Rex_Experience

Hey guys,

About 4 months ago i was in an accident with an old man who decided to run a red light. I suffered some minor injuries, but nothing major. Anyways, i'm going to war with the ICBC Claims agent at the moment. Basically ICBC is telling me to go to hell because i want my claim to include the loss in value to my Vehicle as a result of the accident.

I've tinkered around the internet a bit and apparently the Canadian "kelly blue book" is known as the "Candadian Red Book". However, they want you to pay 85 bucks to use it.

Basically, i just want to know how much value my car would have been before and then after the accident.

It's a 2004 Mitsubishi Galant ES, no leather, but power everything. The accident damage totaled at 1400 Canadian for parts, labour and everything came to 2900.

Any help would be appreciated.

Aviator 902S

Good luck with that one. ICBC is a cross-section of the dirtiest bunch of ****** in the industry. (one of the reasons we moved to Alberta, even though our driving records were and are clean).

But to put the odds in your favour pick up a junker to drive in the meantime and then inform your adjuster that you now have another daily driver--- so that they know they can't starve you out because you "can wait as long as they can" for a fair settlement.

But honestly, your best (maybe your only) hope is taking them to court. A small-claims court *should* handle the case and with proper preparation you won't need a lawyer. But whatever you do, go prepared:

Take photos of the wreck from every angle including the odometer, wheel wells, tires, engine bay, etc. so that you can prove the car's condition prior to the accident. A favourite ICBC scam is to nit-pick every scratch and stone chip to knock the car's pre-crash value down and reduce your claim.

Get and photocopy the red book value for your car. Also, get two appraisals. All of these will cost money, and you may or may not be allowed to sue for the recovery of said costs.

Get the appraisers to include an approximate value for your car once it has been stapled and glued back together, one that reflects the depreciated value of the car due to the accident. Dealers are required to declare a vehicle's accident history to potential buyers for a reason--- previously wrecked cars are worth less!

With any luck, once ICBC realizes that you're not going to go away quietly, are not dependant on a quick settlement and that they will indeed be facing a judge (and maybe lose the case) they will likely cave and make you a reasonable offer.

Rex_Experience

Thanks for the responce, i took your advice and got a decent claim!

-rex

Aviator 902S

Good on ya Rex! Always good to see these bastards get beaten at they're own game.