Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 20:20:58 -0600
Reply-To: Rob MacLeod <macleod@CVRTI.UTAH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Rob MacLeod <macleod@CVRTI.UTAH.EDU>
Subject: Bus Crash update
To all those folks who responded to my tales of woe last Saturday, thanks
for all the kind words. I tried to respond to each of you, but it got
overwhelming and so I will claim some bandwidth and send this to the list.
The past week as been busy but the news is all good. My wife (who was
alone on the vehicle when it was hit) is fine and but for a sore shoulder
and headache for a day or so, seems to be back at 100%. She went to the
doc to be sure, but there was nothing found. We've told the insurance
company we want to keep this aspect of things open for the moment, but so
far, so good.
The news on our '87 Westfalia and the response of the insurance company is
also good. Within the week, I managed to:
1) Get the bus to the mechanic who has looked after it since it was new,
and who also does body work. (Insurance paid for both towings)
2) Get the police report and confirm my hope that all fault would be with
the other driver--he was charged on three counts.
3) Meet with first the mechanic and then the estimator and get all to agree
that fixing the bus was the preferred option. There is no frame damage and
because I had a fairly high level of coverage ($13,000), there has been no
hesitation from anyone. First estimate for the total cost of repair is
about $5000.
4) Have the estimate sent to the insurance company and today received the
first cheque from them for the repairs! They have agreed to leave the
final amount open because it was impossible to take full stock of what
needs replacing without pulling some of the trashed pieces off. So
whenever the mechanic gets things open and finds that other parts/repairs
or required, he contacts the estimator and he forwards this to the
insurance and they send another cheque.
So, it looks like the red rocket will rise again and we should be able to
use it again by sometime in mid to late September--a time frame I am happy
with. I tried to impress on the mechanic that my first concern is that the
job be done right rather than quickly.
And, the answer to the question you will all have: which insurance company?
We have our cars and house coverage with Amica, a company that has
consistently received top ratings from Consumer Reports. Please, no flames
for paying attention to CR, but so far, I have to agree completely with
that rating. Their service has been fast and friendly and really without a
hitch so far. My only initial complaint was that they have no service on
weekends, but waiting until Monday may have been a good thing given all the
great info I received from fellow list members.
So thank you all and keep this crazy, passionate, supportive family of bus
freaks alive and well.
Rob.
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Rob MacLeod, Ph.D.
Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI)
Building 500, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 ____ __o
Internet: macleod@cvrti.utah.edu ____ -\<,
Phonemail: (801)581-8183 ....0/ 0
Fax: (801)581-3128
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