[thepontiacman]

Hate to see your Firebird destroyed , Glad you walked away/

Good luck with dealing with Ins. Co.

So many distracted drivers out there.

[Lightfoot]

Thank The Lord there was no vehicle close enough in front of you to smack into when your car shot forward. The pinball effect would have thrashed your spinal column much worse, and you'd probably be in a hospital bed right now.

I've started to do a lot more mirror watching when I'm sitting waiting to turn, etc in the last few years. It's gettin scary out there.
I hope you heal up OK with no lasting effects.

[sts]

Triple wow x2! Seriously? 400-4 what be your take on de situation?

Guys! DO NOT POST any vehicle value numbers. He only has liability. I'm writing a post right now, and you will see why we should not post any vehicle value numbers.

[skunkfunk]

Sts, should i be requesting values in PMs? Not sure what you're getting at here.

[sts]

Skunk, I'm still writing. PM's are fine. No public posted numbers, you'll see why I think public post number are unwise at this time.

[NEW64OWNER]

Originally Posted by b-man

Get to the doctor, don't delay.

Lawyer up, don't delay.

Otherwise you might be in for a lifetime of pain and suffering and will be paying for future medical expenses out of your own pocket.

Absolutely. Your pain and suffering settlement will more then pay for the loss.

[Chris65LeMans]

Glad to hear that you're okay.

I wouldn't put a lot of stock in any appraisals offered over the internet based on pictures, (especially the "after" pictures), anyway.

[694.1]

My '69 is orange & white so this really struck a nerve. You realize that you are one lucky SOB, don't you? Consider this your lotto ticket
Too bad his cell phone could not enter his rectum with as much force

[sts]

That's the hardest rear-end hit I ever seen on a 9. The only worse hit I have ever seen: the fire engine that fell of a 30' cliff, going SPLAT on top of the car, like a size 13 shoe going splat on a little piss-ant! (I know you guys remember that one!)

Personal injury and property damage are separate issues. DO NOT GET a lawyer signed up for property damage on your car because s/he'll get a third of what you collect on the property damage. Unlike litigation with massive wiggle room, a lawyer cannot get you one more penny than what your car is worth because your state regulates auto insurance.

As for values, PY members: DO NOT POST NUMBERS. Someone in the claims department plugs “69 Firbird” into google. If he hits PY, clicks the site, and there's the car he 'has to buy.' Skunk's online buddies have thrown out an assortment of numbers. If the insurance company clicks this post, we need to show that insurance company that we're a bigger bite than they can chew! The no numbers makes it a guessing game. Why should we work for that insurance company?

If the insurance company reads this: Nope! We didn't fall off the turnip truck last night. Yes! We will make sure that you pay Skunk 100% the amount he needs to be compensated for his car.

It's beyond totaled! No debate! The only thing you need to collect 100% vehicle value: concrete documentation what your vehicle is worth. Look at all your 9 brethren you have here. Most of us have agreed upon values, physical documentation WHAT OUR insurance companies will pay for total loss. That's factual information, not someone's opinion. Insurance company. These numbers are agreed upon value, not actual cash value, you know the difference between fact and opinion!

I already pm'ed Skunk my agreed upon value for total loss. If other 9-owners pm'ed him agreed upon values, he knows where he stands. You don't have to give him any information other than agreed upon value. That way, he knows where he stands value-wise, if they tried to hose him.

One step at a time. As pointed out, unless your neck is fractured, it takes 24-48 hours; again, do not include property damage if you go down the personal injury road.

When the insurance company looks at the car, let them throw you a number. Ask them about loss of value, additional compensation above the crash-price, something that you're entitled to. How rust-free is the sheet metal? The less rust, the more loss of value. The more rust, the lower the loss-of-value. If it's a total rust bucket, there is no loss-of-value because new metal would enrich you, not compensate for your loss.

So get as many pictures as you can posted to get an idea of rust or lack thereof.
Okey cars are sometimes very clean metal.

Is that original paint? Original Obnoxious Orange, the most desirable option on any 9, has major significant worth in the loss-of-value department. The car is so effed up that scraping paint to bare metal in a few spots isn't going to hurt anything. If it's original paint, make these scrapes so that it forensically documents original paint. Make sure that you point out the scrapes that show it's original because this is mega loss of value.

Public post the number they throw at you. Itemize loss of value, so it's a clear how they determine the numbers. If the insurance company tries to hose you, let the cat out of the bag. Tell him what's going on behind the curtain. I cannot speak for others, but you can tell the insurance company that I'll give my documented insurance information to your state's insurance commission, and I'll tell the commmision the insurance company is trying to hose you. Guess what? An insurance company will do anything to stay away from the commission. What if a dozen 9-owners across the US were willing to do the same thing?

Take care of yourself first but don't update us in that department, that isn't for public discussion, NOTHING AT ALL because it can compromise the situation.

Of course you don't want to public post our agreed upon values that we share with you. Any numbers the insurance company gives about the car, public post them. If anyone thinks you can get more, they'll let you know.

[Simple Man]

That won't buff out!
Glad you're not injured more than you were. Good luck with the proceedings.

[craigs69]

That sickens me to see. I agree with all the advice given here. Go get checked out. Thankfully you weren't seriously hurt or worse!

[1beautifuldaughter]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

First of all, I am sorry to see the total loss of your car. Glad you seem to not be injured. Now comes the bad part. In my opinion, you need to get to the hospital and be completely checked out for internal injury and whiplash. You MUST establish a paper trail whether you feel hurt or not. Here are the hard facts. You basically HAVE NO INSURANCE because the accident was not your fault. So you are dealing with the idiot who hit you and his insurance, if he has any. Your insurance company is NOT going to go to bat for you because they have NOTHING to gain, so why should they give a damn? That's the way they work. So you MUST have some paper trail from the hospital to establish some "possible" injury or they are going to give you $200.00 for your car. Insurance companies are smart enough to know their real expense will be long and expensive medical treatment for your injuries that could drag out for years. That's where the real cost is. 10-20K for your Firebird is peanuts compared to potential spinal and back surgeries you "may" need in the future from their clients negligence causing this accident. Without the medical angle, you are going to get little more than scrap value for your car. I am very sorry for your accident and I hope things work out for you and you are back in Pontiac Power in the future.

What He Said ! My brother is stuck for life with a spinal injury after getting hit head on by a drunk, Because he didn't act in timely way. What you think is just a case of whiplash could very likely come back to haunt you big. Good Luck.

[455firebird1969]

Wow...I'm surprised you were not injured worse than what you referred to as "whiplash". I believe you may have injuries you don't know about yet.
As was previously stated, personal injury and property damage are two separate issues, and should be dealt with separately. You can negotiate the property damage to the car without an attorney. Do not settle with the insurance company until they meet your expectations concerning property damage. They don't make 1969 Firebirds anymore, so the value should equal what a replacement of equal condition would cost. The value of the car is small change in the grand scheme of things when you compare it to a medical condition you might have incurred due to this accident.

How long has it been since the accident? Have you seeked medical care? You really need to see a doctor and determine whether or not you might have medical issues that will be with you for the rest of your life. You should talk to an attorney concerning personal injury, if you don't, you might regret it in ten years when your body reminds you of the impact you were subjected to.

[The Boss]

That was a horrifically powerful impact - amazing everyone is alive to talk about it.

I would get to a specialist quickly and stay in contact with them - you do not want to deal with spinal issues & pain for the rest of your life. Constant pain and the knowledge that it will never go away is extremely debilitating.

I would also be in agreement in this case with the others about seeking legal representation.

[OCMDGTO]

Holy crap that is horrible!!!!! Amazing anybody lived through it, kid must have been going 80+ MPH. Glad you survived unlike your car which can be replaced.

[Old Goat Racer]

Did anyone in the truck get hurt? If so his ins. co. is gonna be busy, handing out checks.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by sts

Triple wow x2! Seriously? 400-4 what be your take on de situation?

Guys! DO NOT POST any vehicle value numbers. He only has liability. I'm writing a post right now, and you will see why we should not post any vehicle value numbers.

My 2 cents worth....

Posts 17,19,26,29,32,33.

Where I would start:
Copy of accident report.
Write down every detail of the events and comments made by the other driver and his passengers.
Locate the truck and get pictures. License plate, VIN, condition of tires too.
Photograph the scene of the wreck in similar weather. If the police diagram is wrong, make your own.
DO NOT agree to a phone or personal interview with the driver's insurance rep. Give no information to anyone but your doctor and your attorney. Do not sign away access to medical records to anyone but your attorney. Use your health insurance and be sure your health care provider is filing the claims. (Not withholding to file against a potential settlement) That trick was tried on me and back-fired badly for the Doc.
If you can afford to, retain the vehicle for now instead of filing a damage claim. Do not settle on property damage (as mentioned, do that part yourself), until you and your attorney settle any medical claims. As mentioned, damage claims and injury claims are two different deals. Each is handled by different people in different departments. They LIKE to close property damage claims quickly for a few reasons.

Between myself, my wife and our son, we have been injured in several accidents where we were not at fault, sometimes as passengers. One involved a fatality.
The most important lesson I've learned in all of that is to not rush to settle on medical. Against my advise, my son did that and learned several months later that the ER missed some fractured vertebrae! More than 10 years later he still suffers badly from that back injury.

If you truly did not suffer serious injuries you have not discovered, you are an extremely lucky and blessed person. I hope for your sake you are.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by skunkfunk

In Oklahoma city.

I do still have a nice '67 executive. I don't think I'll drive it until this whiplash clears up. Kinda hurts to drive and it'll be worse without a headrest.

and now the social embarrasment you will be faceing; people calling you "rubberneck", flat butt, stuffedbird. Swivelneck...it goes on. That'sa a differnt pot of pain n suffering.

those 69 bird seats are not that ggod, How'd you walk away, let alone survive that?

[b-man]

A friend of mine had an accident where he pulled out in front of a Suburban driving his older Jeep Cherokee (no air bags). He walked away from the accident, not knowing he had a broken neck.

He needed surgery to repair several broken vertebra in his neck, which required an implant to repair.

Point being you may be hurt a lot worse than you may realize. Time is of the essence here, don't delay seeing a doctor and securing a personal injury attorney.

[skunkfunk]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

those 69 bird seats are not that ggod, How'd you walk away, let alone survive that?

They did pretty well. I was quite happy to have the headrest there.

I did go to the clinic and get some xrays, but this being the weekend and a holiday at that, it may be a few more days before I can see my regular doctor about stuff. It's certainly getting worse with time, with new problems popping up.