Get a few quotes from body shops first so you know what kind of damage
you're to expect.  Keep I mind that you can purchase on the bolt-ons used
from list members and/or wrecking yards.  Might not be worth your while to
make a claim. Then start assembling PURCHASE prices of similar vans for
comparables.  Last accident I had (not my fault) the other guys insurance
company (Progressive) tried to tell me that a Westy and a 7 passenger are
the same value, and my Westy was only worth around $2500.

Karl Wolz
 
 

|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] 
|On Behalf Of Tom Hargrave
|Sent: Friday, September 06, 2013 7:36 PM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: Re: Hit a deer today in my Vanagon
|
|Hopefully they won't try and total the car.
|
|Thanks, Tom Hargrave
|www.kegkits.com
|www.stir-plate.com
|www.towercooler.com
|www.grow-sun.com
|www.raspberryproject.com
|
|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] 
|On Behalf Of Richard Koerner
|Sent: Friday, September 6, 2013 8:46 PM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: Hit a deer today in my Vanagon
|
|Was up in the Eastern Sierras; a place near Mammoth Ski area.� 
|Place called June Lake (Gull Lake specifically).� Perfect.� 
|Went kayaking on lake in afternoon, paddling into wind then 
|letting wind sail me home.
|
|So I get up early this am for the long drive home (450 
|miles?).� Around 7:30 am.� Empty straight hiway.� Around 45 
|MPH, no hurry.� Then....there they were...two of them, small, 
|young...instantaneous.� Darted out across road; no reaction 
|time. Missed the first one, hit the second.� Ugh.� Passenger 
|side.� Smashed lower grill, signal light, tore rubber strip of 
|passenger side of bumper, mashed license plate, and of course 
|front end body damage.
|No damage to cooling system, thank God.� 
|
|
|Drove the 450 miles home.� Now, time to report to insurance 
|company.� I have $500 deductible I think.� I'm betting this 
|will be about a $2000 job...not nearly as easy as a fender, 
|lots of folds and creases in the front end.
|
|Any words of advice before I call insurance company tomorrow 
|to start claim process?
|
|Rich
|San Diego
|85 Vanagon, 208,000 wonderful miles, original everything 
|except interior with homemade camper setup.� Not a Westy; a 
|tintop.� Alpine White.� 4 speed tranny.� Everything is in 
|perfect condition.
|
|....glum....