Trans Am wreck

[GTOger]

On November 14, 2016 I was driving the Trans Am back from my workshop to the house, a real estate agent named Jolene decided her LS400 would look great smashed into the rear of my car. Or more accurately, she was so into her phone that she didn't happen to notice I had been stopped at a red light for a good 30-45 seconds. She was doing en estimated 25-30mph and never hit the brakes.

The LS did not have much visible damage, but the damage to the Trans Am had been pretty severe. The rear fascia (lights, bumper) was pushed in and down and caused the gas tank to get pushed forward. The force of the impact buckled the rear fenders at the wheelwells. The passenger side door no longer opens and closes without significant rubbing and drag.

I'll be the first to admit that my T/A isn't much. But it's always been in the family. My grandparents bought it new in September 1985. Its life hasn't been charmed but I took it on as a project in July 2015. An honest assessment:

Drivetrain: perfect (for stock). Transmission was the last piece of the puzzle and was 3 days old when I got hit.

Interior: 8/10. New carpet, headliner, visors, leather seats from a '98 T/A, nice Kenwood stereo. T-tops are water-tight, a/c blows cold. It's a comfy place to be.

Paint & body: 6/10. Car had been hit once in its life in the late 1980s in the left rear. Repair was pretty good, but I could tell where the paint was blended. A few door-dings here and there. Chipped fiberglass corner on one of the ground effect pieces, the nose had been run into something (a wall?) and cracked. The decal stripe along the rocker panel was coming apart. I have a new nose and replacement ground effects on hand. Wheels are original.

Ms Crawford (the woman who hit me) was horrible. She claimed she didn't do any of the damage. I was driving around in an old car and was using an opportunity to cash in. Because after all she is driving a 12 year old Lexus. She was unable to produce any insurance. I called the cops. She called her daughters, and they came and laughed and mocked me. Ridiculed me for being such a scammer to claim their fine mother did anything to my old jalopy. One of the daughters produced an insurance document to the cop, who handed it to me to jot down the information.

I limped the car back to the workshop and called her insurance company right away. They took the information and I got a call back the next morning. She's not their customer. Not insured by them.

I ran Jolene's license plate to get an address, which I then searched online and found her Trulia page. Gave a call to the number, she answered and was surprised to hear from me. I said "how about you give me your legit insurance information." She said no. I could give her my contact information and she'd pass it along to her insurance company in case they needed anything from me.

At that point I called Hagerty, my insurance company. They are handling all aspects of the claim and then they'll go back and duke it out with her insurance company (who I did eventually hear from). I have a stated value policy with Hagerty as well as a "cherished vehicle" option that basically ensures that if the car is a total loss, I keep it without having to buy it back, and there's no salvage title business. Just because the repairs may cost more than the value to which I have insured it does not mean it's "beyond repair".

Where we are now is working with my body shop and insurance company to get the actual cost of repairs. The first estimate was within 75% of total value so it's most likely they're just going to send me a check. Then I can decide if its worth repairing. I want to say it will be. I have a thing for 3rd gen Trans Ams. While my dream would be a slightly later model GTA, the fact that this car has been a family member since new counts for something.

I had planned to address all the little paint & body issues at some point anyhow, so if things work ideally this would be a blessing in disguise. I get a jump start on the project. That area of the car was going to need a bit of work anyhow, and paint is paint.