my sympathy for the owner aside, I don't see why Lexus should be faulted--Lexus doesn't advocate getting the cell phone out of the purse while vehicle is moving. It's no differecnt than ejecting/inserting CD's while moving, or God-forbid, spilling hot coffee while driving. Should Lexus be blamed for providing a CD player or cup holder?!

 

It wasn't my car, but I was in it when he got hit. I could be wrong. All I heard was that his car almost exceeded 30% in damages relative to the value of the car. I think it depends on the company and the state you're in.

 

Thank you. I thought I was the only one.

Choices:
1. answer the phone
2. don't answer the phone
3. put phone within easy reaching distance if you want to screen the incoming call

 

Sorry for your loss, glad you're ok though.

It's hard to say how bad the damage is... It would help if we had some underhood shots, specifically to see how tweaked the engine is sitting and the condition of the passanger side strut tower. If the damage to the tower and suspension isn't severe, then I highly doubt the car is totaled.

 

I know for a fact that the passenger door will not open completly...we tried to get into the glove box that way and it was too difficult (glove box had trouble opening as well)

 

I wish I would have thought to do that. We took pictures of it while they had it at the towing place and it would have been too difficult to get in there and take those shots anyways. The night of the accident (Tues) I was in too much shock to even think about pics

 

Might want to look over the fine print in your lease. You may start hopeing it can be fixed. Insurance companies do not pay replacement cost so you will loose a lot of value on the car. Difference in what the lease says it it worth and what the insurance says it is worth? You leased a car and the lease doesn't care if you have the car or not. You still pay the lease note and then at the end return to them a car in good shape or you pay some more.

 

I'm not sure if this has been said already, but, typically, a car is deemed a "total loss" when the airbags deploy. Since you appear to be at fault in this accident, however, I'm not sure how willing your insurance company will be to cut you a check for the replacement cost of the vehicle. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck.

Will

 

I do have GAP insurance...wouldn't that cover a situation like this?

 

Should? Lot of people don't get this. I too doubt if they will total it out. Looks very bad but it is also looks fixable.

 

By the way you can check out different insurance companies but will see that the majority will only total a car out once the repaires are more than 70% of the cars value

 

I agree. Having had some experience with my daughter’s car being totaled a couple of years ago; I was informed that when the repair costs exceed 75% of the car’s blue book value then the insurance company will total it. And certainly replacement of airbags, being a very costly item, almost guarantees the car will be declared a total loss.

 

I'm hearing tons of mixed responses. of whether it will be totaled or not. Hopefully the adjuster will get back to me tomorrow

 

Yes, it does cover it. Sorry for your loss. A lot of you people are misinforming.
-Cars are totaled when airbags deploy
-30% of total value = total
-bla.. bla.. bla..
Most of you are tryin to help, but do just that, help. If your unsure, it just leads to more confusion. The reality is :
There are many factors that will deem a car totaled. Insurance companies would not total a brand new car that doesn't have more than 70% of damage to the cars market value. Anything higher( give or take 10-15% for diff. companies) and It is up to the insurance company and adjuster to see what would save their company money in the long run. A $3000 airbag is retail cost, not what a bodyshop or insurance company would pay. As far as damage, i would say it took a nice shot. It can 100% be fixed to pre-accident condition, with a qualified auto body shop. Ask your insurance company if they have any "direct repair" shops. This will save you time and headaches. This means that they have a close relationship with that shop and stand behind their work. Don't sign ANY "authorization of repair" (paperwork) in any body shop for ANY reason, until you know for sure that this is the place you want the car repaired. You ALWAYS can pick where u want the car repaired regardless of what some shop owners will tell you. I have personally fixed high end cars, with more extensive damage, that turned out perfect. Owners had very little or nothing at all bad to say. The auto body industry has come a long way and you would be suprised at the accuracy of the repairs. There are computers the auto tech uses, that will tell by the millimeter, how badly a car is damaged. In the right persons hands you would never know the car was hit before. Most people get scared off about things they know nothing about. It's easier to say hell no, no way, i'd never want it back and so on. As far as value of the car after it is fixed ....who cares, it's a lease and it's going back after the term is up.

 

I'm sure the mixed responses have your head spinning, so I'll leave the advice to those who can answer with more confidence than myself.

Anyway, I'm sincerely sorry and truly feel for you. I was recently in a similar situation (totalled my '01 IS in March), and I know how it is when you're forced to blame yourself. You'll probably play the situation over a thousand times in your head. But the bottom line is, your accident was caused by something that almost all of us do. Distractions are part of driving, and it's unfortunate that something as simple as a phone call led to this. You've clearly learned from this mistake, and if it's any consolation, your honesty will cause all of us to be more aware. Luckily, you made it out alright, and no one else was hurt.

Good luck with everything.