^ There you go... a Total Loss claim rep !

If we can find a PIP/Med Care handler out there, we can start our OWN insurance company.

 

I was in a similar situation where my MCSC was totaled. And as jjbug said, they would only let me take parts (ie exhaust, taillights, etc) if I left the original stock ones with the car, which I did.

 

my car was completely stock so i never replaced anything. but i would be interested in taking the driver's seat with the airbags for memories, i wonder if i would have to pay for that, because they cant use it again anyway or can they?

 

Sorry to hear it's totalled.
I wouldn't recommend keeping and parting out unless you've got a lot of space and a lot of time.
Time to hit the MINI configurator...

 

Yeah I agree. I'm sure I would feel the same way in your shoes but eventually reality would kick in. Hopefully you have some nice pictures of the car intact and can use those for memories. Parting out is a PITA and insurance will diminish the value you get for it if you take things out - useable or otherwise.

Maybe scrape the badge off the back, frame a nice picture, and move on. Let insurance do the hard work - it's way you pay them the money.

 

I don't think they would let you take it. Their offer is going to be for the value of the car at the time of accident (okay, before the accident) and at that time it had a seat, and airbag, etc.

I totally agree with everything MLWagner79 said! (I don't know how to put double quotes in a reply, or I would've quoted you too).

 

Don't forget, if you buy the carcass, you've got to have space to house it while you part it out, and understanding neighbors...

 

yeah i think i'll just take a badge or something i've already got a mirror cap from the accident. so we'll see. Lets take a poll WHAT PART SHOULD I TAKE FOR THE MOST AMOUNT OF MEMORIES?

 

I have a story for this type of incident. My car was backed into by a F-350 in a parking lot. Messed up my whole rear end (Hatch, Bumper, Lights, Spoiler, Windows, Ect.) Also pushed my car into a wall in front of where I parked. Broke out the side passenger window, Broken A pillar, hood, bumper, Lights were all destroyed. Car was drivable and had no frame or engine damage. Insurance however said it was Totaled. Since it was paid for they gave me the depreciated value of 15,500. at the time. I then found out that it was going to be sold at a local auction house near me. I paid I think a $500 fee to enter the auction. (Refundable if I purchased anything) I then purchased my salvaged car back for $6k. Once my I had my insurance check cleared I started to repair the car myself. I also had a friend that owns a body shop do all the painting and body work. I think it cost me overall 11k (including the car) to totally fix the mini. So i still had some money left from the insurance settlement. Mini has ran great ever since. However, there is an ugly side. 2 years after the accident I find myself wanted to sell this mini, Since I bought a new Honda CR-V and have a classic mini im going to start working on. The resale is horrible. I had it listed for 9k and couldnt even get people to come look at it since it is a salvage. Eventually I will probably get 8k for it. Its better to just let it go and get a new mini. Good Luck in whatever route you chose. Also let me know if you need parts, I had found a great list of vendors and salvage yards while rebuilding mine.

 

Jtrem,
that's tough i know how you feel. glad to hear that you're skilled enough to do some of that work yourself. form what i hear from most people its probably not smart for me to go down the path of salvage, so i'd better let the insurance company take care of it.

 

That would be the best choice. Choose a new car that you will love as much as you loved your mini.

 

I think that i'm going to go get an attorney to go and fix the rest of the problems, its really becomming a headache for me to do all of these things, especially when the other insurance company is refusing to do ANYTHING until they contact their insured. he's in jail for crying out loud. how hard is it to contact him? he's not going to run away. i honestly dont' think they are trying hard enough while i'm here busting my butt to try and get everything fixed. i'll be able to say to them.. you can talk to my lawyer. i've alwasy wanted to do that. any lawyers here? have some advice for me or would like to represent me? anyone have any experience in this case?

 

should be getting the estimate today. any opinins on how much a HB/W MINI would be worth with stripes, sport, premium, lsd, H/K and kept in excellent condition would be worth? i'm thinking at least 26 grand.

 

chris, are you still considering getting an attorney ?

Personally, I wouldn't bother. As an auto claim rep, I can assure you that the mention of an attorney does not motivate us to handle your claim any differently than if you were not attorney-repped.

Besides, the attorney is going to get 33% of your payout.

The other insurance company is right... they cannot and will not accept the liability until they speak to their insured. It's part of the policy contract in most states. And even in states where it's not, it is required by the state's insurance regulatory offices.

In the case where their insured is in prison, they should have a family member contact their insured and relay his version of the accident so they can move on with the claim. If no family members are available and they can't get hold of their insured within the prescribed timeframe (normally 45 days), they should go ahead and complete their liability investigation without his version of events.

 

yeah i decided that no lawyer is necessary i hope that everything will be allright, but the other agent was almost ridiculous in the way that she was dealing with me. She kept telling me that he was in jail and that they couldnt' get a hold of him, and i was like he's in jail...is he really that hard to get a hold of? i mean really. its not like he's hiding or anything. so finally two days ago i got fed up and then i called his house ( prob wasn'ta good idea) and then i spoke with his family member who gave me his cell phone number... why couldn't the adjusterr have done this? i just think that she wasn't putting enough effort into doing her job and to me this is a slap in the face and negligence on her part. and she was giving me attitude too...so she used the cellphone number that i gave her and was able to contact him. these people are ridiculous. but i'm just glad its all being taken care of.

 

man i'm sorry for your mini, but i feel your pain right now. my mini that i just picked up on monday got t-boned today =[ posted it in this forum