This insurance experienced semi-sucked

2000 Grand Caravan. 18,000 miles. Full coverage from State Farm.

Situation:
Light rain. Just passed a traffic light and need to turn left, so I pull into, and stop in the Left turn lane. A long line of cars are waiting for the light, blocking my turn. The road is 3 lanes wide. First two are jammed with cars, the 3rd on the far side is empty: It is a half mile long right turn only lane.

1. Cars move and make a path for my Left turn. I cross the two lanes and look down the turning lane. The lane appears clear so I proceed with my turn.
Alarmed with the sound of sliding tires, a small pickup slams against the passenger side door and spins us around 180 degrees.

2. My 3 year old boy was near the door and crying with bloody lip, but otherwise we're OK.

3. Five concerned witnesses form around us giving their info against the pickup truck who was estimated going +70 up the right turn lane (Bypassing traffic) Speed limit 35.

4. Police arrive to tow the vehicle and give me a failure to yield ticket. I explain about the witnesses. He says it doesn't matter because he didn't see it happen. Massive damage to van. Windshield cracked in several places. Sliding door and fender smashed. Crooked, flat wheels. Floor buckled like an accordian. Rear hatch won't close for a twisted roof. Seats askew for the twisted floor. The driver was obviously going faster than 35 and gets no ticket.

Note: The passenger riding in the pickup truck was a State Farm agent.
The pickup driver broke his hand in the accident, his truck was flattened almost to his firewall.

5. I explain the situation with State Farm, who doesn't seem interested in witnesses.

6. Bluebook was $23,000 on our totaled Grand Caravan. State Farm's figure was $16,000. They don't care about Kelly's blue book, only going with "Their figures". Only after 4 months of negotiations agreed to $19,000.

Previously I had felt very good with our State Farm agent. He's a nice person and we were friends.
But I found out the hard way that he has no "Pull" in these decisions. It's all up to "Corporate".

7. We bought a new 2001 Grand Caravan- with less features and used our Gap insurance to pay the difference.

I think this situation didn't totally suck- State farm did pay- although much less than I feel they should have: and only after hounding them and threatening complaints to the insurance commissioner.
But yes, our replacement is considerably less than the original so that part really sucks.

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT