AHHH MAN THAT ROYALLY SUCKS..  I hear these lil accident reports far too often on our nearing extinct older VW models.. 

the part that really burns me is that... yeah so the guy flagged her thru.. but WTH doesn't mean she's gotta hit ya.. it means PROCEDE WITH CAUTION..

she's still going to be found partially liable.. and the wonderful insurance industry is really great at taking our money, but not compensating it in return.. 

Martin, I wish the best of luck to you and heres to getting your camper back in order..  in a 1982 emissions exempt body way..  
with the more strict state+local emissions laws are getting the 82 diesels are a dying breed.. 

Dan in syracuse

Date:    Thu, 24 Jun 2004 21:51:07 -0600
From:    Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.UALBERTA.CA>
Subject: : Insurance and repair advice please

Dear All,

Yesterday my Turbo Diesel Westy was hit for the first time in its 22yy
life. A woman went through a red light and hit my driver side. She
had actually stopped, but was then been flagged on by a construction worker
who wanted her to get out of the way from some heavy equiment on the
side street she was on. Seems to be the fault of the construction
company, so I will have to deal with their insurance company.

Since I upgraded the '82 Westy with a brand new 1.9 TD, and a complete
brake, suspension, tranny etc overhaul only 30k ago I'm dreading that
if I don't do my homework right the insurance company might try to give
me the '82 bluebook not taking the upgrades and shape into account.

My own desire is to keep the van, or at least the powertrain.
If there is structural damage I would have to try to look
for a good shape Diesel Westy and transplant my powertrain into
it (might be kind of hard to explain to the insurance clerks...)

I'm meeting with the insurance adjustor tomorrow and was going to give
him this material. If you have time take a look let me know what you think.

http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~jag/rec/buss/AccDescr/AccDescr.htm 

I don't know what settlement to expect. Worst case I might have to
do a fixup on the cheap myself (Anyone know any back-alley bodyshops in
Edmonton). In the best case either they fix it or give me enough to
buy a decent Westy body to put my laboroulsy built powertrain into.

Comments? Ideas?

Martin (with a sad '82 Westy 1.9TD)