i think that settles it.....


but, Eagle....

you're a lawyer and you know how things work. in effect you make the system work for you regardless...doesn't make it right but it is the way it is. you may see your case example as a way of working things out. i see it as typical legal maneuvering to the benefit of the ones with the bigger bucks.

if in fact you are that first "good guy" lawyer I've met then I hope we become friends for life and you're on my side. i need to start using some lawyer tactics in my life. but i've been through a lot and the lawyers I have encountered on my side and theirs have certainly fulfilled the traits of the stereotype.

all my legal experiences (even the one I won) have in fact, been my version of 'Nam.

No disrespect to the you and the good guy lawyers (im sure there are some), war veterans, or car guys just wanting to know how to add jumpseats. No animals are ever harmed. Except vermin.

 

No disrespect taken. I do consider myself a "good guy lawyer." Being young and idealistic, I work hard for my clients, and do a ton of pro bono for the less fortunate. In this case, my client was the original plaintiff, suing the insurance company b/c they denied the claim. In a separate suit, my client was sued by the passengers. The way I see it, my client would have paid upwards of $20k to pay the claim and medical bills, so it was in my client's best interest to enjoin all the parties who had something to do with the seat install, and let them all share equally in fault. Any good lawyer would do the same thing. Its part of the practice.

I just wouldn't want the same thing to happen to anyone else. It was a a bogus situation from the beginning, and I felt bad for all the parties involved. I hope this experience helps a few people out there, so they don't need to go thru the same thing the people in this story did. Believe me, nobody was happy, except the insurance company.

 

Glad we are friends, Licenciado!

 

"did not even ask" will be legally insufficient. claim denied!

then the lawyers can fight over that one.

 

your title will list 5 or 7 passenger in most states and if LR is like everyone else the insurance company knows how the truck was equipt by the VIN.
My company knew mine was a 7 passenger & an SE as soon as i gave them the VIN.
Vehicle Identification Number, the name kind of says it all...

enough of this, go for it enjoy, hopfully you will never need your insurance and this is a mute conversation

 

I'm feeling lawyerly....

So which is it?

 

Thats your answer. Your insurance won't ask b/c the VIN already tells them. When the adjuster comes to look at your car, he'll know right away something is wrong. But more importantly, I'd be concerned about the people in the seats you installed. If they get injured in an accident, lordy lord, you're in for a fight.

 

OK, I just called my insurance broker, Kim. I have Commerce Insurance. Kim and I grew up together, she handles all my insurance, so I trust her. I ran the scenario by her, and while she is only a broker, she was pretty sure any insurance company would deny a claim where any safety apparatus, designed to restrain a passenger in an accident, was installed after the fact (i.e. seats and seatbelts). I asked her if this was the case if I wanted to install a Ricaro-type seat in place of my driver seat, and she said that would also be possible, along with roll cages and other non-OEM installed devices. Remember, none of this against the law, but it may be against your policy.

The only reason I'm adamant about this is b/c I saw a number of good people get taken to the cleaners over issues just like this, when they didn't realize they were doing anything wrong. I just don't want to see more good people get taken too. Just ask yourself- how would you feel if the two people (or three in the case of the bench seat) were injured in a crash? How would you feel if they sued you? Is it worth the potential liability? If so, go ahead. If not, call your agent and ask, and then get it in writing from him/her. It's no good if it's not in writing.

 

Thanks, good comments. I had already decided against the bench seat. Thinking about the land rover seats. Since its OEM I don't understand their issues but will check with my insurance first. It will just be my kids back there so being sued shouldn't be an issue and OEM should mean its safe or as safe as land rover's original equipment. However, we will see. Thanks for giving input and something to think about that I would never have thought about being an issue. My first rover and I want to love it so appreciate the help.

 

Ok guys so like I said before I am finished with everything as far as the third row seats go after install I took the disco over to state farm insurance and showed the agent he said wow you can't even tell this was not factory. He took a few photos of the third row seats and added it to my file and signed off on it we are good to go! It's very simple to do!!! (This is factual information) adding the third row seats to your disco II will not void your insurance policy...... It is safe and it is legal...... This was a option when the vehicle was purchased at the dealer along with the sls package they were optional features. It is also fact that on the internet some people have to add there 2 cents worth of knowledge every time they get a chance, "drowssap" right or wrong they will just do it anyway. You can't trust what you see on the tv or on this forum all the time. Just call your insurance agent and explain what your doing and let them know that the holes are tapped from factory and that all you are doing is a bolt in factory option using all land rover parts all the way to the bolts if you have a respectable insurance company it will be no problem. The lawyer stated if you have a cheap *** insurance company you may want to change not just for this reason but God for bid you ever have to file a claim on anything. If your impulsive inputs are not factual then we don't need them..... If you have knowledgeable information and are trying to help diagnose a problem then that's great but when you don't know don't pretend like you do.