About four years ago, when I was 16, I took a corner too fast when it was wet in my z28 and slid into a curb. Ripped the rim and tire from the center, snapped the brake rotor in half, and split the axle in half. I was extremely lucky I didn't hop over the curb and get seriously hurt. Sometimes it just happens. The thing is you can't let it ruin the hobby or driving the things you love. You can fix them (even if it takes some time).
Guys, I didn't expect near this many replies and I guess it really does happen. It seems like everyone I talk to has done something similar. Like many of you pointed out, I am very happy I am fine, with not even a bruise. John, the tires were BFGoodrich Radial TA's that were put on in April of 2009. They were in great shape but the front drivers side is now ripped to shreds. Scott, the brake set up is discs in the front with drums in the back, completely stock. Erik, the adjuster took a look at it today, and I'm still waiting to hear from them. My parents told me that we are going to fight until we get the amount we think is fair, which I'm thinking is around 6 or 7k? My sister's boyfriend's father restores cars for a living, and he is who I bought it from. I will most likely have him do the work. Curtis, I do agree, I think it's a sign... but it only had a 350:idea2: ... Maybe it's a sign for the future!:beers2: Thank you everyone. I can't say how much I appreciate your support, and not just at this time, but everyday when I have a stupid question about anything from carb tuning to how to get those pesky bolts out of the exhaust manifolds. I appreciate it guys, thanks. I'll post pictures shortly.
FYI, sometimes the insurance company will stiff you on the price unless you had an agreed upon value before hand. When my firebird was totalled the insurance company stiffed me pretty good but threw in they'd let me keep the wreck for free (most make you buy it back if they call it totalled). The frame was bent and 3/4's of the car was bent up, and someone stole the wreck from the yard I was storing it in ou: I was about 5 grand short of what it was worth, sued the unlicensed uninsured guy that ran the red light for another two grand until the deadbeat disappeared. But the insurance left me high and dry. Anyways, I hope your company does better for you than mine did for me.
Luckily, if it even matters, our family insurance agent is my father's best friend, and a close family friend. I like to think he will do what's best for us, not just screw us over and run with our money. We also had a pretty good policy taken out on the skylark.
I know it doesn't look like much but the guy who was going to fix it, and his friend who has a frame straightener, went out to look at it and it's bad. It looks like right now I'm just going to take the insurance check and buy a more modern car that's good on gas to get me to and from college. I'll save a lot while working and maybe in a few years I can get back into the game. I may have some extra Buick stuff laying around, and I'll post stuff in the for sale forum. This sucks guys, but I appreciate all the help every single one of you has given me over the past year and a half. Best wishes, Matt Rush
The frame was said to be basically folded up in the front. That was the worst part and the reason she's gone.
Install new frame? I think so :Brow: It looks like right now I'm just going to take the insurance check and buy a more modern car that's good on gas to get me to and from college. Don't be a quitter. I'm two years deep in college and I'm still driving my skylark and its on its second engine that I put together! You can do it!!
Oh man, this situation does suck for sure, and I am sorry to hear about it. Are you going to buy it back and part it out to help buy another car?
Very sorry to hear this Matt. Still would like to have an independent frame guy look at it, to verify the "folding" - for your own peace of mind if nothing else. Make the adjuster show you, or worst case at least look at it and photograph it yourself. Then of course, post them here so we can all discuss. Just for future reference, one of life's lessons: don't ever, ever buy insurance from such a person so close to or part of your inner circle, to include any relatives, in-laws, roommates, business partners, bosses, girlfriends, bookies, favorite strippers or yes, "close friends of the family", no matter how good a deal you think you're getting. Three entities never to scrimp on or invite inside the walls of your home: your attorney, your accountant, and your insurance company. Remember this every day as you drive that reliable, fuel-efficient, sensible pastel colored Corolla for the next four years. :TU:
Man, sorry to hear about this. Brings back memories. Have you considered buying it back(totalled) with the check they cut and fixing then keeping it with a salvage title or whatever they do in your state? It wouldnt be the first Lark to get a new frame. I dont recall seeing or discussing your ride before, but it looks good considering. In 94 I bought a 93 Mustang LX vert and drove it for less than 4 months before I spun a turn and hit a pole. The car damn near split in half and threw me about 60 feet into a nice soft field where I tumbled and tumbled and finally stopped about a foot from a 100 year old pine. Nothing bruised or broken but my car and my pride. And my @$$ a little bit. I was 20 when this happened to me and I got over it as soon as I got into my next car. Live and learn brother. You will be alright and good luck with whatever you do.:TU:
Matt, that's what to do. Buy it back from them. They say it's totaled. So, the buy back should be low. (right?) I've totaled two cars, a 1987 Dodge Dakota, and 2000 Nissan Frontier, neither one did I care to have back. But, if you buy it back from them, then you have something to part out (with a ready market on this board), if not, rebuild (again with all the good advice from this board).
So you are keeping the car right??? As mentioned, it's not like it'd be the first car to get a new frame. That looks way more reparable than this, when I really realized, they are just cars.
Matt, sorry this happened. Now that your car is totalled, make sure you BUY IT BACK FROM THE INSURANCE CO! Don't just let it go away. Others have said this, and it is good advice! It will have a salvage title, and you can either keep it and fix it, part it out, or sell it whole. Put an ad on here, and I bet you will have a lot of interest. Best wishes, David
Matt here is a linkI found about buying back your car from the insurance company. I'm going to PM it also. http://www.ampminsure.org/claims/totalledcar.html
Save the car and rebuild.. Buy it back from the insurance company, if not, someone will. Other than the damage, your car seems to be in good shape. Iggycat Mike NJ
I have thought about buying it back, but I wouldn't have the money or time to do anything with it for quite a while. And I know it didn't look bad, but it was an independent frame guy and my resto friend that looked at the car, not the adjuster or the insurance agent, and they said it was pretty bad. I'll see how things play out this week and keep you guys posted. Thanks again for the help guys.
I know it's hard to know you won't be able to work on it for a while, but if you have the space to store it then it would be worth it to buy it back. You can always just sit on it until time/money allows you to make it right.
