Hi - I'm REALLY in over my head on this and figured you all have got to know more than me. My husband was recently injured in an accident that totaled our 1993 F350, diesel, crew cab. It was my husbands baby - I have a file documenting THOUSANDS of dollars in "stuff" - lift, oversize tires and on. I'm on my own dealing with the insurance company. They want to give us $8000 for the truck. I know they aren't going to cover our "add-ons", (per our policy) but, I can't find a replacement anywhere for under $10500 in our area, (So. California). I want to fight for what's fair but I can't find any documentation to support my request for $11000. Can anyone help me with some ads or documentaion I can forward to support my request? I've hit as many sites (recycler/auto trader/etc) as I can find any exact trucks for comparison. I've actually been told they are using a F250 2 door (no diesel) for comparison because they can't find anything either!

I'm even new to this type of fourm - so excuse my manners -

 

Try kelly blue book at www.kbb.com, go under private party values and you can list all your trucks features, AC, pwr locks, pwr windows, diesel, auto, etc. This will give you a good idea of what it is worth in your area. You could also go under the retail value to get a higher quote. I hope this helps, I have been were you are and you have my full sympathy, Insurance companies will try to screw you hard too, so the more you fight, the more you will get from them. If you have to, lawyer up, even if you only get him as a back up plan, this will help. Since they are comparing apples with oranges, a lawyer would prabably eat them alive and get you a whole lot more than $10,500. by the way, is any of the add-ons salvagable? Is the truck rebuildable? If you can't get very much out of it, maybe you could buy it from the insurance co and rebuild it, they will prbably sell it anyways. Just my 2 cents

 

I did the kelly blue book route and was low balled, even with all the bells and whistles. We did go to the salvage yard and remove several things, (xm radio, air horns, light bars, etc - not covered by the insurance anyway), but they wouldn't let us remove too much since it's now "their" truck. Part of the problem is there just isn't a ton of these older F350's up for resale. If I could just open the truck pages and find 6 or 8 -- we'd be set. I ran a search for ANY F350, crew cab, diesel, 1993-1995 within a 250 mile radius through trucktrader and the recycler -----there was 1 --- out of 98,000 truck ads.

Thanks for your thoughts and sympathy - and for letting me vent. Keep your eyes open - If anything more comes to light let me know - I've got about a week left before we'll have to settle, (no money for a lawyer).

 

I dont know about California,But I have worked in junk yards here in Michigan and we are not allowed to touch vehicles that are brought in from accidents until the insurance company gets a release form from the customer.The vehicle belongs to the customer until the claim is settled,and alot of customers want their vehicles back because of all the extra money they have put into them with add on stuff that is not covered by insurance.It sounds to me like you are getting scammed not only by your insurance company,but by the salvage yard also.I would contact a lawyer,most of them dont charge for the initial visit and if one sees a way to make himself money after you tell him that you cant afford to pay him,he will jump right on it.I hope things turn out ok for you,and if you have any more questions,just ask.All of these guys at FTE are good hearted people who will help you all they can.One other question,who is putting the one week time limit on your settlement?

 

Terriz--You ARE getting scammed, I want to reiterate what King Triton says, If a lawyer can make money they will get it done for you, some will even not make you pay if you don't get at leaset a settlement in your favor, I know of a couple here in KY that do that. Fight for your truck and money, It is YOUR TRUCK, not thiers! Give a call to the better business beareu and see if they have any complaintes about this kind of thing before, may be fuel for a good lawsuit. Good luck, and keep up posted


King triton, do you still work in junk yard? I need a dually axle for my 1990 f-350 pickup, not cab and chassis, if you still work there or know of anybody, that would help withthis search, I would appreciate it.

 

No I dont work there anymore,but hang tight,I still have alot of connections that are in the Salvage biz,let me see what I can find,start a new thread and call it "looking for a dually rear end"and I will reply there so we are not stepping on this post.Also I will need to know if you want a 3.55 or a 4.10 and weather you have rear abs.

 

First I am from WVa.
One of the first calls you should make is to the Insurance commisioner of your state.
In WVa the items not covered by insurance are personal items. You may remove personal items from your vehicle. They are not covered by insurance, the insurance company has no right to them. Like in the tires and wheels, you can not take your fancy ones and leave none, but you can take your fancy ones and put the stock ones back on. You have to replace with stock everything you take off that you upgraded to a level that the insurance is not covering. Also you probably need a lawyer, insurance companies do not generally do what they are supposed to do, unless you make them with a lawyer or the insurance commisioner. (My wife works fror an attorney that fights with insurance companies for people)

I have no idea how California law is compaired to WVa law......but right is right.

If you are not at fault your case should be even stronger.

 

Try autotrader.com

I put 90200 in as a zipcode and you are right, not many diesels, but there were a few 92-93-94 listed for around 12,000

 

Personal injury attorneys are the first place to look. Don't take the insurance co's word for anything. By comparing your truck to what they want to do, they are effectively taking 2500 out of your pocket. This whole deal stinks like a ripoff. It takes a lot of leg work to pull something like this off, but the payoff is worth it.

First you find or talk to at least two attorneys. Often when you go to the first one or two they will tell you that they can't handle the matter, but they might know somebody who does. Then you scream and rant with the ins. co until they compare values to your truck, not what they want it to be. This is done by going up the chain until you hit the top. Take names, nothing is scarier when you are trying to scam somebody, than when they start taking names and phone #'s. Then if they still give you the run around, you start calling corporate offices. When you get done with that you call the BBB better business bureau and file a complaint.

Usually you don't have to go much farther before they start calling you and your deal gets sweetened. Then if they make it good enough, you grab what they give and run with it. Often fighting to the bitter end you wind up trading dollars for dollars in costs.

Don't give up. That is what they hope you do. If you give up then they get a raise or a promotion for meeting the bottom line.