Disaster....

[BigMac]

The estimate for repair on the machine was about $3500, according to the dealer. I haven't talked to the insurance adjuster yet, but the retail book value on the sled is $6500, so I feel pretty confident that they'll agree to fix it rather than total it. That saves me a lot of money (if I ignore the $800 it's now going to cost me to rent that Arctic Cat M7 next week).

When I talked to my insurance company, they said 75% of current value is considered a total. I think you're safe. Totals aren't always a good thing. Especially when you're in no position to buy a new one.

Yeh, my insurance company told me 70% - that is apparently because it's worth totalling if the cost of repairs + salvage value is greater than or equal to the retail value of the sled when repaired.

 

[cevo]

Naturally, it had to strike 3 days before leaving for West Yellowstone...

Some 14 year-old on a 600 REV coming around a blind corner spots me too late, loses it and schmucks my left front suspension (he stopped, burst into tears, and then took off - but that's another story...). I saw him flailing the corner, and I was able to almost stop and bail off to the right before he hit

My 05 Vector meanwhile doesn't have an undamaged piece of the front left suspension and ski except maybe the shock spring can be saved. Took out the hood and belly pan. The REALLY bad news is that it also cracked the bulkhead. Even worse news is that the kid (when we finally caught up with him) doesn't have insurance.

It was a great sled, 800 miles on it. My great fear is that with the bulkhead cracked, my insurance company might total it meaning that I'll only get $6540 for it (minus deductable), leaving me with a pretty fair $$$ gap to get a new sled. An there are no Nytro's left anywhere around here. I'd probably have to wait and Yama-check a 2007.

The worst news is that the only sled I could find to rent in West Yellowstone for a week is an Arctic Cat M7.

They do have a new Nytro at Cannon Falls, MN Sports. Has reverse and is for sale for $6648. Saw the ad in Sunday's Star Trib.

 

[Srxspec]

BigMac, if you can do a buy back, let me know. I may be interested.

 

[BigMac]

BigMac, if you can do a buy back, let me know. I may be interested.

They aren't goint to total it, fortunately. Estimate was $3457.34. Retail book is about $6500.

The question now is whether or not my insurance company can get enough money out of the uninsured perpetrator to get my deductable back.

 

[ysiride]

INSURANCE

When the kid got home, he was upset and his dad saw the machine (dad's machine). Second time he's wrecked it this year. Dad loaded up the kid and they drove back to where my sled was sitting in pieces. As it turns out, the father is the mayor of the nearby little town. Since we're both relatively well-known around the area, the whole process had to be conducted in a gentlemanly fashion. Anyway, the State Trooper that came to the scene gave the kid what for for leaving the scene.

My plan is to let my insurance company handle it. Since the other sled had no insurance, my insurance company will pay me (minus the deductable) then subrogate against the mayor for the total amount of the loss. If they're successful, they'll even give me my deductable. They can be the bad guy and I can just blame any unpleasantness on the insurance company.

I could feel bad about the fact that this family may have to cough up $6500 to pay for my wrecked sled, but really now...liability insurance is cheap. Who in the world would buy a $7000 snowmobile, put their 14 year-old on it on snowmobile trails, and NOT have at least liability insurance? Sorry, but I think that is just stupid. That $6500 he may have to pay up would have paid for many years of insurance.

My dealer up here is pretty good and has a lot of connections. I have no doubt he could find me a Nytro if he put his resources to work. He's kind of looking into that now.

Snow up here in the Brainerd Lakes area is actually not bad. I gotta hand it to them, with the exception of the Paul Bunyan trail (which ALWAYS sucks - just like ANY trail the Minnesota DNR has responsibility for), the local clubs have been doing a great job with marginal snow.

 

[big_ry_ry]

Insurance

3 years ago someone hit my sled when i was parked at a gas station. The kid did not have insurance. I put it through my insurance but my insurance went up. Reason being even though it was not my fault and I had the name of the person who did it my insurance never recieved money from the kid who hit me. My insurance company said if that person paid it then my premium would not go up, but since he did not my premium went up untill the amount of the money is repaid in a higher premium. That is the way it was explained to me. So be careful about being nice and letting the insurance company handle it...You can still get burnt.

 

[BigMac]

Re: Insurance

3 years ago someone hit my sled when i was parked at a gas station. The kid did not have insurance. I put it through my insurance but my insurance went up. Reason being even though it was not my fault and I had the name of the person who did it my insurance never recieved money from the kid who hit me. My insurance company said if that person paid it then my premium would not go up, but since he did not my premium went up untill the amount of the money is repaid in a higher premium. That is the way it was explained to me. So be careful about being nice and letting the insurance company handle it...You can still get burnt.

Oh, I have no doubt that this will show up on my record with the insurance company since they will have to pay out. OTOH, the premium increase will be more than covered by the $3500 I'd have to shell out if I DIDN'T submit it to them. If I took the guy to small claims court, that would take months, and if I DIDN'T win there, it would be too late to submit it to the insurance company under the terms of their policy.

According to their policy, since I've been with them over a year, they can't cancel me unless the accident was my fault, but they can raise the premium. OTOH, the $274/year that full coverage cost me with Foremost is quite bit less than I was paying with Austin Mutual. I switched because Austin Mutual refused to insure the Vector because it was over 700 CC's (even though I insure 2 other snowmobiles and 4 automobiles with them). That's stupid, of course, because Austin doesn't understand the difference between a 4-stroke vs 2-stroke engine in terms of displacement vs horsepower.

I hate insurance companies. One way or another they have you by the short hairs. They can always change the rules to suit them, whenever they want.

 

[big_ry_ry]

Re: Insurance

I hate insurance companies. One way or another they have you by the short hairs. They can always change the rules to suit them, whenever they want.

no doubt i completely agree----my premimum went from 531 a year full coverage to 1700 a year. Which is tripple my auto for 2 vehicles.

 

[KbxSrx]

BigMac- I have run a Collection Agency for over 20 years, do you want some help with these guys? You wont have to go to court, give me a call for some free TY buddy deal counselling. 780-745-2006

 

[BigMac]

BigMac- I have run a Collection Agency for over 20 years, do you want some help with these guys? You wont have to go to court, give me a call for some free TY buddy deal counselling. 780-745-2006

Interesting concept...let me see what happens with the insurance company before going that route, but that's a good tip..thanks.