real FIRE!!!! any experience when a shop burns down?

[4t64rd]

A friend's car was being built in a shop that burned down. '33 Ford roadster (glass), $6K in it's flatty, C4, on and on. (goldchainer, but he does smaller stuff himself)

He was 3 days away from delivery of it.

The guy who owns the shop reportedly, owes everyone. But he is saying that he has insurance. As my other friend put it "looks like Jewish lightning has struck again". Not sure why being Jewish has anything more or less to do with insurance fraud, but he's an equal opportunity offender.

What can my friend expect?
a) From the insurance co., his and theirs
b) With the legal battle afterwards, because there is no way this shop guy has enough insurance
c) If the shop owner is lying about insurance altogether, to buy himself some time to get out of dodge, as it were.

[wingnutz]

My old body shop had a disclaimer on the contracts saying that the customer cars had to have their own Insurance against these types of disasters.

My Insurance Company was responsible for the building, equipment and the tools needed for the operation of my business.

There is just no way I could afford the type of coverage the shop owner is claiming to have. (to many variables) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Hope the customers and your friend are insured..., if not there could be many problems trying to collect on anything! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Mark

[porknbeaner]

Never had a shop burn with my ride in it. Well once but...it was my shop...no ins.
I have had to deal with the insurance stiffs (and and various sundry other discriptions) before. Not a pleasant experience.

Here's a list of things to do:

Get all ducks (not to be confused with peeps) in a row, IE receipts for everything, articles and or estimates/appraisales stateing the value of the said vehicle. Copy of contract to do work.

Start finding a attorney that can't be bought off by the insurance company.

A good friend to go see the insurance adjuster with.
Note: play good Hot Rodder/Bad Hot Rodder.

Make sure there is a Fire Marshal's Report. Read it yourself and see if it alludes to the fact that the fire was the fault of the shop owner.

Take your own pictures ASAP.

Here's the deal, the insurance is going to try and pay Blue Book value for the Rod. They don't own a Blue Book that lists Classic cars. So besides the fact that they want to pay Wholesale, they want to pay scrap for a classic.

Don't know about other states but in MO if the vehicle owner didn't have insurance, they will try to claim that they are not liable. A lot of states have the same loophole, but its a grey area. Good attorney can get past that.

The next biggy is they will try to claim there never was a fire. Most states no Firemarshal's Report, no fire. Or that the fire was the fault of the shop owner. Either case no liability, or reduced liability.

The adjusters pictures will almost always be fuzzy, and not show any damage or minimal damage to your property. Or else the pics with your stuff won't exhist, or have been lost.

I'm sure that I missed something, and this isn't real positive. Remember the ins co is in the business of makeing money, not paying money.

Make sure you are proactive not reactive. You can win.

[haring]

Good luck to your friend in collecting the true value of his lost car. That's a real downer. That actually reminds me to up the insurance on my car since I just put in air suspension.

Just be sure to leave out any of the Jew digs. Your friend was ignorant to make such an asinine comment.

[TWO]

Had a shop fire once and the insurance wouldn't cover vehicles. They'd cover parts, as long as they were spare/stock, and hadn't been removed from a vehicle for service. Guess it depends what kind of insurance the guy has, but I'd be worried.

[Cword]

Seems to me Denise HRLC has been through an awful experience very similar to this.

mike

[4t64rd]

[ QUOTE ]
Good luck to your friend in collecting the true value of his lost car. That's a real downer. That actually reminds me to up the insurance on my car since I just put in air suspension.

Just be sure to leave out any of the Jew digs. Your friend was ignorant to make such an asinine comment.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I have a better one anyway, "selective lightning"

[Hackerbilt]

My non-commercial 2 bay is covered for contents EXCLUDING vehicles. They MUST have separate insurance or NO PAYMENT OF LOSS.
Guess its universal huh?

Bill

[286merc]

The first time I heard "Jewish Lightning" maybe 45 years ago I cracked up laughing. The way Don Rickles used to explain it in the Brooklyn clubs was that it started in the Catskills at the mainly Jewish owned resorts in the 'Borsht Belt". If it was a bad summer season lightning was sure to hit! He would even name the resorts!

Since Rickles is Jewish and so were a high percentage of club patrons, plus Ive heard many Jews use the term, I wouldnt worry a bit about it being offensive.

OTOH, some people take offense at the drop of a pin.

[k9racer]

If he does not collect ins write it off his income tax as a casualty loss its not as good as collecting money but its somthing. I hope this helps.