Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 21:47:47 -0500
Reply-To: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: Re: What to do with a crash survivor
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Where are these draconian tow lots?
I've had two vehicles totaled and in both cases had full access to
them at the tow company lot to retrieve personal property. Just had
to call to be sure someone was there.
If an insurance claim is being filed for damages, they will not let
you keep possession of the vehicle until the damage is assessed and
the claim is settled. If they are totaling it, you will not be able
to part it out unless you buy it back (for salvage value -- I've
never done this so I don't know how that's determined -- probably
like everything else it is negotiable to some extent).
Allan
On Jan 5, 2008, at 8:53 PM, Steve@EuroCampers.com wrote:
> Neale, glad to hear you and your family are okay.
>
> If it's been towed away, you may never be able to get any of your
> accessories or stuff back.
>
> The tow yard will not let you near it unless you pay the towing and
> storage fees, which will be astronomical.
>
> A friend was hit while driving his scooter and ended up in the
> hospital. The tow lot would not let him get his personal stuff out of
> the storage compartment. He had his checkbook and other items there.
>
> When my '93 EV went up in flames, I was lucky enough to know the tow
> lot owner well, and he let me get my custom wheels, floor mats and
> other salvageable stuff. I grabbed the radio as well, but it had a
> melted CD in it. I took all the extra stuff I had added to the van.
> The insurance company would never give me the value for those items.
>
> You best bet is to keep custody of the vehicle have it towed to your
> driveway, or rent storage space. You can then settle with your
> insurance company and decide if you want to buy it back and sell it or
> part it out.
>
> Steve
> http://EuroCampers.com
> 636-337-7700
> 888-797-5994 - order desk
> On Jan 5, 2008, at 7:28 PM, Neale Pickett wrote:
>
>> It's funny, I was working on a message to this list asking for
>> opinions
>> about whether I was cut out for owning this vehicle. Last night
>> as my
>> wife and I were discussing that very subject, someone failed to yield
>> pulling out onto the freeway and we T-boned them at 55MPH. My wife,
>> daughter, and I are all bruised but not broken, amazingly. The
>> windshield landed 15 feet ahead of the bus.
>>
>> I was mostly focused on the people but here's what I took away about
>> the
>> 1989 7-passenger Vanagon:
>>
>> * It went from 55 to 0 awfully quickly
>> * The cooling system now has a very fast leak :)
>> * The windshield is gone
>> * The front end is pretty banged up
>> * My feet are fine
>>
>> We decided this was our cosmic invitation to acknowledge we're not
>> Vanagon people.
>>
>> I'm guessing from having read this list that the insurance company is
>> going to want to total it. There's a good chance the frame is bent,
>> and
>> in their book the vehicle's probably not worth that much. I
>> happen to
>> know that the parts on this thing are worth quite a bit. We have:
>>
>> * A 2.3L GoWesty engine, still under warranty (about 7,000 miles on
>> it)
>> * New Nokian snow tires with reinforced sidewalls, about 100
>> miles on
>> them
>> * A Gary Lee rack
>> * A Gary Lee rear bumper with trailer hitch
>> * An unused Bus Depot awning
>> * Two new GoWesty rear seat belts (weren't in use during the crash)
>> * A whole van full of parts in good shape
>>
>> The question is, how much of a pain is it going to be for me to
>> recover
>> some of the money we put into the bus? The engine alone was around 5
>> grand. But I don't have the equipment to tear the thing down and
>> sell
>> the parts out.
>>
>> Any suggestions as to what to do?
>>
>> Neale
>> who has a sore chest and a newfound love for Ralph Nader
>>
>
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