Hey guys.

My wife was driving the F home the other day, and another driver ran a red light and was hit by my F. The insurance company is thinking they can fix the car. I am hoping for a total loss. It is my opinion that a repaired car has inherent flaws that could effect safety and definitely effect residual value.

I have spoken with a friend who used to work in auto body repair, and he gave me a few tips to use throughout the process.

1. Make sure they take it a body shop that would be familiar with higher end cars for the estimate.
2. Make sure they use factory parts to replace the damaged ones.
3. Get a couple estimates on trade in values for diminished value should they proceed with repairs.
4. Make sure they replace all seat belts and airbags (including hardware) that were in use at the time of the accident.

The main thing he reiterated was it is the responsibility of the other party's insurance to return my car to pre-collision condition (should they not total it).

I was able to get our rental upgraded from a standard to the luxury line. I really don't think the claim administrator had any obligation to do this! I really feel like the administrator is trying to help me in a tight spot. The adjuster(s), are not. My body friend told me that the upgrade could help my overall push for total loss because the luxury rental car will cost more over the repair time vs. a quick total, and they should factor that in to the repair estimate.

I would appreciate it if anyone else here that has gone through this process before could pass along any pointers.

I am still sick to my stomach. In the end, all will be OK. There were no serious injuries to either party, so I just need to keep reminding myself that its only a car and we were all lucky.

 

Damn sorry to see this happen to you. Let's hope the car is totaled so you can move on. I feel the same way about accidents. If it happens, I'd hope that the car is totaled so that I can just move on.

 

Ouch...Sorry to see this happen. Good to hear is wife is well.

 

sorry it happens... i am glad no one get hurts. let us know how it goes.

 

Unless there is frame damage I highly doubt they will total ur car from the looks of those pics. I could be wrong but at least what I have experienced when I have wrecked a car is that it has to be a massive amount of damage to total a car. Hopefully ur frame for bent and then they will just total it.

 

Diminished value is hard to prove. I had provided dealer appraisals, that specifically mention 'lower value due to accident.' And the other party's insurance would not budge. If this happens, don't get too hung up in the back and fourth with them. They will record everything you say to prevent a civil suit down the road.

After the first rejection, you should talk to a lawyer. Or get your own insurance involved or lender.
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all 4 of those points are awesome advise. I wish I had that before I begun repairs on my other car. When trade-in came, I got destroyed.

Can you update us on point 4: airbags and seatbelt... I never head of that.

 

Also, one option you may want to consider, as I don't think they will total this:

Sell the car and hold onto the repair money. I think you'll net more than market value for this car. Sell it to some guy with a body shop.

I would take the car's current market value (good condition) minus (60% cost to you, not insurance, to repair).

 

Glad the wifie was ok. Hope your situation works out to your favor best of luck.

 

It is never easy during times like these, but first and foremost, we must be thankful that your wife was not injured or hurt in any way. The car did it's job in that aspect- protect its occupants its best it can in case danger arises.

Secondly, using the OE parts as opposed to generic parts that can be applied was some good advice. It might not be cost effective to the other party, but that is what insurance is there to do- to bring the car back to pre-collision standards.

If there is frame damage, there might be enough to deem a total loss value, but again, that would have to be in the eyes of the claim adjuster. The damage is severe, and it might be a total loss after all. Just wait to see what they offer.

Try not to think about it. Hug the wife. Cars can be replaced, but wives....well, not so much.

Best of luck to you, my friend!

 

Glad your wife is ok

Hang in there...there is always something faster and newer

 

Thanks for all of the encouraging words guys.

I am waiting to hear from the adjuster. I told them I wanted to be there when he went to look at the car at the Lexus dealer's body shop here in town.

I am not sure if there is frame damage or not, but I can tell you the driver's side door will not open all the way. I'd say half open if that. The front right fender is pushed into the door. That would have been the side of the frame that likely would have seen the highest compression (engineer thoughts here) as the other driver was hit on her rear tire (anyone notice her hubcap marks square in the center of the bumper) as the direction of travel was passenger to driver.

I'll do my best to keep you guys posted.

EDIT: The pictures don't convey the amount of setback the radiator took into the engine bay. The radiator dumped all of its coolant and was smashed into the intake tube.

 

you can get diminished value and sell car and get another

 

diminished value should always be done, looks like you should get a decent return, you will most likely need a diminished report written though.

 

happy to hear your wife is ok.

 

Sad to see a F get destroyed but glad your wife is ok and hopefully they total it out.