[kjg26]

ok so last night i finish putting on my shocks. A friend of mine suggested i go "bounce them around some". to make sure they were on good. So i go this gravel road about a mile from my house. I am doin about 15 mph, go around this turn and damnit the turn keeps going. i get sideways. slide into a ditch, slide about 5 feet then my back right wheel catches, roll onto the passenger side then onto the top then finally come to a rest on the driver side. Ya so my injuries are glass in the hands and feet. bruised up pretty darn good too. Anyway so she's upright now, the damage is :hood, front left fender, driver door messed up, windshield frame, windshield, top and the grill. the first estimate is 3000 worth of damage. because my parents are cheap, my insurance company WILL repair the car but will then drop us. So it's either out of pocket or scrap it. i payed 9500 for her about 3 months ago. Just my bad luck driving on a road i didn't know in the dark. N e who. opinions on what to do? sorry for the long post.

later

keith

[Jeepster Joe]

I hate insurance companies. Biggest crooks on the earth. First, they make YOU pay an ungodly amount each month to protect yourself from damage. When damage does occur, they drop you.

My advice to you: screw 'em. Go to the most expensive body shop in your area and foot your insurance company the bill.

[toyotasupra]

i agree just get it fixed and send them the bill...there are about 3245354 insurance compines to choose from

[Matthew]

I agree take them for everything you can. Take it to the most expensive place you can find and stick it to them if they are going to drop you!

[Jerry Bransford]

I would fix the damage on your own if I were you. All those parts are bolt-on. Getting the parts from an auto parts recycler would make it a lot cheaper too.

If you get dropped by your insurance company, you'll pay through the nose at the next company, likely far more in the first year or two than it would cost to fix it on your own. Guaranteed. Not to mention you won't have a big PUBLIC blackmark on your insurance history that every insurance company will use as a basis from which to raise your rates for the next ten years. Getting dropped by an insurance company is a huge black mark that will result in higher rates and future companies dropping you faster.


I can't advise doing what the others suggested. It's gonna cost you either way, at least keep it off the insurance since you'll pay far more than that in increased premiums at the next insurance company.

[rustinh1]

If you decide that you want to scrap it, let me know. I would be very interested in buying the jeep from you. Also, the windshield frame, glass, fender, hood, door is about $2400 Retail from a dealer. So, your insurance company may go ahead and total the vehicle out. If this happens let me know what the buy back price is from the insurance, because I would still be very interested. My dad and I have been rebuilding vehicles for about 9 years now, so, that is why I would be interested. Anyway, I hope for your sake that everything works out, and I am glad to hear that you are OK.

[K9JEEP]

Sideways at 15Mph , that had to be the slowest most destructive Dukes of Hazard stunt I'd ever heard about.

[kjg26]

thanks K9, i needed a laugh . i just got a call from a body shop. the guy quoted me 3200 for all the rapairs and paint. he said it may be a little more or a little less and the parts are garunteed for life. Also, a family friend of ours has a friend who says he can do repairs for 1/3 the price n e one else can quote. So we gunna have him look at it. making a claim to the insurance is out of the question. so basically it's being rebuilt out of pocket. Then after the rebuild if my dad has his way, which he usually does, layla will be sold. i drove a d@mn buick around for a year and a half, then finnaly when i get a break and get something i actually like, i get screwed over by my bad luck. then since the rents are cheap bastards, sorry if i can't say that , the insurance is being a pain and all. My dad has had like 9 or 10 wrecks in his driving carrer, so... that ain't helping my case at all. insurance companies are crooks. Ok enough ranting for now on my part. Jerry, and shops or used-parts stores/websites you can recomend? any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

later

keith

[ian-X]

i would file a claim and then change companies before the claim is closed. the only thing insurance companies share is claims history. they DO NOT tell each other whether they cancelled an insured.

i hate to say this, an i know it's insensitive, but your parents claim history is not your problem. if you pay your share for the insurance they can hardly say word one when you have that one unexpected incident. if they feel so strongly about you not going to the insurance company then maybe they'd like to help pay for the repairs.

and by the way, if you switch companies quickly enough after the claim they will probably never know you even had a claim since most companies only pull MVR's when a new claim is filed or a very random audit is performed. the reason is because an insurance company pays at least $7 per report(that's the cheapest state), and when multiplied by the number of auto policy operators, it costs in the multi million dollar range.

all that goes out the window though if your parents are paying for your insurance.

[MrMischief]

Do you have any pictures? Were you REALLY just doing 15 mph? You can tell us, you're among friends. 15 just sounds SO slow to lose control of your vehicle. I've gone 80+ down dirt roads in my old cars. My jeep I've had over 50 on dirt. Am I really THAT lucky? Also, $3,000 for repairs after a roll is a lot cheaper then I would expect. Glad to hear you're alright despite everything.

[KaiserJeep]

Allow me to suggest you have been lucky, considering that similar rollovers often result in serious injury or death. Once you get your Jeep repaired or replaced, you will be back where you were, a little poorer but hopefully wiser.

Reflect for a moment that you were on that road you didn't know for no good reason after dark. The best set of lights you can get would not make the terrain as safe as during the daylight hours.

This offroad hobby that we all share is not excessively dangerous if you are extremely carefull at all times and deliberately avoid unnecessary risks. One such unnecessary risk is driving at any speed on an unfamiliar unpaved road at night.

I've been offroading since 1972 and I've rolled Jeeps and broken them every which way, and I seldom do anything in a Jeep at night anymore. Within the last two months a very experienced offroader died on the Rubicon trail at night. He was very familiar with the specific area he died in, very familiar with his vehicle, and properly equipped for the area he was in. Had it been daytime, he'd probably still be alive - instead of having died in front of his wife and friends (he asked them to get out before he attempted the obstacle that killed him).

[kjg26]

yes i was REALLY doing 15mph and yes your probably right when you said i shouldn't have been on a unknown road at night. i pay my insurance but am on my parents policy. My parents WILL NOT change companies or file a claim. On the other hand they WILL NOT pay for repairs either. They didn't want me getting the jeep in the first place. They are extremely over protective. I'm 17 nearly 18 and have a 10:30-11 oclock curfew on friday and saturady nights, if that gives you a clue of what i put up with. Well c how it goes.

later


keith

[K9JEEP]

You know, another option would be to skip repairs. Repair what is needed only. Like the windshield and whatever mechanicals. Leave the body ruffled and pound it into shape. Paint it any color you'd like..

Waxing will never be the same, but atleast the Jeep looks like it goes places, and it's still yours. There are a handful of people out there that do not replace body parts because of damage. They only replace when they have to.

[kjg26]

i like the idea of repairing what is necessary. so we are talking the windshield and the windshield frame. then replacing the top and radiator and radiator support. the hood and the fenders are ok for now. oh and the driver door needs so be adjusted, as it does not open now. that may be the best option, it hadn't even crossed my mind.


thanks

keith

[swamp_rat]

I'm glad to hear you, and buddy are ok. It could have been much worse.........sorry about the Jeep.

However, You ungrateful little SOB. Your folks aren’t being cheep, they are either trying to teach you a lesson, or aren’t necessarily in a position to pay for your dumb mistakes. I can hardly make it up my driveway going 15mph, much less roll it on some desolate road going that slow. So I’m going to play devils advocate, and say perhaps there is something your not telling us. To me it sound like you lost control, but a 15mph…..BS
As for the insurance issue......what ever you do don’t let them drop the policy! I'm not certain about the insurance laws in your state, but around here if your policy gets dropped it will cost double to get the policy reinstated from another Broker. That is if anybody reinstates it at all, and I know around here if you aren’t insured you can't drive legally.
Also, don’t take IAN-X’s advice on making a claim then drop the policy you wont be given that opportunity…Since you have already contacted your insurance agent about the incident; they would have made a note of it on your record…. If they pay out that claim, it will by default terminate your policy without giving you any opportunity to drop them. If you drop them before they pay the claim; then you may have to fight them in court to do so. Because as they see it you are no longer a client of theirs so by right not responsibility for any thing you did.

Originally Posted by ian-X

......
i hate to say this, an i know it's insensitive, but your parents claim history is not your problem. if you pay your share for the insurance they can hardly say word one when you have that one unexpected incident. if they feel so strongly about you not going to the insurance company then maybe they'd like to help pay for the repairs.

If he is on their policy (which he probability is) then it is folks problem not his…….they are the ones that have underwritten the liability. They are the ones with the risk, and are susceptible to the loss. If he were on his own policy none of this would be an issue.

Originally Posted by ian-X

......
and by the way, if you switch companies quickly enough after the claim they will probably never know you even had a claim since most companies only pull MVR's when ……..
.

This is fraud…and if (IF) he was able to do this; the first citation he received would turn up this claim…..the policy writer will drop the policy, and file felony chargers against him.


Listen to K9 Jeep; fix what you can when you can.
Live and learn by your stupidity, and stop causing duress on your folks. Take responsibility for your actions, and stop whining.