Just been in an accident... What happens now?

[Ylen13]

first thing is call a lawyer, he will do everything else and u will also get medical treatment for your injury and your lawyer will also get you money for pain and suffering that you suffer from the accident

 

[blahblah99]

Well, went to my insurance and filed a claim, gave them all my information and the other guy's information. Now waiting for the claim adjuster to call me back... and in the meantime I had time to get two estimates at different places....

But first, here are the pictures of the accident:

Picture 1 Right side of the bumper... not too much damage here except bumper is crooked.
Picture 2 Rear view of the car.. you can see the damage now.
Picture 3 Closeup of the damage. It looks UGLY.
Picture 4 Side view closeup of damage.
Picture 5 Rear side fender damage
Picture 6 Driver's side rear fender well... as you can see there is obviously some frame damage as it is no longer uniform.

Now, I went to two different places and the first one estimated repairs to be at $4235 ($1950 in parts and tax, $2300 in labor) and the other at $4663 ($1400 in parts and tax, $3200 in labor)... YIKES! That's half the blue book value of the car. Keep in mind that this is the MINIMAL that it could cost as damage that was hidden wasn't included in this estimate.

Now I'm still unsure what to do with the car...

1) Have the repair shop fix it back to original condition and keep the car.
2) Have the repair shop fix it back to original condition and SELL the car.
3) Get a full estimate, talk to claims adjuster, pocket the cash, and get it fixed at a mom and pop shop and keep the car.
4) Get a full estimate, talk to claims adjuster, pocket the cash, and sell the car AS IS.

If I sell the car, that means I have to spend even MORE time putting everything back to stock, rip out my sound system and the wires & accessories, and spend the time and effort to find another 240.

Sigh, here's another reason why people with large cars should pay EXTRA for insurance.

 

[ViperMagic]

Originally posted by: blahblah99
Well, went to my insurance and filed a claim, gave them all my information and the other guy's information. Now waiting for the claim adjuster to call me back... and in the meantime I had time to get two estimates at different places....

But first, here are the pictures of the accident:

Picture 1 Right side of the bumper... not too much damage here except bumper is crooked.
Picture 2 Rear view of the car.. you can see the damage now.
Picture 3 Closeup of the damage. It looks UGLY.
Picture 4 Side view closeup of damage.
Picture 5 Rear side fender damage
Picture 6 Driver's side rear fender well... as you can see there is obviously some frame damage as it is no longer uniform.

Now, I went to two different places and the first one estimated repairs to be at $4235 ($1950 in parts and tax, $2300 in labor) and the other at $4663 ($1400 in parts and tax, $3200 in labor)... YIKES! That's half the blue book value of the car. Keep in mind that this is the MINIMAL that it could cost as damage that was hidden wasn't included in this estimate.

Now I'm still unsure what to do with the car...

1) Have the repair shop fix it back to original condition and keep the car.
2) Have the repair shop fix it back to original condition and SELL the car.
3) Get a full estimate, talk to claims adjuster, pocket the cash, and get it fixed at a mom and pop shop and keep the car.
4) Get a full estimate, talk to claims adjuster, pocket the cash, and sell the car AS IS.

If I sell the car, that means I have to spend even MORE time putting everything back to stock, rip out my sound system and the wires & accessories, and spend the time and effort to find another 240.

Sigh, here's another reason why people with large cars should pay EXTRA for insurance.

Sucks about your accident, but morons should have to pay extra for insurance. I cant afford any more simply because I drive a larger car. It just takes soem common sense and theyre just as safe to everyone else as a small car.

 

[TechnoKid]

Looks like theres heavy damage to the left rear. Possibly some underlying bumper support damage.

Gonna need to refill the blinker fluid too! I hate when that happens...

 

[Bryophyte]

I'd say go with either 3) or see if they want to total the car.

 

[Ylen13]

why are u not consulting a lawyer?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: BigDan
Oh, and you pay your insurance company big bucks, make them work for it. They'll seek repayment from the other party for all damages. There is no reason you should have to pay a deductible. There is no reason you should have to pay higher rates if you are not at fault.

I agree. Do you guys have crappy insurance companies? When I was in at accident, my insurance company badgered teh sh!t out of his. Basically, they don't want to have to pay out on a claim if they can get the other insurance company to pay it. They did all the legwork for me. That's what I pay them for.

As for raising the rates, they didn't raise mine. Most insurance companies will let you have a couple of no-fault claims in a period of time before they raise your rates. If you were in 3 accidents in 2 years, they are going to raise your rates whether you were at fault or not. This doesn't have anything to do with you asking about making a claim.

 

[gonzo2k]

If you had a 15 year old AMERICAN sedan...the guy in the van would be authoring this thread!

 

[CraigRT]

sucks about your car... i wish i had a car like that.

 

[blahblah99]

I don't have a lawyer yet because I havn't even talked to the claims adjuster yet. If there is a disagreement between the other driver and me, then I will DEFINITELY get a lawyer but if he's already admitting fault to his insurance company and the claims adjuster knows that, then no need for lawyer hopefully.

After looking through the estimate list, some items that caught my attention were:

1. Replace left tail light assembly. $171.72 <---HOLY SMOKES
2. Replace bumper cover. $249.02 <---HOLY SMOKES
3. Replace emblem "240SX" $43.02 <----HOLY SMOKES
4. Replace emblem "SE" $23.73 <----HOLY SMOKES
5. Replace reveal molding on door. $100 <---HOLY SMOKES


For those who live in the Orange County area, which auto body shops are the best? Right now I'm thinking about the M2 Fountain Valley Bodyworks as they seem to be doing the best job, plus they work with my insurance company (Farmer's Insurance) and the work is guaranteed.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

If you are injured, definitely see a lawyer right away. Don't delay. Insurance companies are aggressive, and waiting can cost you thousands.

 

[Imported]

Damn.. and I love 240s.. to see that happen to a '97 makes me sad.

If it's all body damage, I'm sure you could find the body panels, tailights, etc. yourself, put them on yourself, get it painted, and then pocket whatever money is left.. but if there's any frame damage, they'll probably total it.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: BigDan
Oh, and you pay your insurance company big bucks, make them work for it. They'll seek repayment from the other party for all damages. There is no reason you should have to pay a deductible. There is no reason you should have to pay higher rates if you are not at fault.

But that happens nonetheless. I read an article or heard it on the news a few months ago that even calling to question about filing a claim results in a potential ding against you and a cause to raise rates. My ex had a string of bad luck and was involved in 3 accidents within two years. None were her fault but the rates went up anyway.

In a way thats true. My mom had 3 claims in 2 years also.. one involved her vehicle being stolen the other involved her being rearended twice. None her fault.. she now pays $2000 every six months. BUT they also have a set amount of payout before they increase your rates and also they apply a certain percentage of fault on both parties. whether its 90/10 or 50/50.

I've got you both beat - my mom got in 3 accidents in one WEEK once. None of them were her fault. Twice she got rear-ended, third time her car got run over by a snow plow (it was parked). She had a heck of a time fighting with three insurance companies over who owed for what damage.

 

[alrocky]

Gotta agree with BigDan and Jzero. Let your insurance company do all the legwork 'cause that's what you pay them for. Should be no reason for you to make an initial contact with his insurance company or for you not to have notified yours that you were in an accident. (There's likely a proviso in your agreement that you do so.) Think you got some bum information about that here. The concerns about the '$500' deductible is misplaced and premature because if his carrier assumes liability, it most likely will not come out of your pocket. In any event, it's a relatively minor concern.You will eventually need to file a report with the DMV - your adjuster will probably provide that form or you may be able to get it online. Your adjuster should fill you in on what happens next. Ask him all the questions you want.

Your biggest concern the next few days is waking up in pain. If you suffer no injury, great.

What would've help your case is witness testimony but I'd guess you don't have any. Or if the other guy admitted guilt or gave you a written account of the accident. - That's what happened to a foolish truck driver who rear ended me at a red light; my boss got him to write down that his brakes failed and he hit me while I was stopped at a red light.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

why are u not able to type Y-O-U? Not everyone feels that someone else's mistake entitles them to get money from their insurance company for "pain and suffering" as you've suggested in past threads. If he's injured, he should see a... DOCTOR.

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

why are u not able to type Y-O-U? Not everyone feels that someone else's mistake entitles them to get money from their insurance company for "pain and suffering" as you've suggested in past threads. If he's injured, he should see a... DOCTOR.

problem is the longer you wait to go to a doctor and see if you are injury the less chanes that you will get the money when you start feeeling the pain. Basically he needs to see a doctor asap. Usually because of strees you don't feel the pain till 24-48 hours after the accident

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

why are u not able to type Y-O-U? Not everyone feels that someone else's mistake entitles them to get money from their insurance company for "pain and suffering" as you've suggested in past threads. If he's injured, he should see a... DOCTOR.

problem is the longer you wait to go to a doctor and see if you are injury the less chanes that you will get the money when you start feeeling the pain. Basically he needs to see a doctor asap. Usually because of strees you don't feel the pain till 24-48 hours after the accident

So when you said "why are u not consulting a lawyer" I guess you meant "why are u not consulting a doctor"?

 

[Rogue]

Ylen13,

You need to back off the damn lawyer thing. Getting in an accident does not automatically entitle you to be a dick and get as much money as you possibly can from someone when it's not necessary. It's people like you and your damn lawyers that make insurance cost so damn much in the first place.

As far as other things go, yes, you may feel some stiffness or soreness in your spinal column, neck and maybe other areas. It is normal. If any part of you feels numb or tingly, go get checked out, you may have some spinal mis-alignment of some kind.

Although it's too late now, ALWAYS contact the police. Not only are try trained to determine who's at fault based on the evidence, they also usually require the information for reporting purposes.

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

why are u not able to type Y-O-U? Not everyone feels that someone else's mistake entitles them to get money from their insurance company for "pain and suffering" as you've suggested in past threads. If he's injured, he should see a... DOCTOR.

problem is the longer you wait to go to a doctor and see if you are injury the less chanes that you will get the money when you start feeeling the pain. Basically he needs to see a doctor asap. Usually because of strees you don't feel the pain till 24-48 hours after the accident

So when you said "why are u not consulting a lawyer" I guess you meant "why are u not consulting a doctor"?

correct,but in ca when people get in to car accident they first go to a lawyer and then go to a doctor that the lawyer recommends.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Rogue

Although it's too late now, ALWAYS contact the police. Not only are try trained to determine who's at fault based on the evidence, they also usually require the information for reporting purposes.

Amen! And, the idiot who messed up your car probably would have gotten a ticket.

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: Rogue
Ylen13,

You need to back off the damn lawyer thing. Getting in an accident does not automatically entitle you to be a dick and get as much money as you possibly can from someone when it's not necessary. It's people like you and your damn lawyers that make insurance cost so damn much in the first place.

As far as other things go, yes, you may feel some stiffness or soreness in your spinal column, neck and maybe other areas. It is normal. If any part of you feels numb or tingly, go get checked out, you may have some spinal mis-alignment of some kind.

Although it's too late now, ALWAYS contact the police. Not only are try trained to determine who's at fault based on the evidence, they also usually require the information for reporting purposes.

if he is even remotely thinking of asking if they would declare the car reckless(not sure maybe someone else sudgested that) then he must the hit must have been pretty hard. We have no info on how hard the truck was going but i assume if it was on regular public street he was going 35-40 mph if you hit someone without breaking in a truck at that speed then the person that you hit will usually sustain some kind of injury. As for me and my lawyer, that is the reason why insurance in san diego is so much cheaper then it's in los angeles, it seems the culture in los angeles is whenever something happens the first thing you do is pick up a phone and call the lawyer.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

why are u not able to type Y-O-U? Not everyone feels that someone else's mistake entitles them to get money from their insurance company for "pain and suffering" as you've suggested in past threads. If he's injured, he should see a... DOCTOR.

problem is the longer you wait to go to a doctor and see if you are injury the less chanes that you will get the money when you start feeeling the pain. Basically he needs to see a doctor asap. Usually because of strees you don't feel the pain till 24-48 hours after the accident

So when you said "why are u not consulting a lawyer" I guess you meant "why are u not consulting a doctor"?

correct,but in ca when people get in to car accident they first go to a lawyer and then go to a doctor that the lawyer recommends.

Why would you let your lawyer recommend a doctor to you? Does he recommend dentists as well? If I was injured in an accident, I think I'd contact my primary care physician, like I do when anything else is wrong with me. If he can't help me, he will refer me to a specialist. That's how it works in states that aren't ass-backwards.

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Ylen13
why are u not consulting a lawyer?

why are u not able to type Y-O-U? Not everyone feels that someone else's mistake entitles them to get money from their insurance company for "pain and suffering" as you've suggested in past threads. If he's injured, he should see a... DOCTOR.

problem is the longer you wait to go to a doctor and see if you are injury the less chanes that you will get the money when you start feeeling the pain. Basically he needs to see a doctor asap. Usually because of strees you don't feel the pain till 24-48 hours after the accident

So when you said "why are u not consulting a lawyer" I guess you meant "why are u not consulting a doctor"?

correct,but in ca when people get in to car accident they first go to a lawyer and then go to a doctor that the lawyer recommends.

Why would you let your lawyer recommend a doctor to you? Does he recommend dentists as well? If I was injured in an accident, I think I'd contact my primary care physician, like I do when anything else is wrong with me. If he can't help me, he will refer me to a specialist. That's how it works in states that aren't ass-backwards.

good question but i am not sure why i let my lawyer pick a doctor, i didn't even call my primary physican when i got in a serious car accident even do he is family friend and i had all of his info, his home number,pager, cell etc.

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

I've got an idea...POST YOUR PICTURES IN THE FIRST POST. That is all.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Ylen13
good question but i am not sure why i let my lawyer pick a doctor, i didn't even call my primary physican when i got in a serious car accident even do he is family friend and i had all of his info, his home number,pager, cell etc.

Perhaps it was because you were more worried about how much money you'd get for pain and suffering?