Does this LOOK totaled???

[Cool Mr Steve]

Just a few pictures of the car after my unfortunate accident with a drunk driver... The insurance guy said it is totalled ($5,000 in damage, "worth $4,300") but I want a second opinion... The what is visible, obviously, is done for. Other than that I know that the gas tank was leaking and will need to be replaced. I don't know what else causes it to be $5,000. What am I missing? Whats back there? Also, the trunk is closed in those pictures, so the damage obviously did something in there because, as you can see, its not closing correctly. Ideas?

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

By the way, the reason I look akward is because of my newfound neck and back injuries Here are some pics of his car...

 

[beat90tsi]

Hard to say how bad the unibody got bent under there.

Worst case if they do total it, buy it back from the insurance company, and have it fixed.

 

[halligoo]

See if you can keep the car and take the $4300. It would be like Christmas.

You can't see the underside, but judging from what I can see I think that it is worth trying to rebuild and get an 'R' title. If all else fails, you could part it out.

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

Well, I'm trying hard to get some info to present to the insurance guy. I've gotten three estimates on what different dealers would sell my car for on their lot, and they were between about $12,000 and $15,000. I'm going to fax those numbers along with the KBB value for a STOCK car (printed from the dealership), which is about $6,400. So if I can use that value as a base for what a STOCK car would be worth, then calculate in the taxes, tabs, etc. that I will be getting back, I would only have to prove that the modifications done to the car cause the value to increase $300-$400 more so that the cost to fix it would be less than 70% of the value of the car. Then it should be no longer labeled totaled (I believe) and it should be fixed. Hopefully, unless I'm missing something. But, I'm willing to bet that the $5,000 estimate that the claims adjuster came up with after a short look-over is highballing it a little too much. Any advice? Does it really look like a $5,000 accident, or are there too many variables in that area?

 

[EclipseGSX012]

yeah it seems like it has frame damage to it... But ill bring it to the body shop and see if they could fix it or not first. If they could fix it buy the car off insurance and with the money they give you fix up your car.

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

yeah it seems like it has frame damage to it... But ill bring it to the body shop and see if they could fix it or not first. If they could fix it buy the car off insurance and with the money they give you fix up your car.

Just out of curiosity, what are you basing the possible frame damage off of? Are you just saying it's possible, or is there a way you can tell from these pictures?

 

[92awddsm]

Well, without looking under the car, it looks as if all the damage was done primarily to the rear behind the rear axle so frame damage is very little if any. Technically, frame damage is "any damage done to the car between or including front or rear axle mounting locations which will comprimise structural stability or alignment spec". I see pass door alingment is good but cant tell about quarter to door gap in the pic but for the most part, it looks pretty good. Usually, any insurance company would not total loss a car for damage to the rear behind the axle so you should be pretty safe in that matter.

My suggestion is if the insurance doesnt total it but agrees on your quoted amount, dont specify a particular body shop to do the repair. They will ask who you would like to do the repair but just tell them "I havent decided yet". That will force them to issue a repair check made out to you only. If you give them a body shop, the check will come made out to you and the body shop you chose. Also, dont sign any paper work from the insurance company or the body shop because that will release the insurance from any liability of any other damages. As stated in the past, the insurance company is just a legal scam artist.

Also, before you endorse the check, have your lawyer contact the insurance company and specify(usually voice recorded by the insurance co) that that is just to cover damages to the car and not covering any physical liability they might have. It will be a pain in the ass and probably take 6-8 months to settle completely but just dont give in. Trust me, I know from experience. Dont you hate drunk drivers?

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

So, if the insurance company cuts me a check for $5,000, what happens if the body shop decides later on that it's going to actually cost $5,500 because of some unknown factor. Does the insurance company cut me another check? Also, why not just have the insurance company pay them directly? Thanks a lot, man, and YES, I hate drunk drivers... Drunk driving should be illegal... Oh, yeah, whats causing the hatch to be out of wack? Is it something I should be really worried about?

 

[92awddsm]

Well, when you got hit, it probably just tweaked the rear hatch latching point. Realistically, a body shop is just going to get in there with a hammer and pound untill the hatch latches and opens smoothly.

As far as the insurance, take the car to a body shop you choose, have them do the work, but also give them the claim # the insurance issues you. Tell them what you want and let them know a round about figure the insurance company decided to give you. Dont tell them exact #'s because body shops are theives also if they know the insurace is going to pay for it. Once it is done, it should be within 3-5%of the original estimate so if it does go over the agreed amount, they will bill the insurance company for the additional. Usually, if you dont give exact #'s, the body work will come out to less than what the insurance gave you. Usually, you can tell them you settled on $5-700 less than what the insurance gave you and they wont go over that. But worst case senario is, you got $5k, you tell them $4500, they do it for $5100 and you make them get the other $100 from the insurance company. Like I said, dont sign anything unless you read it thorouly first. The body shop will try to give you 2 papers to sign and they will tell you its just for their work but thats not completly true. The first will be from the body shop saying that you agree their work is satisfactory and the second is a paper on bodyshop letterhead saying that you are satisfied with all work done and you release the insurance company from all liabilty caused by the accident. Its a long drawn out process but I am assuming you retained an attorney and Im sure he will go over the same stuff with you. Anyway, good luck. I read your original post so I know some of the situation.

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

Hopefully I can convince them that it is valuable enough to repair. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[EclipseGSX012]

Just out of curiosity, what are you basing the possible frame damage off of? Are you just saying it's possible, or is there a way you can tell from these pictures?

i'm just saying it is possible but i cant really tell since i cant really see it in person, but few of my friend got rear ended and not so bad but it they did have some frame damage. I guess it really depend how the car got hit... so let the body shop take a look at it, that's the best bet.

 

[Defiant]

I don't like the tweaked hatch, and is that passenger door as close on the jamb as it looks?
For value guesses, I was told to find three comparable vehicle sales ads within 100 miles and bring those numbers to the insurance company.

 

[gsnoturbo90]

Alright i'll say one thing, actually a couple of things. Ive had cars repaired after they have been in pretty bad accidents, like yours and they NEVER EVER drive the same. Theres always something going wrong and then down the road something else brake that never would have broke before. The car looks pretty f'ed up and wont ever look the same. I say part it out and by a nice ass eclipse. Also i love the fact you have a pizza hut thing on your car, Awesome!

 

[TrystanGST]

... Drunk driving should be illegal...

It is...

 

[halligoo]

Monday morning, go see a lawyer that specializes in auto accidents. You were hit by a dude that should not have been on the road. I am sure that your neck is sore, so maybe you need something for your pain and suffering and possibly lost wages (if that Pizza Hut thing is a clue). This guy should be fined extra for defacing an Eclipse. If the police got him for DUI, he and his insurance company will pretty much do anything to avoid court.

 

[gsnoturbo90]

Yeah i defintly have to agree with the last post. If the dude was tested and was drunk you could deifntly stand to make some money off this, granted i am not all for the suing thing but if you are hurt and you cant really do deliveryes anymore i think you could get some money, enough for maybe the brand ass new eclipse.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

It is...

Sorry to hear about the car though. Good luck with whatever happens

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

It is...

WHA?!?!?!?!? No, that can't be right... Check again...

As for securing an attorney, I've already got one for my personal injuries. Since the guy got a DUI I'm sure they're not going to want me to take it to court (which would suck and be time consuming ). Right now I'm not too worried about how much I'm going to get out of that battle, I just want to get my baby fixed. Oh, yeah... Defiant, the rest of the car, including the passenger door jam, looks to be untouched. It looks as though only whatever is down in the undercarriage could have been pushed forward. I don't like the tweaked hatch either, but this isn't a poll and your hurting my feelings . Just kidding. Do you think that the tweaked hatch could be alluding toward a pricey fix? If so, $5,000??? But as far as finding "Comparable" vehicles in this area, no. Thats one thing they told me I could do, but there are no vehicles that are comparable to mine in the area being sold. I found a bunch on auto trader that were comparable, but mostly on the east coast. That's why I went to dealerships and said "IF you had THIS car on your lot, what would it sell for" because thats one thing I was told I could do...