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StreamNTyme · 08-18-2014, 06:16 AM

We are so sorry you have lost your trailer, tow vehicle however you will be ok, eventually. The other driver should be ticketed w lots more. We went through this also. Flipped the trailer and tow vehicle, twice. Totaled, however our truck saved us. I think the pics are still in my file. We thought we were fine but after a few days the pain set in. It took a long time to get over emotionally and spent quite some time at the chiropractors.
RE: appraisers are not familiar w Airstream and will low ball the values. The insurance co will do the same. It took a while, two insurance co. to finally get what we wanted. We did not settle w their 1st, 2nd or 3rd offers. Get a written appraisal from a valid Airstream dealer and one from the auto dealer. Get two if needed. Send them lots of pics if you can not go directly. Your policy should have some $$ in it for replacement of personal items. List everything you can think of, drawer by drawer, exterior compartments, under the bed, everything everywhere. Our bikes were in the trailer so they were also destroyed. We had a Reese hitch. It failed to keep the trailer from swaying after the semi pushed us off the road. We now have a Hensley. Only Hensley or Propride eliminate sway. But lets not go there now, that is down the road. For now take a breath, be thankful to be alive and in one piece. I could go on with more detail but so many have already. Take care of yourselves, first and formost.

Pat Cassity · 08-20-2014, 08:54 PM

Airstream Friends, I cant thank all of you enough for your kind words and thoughts. Things are progressing but it's going to take time to get it all sorted out with the insurance companies. My wife and returned to Amarillo on Tuesday to retrieve the rest of our belongings from the two vehicles. I have put all of the pictures in a Flickr link for those of you that have sent me private messages asking for additional pictures.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk26K5nZ

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BoldAdventure · 08-20-2014, 09:30 PM

Man, I can barely begin to find the words looking at those photos. Our vehicle isn't as new, and we're buying a used Airstream, but to just have everything and be setting out on what should be an adventure and to have your world basically turned upside down. Glad you guys weren't seriously hurt. Praying your insurance companies move quickly in restoring everything. And hoping this won't deter you from future adventures and fun.

Good luck Pat.

Ramble On · 08-20-2014, 10:06 PM

I just learned of your misfortune, my greatest fear while traveling. I think the advice about the value of your trailer is correct, NADA values are unrealistic. Be sure to point the PD adjuster to sites that reflect the true market value of your trailer.(airstreamclassifieds) and others. Do not settle the PD claim until you been made whole. Some insurance company are better than others. If the 3rd party carrier is not offering the true market value, then turn the claim over to your own insurance company and see what they offer. Your insurance carrier will pursue the other in arbitration. If neither meets your expectations, see if you can get legal help. Sorry for your our loss.

streaminwild · 08-20-2014, 11:28 PM

Glad your O.K. This is what I worry about when traveling any where. I saw a driver texting with a smashed front end. You would ''think'' that they would have learned after the first crash. I hope that I can be as understanding as you were after finding out the cause of accident. Should be mandatory jail time for texting.

dkrug · 08-21-2014, 09:22 AM

That is a nightmare come true. I am happy to hear you were not injured.
I am with those that think texting and driving is as bad as drunk driving. I would say the offender got off very easy!!
Best of luck with the insurance.

Tyvekcat · 08-21-2014, 11:00 AM

Yeah, glad you all are ok. It's like 'Mad-Max' on the highways these days.
You know, it says something for the construction of the Airstream that it was not peeled open. So often you see Travel trailers cracked open and items strewn about the interstate. I am impressed with how well you Airstream survived the calamity, and your GMC.
Sounds like you handled the situation in a calm, professional manner. The one time I was hit by a drunk driver, I didn't do so well.

Your family is in our prayers.

switz · 08-21-2014, 10:34 PM

Sure am glad you both are basically okay.

Incidents like this do not always turn out okay. At least the culprit that caused the accident is known. Not mentioned so far is the idea of a civil lawsuit for damages not covered by the weasel insurance companies). Do some home work with your attorney as you may need his letterhead as coercion with the insurance companies.

The trailer and tow vehicles will eventually be replaced.

Bajaexplorer · 08-21-2014, 10:43 PM

God bless you guy's came out ok without any scratches frōm this horrenduos accident, most important is that you and tour familly are ok. Needless to say, that both of your vehicles performed great to protect you as I can see from the pictures, the AS and whatever hitch you had did their job. Hope you get back on the road soon and put this incident behind, this is ne of those things that are impossible to avoid and can happen to anyone of us. I am convinced that after looking at those pictures that the AS performed as the best safest TT is out there on the roads. God Bless you are ok. Tony

SteveSueMac · 08-22-2014, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

Sure am glad you both are basically okay.

Incidents like this do not always turn out okay. At least the culprit that caused the accident is known. Not mentioned so far is the idea of a civil lawsuit for damages not covered by the weasel insurance companies). Do some home work with your attorney as you may need his letterhead as coercion with the insurance companies.

The trailer and tow vehicles will eventually be replaced.

Totally agree about the civil suit (and I'm not a fan of the frivolous lawsuits that are the new "lottery" in the US - but this one warrants action in my unprofessional opinion).

A for my profession - I work at an insurance company and I'm not offended by your characterization - though I'd offer for your consideration a few points.

1) insurance is an odd product in that you buy it in the hopes of never using it and 99% of the time, we understand the basic concepts but VERY few specifics on the contract language, the actual coverage we have or don't have, jurisdictional differences in legal interpretation of the contract, etc. It's very simple on the surface and exceedingly complicated in practice. That it can't be summarized in a bumper sticker contributes to that "weasel" feeling.

2) some carriers (the one I work for, which doesn't provide RV coverage) train their Claim professionals to FIND coverage in the contract and to pay what is owed - period. Others may go about that process differently. Choose wisely. Very often that lowest price is not lowest overall cost.

3) Insurance is actually a very non-weasely business. If you've seen Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life" - its like that scene where there's a run on the bank (their savings and loan) and he's telling them - your money isn't in the vault, it's in Sam's house and Sally's kid's education....etc. It's amazing how we all pool our funds (premiums) like a community (and we rarely know all the other members of that community) so no one of us has to take a catastrophic hit. Yes, some people never have a loss or need to make a claim and you could say they "wasted" their money. For some, having the peace of mind of knowing they are covered (and hopefully the exact definition of that in the event of a loss) is worth the funds.

These are my opinions - not my employer's. everyone's mileage may vary.

As for Pat's situation - I'm so glad you guys are ok though I am so tired of seeing people texting while driving I could literally scream! I think this is worse than drunk driving because in theory, you're not impaired and should be able to make a better decision - like - put your damn phone down and think about the other drivers on the road and not only your narcissistic self! Argh!!!!

SuperTrouper · 08-22-2014, 09:01 AM

I'm with Tyvekat. Given the explanation of the accident as it happened, I think the pictures show that both vehicles performed beautifully. I think the AS might be a good salvage title to work on. It's tough to see your new baby banged up like that and Paula may be right that there is hidden damage but by and large the AS looks very in-tact and salvageable (for someone who wants to take that on). I would not think that an SOB would have the same integrity inside and out with a external hit and then high speed jackknife and roll. Pat, we are very glad that you and your wife were not seriously injured. Thanks for sharing so much of your story with us.

TinTin · 08-22-2014, 09:57 AM

So glad you came through this all right!!

dznf0g · 08-22-2014, 10:03 AM

I have an AS dealer acquaintance who bought a salvage title rollover and repaired it for his personal use. I haven't seen it, but he says it tows perfectly, looks fine on the outside, but if you sit and study the interior really hard, some stuff just isn't square and/or lined up perfectly. He said if someone came in and didn't know it had been totaled, they probably wouldn't even notice.

Minno · 08-22-2014, 10:21 AM

Thank God, you are ok! The rest is fluff. Good luck as you go on.

Kay

Foiled Again · 08-22-2014, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperTrouper

I'm with Tyvekat. Given the explanation of the accident as it happened, I think the pictures show that both vehicles performed beautifully. I think the AS might be a good salvage title to work on. It's tough to see your new baby banged up like that and Paula may be right that there is hidden damage but by and large the AS looks very in-tact and salvageable (for someone who wants to take that on). I would not think that an SOB would have the same integrity inside and out with a external hit and then high speed jackknife and roll. Pat, we are very glad that you and your wife were not seriously injured. Thanks for sharing so much of your story with us.

Dear Super - you are so right about what would have happened to an SOB in a wreck. I've seen four of those wrecks. A big fiver had one whole side come off - and everything that was against that wall went flying too down about 300 yards of highway median. It looked like a semi was trying to pass it and perhaps the 5th wheel got sucked into the side of the trailer. I was actually surprised that as much of the trailer remained in one piece! This one didn't even go over, it was still on its wheels when I drove past in the other direction. The other three simply disintegrated as the side hit the ground. The Airstream is a crushed tin can, but it's in one piece.

Paula

Reganzo · 08-22-2014, 12:49 PM

[QUOTE="Pat Cassity;1497036"]Yesterday was a day that my wife and I will remember for the rest of our lives.

Thankfully you and your wife weren't seriously hurt. I had déjà vu when I read the thread, as back in June my wife and I were leaving the Amarillo KOA heading to I 40 when making a left turn a truck came flying from my left and drove around the front of our truck and skidded back on the road. Turns out the driver of the truck told me he saw my blinker for the left turn, but he zoned out and almost hit the rear of our trailer, and he managed to drive like Dale Earnhart Jr. And catastrophe was avoided.

Looking at your pictures I realize how bad it could have been. This has to be every Airstreamers nightmare, as we can control how we drive but are at the mercy of fate with other less careful drivers. Good luck with your insurance carrier, and safer travels in the future...

Regards,

Reganzo

Pat Cassity · 08-23-2014, 05:05 PM

Thought I would give everyone and update. My yukon is in the process of being appraised and the total at the moment is up to $28,000. It currently has a value of $52,000 so the total repairs will need to exceed $39,000 before it will be considered a total loss. It will be put on the frame machine on Monday to determine its condition. The collision manager is trying to convince the outside adjuster to report it as totaled based on the time and expense to repair. However, he has also stated that he will not be able to repair it at his shop because of the equipment will be tied up so long that he will end up losing a considerable amount of business. So, if LM doesn't total the Yukon it looks like it will have to be moved to another collision shop. If it is totaled, fortunately I have a full replacement endorsement to my policy.
Now for the AS. It's still sitting at the storage facility in Amarillo and has yet to be appraised. However, my LM adjuster has stated that it will probably be considered a total loss since it turned over. So, I asked LM if the AS qualified for full replacement and they told me no, that only Yukon would be covered. I told them that my endorsement didn't specify vehicles and was an endorsement to my entire policy. A policy that covered my Yukon, the AS, and my wife's Mini. However, they told me that they would investigate and get back with me. I then talked with another adjuster on Friday and asked the same question about the replacement policy and there was no record of my previous conversation. He asked me how many miles I had on the AS. The endorsement states that the vehicle has to have less than 15,000 miles and be less than 12 months old to qualify. I reminded him that TT's don't have odometers. He promised another investigation. We will see what happens Monday. Every day is a new experience!

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Flying Gypsies · 08-24-2014, 06:37 AM

Wow, I am so glad that you are both OK. I am watching this thread to see how LM deals with it as we are insured with them as well. I hope that this is resolved soon so you can get back on the road doing what you love to do. I have seen tractor-trailer drivers texting on the highway--scarrreeeeyyyy!!

switz · 08-24-2014, 09:36 AM

Claims adjusters are paid to NOT disperse funds and will look for any excuse to pay the least or no compensation. The agent on the other hand gets his commission by selling the policy in glowing terms that often do not align with the reality of a claim.

In my experience, the consumer gets the shaft in both directions - exaggerated selling to inflate premiums and miserly claims payouts.

TinTin · 08-24-2014, 10:41 AM

You appear to be concerned about your own insurance policy with LM (is this Liberty Mutual?). Since the accident was not your fault, and the other driver was charged, I should think it would be the other driver's insurance adjusters that you would be speaking to at this point. They are the ones that will be footing the bill.