NEED ADVICE - Got in bad accident 1970 RT/SE - How to deal with Insurance Co.

[charge-it]

I was driving in the rain, the rear tires didn't have much tread, and I hydro-planed. The rear end slid around clickwise and I hit a post on the side of the highway.

Sorry about your Charger and glad your ok. Some might see this differently. Your statement above might give the insurance a reason to deny the claim. Isn't it your responsibility to maintain the car is a safe condition at all times? Your neglect of keeping good tires on the car is definately a factor in the cause of this accident. Good luck.

[skip68]

I was thinking the same thing.   Don't tell that to anybody else.

[shart70rt]

Had trouble getting to the picture album, but the picture on the thread looks like a bunch of band-aids are needed.

Have you thought of looking through Mopar Collector's Guide for restoration shops near you?

Stephen

[shart70rt]

Also - I think I have a drivers side door for 70 Charger - sure we can work something out if you can't find one there. May have drivers side fender too.

I will check to make sure when I get back home next week.

Stephenjavascript:void(0);

[bill440rt]

charger500440 has given some really good advice. 

I also work for a large insurance company, here in NJ. Again, laws vary from state to state.
You have a definite loss there, so like the previous advice I don't think you have anything to really worry about.
Do as much parts research as you can so you can provide the appraiser with as much info as possible, it will help him out tremendously. A door & quarter from AMD is just a phone call away, so have that info ready. Same with other parts you might need. Other parts like your hood, fender, bumper & grille leave you with no choice but used or NOS, so try to do some locating research on those as well.

Your appraiser is either going to use an estimating guide or negotiate labor with the shop of your choice. They may re-negotiate with the shop once your car is in for repairs along with any hidden damages, this is called a supplement.

Good luck to you for a speedy recovery! 

[Charger_Fan]

Ouch!     I don't have any collector car insurance experience yet (knock-on-wood), but I'm hoping yours treats you well & you're able to get it repaired soon.

Didnt you say you wanted to sell, or were thinking about selling your '70 roller?

I do, but I have a hunch he'd rather just fix his...

[Khyron]

I do, but I have a hunch he'd rather just fix his...

I'll take that bird bath off your hands ;-)

I have an itch for a Daytona Clone :-P

[charger500440]

I was driving in the rain, the rear tires didn't have much tread, and I hydro-planed. The rear end slid around clickwise and I hit a post on the side of the highway.

Sorry about your Charger and glad your ok. Some might see this differently. Your statement above might give the insurance a reason to deny the claim. Isn't it your responsibility to maintain the car is a safe condition at all times? Your neglect of keeping good tires on the car is definately a factor in the cause of this accident. Good luck.

No, losing control in bad weather is not a reason for denying the claim. Bad tires or not. Now if you were drag racing your buddy (organized at a track or illegal on the back road), you'd not want that info getting to the claim handler...

[hemi-hampton]

Ouch!     I don't have any collector car insurance experience yet (knock-on-wood), but I'm hoping yours treats you well & you're able to get it repaired soon.

Didnt you say you wanted to sell, or were thinking about selling your '70 roller?

I do, but I have a hunch he'd rather just fix his...

I could use the left front fender if parting it out    LEON.

[Finn]

K guys Ill start:

Save that 70!!
Say no to the cut off wheel/plasma cutter!!!

Peace and free love for all!



But seriously, are the frame rails gone or something? It looks like its saveable to me..

[Patronus]

"I'll take that bird bath off your hands", priceless!!! 

[Charger_Fan]

I do, but I have a hunch he'd rather just fix his...

I'll take that bird bath off your hands ;-)

I have an itch for a Daytona Clone :-P

It would love to be a Daytona clone, what's stopping ya? Get yer butt over to my house & drag this tub home! No VIN tag on the dash though, so that may make it a little less appealing. Still has the door sticker though, so it's not an impossible fix.

Leon, I planned on further parting it when I bought it. Then I got looking at what it is...XP29N0G a 383 4-speed 500 SE, and other than the extra rear ventilation, is in better shape than a lot of folk's resto projects. I decided I couldn't part it, but will sell to someone who would like to make it live again. Besides, that fender is full of mud in the front.

[TruckDriver]

Heyyyy, I didnt know its a 4spd car You got a PM! This might be a good project to get my back into a Charger 2nd gen. (I miss my '69  )

[dkn1997]

I'll say this...since insurance companies are big companies, some of us tend to regard them as we would the electric company or phone company.  You know...the rules are what they are and your bill is what it is and there's little room for negotiation. 

Nothing could be further from the truth with insurance.  I totaled my 68 charger a couple of years back and found out quickly the bodyshop owner and I were clearly the only ones involved who could find our asses with both hands.  The adjuster was a retard (sent by american collectors, my company) and the woman in the office who handled it didn't have a clue (ended up not going through american collectors and went through other guys insurance so I'll give her a pass on that)  The result was that I did my own research and got more than a fair price to fix my car.  If I had sat back and let the "pro's" handle it, I would have gotten 7K instead of 16K.  Admittedly, I was under-covered and that resulted in me having to do a lot of work so you shouldn't have that problem.  Still, insist on seeing all documentation to back up what they say and always go after more than they offer you the first time.  Also, be intimately involved in the repair.  My body guy was cool and let me order the parts.  He didn't really know where to get them anyway.  He did have a 50+ year old guy work on my car so I'm confident that at least he'd seen musclecars in his careeer.   Our 2nd gen's are constructed much like a new vehicle with the unibody and all.  But they do have to be on the lookout for rust- to me that's the one major difference in working on old stuff vs. new.

Good luck and get AMD on your speed dial!!  I ordered my AMD stuff from Jason at Gunslinger and he did me right.  I was getting a bunch of grill hardware since mine got smashed so it worked out really good. I ended up with their hood, drivers fender, and front valance.  I used a CBD drivers door shell since my door's structure was good.  AMD full door was twice the price as the shell I got.