Originally Posted by stlgrym3

i had a pretty major side impact accident on my IS250 last year (i've posted here also). it didn't have any frame work done, instead, they were replacing the parts connected directly to the frame, the final cost came in at $12k. I asked for totaled loss but insurance said it's not totaled because the car was too new (2011). after the fix, the car drives okay, but i still not 100% comfortable with the car. so i had it appraised at Carmax and a local Lexus dealer. the prices i got were seemed reasonable ($25k vs $27k KBB trade in price), so i traded in for my current ride.

Originally Posted by Andoskyy

Here are some lessons I've learned over the last few days.

I've been trying to sell my IS350 in order to move to an SUV.

I was in an accident last October...there is a post on it here somewhere...it really didn't look like a big deal

Long story short. Rear ended, not at fault, $9k in damage, fixed properly by dealer recommended body shop. Car is great, happy with the fix.

Go to trade in my car and there is "Structural Damage" reported on the Carfax. Part of the trunk was repaired due to crumpling, and since it's uni-body, that's considered frame damage. KBB trade in value on my car is $15k. i was offered $5,500 for a trade, so I left to explore more options.

I stopped into a local dealer that specializes in salvaged cars. He said he couldn't believe that my car wasn't totaled, and in hindsight, i should not have authorized any work, left it at the body shop and the insurance company would have eventually totaled it for me. Basically just stood my ground and said "I don't want the car back". This was my first accident ever, so didn't know what to do at the time.

I have an offer from a wholesaler for $9k. He says that's all he can give me, because when he unloads it at auction, "Structural Damage" is just as bad as the word "Salvage"

So trying to sell the car privately now for a respectable price. I have 100% faith in the car and am offering full disclosure on the accident and what's currently going on.

So for those of you who get into so called "Fender Benders"...be careful. I was never made aware by anyone that "Structural Damage" was going to show up on the Carfax. As stupid of a company as Carfax is...people still run it every time.

Also be aware that in some states, you can't try to get "Diminished Value" from the guilty party's insurance company. In some states, I could go to his insurance company and get the $6k I'm losing because of the damage...but not in lovely Massachusetts!!

If any of you find this information valuable, please send me money...trying to ease the $6k bath I'm taking...or even worse...$12k+ bath if the car had been properly totaled.

All I can do now is be lucky I wasn't hurt, never let something like this happen to me again, and hopefully help others be aware of this kind of thing.

Originally Posted by My0gr81

If the statute of limitations hasn't run out, then you should be able to file a claim in court against the party at fault for the "loss". His insurance may not cover it, as the party at fault he is still liable.