F%$&*in Insurance

[Midnightsun]

My son in law borrowed my car one night without my permission and managed to hit a steel post. Damage seems quite minimal however the insurance estimator said the computer needs to be changed as it was damaged. Get this, the computer is $10,000. The rad has a small leak but no fenders, hood, lights have the slightest scratch. The impact was so minimal no air bags went off. He did run over a median and managed to kill 3 wheels and 3 tires but luckily they were my chinese winter knock offs at $120 each plus 3 tires. I drove the car to the body shop and only then did I realize the rad had a leek as the hot light came on as I was pulling in. I know looks can be deceiving when it comes to accidents and underlying damage but he is writing the car off. This is a 2010 4.6 with tech and 20,000 miles on the clock in mint condition. Here in Canada book value is around $32,000. I know I took the replacement value insurance but the code in my contract says I do not have it. Needless to say I am pi$$ed off big time. My gut feeling tells me they will cut me $30,000 and then sell the car for $20,000 so bottom line is they only need to pay out $10,000 as opposed to $15,000 in repair.

Look at the damage and tell me how in the heck this is worth in excess of $32,000 in repairs!!! Post impact point can be seen on the last picture below the passenger headlight.

 

[scottdk]

Hope your son n law has Afflac extended insurance for the beating he deserves (and jail time for auto theft)

Well looks like he went balls to the wall with speed, and now he F'd up your car and has caused a headache for you.

I had $13,300 (U.S.) damage to mine when I went off the road to avoid an oncoming driver on the wrong side of a divided highway, and there didn't appear to be much damage, but every part on this car is expense. Hell, I even had to have the entire wireharness for the car replaced, which was $2,800 itself.

What are your plans for a vehicle now?

BTW - Sorry for the misfortune

 

[Midnightsun]

I popped by the local dealership and told them to hold the last r-spec in Quebec (which happened to be on their showroom floor) for me until insurance gets settled out. My first choice in colour is the same as I have now in platinum but I must say the white/black one they have is pretty sharp also. Right now I am really interested in talking with my insurance broker in the next 30 mins or so.

 

[scottdk]

I popped by the local dealership and told them to hold the last r-spec in Quebec (which happened to be on their showroom floor) for me until insurance gets settled out. My first choice in colour is the same as I have now in platinum but I must say the white one they have is pretty sharp also. Right now I am really interested in talking with my insurance broker in the next 30 mins or so.

Funny you mention this, as I was actually going to comment to you to "might was well get the R Spec" since you've got the 4.6 already

 

[Midnightsun]

Living in Canada I have no choice as the only V8 offered here is the Rspec. The rest of the lineup is V6 in several levels of trim. No 4.6, no non Rspec 5.0. If I had the choice I would have taken a decked out 5.0 NON Rspec.

 

[TJPark01]

30k doesn't surprise me. If the frame is damaged then this could be a totaled car. Just be glad everyone is OK, get a new car and move on. Life's too short.

 

[bradyb]

[Q

Look at the damage and tell me how in the heck this is worth in excess of $32,000 in repairs!!! Post impact point can be seen on the last picture below the passenger headlight.
[/QUOTE]

not seeing any pics.....

 

[pusaterkm]

OMG. You son-in-law deserves a beating.

 

[Glashub]

They're right about the son-in-law deserving at least a "What's really going on?" conversation. You somehow have to convey that there are consequences because he basically stole the car from you. Yes, that's right. If someone takes something without asking permission then that's sneaky and sneaky is usually an attendant to theft. Whether it's theft of trust, truth, time, or goods.

Other than that, as TJ said, move on. You can replace the car and forget about the material cost but the damage your son-in-law caused you as a trusting human being and to your relationship with him could haunt you for years imo.

Just my .02.

 

[Car Fan]

Well I for think that the OP can do both - get angry at the insurance company for shorting him at the very time he needs coverage and playing games with the type of coverage and also have a serious discussion with the son-in-law. Insurance is supposed to smooth out events that happen like this. That's allegedly part of the contract they enter into with you with. So when the time comes they should stand up for the end of the bargain. Whether the car is totaled or not I can't say. Years ago I hit on wet spot in the road and my car spun into the ditch. The bill was $17000 and although the insurance company paid to fix it, they initially offered to declare it totalled despite this being just over 50% of the cost of the car. It's more than a little frustrating to have to deal with family problems and rapacious insurance companies as part of the same event. OP, good luck.

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[CC4.6]

Just curious. What does that chrome piece on the rear of the front fender say?

 

[Midnightsun]

Just got off the phone with the insurance broker/company. According to the notes taken I do have replacement value even though it was omitted from the contract form. They say it was simply a clerical error and not to worry. Bottom line is since there is no other V8 except the Rspec in Canada they have to replace it with this a no extra charge since they must replace with at least the equivalent. wings, tint and clear bra are also covered. The replacement value addition to my insurance was the best $47 I ever spent.

As for the son in law, good thing I am not a black belt or he would be in the hospital right now. Need some time to decompress from this but I have a feeling it going to take quite a while. FYI, he is 26 and does not live with us.

 

[Midnightsun]

Just curious. What does that chrome piece on the rear of the front fender say?

Lorinser

 

[EXBMWGUY]

A conversation with your daughter first might be pretty important right now. Dads have relationships with their daughters that last an entire lifetime -- son in laws not always so long.

THEN pick up the R-Spec!

 

[Midnightsun]

The daughter is sweet as pie and already has her own pimped out Yaris. Custom emblems and grillwork to make it look exactly like the Japanese model called a Vitz. Bought her a 2006 last year and fixed it up for her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Vitz

Son in law has no car of his own and a suspended licence.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

The daughter is sweet as pie and already has her own pimped out Yaris. Custom emblems and grillwork to make it look exactly like the Japanese model called a Vitz. Bought her a 2006 last year and fixed it up for her. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Vitz

Son in law has no car of his own and a suspended licence.

Daughter/relationship

Son in lawless

 

[Midnightsun]

They were able to find me my Platinum in at the R Spec. Hopefully in a week or so I should be in my new wheels. Personally the Toyota Matrix they gave me as a loaner sucks.

 

[Mark_888]

As for the son in law, good thing I am not a black belt or he would be in the hospital right now. Need some time to decompress from this but I have a feeling it going to take quite a while. FYI, he is 26 and does not live with us.

Maybe I am wrong, but it sounds like he "borrowed" you car for a joy ride, and not because he needed to go somewhere. If so, that is especially bad.

Regarding the insurance, if someone borrows your car, would an accident normally be covered under the car owner's insurance, or the driver's insurance? I am a bit ignorant about that. Also, wondering if the fact that you did not give permission would affect the coverage (if insurance company knew about it)?

 

[EXBMWGUY]

They were able to find me my Platinum in at the R Spec. Hopefully in a week or so I should be in my new wheels. Personally the Toyota Matrix they gave me as a loaner sucks.

Early welcome to the R-Spec club (not the Black R-Spec Club) but still "Da Club."

 

[Midnightsun]

Maybe I am wrong, but it sounds like he "borrowed" you car for a joy ride, and not because he needed to go somewhere. If so, that is especially bad.

Regarding the insurance, if someone borrows your car, would an accident normally be covered under the car owner's insurance, or the driver's insurance? I am a bit ignorant about that. Also, wondering if the fact that you did not give permission would affect the coverage (if insurance company knew about it)?

He borrowed it without my permission which is what the official report says and no I am not responsible, he is. Technically I have to charge him with theft which would be a criminal offence and no I will not do that unless the insurance company for some strange reason would force my hand. In this case he has no insurance however mine does cover it and the record is against him for future costs/penalties. I still have a clean slate.