Rear Ended Need help and advice

[RSBIII]

Hey everyone- been quite some time since my last post - I was recently rear ended and while the car is driveable and I thought it was cosmetic damage only, this does not appear to be the case.

To keep a long story short, I was rear ended by a drunk driver and drove the car home from the scene and then had it towed the next day just to be safe. The airbag did not deploy and the damage seems to be isolated to the bellypan, the rear bumper, one of the rear quarter panels and the trunk. I had the car brought to a place recommended by by a fellow VOA member where I had some paint work done a few years ago - they do excellent work and I trust the shop. Turns out, after taking the car apart, they discover the rear portion of my frame has been bent in two locations - the adjuster, after hearing the repair cost (shop says an entire new frame is needed and accounts for 3/4 of the bill) and giving a low-ball value on the car + not being aware of any residual value the while mamba may have over a base viper + being aware of any of the improvements I have made to the car has moved to total the car.

I really really do not want this to happen. I planned on keeping this car for life and it seems like such a trivial thing to total a car over - its my understanding that once the cost of the repair approaches the determined value of the car (50% 75%? not sure) the insurance company totals it. I have pretty much done every bolt-on mod to this car possible and internal engine work in preparation for a supercharger + have receipts. Additionally, the stereo system and radar detector was quite costly - not to mention the three piece legitimate carbon fiber interior that was custom made - another few thousand on that alone.

My goal here would be to convince the insurance company of two things - first, that they undervalued the car. I am gathering all the documentation and receipts I have of the improvements + trying to figure out how to go about determining the value of a mamba edition with white paint compared to other 2004 cars. Second would be to re-evaluate the repair cost. I am sure the cost here was far above what it should have been and 3/4 of it came from the frame alone. I am not sure about what to do regarding the frame if it could be repaired or replaced as a segment - any input would be very appreciated.

That said - does anyone have any advice or experience to help me out when dealing with an insurance company that I feel is trying to total a car for a lowball payout? I have no idea what to do and will do everything I can to save the car - even if it has to come out of my own pocket.

Thanks in advance!

-Roy

[Steve-Indy]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, Roy.

Short answer...call JonB at PartsRack as he has helped scores of folks through these issues.

I would add, if you are dealing with your insurance company, the value will likely be the value upon which your insurance payments have been based...i.e. agreed upon value. If however you are dealing with the other guy's company, you may have more room on your value argument...including diminished value. I have helped many in our Region with these issues...so you can also give me a call if you like. 317 402 9013

[GTS Dean]

First of all, you are very lucky to have been hit from behind. Probably over 80% of Vipers get damage on the FRONT frame sections. There are maybe 20-50 donor cars out there which could be back-halfed to fix your ride. The key is STRICT ADHERENCE to Dodge welding procedures and a TOP QUALITY frame shop. They need to pull the damaged frame carefully to get it close before deciding where to make the cuts for lap splices and plug welds between old and new. All the frames are coated inside and out, and must be repaired with flux core MIG wire to float out these weld inclusion sources.

[Steve-Indy]

Sorry for second post, but I had an interruption.

OP stated: "I am gathering all the documentation and receipts I have of the improvements + trying to figure out how to go about determining the value of a mamba edition with white paint compared to other 2004 cars."

While I have seen a few cases of after-the-fact where the owner came up with a ton of receipts for modifications and equipment added to the involved car, that seldom works per my friends in the insurance business. I have seen one famous case where the owner pulled that and got paid over 3 times the fair market value. All I am saying is "be careful"...and HOPE that you have a good relationship with your carrier.

As to repairs: It seems that every time I accompany the owner of the wrecked Viper to the meeting at the body shop with the adjuster...it is called "totaled" very early in the game. This is particularly true on older Vipers. Interestingly, if you are well informed, they often reverse position, and suddenly the same car becomes "fixable". Of further interest are the Vipers that are called totaled that are snapped up so quickly...and not just by salvage yards...that reappear on the street in private hands. CARFAX does not always catch the incidents in some of these cases.

Finally: What do you want? A repaired car...or the bag of money...or, the bag of money then buy back the wreck and fix it yourself ...make it a race car ??

These are sad, often very emotional cases for owners...even harder to swallow when one is the innocent bystander in my opinion. A good, experienced, car-knowledgeable, and interested lawyer may be your best friend.

Good luck with the process.

[RSBIII]

Thanks for the advice everyone - All I want is the car back. Luckily, I am stalling the process that I was being railroaded through - had I fallen for the at-fault insurance's BS and given them certain info, they would have cut me a check for next to nothing and washed their hands of this.

My biggest issue here is that the cost of the repair seems to be massive - 3/4 of which is the cost of the entire frame that seems to be way more than what I was able to find online. I am guessing I need to figure out a way to lower this cost and perhaps the best way to do that is by bringing it to another shop and getting a second opinion?

Any ideas as to who I should speak with regarding the back half of the frame and what sorts of cost this would entail?

Thanks in advance!

[Steve-Indy]

Tough spot. As I noted above, I have helped a few owners in your situation. One has to know just where to get what. My number is above if you choose to use it. While no promises are ever made, navigating through the maze of repairing these beasts can be tough. One can face, in my opinIon, "Viper tax", lack of OEM parts, body shop "up coding" on bills to insurance companies vs. private individuals, etc. One MUST have a body shop with both Viper experience as well as enthusiasm. This can be tough to find in many locations.

[SRT_BluByU]

Maybe total it and buy ot back if they think its worh so little.. pick up a gen v and make a racecar out of the iv

[99RT10]

Total it, then buy it back. Call Ryan for the parts you need. I sent you his phone number in a PM

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Thanks for the advice everyone - All I want is the car back. Luckily, I am stalling the process that I was being railroaded through - had I fallen for the at-fault insurance's BS and given them certain info, they would have cut me a check for next to nothing and washed their hands of this.

My biggest issue here is that the cost of the repair seems to be massive - 3/4 of which is the cost of the entire frame that seems to be way more than what I was able to find online. I am guessing I need to figure out a way to lower this cost and perhaps the best way to do that is by bringing it to another shop and getting a second opinion?

Any ideas as to who I should speak with regarding the back half of the frame and what sorts of cost this would entail?

Thanks in advance!

Did I miss your call?

[RSBIII]

thanks for the advice again! I am getting sent in circles with the insurance company as I am trying to understand the status the car currently has- I have been sent to the adjuster then to the claims manager then to the appraiser (different company) who has sent me back to the claims manager... They seem to be hell bent on totaling this car and writing me a check for next to nothing. I am open to totaling the car and buying it back, assuming I can repair and then register the car again but I have heard nightmare stories from others doing this in Massachusetts - insurance claims the title will not be affected as the car is older (2004) but I am still researching if this is a possibility and how much $ would be given to me to cover repair costs. Perhaps I just dont trust them after what has transpired thus far.

The biggest cost by far was the frame - I am going to start there. I had the car brought to a body shop as I thought it was only body damage - I am sure if I get a frame expert to look at it they might be able to give me a better idea and a lower cost than the parts/labor involved with replacing the entire frame as was done. I would prefer to just do this all through the insurance company and not total the car, but if I have to go that route I suppose I will.

the silver lining in this is that maybe I now have the justification I needed to do that coupe conversion on the rear end

I am going to keep prying at the ins company to get answers and research whats involved with registering and rebuilding a totaled car in my state - I will call those who were kind enough to offer help on Monday -- thanks again!!!!

[Policy Limits]

If the vehicle is totalled you have the legal right to a salvage title (in my state)

Value is book (most adjusters utilize NADA) Unless you purchased an agreed upon value policy.