front of me at a stop junction without looking, couldnt stop and T-boned him. now looks like one less S on the roads. The bonnet is totalled, Radiator, front suspension, steering, brackets and possibly bent chassis.
Best of all the chav gets out, starts being aggressive and claiming I was doing about 60 miles an hour (in a 30), calls the police. Police arrive, assess the situation, measure skid marks (17.90 M) in wet/greasy conditions and stick him on for careless driving.
Now I've got all the hassle of getting my moneys worth.
I have literally spent in last few months 5K on new engine and ancillaries, 1K on new wheels and tyres and £500 on new brakes.
In the last few years chassis sorted, new hood, chameleon paint job, mx5 mirrors, custom alloy buttons, custom rear lights, stereo system, mats.plus loads of other little things.
I did have an agreed valuation of 8K prior to the engine/ brakes/ wheels work. I have a spare set of alloys so can swap those back. Its very likely a write off. Do I cut my losses and go for as much as I can or get as much as I can, keep the car and either repair or break it???
I'm absolutely gutted.
Best of all the chav gets out, starts being aggressive and claiming I was doing about 60 miles an hour (in a 30), calls the police. Police arrive, assess the situation, measure skid marks (17.90 M) in wet/greasy conditions and stick him on for careless driving.
Now I've got all the hassle of getting my moneys worth.
I have literally spent in last few months 5K on new engine and ancillaries, 1K on new wheels and tyres and £500 on new brakes.
In the last few years chassis sorted, new hood, chameleon paint job, mx5 mirrors, custom alloy buttons, custom rear lights, stereo system, mats.plus loads of other little things.
I did have an agreed valuation of 8K prior to the engine/ brakes/ wheels work. I have a spare set of alloys so can swap those back. Its very likely a write off. Do I cut my losses and go for as much as I can or get as much as I can, keep the car and either repair or break it???
I'm absolutely gutted.
Noooo another one gone!! That 'effin chav, imagine him having a go at you for goodness sake, I'm proper miffed. You must be furious. So sorry to hear about your S (it looked fabulous on your profile).
There are so many totally reckless morons on the road its seems inevitable that every so often we have to encounter them at close range!
If I was you i'd go for as much cash as possible and rebuild her if the chassis is salvageable and you can make the sums add up. You know how good the rest of the car is so surely its worth the time and effort.
Good luck and hope you get what you rightly deserve (a good settlement) and hope he gets what he deserves as well!!!!!!!
There are so many totally reckless morons on the road its seems inevitable that every so often we have to encounter them at close range!
If I was you i'd go for as much cash as possible and rebuild her if the chassis is salvageable and you can make the sums add up. You know how good the rest of the car is so surely its worth the time and effort.
Good luck and hope you get what you rightly deserve (a good settlement) and hope he gets what he deserves as well!!!!!!!
spivvy said:
You didn't cause the accident so the onus is on his insurance company to repair the car not to write it off ,do a search on the forum this has come up before ,why should you lose you P&J because of somebody else's mistake.
Have to agree with spivvy here - his mistake, you should get back what you had, or at least be nothing out of pocket.Thats bad luck James - the only saving grace is if the police charge the other guy for Careless Driving then his insurance haven't got a leg to stand on trying to lay any blame on you.
Is your valuation agreed with the insurance company?
I think someone said on another forum that to buy back the car as salvage is about 28% of the value.
To be honest if you can get a good payout I'd take the money and move on - you'll always be comparing the car to how it was and it may never live up to that again. There's some bargains out there at the moment.
I'm sure someone else will say rebuild it in a minute....
Chris
Is your valuation agreed with the insurance company?
I think someone said on another forum that to buy back the car as salvage is about 28% of the value.
To be honest if you can get a good payout I'd take the money and move on - you'll always be comparing the car to how it was and it may never live up to that again. There's some bargains out there at the moment.
I'm sure someone else will say rebuild it in a minute....
Chris
Sorry to hear that. It's the 3rd anniversary today of a builders van reversing into me. I was worried about what would happen as the car had already been a Cat C write off back in '99. 10weeks and 3k+ of repairs later I was back on the road.
I'm glad I had a witness (although I don't know if they were ever contacted) as the other party tried to say that they weren't there (the driver had given me the owners details not theirs). When I mentioned to the solicitors that I would approach Blackpool council to try and get CCTV images from the car park cameras, we got a phone call back a couple of days later saying that the owner had found that the vehicle was being used unauthorized. The solicitor got the impression that the driver would be looking for a new job.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm glad I had a witness (although I don't know if they were ever contacted) as the other party tried to say that they weren't there (the driver had given me the owners details not theirs). When I mentioned to the solicitors that I would approach Blackpool council to try and get CCTV images from the car park cameras, we got a phone call back a couple of days later saying that the owner had found that the vehicle was being used unauthorized. The solicitor got the impression that the driver would be looking for a new job.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Well the thing is I am off to OZ for a year end of next year and also getting married. I was going to ship it out but by the time its repaired and all the grief that goes with it etc.
Its insured for 8K with Hagarty, 5K plus the paintwork. Obviously since then I have had the cosworth engine and all other necessaries done, although the new engine and brakes declared to insurance company the valuation was not changed as was going to do a few more bits then get it re-valued. I know my best bet is to take the 8K, keep the car (although the insurance company try it on they have no right to take your car) and then sell the engine and wheels/ brakes on and break the rest of the car. space not an issue as I have 2 garages.
I know its insured with my insurance company with an agreed valuation but obviously I will have to claim from his so not sure how that works, I'll have to chat with hagarty on Monday.
Worst thing is the new engine costing 5K has done less than 1.5K miles. at least its all intact though.
I took some pics, I'll post them
Its insured for 8K with Hagarty, 5K plus the paintwork. Obviously since then I have had the cosworth engine and all other necessaries done, although the new engine and brakes declared to insurance company the valuation was not changed as was going to do a few more bits then get it re-valued. I know my best bet is to take the 8K, keep the car (although the insurance company try it on they have no right to take your car) and then sell the engine and wheels/ brakes on and break the rest of the car. space not an issue as I have 2 garages.
I know its insured with my insurance company with an agreed valuation but obviously I will have to claim from his so not sure how that works, I'll have to chat with hagarty on Monday.
Worst thing is the new engine costing 5K has done less than 1.5K miles. at least its all intact though.
I took some pics, I'll post them
Oooooffff. That looks nasty, especially that mis-aligned front wheel. Glad it wasn't your feet though! Did the pedal box move or anything come into the footwell?
I've heard many swear by this chap and his company in recovering costs and stopping write-offs for peoples P&J's in non-fault crashes. Might be worth dropping him a line.
I've heard many swear by this chap and his company in recovering costs and stopping write-offs for peoples P&J's in non-fault crashes. Might be worth dropping him a line.
Well I spoke to the insurance company this morning, they said they would be sending someone out to take it to a salvage yard for valuation, I told them where to go. As a result they are sending a TVR specialist to me. No way that car is leaving bound for the dust heap. I either get the minimum of 10K plus I keep the car (I've spent over 20K in 5 years on it) or they do what they are obliged to do and repair it regardless of cost.
turns out i've got whiplash too. woke up this morning and my neck is agony.
Look on the bright side, may be repaired in time for SCH2009!!!
turns out i've got whiplash too. woke up this morning and my neck is agony.
Look on the bright side, may be repaired in time for SCH2009!!!
james280779 said:
turns out i've got whiplash too. woke up this morning and my neck is agony.
Been there with that. Make sure you let the insurers know and get to a doc's or casualty for a check asap. I'll not go into the details of my claim and subsequent compensation here but because the other driver has already been put at fault you will be able to make a claim for injury. Worth checking if you have legal cover as part of your motor or home policies..... 
I now visit an osteopath every 6-8 months (3 years later) just to keep everything in line with my back/neck/shoulder - it's surprising how out of line it can all get! A friend of mine had a similar incident, didn't have any follow up treatment and 8 years later at the age of 38 is plagued by a bad back.
Good luck,
Longers
Sorry to see this but remember its only metal and Fibreglass, the main thing is your OK which looking at the car is pretty lucky, that bonnet could have ended up through the windscreen with serious results.
Re the chav, had one the other day that drove straight onto a mini roundabout from the left at about 30mph in a bright yellow Halfords style Fiat Punto, I slammed the brakes on, stopped gestured as to what the %^&* he was playing at and got a look of total misunderstanding off the pratt who obviously thought I was in the wrong ashe drove off shaking his head, scarey.
Re the chav, had one the other day that drove straight onto a mini roundabout from the left at about 30mph in a bright yellow Halfords style Fiat Punto, I slammed the brakes on, stopped gestured as to what the %^&* he was playing at and got a look of total misunderstanding off the pratt who obviously thought I was in the wrong ashe drove off shaking his head, scarey.
Edited by clarenceboddiger on Sunday 28th December 11:56
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff