Rear Ended!!!

Brian · #1 06-09-2008, 04:43 PM

My Laguna was just rear ended!!!! The bumber cover is pushed in a little, the trunk won't open, and the rear of the trunk is pushed in a fraction of an inch relative to the panel to the left of it that it is supposed to be flush with. Most disturbingly, there's now a big, diagonal, shallow crease in the right rear quarterpanel just behind the pasenger door and in front of the rear wheel well!

I didn't have my cell phone w/me and neither did the lady who hit me. We exchanged names, addresses, numbers, and insurance info. I told the lady who hit me that we can settle this w/o involving the insurance companies if they want too. She waved down her husband, a police officer, on his way home from work, and I gave him the same offer. His deducible is $400, and he said he'll wait to see if the estimate is more or less than that before he decides to turn it in. (As if it the repair could be anywhere near as low as that!)

I'm going to have to get an estimate soon. I can take it to the place that I had paint my trunk, etc before, but they weren't cheap, and I don't want these people to pay more than they have to. What can I expect this to cost? What will be involved in completely fixing the crease? Where can I find good replacement parts that might be cheaper than what a body shop can get (besides checking Car-Parts.com)?

It's Just Eric · #2 06-09-2008, 05:35 PM

The rear quarter panel..mabey it can be pulled a filled, mabey itll need to be replaced. as for a rear bumper, if your looking for a NEW one, you need to get one from subaru. Nobody makes a cheap replica.

I could probably advise you on a few things with some picturres to look at, but you midaswell just take it to the body shop for an estimate, and forward the price to the woman

Brian · #3 06-09-2008, 06:30 PM

Thanks, Eric. I'll probably get some pictures up eventually, but I don't have a digital camera so it will be a couple days. I hope to have an official estimate by then...maybe even before the end of the day tomorrow.

It was a 2008 GMC Envoy that hit me. SXV vs. SUV...could have turned out a lot worse!

Brian · #4 06-10-2008, 05:32 PM

I took it to a bodyshop for an estimate this morning. It's worse than I thought. The buckle in the rear quarter panel is a result of the whole back of the car having been bent to the right. That qurter panel is slighly bulged and the opposite one is slighly flattened/stretched. It will need to go on a frame straightener. That also explains why the trunk won't open.

His rough visual low-ball estimate w/o taking anything apart is $2,100. Once he opens it up to work on it, he's likely to find more damage. Unfortunately, he says that my car will total out at only $1,700! (At least with Nationwide Mutual, the insurance company the lady who hit me has.) He says the auto insurance laws are really bad in PA, and that the adjuster may not give the option of paying me a little less and not declaring it totaled. If it is declared totaled, they won't let me keep the car. They will give me the option of buying it back w/a salvage title! That would be ludicrous to have to buy my own car!

He says that even if I could get Nationwide Mutual to agree to the $2,100 and no totalling, then anything over that would come out of my pocket.

I don't know for sure yet if the lady and her husband will want to turn it in to their insurance. I'm hoping they'd rather just foot the bill themselves, and avoid an increase in their insurance.

Speedklix · #5 06-10-2008, 08:01 PM

...Just don't let this whole process "run out the clock" on filing a police report man!

If he is a cop and actually had to ask to wait to see an estimate... given the visible damage I would have gone straight to the station! It could be perfectly legitimate... but just C-Y-A!

2008 Envoy and no cell? ...I'm curious if cell phone use while driving is illegal where you live, just doesn't feel right.

subi-crosser · #6 06-10-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedklix

...Just don't let this whole process "run out the clock" on filing a police report man!

If he is a cop and actually had to ask to wait to see an estimate... given the visible damage I would have gone straight to the station! It could be perfectly legitimate... but just C-Y-A!

2008 Envoy and no cell? ...I'm curious if cell phone use while driving is illegal where you live, just doesn't feel right.

08 GMs come with Onstar! Push the blue button B!!ch!

subi-crosser · #7 06-10-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

I took it to a bodyshop for an estimate this morning. It's worse than I thought. The buckle in the rear quarter panel is a result of the whole back of the car having been bent to the right. That qurter panel is slighly bulged and the opposite one is slighly flattened/stretched. It will need to go on a frame straightener. That also explains why the trunk won't open.

His rough visual low-ball estimate w/o taking anything apart is $2,100. Once he opens it up to work on it, he's likely to find more damage. Unfortunately, he says that my car will total out at only $1,700! (At least with Nationwide Mutual, the insurance company the lady who hit me has.) He says the auto insurance laws are really bad in PA, and that the adjuster may not give the option of paying me a little less and not declaring it totaled. If it is declared totaled, they won't let me keep the car. They will give me the option of buying it back w/a salvage title! That would be ludicrous to have to buy my own car!

He says that even if I could get Nationwide Mutual to agree to the $2,100 and no totalling, then anything over that would come out of my pocket.

I don't know for sure yet if the lady and her husband will want to turn it in to their insurance. I'm hoping they'd rather just foot the bill themselves, and avoid an increase in their insurance.

There are 3 Wilsons in Wiley's Ford W,Va that can fix it. (we have a friend with a frame machine and a DEEP LOVE for old cars.) PICS!!!

We have repaired WAY worse than you discribe.

subi-crosser · #8 06-10-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subi-crosser

There are 3 Wilsons in Wiley's Ford W,Va that can fix it. (we have a friend with a frame machine and a DEEP LOVE for old cars.) PICS!!!

We have repaired WAY worse than you discribe.

If you click on the link in my signature, you can see what has happened at our li'l Hobby shop since feb of this year! I have another 20 pics from TODAY that are not loaded! Feel free to check out the albums.

We call our little organization " Compost Restorations", Check out the '41 chevy' album! THAT truck was SCRAP! Keep watching, it will be driving soon.