Had a similar run-in myself, but honestly, persistence doesn't always pan out. Couple years ago my old Honda got rear-ended pretty lightly at a stop sign—nothing major, just a cracked bumper and some alignment issues afterward. Insurance insisted the alignment was unrelated, just "normal wear," even though it drove perfectly fine before. Got an independent mechanic just like you did, sent in the report, thinking it'd be open-and-shut. Nope... they dug their heels in and wouldn't budge.
In the end, after weeks of back-and-forth calls and emails, I realized the time and stress weren't worth it for the relatively small repair cost. Ended up paying out-of-pocket to get it fixed at a local shop—saved myself the headache. Not saying you shouldn't fight it, but sometimes you've gotta weigh the hassle vs. cost. Just my two cents from someone who's been there.
"sometimes you've gotta weigh the hassle vs. cost."
Yep, learned that the hard way myself. Spent weeks arguing over a busted side mirror once—felt like a part-time job. Eventually caved and paid myself... sanity restored, wallet lighter. Lesson learned, lol.
"Eventually caved and paid myself... sanity restored, wallet lighter. Lesson learned, lol."
Been there too. Had a similar issue with my '68 Mustang last summer—someone backed into it at a parking lot meet-up. Nothing too major, just a dented quarter panel. Figured insurance would handle it smoothly considering it was clearly the other driver's fault (had witnesses and all). But nope, their insurer dragged their feet for weeks, giving me the runaround about valuations and "classic car repair estimates."
Eventually found myself spending hours on the phone, gathering paperwork, sending emails back and forth... felt like I was doing their job for them. After nearly two months of frustration and zero progress, I realized the stress wasn't worth it. Took the car to my trusted local body shop instead—ended up paying out of pocket but got quality workmanship without further headache.
Sometimes it's not just about money; it's also about peace of mind and preserving your enjoyment of the hobby. Classic cars already demand enough patience and attention without adding insurance battles to the mix. That said, I'd still recommend documenting everything meticulously from day one—photos, witness statements, repair quotes—even if you choose not to pursue it fully in the end. You never know when having thorough records might smooth things out next time around.
It's frustrating when insurers don't recognize or respect classic vehicles' unique value right away. Hopefully your next experience goes smoother than mine did...
Had a similar experience a couple years back, though mine wasn't a classic car—just my daily driver. Got rear-ended at a stoplight, totally other driver's fault, straightforward situation...or so I thought. Their insurance company immediately started playing games, questioning every little detail and trying to pin partial blame on me somehow (still scratching my head over that one). I spent weeks going back and forth with adjusters who clearly had zero intention of paying out fairly.
Eventually, after too many wasted lunch breaks spent arguing on the phone, I just said screw it and went to my usual mechanic. Paid out of pocket, got it fixed right away, and moved on with life. Yeah, it stung financially, but honestly the relief of not having to deal with those insurance clowns anymore was worth every penny.
One thing I'd strongly recommend is checking your own policy carefully—sometimes your insurer can step in and handle the hassle directly with the other party's company. Wish I'd known that sooner; might've saved myself some headaches. Also learned to keep meticulous records from day one: photos, police reports, witness info...everything. Even if you don't end up using it immediately, having detailed documentation can be a lifesaver if things escalate later.
Insurance companies count on people getting fed up and walking away—that's their whole strategy. And unfortunately, it works way too often because most of us have better things to do than fight endless battles over minor claims. But sometimes standing your ground early on can help avoid bigger headaches down the road.
Glad you got your Mustang sorted though—at least now you can get back to enjoying the car instead of dealing with bureaucratic nonsense.
Been there, done that...insurance companies are the absolute worst. Had a minor fender-bender last winter—icy roads, guy slid right into me at a stop sign. Should've been open-and-shut, but nope, suddenly they're asking if my tires were properly inflated and if I braked too abruptly. Like, seriously? Sorry for braking when someone slides toward me, my bad.
Anyway, I feel your pain about just paying out-of-pocket. Sometimes sanity is worth more than a few hundred bucks. Good call on the documentation though; learned that one the hard way myself. Glad the Mustang's back on the road—at least now you can drive instead of argue on hold with insurance reps.
