Crashed into some cows... Advice on dealing with insurance?

salad17

I had an accident with some cattle that broke onto the road. Thankfully had bull bars so I was able to drive it away, but destroyed front left bumper/side panels/lights etc.

One crash repair place said even though it's driving fine, because of the cost of repair/new panels etc the insurance company will most likely try to write it off.

The vehicle has a lot of extras that make it valuable to me (bull bar, lift kit, spotlights and light bar, snorkel, diesel heater, upgraded suspension etc) but I'm worried if they try to write it off they'll give me the tinyiest amount possible for it.

And I'm also not clear on how easily I'll then be able to buy it back. (I think I could repair it fairly cheaply myself, I have a spare car of same make and model that I bought for parts)

Any advice? Can I appeal to the insurance as to the value of the vehicle or do I not have any say?

What I really want is my car back as it was, but I really don't want to get screwed and loose loads of money/value in my car here either!

Thanks for your help

Boardnashea

Very little experience but if they decide a low value then that is what you can buy it back for?

salad17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121428956#Comment_121428956

Well they'd be deciding the value of the vehicle pre crash, and ideally selling it back to me with enough change to repair the vehicle.

Eg if the vehicle was €10,000 and would cost €6,000 to repair, they would pay me out €10,000 (I know, it obviously would make more sense for them to cover the repair, but I've been told they tend to not do that if the cost is 60% or more of vehicle value) and ideally they would sell it back to me for €4,000, so I can spend the money on the repair.

But they might go on donedeal, pick the cheapest cars to compare mine to, value my car at €8,000, then offer it back to me at €6,000 etc

salad17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121428961#Comment_121428961

Dead, sadly. 2 died from my car, one on impact and the other within about 1 minute. And 1 died from the van crash.

Shoog

It's the farmers insurance you should be claiming on.

salad17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429259#Comment_121429259

It is, they're still going to minimise the value of my car though

hackersphorr

If they write it off on the basis of "Beyond Economic Repair", they put your jeep up online for scrap dealers to bid on. You will most likely be given the difference in value between determined market value and highest bid by scrap dealer.

For example, they value jeep at €10k, scrap dealer bids €4k for Jeep, they will pay you €6k cash and then you contact scrap dealer to collect jeep and pay you the balance of €4k.

You can take the €6k, don't sell to the scrap yard then repair yourself. Only issue is you will then need a new certificate of roadworthy to get back on the road and also it will show up as written off vehicle if you ever needed to sell it

salad17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429346#Comment_121429346

Ok perfect, this is the information I was looking for, thanks very much! Is this the systematic way it happens every time? And I definitely have the option to not sell to the scrap dealer?

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058324823/crashed-into-some-cows-advice-on-dealing-with-insurance

The vehicle has a lot of extras that make it valuable to me (bull bar, lift kit, spotlights and light bar, snorkel, diesel heater, upgraded suspension etc) but I'm worried if they try to write it off they'll give me the tinyiest amount possible for it.

When you fit extras to your vehicle you can get an agreed value policy with most insurance companies, saves you when you are in this position.

mickdw

There is no doubt that any offer from insurance will ignore any upgrades you have fitted so be prepared for a shock.

If its old, its very easily written off as cost of new parts quickly adds up whereas with write off it only costs them difference between payout and salvage cost. They also dont have to worry about any further claims re hire car etc while you off the road.

You.still.should be OK.

The valuation will be low but the salvage cost will be low too I'd imagine.

KevRossi

Ring your insurance broker tomorrow and tell them what you want to do. They should be able to arrange something.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430216#Comment_121430216

In some cases if you fit extras to your vehicle and don't declare it to your insurance company the vehicle even though it has a disc in the window and a cert in the drawer at home is considered not to be insured because of undeclared modifications.

salad17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430216#Comment_121430216

I bought it with them fitted, however I'm not claiming from my own insurance company so I imagine the value I gave them shouldn't be relavent?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430262#Comment_121430262

Yeah this is what I'm gathering with the write off, like it's just a few panels and mechanically is perfect and drives fine but because of the cost of new panels it seems they will just write it off. Really hope so, I guess there's not much I can do anyway other than wait and see.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430264#Comment_121430264

Even though they're not really involved?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430286#Comment_121430286

This is something I'm just gathering too, although I've been warned that they most likely won't insure me with the modifications anyway so to tread carefully. Which seems a bit wild. 2 inch lift, led light bar, snorkel, wheel spacers, reverse led lamps. All nct safe.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430338#Comment_121430338

The 2 inch lift and the wheel spacers would probably be enough for an insurance company to wriggle their way out of covering a claim if they were not declared.

mickdw

It's the other party that are settling the claim here.

He will get paid for his jeep.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121430471#Comment_121430471

He can still have his policy cancelled/voided for undeclared modifications. While honest mistakes are now allowed, not declaring modifications isn't an honest mistake.

MakersMark

The folks on here "bulling" on about "moo-dificatioms" really are just milking the situation.

hackersphorr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121429722#Comment_121429722

I don't know, this was my experience dealing with one of the main Irish insurance companies. As far as I'm aware, no obligation to sell.

As others have mentioned, you will probably be hurt by the market valuation. I looked after my car and it was in immaculate condition; serviced regularly and properly, paintwork perfect and interior in top condition. None of that mattered... valuer just looked at the year and mileage. I received about 15% less than what I would have received selling it prior to the crash.

It sounds like this is a specialised machine that you have no intention of selling so repair and keep for yourself I think

Furze99

Maybe worth approaching the landowner too and explain the situation. Could be cheaper for them to pay for your repairs and avoid claiming?

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431458#Comment_121431458

Yes that is clearly an issue for him and should declare these mods at first opportunity.

Not relevant to this claim though. Farmers insurance will be settling this direct. The status of his own insurance has very very little to do with this claim.

endacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121428961#Comment_121428961

Tenderised.

salad17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121431781#Comment_121431781

Should find out soon, but not too excited. Yes, definitely will repair and keep for myself, was hard to come by and was very releived to finally find the vehicle I wanted, only for this to happen! I also have scrap parts I can repair with hopefully relatively cheaply.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121432153#Comment_121432153

Yes, I mean I asked him what he wanted to do at the start and he just sent me straight to insurance. Maybe I'll wait and see what they value it at and then see if it's worth approaching the farmer if I get a cheaper repair quote.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121432190#Comment_121432190

Scrambled