In a message dated 8/14/02 4:57:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Husey2@AOL.COM
writes:

>
> Am looking for info. regarding dealing w/my insurance company who is
> declaring my '85 vanagon a "total loss" after damages from striking/killing
> a
> dear back on 2 June. The van was never immobilized and i've been driving it
> since, just completing a 1000 mile trek to a family reunion in my "total
> loss", utilizing ALL it's amenities, i.e., beds, seats, stove, sink, frig,
> etc.
>
> I'm hoping someone in Vanagon Land can inform me of similar situations
> they've had w/their ins. company......and won! For example, got/forced the
> ins. co. to change their decision re "total loss". I DO know now the ins.
> companies determine a total loss based on cost of repairs and value of
> vehicle. However, i insured my vehicle for more than the book/market value
> when i bought it but they are not using that ABOVE market value figure when
> estimating repairs. Consequently, their $4100 estimate for repairs is over
> 75% of the market/book value of my van, even though i paid higher premiums
> to
> have it insured for an "agreed value" of $7500. They tell me now, "Oh, we
> don't use that 'agreed value' figure when determining a cost of repairs. We
> use the market/book value.." Which they've determined to be around $4700.
>
> THIEVES!!! Hoping someone here can give me some info. on a "success story"
> of
> arguing w/ins. companies.
>
>
>
>

do you have pics of the damage? post them.  a similar thing like this
happened a few mos ago w/ another lister..   damn insurance companies..its
all just a money thing.   get a cheaper estimate.. buying it back from them
w/ a salvage title is the last resort, but that may be an option. take the
settlement fee and fix the damage yourself or live with it and use the rest
of the money to take a trip to Jamaica courtesy of your a$$hole insurance
company..
chris