From FP, story of my first big accident

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
09/05/2018 at 12:48 • Filed to: project dumpster fire

And how I learned that insurance is not your friend and really only cares about the numbers. It was a valuable lesson. Also how people are generally not great. (Doggo for your time. )

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Project Dumpster Fire!

DISCUSSION (23)

Pickup_man > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 12:57

My dog has the same alligator , minus one tail.

scoob > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 13:00

You owned your car for 4 years. You named it Brad. You loved Brad. And then you totaled him. You two had been through everything together - 2 boyfriends, 3 jobs. You’re like: nothing can replace Brad! Then Liberty Mutual calls. And you break into your happy dance.

Wacko > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 13:00

Insurance, you get what you paid for.

My cars are fully insured, in 2015 when i crashed my 2010 SX4 with less than 30 days to the 5 year mark, meant that i got my full purchase price + taxes and other expenses. Meaning I got a cheque for 32000 $CND.

the 5 year mark was important, since after 5 years my insurance became current value, and i would of only got about 6-7 grand from them if i would of crashed it after....

404 - User No Longer Available > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 13:01

Every year I’ve been contemplating taking comprehensive coverage off my Solstice. I’m convinced my next accident it’ll be “totalled”, given its book value of four grands and the scarcity of parts, even though the cars are trading hands at well over 10k. But then I’m also in GTA and fairly near Scarborough...

Spanfeller is a twat > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 13:11

My only mayor crash involved my mom’s brand new SUV and 16 year old me.

I was driving down a busy avenue on a friday, perhaps going too quickly, when someone cut off the car two cars in front of me, so they stopped on their tracks, the car directly in front of me braked on time, and so did I, but the car behind me didn’t and they crashed into me and a van to the right, the car that hit me did it so hard that I crashed into the car in front.

So, cutting someone off turned into a 4 car collision, and the driver of the car behind me tried to frame me as the person that caused it (since I was underage, the statistical evidence wasn’t in my favour) we ended up needing three lorries to carry my mom’s SUV, the guy behind me’s truck, and the van he hit.

DipodomysDeserti > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 13:24

My wife was hit by a girl who blew a red light as my wife was making a left turn. She was seven months pregnant at the time, and started having contraction as a result of the accident. Her Scion was totaled. Both the girl and my wife had the same insurance company, who tried to say they were both at fault in the accident in order to save a but of money on my wife’s hospital bill . They falsely claimed that since my wife was making a left she was automatically at fault. It wasn’t too big of a deal, as I was making good money at the time, but I didn’t feel like getting fucked over by an insurance company.

Thankfully, a witness, who happened to be a big shot in Arizona government (and a very successful lawyer) witnessed the whole thing and gave me his card. He said to contact him and he’d be a witness if we needed him. I was able to get this guy to write down what he saw and send it to me. I then sent his ketter along with the appropriate Arizona traffic laws showing that my wife was not in any way responsible for the accident. Ended up getting all of our expenses covered.

My brother had Leukemia as a kid and our health insurance company initially denied him coverage saying it was a preexisting condition, so I don’t trust insurance companies whatsoever.

Chariotoflove > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 13:33

Companies are never your friends. At the most , they realize that their best interests in the long term are aligned with yours. Those business interests manifest in the phenomenon we know as cotomer sevice.

Yes, I am a cynic, but I also am appreciative that my insurance company takes the long view of business interests and treats me well. They may not like or care about me personally, but their behavior is phenotypically similar enough for my needs.

Arrivederci > Wacko
09/05/2018 at 13:34

That seems like a ridiculous policy to invite fraud.

cbell04 > Wacko
09/05/2018 at 13:39

32000 for an sx4!? Damn Canadian funny money! That's still way north of what I thought those things sold for. Always liked them but never drove one. Tiny awd seemed like it would be a blast back when I lived up in the snow belt.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 14:07

I was rear ended at a dead stop and sued for $250,000. Good times.

Wacko > cbell04
09/05/2018 at 14:15

Taxes, remote starter, fog lights, winter tires... shit is expensive here in canada

And in quebec we basically have the highest taxes in North American

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Pickup_man
09/05/2018 at 14:21

He loves that thing. It is weird. We actually bought a spare for when he eventually decides it has to die (as he eventually does with all toys).

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Wacko
09/05/2018 at 14:27

I don’t think we have policies like that here. Best option seems to be “agreed value” insurance, but the restrictions are unworkable for anything but a total garage queen.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Chariotoflove
09/05/2018 at 14:29

You are not wrong. I know we have a couple of adjusters on here and also I have a friend that used to work in claims, so I try to be even handed. But yes, every interaction I’ve had with insurance was me waiting for them to screw me. On the bright side this was, by far, the worst experience I’ve ever had. Others have been much more pleasant.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > 404 - User No Longer Available
09/05/2018 at 14:33

I think that on mine as well, but at least with Geico the difference is so minimal, I’d rather get some cash in the event of a crash rather than none. The Disco is the exception because it was SUPER expensive to get comprehensive on it for some reason. Collision was reasonable though so... who knows.

Chariotoflove > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 14:36

I need to stress that the individual people at those companies can be perfectly wonderful and full of care and compassion for you, even over the phone. It’s just that cor porate directives limit the ability of individuals to manifest that compassion in your favor. And they have to, really. Uniformity of response must be maintained for a large business to work. Unfortunately it also dulls the human impact and replaces it with policy that merely emulates humanity.

Wow, I’m starting to sound a touch like Nibby. I need a lunch break.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 14:49

Yup. Very few cars have a “real” value that matches the value that their owner gets/feels for it.

With all the miles and rock chips, my M3 is probably worth like $18k maximum (private sale, if I’m lucky ). Any money I put into it at this point, I won’t be getting back unless it’s coming through my own personal enjoyment over time . I’d love to keep it forever, and I may, but that will take some real re-investment in the coming years (which I’m willing to do if nothing else draws me away).

404 - User No Longer Available > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 14:57

Well luckily both my cars combined are actually cheaper than some insuring just one car here, so...

They also told me removing comprehensive won’t save me much.

Wacko > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 15:19

quite common here in Quebec , we call it “ Valeur a neuf” but in my case they gave me the amount to the closest car possible to what i have, since the SX4 was no longer available. they based the price on a 2015 base impreza with fog lights and mags.

on my 2014 pathfinder that i bought, i bought a replacement insurance on top of my full insurance since it was used(less than a year old) and they only offer “valeur a neuf” on brand new cars. But my replacement insurance is for 5 years on my purchase price + inflation. so if i crash my pathfinder before 2020 i get more than what i paid for it.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Wacko
09/05/2018 at 15:22

I was going to say “That’s it, I’m moving to Canada” but I’ve seen what you people pay for gas and no thanks.

Wacko > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 15:25

gas, cars, electronics, cell phone, internet, cable, food....

everything is more expensive here except electricity, schools and healthcare.

cbell04 > Wacko
09/05/2018 at 16:21

Yeah I used to live right on the board of Canada so knew it was somewhat expensive. Miss shooting up there once in a while. Was going to go to Kingston when I was up in the 1000k islands last month but forgot to bring our passports.

RacinBob > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
09/05/2018 at 20:53

I discovered that independent agents representing small insurance companies are the way to go. They have some leverage with the company as it’s the agent’s reputation who’s on the line. After many years with a major, I changed to an independent and have been treated better and saved money.

My decision to switch happened when the company pulled something really crappy with my homeowners policy. I went to my (their) agent who was a young guy and I realized that he had absolutely representing me in the discussion as he didn’t work for me. I am sure you would not have had the “conflict of interest” issues had you picked a small company .