My Wrecked 97 Gst

[theycallmebruce]

80 year old woman ran a stop sign today and destroyed my car on the rear passenger side. she hit me so hard i did a 180. i've only had the car for 2 months
so here's the story:
we pull over. first thing i do is call 911.
as we wait for the police to arrive, we exchange information and she wants to take care of it outside of insurance. she offered taking it to a body shop she uses for an estimate, but i'm taking it to my trusted family mechanic for the last 15 years tomorrow morning.
get this...she leaves before the police arrive...because she had a friend in the car and they HAD A MOVIE TO CATCH.
so the police get there about 10 minutes after she leaves, i explain everything to them. they tell me that if they file the report, it would go into the computers and insurance would get notified. they said i had 5 days to settle with the woman and could still go down to the precinct and file the report within that time frame. they gave me their names and badge numbers and said they would back me up saying that the woman left the scene before they arrived.
so now i have 5 days to get money from this woman for the repairs. i'm not even sure if there's frame damage. either way, i'll find out in the morning.
i have basic insurance (liability) but have a 10 year clean driving record. i'm insured with GEICO with a pretty good rate.
my plan is to ask my mechanic how much it would cost to REPLACE and not repair the wrecked panels. i'm gonna guess that the cost will be pretty damn high. if there's frame damage and the car is unsafe to drive, i'm definitely going to report to insurance, but i'll find out tomorrow.
any advice or tips on how i should handle this?
i'll try to post some pics below.

 

[sechen77]

They may offer to just let you get it fixed where you want to or they may try to hassle you into getting it fixed at their "reputable shop of their choice".

i thought insurance companies can't force you to go to their shop, at least in CA...not sure about NY...

dude, that's some bad damage tho, even if the frame was not "technically" damaged, i'd feel pretty sorry to drive it...once it's been hit this hard, it's never the same...

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

Originally posted by Addict
That really sucks.

Its your car, so your mechanic will give the final estimate. The appraiser will try & determine whether or not the car is fixable within reason. Basically, if the car is worth 9k and the damage exceeds that amount its going to be totalled.

If you want it to be totalled, I'm sure you're mechanic friend can help you out. Liek the others said, it looks pretty bad from the pictures. Given that the roof popped out, Id say its not safe to fix it.

Also, this kind of accident can apear on things like CarFAX which can hurt your resale value.

If the car is was worth 9K, the damage doesn't need to exceed or even match it for it to be considered totalled. Most insurance companies go with 80% of what the car was worth for it to be totalled.

 

[jbillakdsm]

I think your baby is totaled. Anytime you get hit hard enough in a DSM to pop the sunroof, it's a good sign that your framed got bent. I'd pull you aftermarket mods since most insurance policies won't give you anywhere near what they are worth unless you have separate insurance for them. I know in PA you can get aftermarket insurance, not sure if NY does the same thing. Besides, you're pretty intent on staying with the DSM community, so you're mods will for the most part carry over. I don't know what mods you have, but check and see what carries over to a GSX and take it will you and replace everything with stock.

Also when the appraiser comes, take some pictures of the car before the accident with you. My gf had her car stolen and they took off around $500 for paint scratches and dents that she couldn't prove weren't there beforehand.

Finally, I'd try and get her insurance to pay for a loaner car till yours is either fixed or you can find a suitable replacement. Talk to you law buddies about this as it varies in amount and length from state to state.

 

[madmax]

Man, I didn't read anything past your first post. But after reading it you should be hitting yourself in the face while yelling STUPID, STUPID,STUPID!

I am not trying to be an ass either. You never settle without calling the cops and getting a police report. NEVER.

Why leave your ass out in the wind for some stupid broad that can't drive for sheet. You just complicated your situation exponentially by not filing a report. Insurance companies could give a damn what you or she says. They want it in writing.

And you can bet your ass she will not own up to it being her fault.

Good Luck

Edit: PS, your car is totalled man.

 

[Munsta]

Originally posted by madmax
Man, I didn't read anything past your first post. But after reading it you should be hitting yourself in the face while yelling STUPID, STUPID,STUPID!

I am not trying to be an ass either. You never settle without calling the cops and getting a police report. NEVER.

Why leave your ass out in the wind for some stupid broad that can't drive for sheet. You just complicated your situation exponentially by not filing a report. Insurance companies could give a damn what you or she says. They want it in writing.

And you can bet your ass she will not own up to it being her fault.

Good Luck

Edit: PS, your car is totalled man.

As he said the cops at the precient will back him up that the woman left before the arrived.

 

[madmax]

Originally posted by Munsta
As he said the cops at the precient will back him up that the woman left before the arrived.

That's all fine and dandy. But why should he have to go to all the trouble and take the risk of negative repercussions. Especially when it was clearly the ladies fault.

He's looking at a totaled car right now, no police report, no money from the lady that hit him, and he's supposed to wait?

Seriously man, your much more gracious than me.

But still, Good Luck to the original poster.

 

[Munsta]

Heh, I fully agree with you anyway. I was hit in the LH passengers door buy a guy who ran a stop sign in a SUV on the main road. I was doing 90km/hr and he just smacked right into me, was driving my brothers wagon.

Anyway it was a total right off, bent chassis, couldn't even move the gear stick. I didn't call the police but 4 people who stopped called the Police before I got out of the car, which im thankful for. Anyway his insurance coughed up 4 weeks later.

 

[my95tsi]

Bring it to a body shop but i definitely don't think it's totaled. It might be but i highly doubt it.

 

[DSMRomEo]

I didn't check out the whole thread but did anyone else notice this part?

Originally posted by theycallmebruce
she offered taking it to a body shop she uses for an estimate,

From what you said sounds like she's a frequent car murderer. Second It wasn't your fault so I don't see why you insurance rates would go up. Go ahead notify the thieves.. I mean insurance company and let them handle it. Just my $.02


RomEo

And Don't forget... your neck feels a little stiff. You have 48 hours after an accident to report any sign of injury.

 

[theycallmebruce]

well, just got back from her insurance drive-in claims appointment.
can't say i'm happy about the estimate i got, but here's the nitty gritty of it.

3198.23
parts came out about 1330.
they use "competitive aftermarket parts" that are guaranteed for as long as i own it. hence the low estimate. they have a statement in the estimate that i can choose to use OEM parts (new or recycled at their discretion) but there is no guarantee from there nor necessarily from the manufacturer.

they said anything extra that comes up, my mechanic can request a supplement to the estimate.

here's what they came up with for the frame damage:
UNI-BODY FRAME ALIGNMENT 5 hrs labor at $40/hr
$200 ####in dollars?

anyway, i'm probably not gonna fix everything on the estimate.
just the necessities (door, quarterpanel, roof, frame). no paint.
i'll probably just take the rest of the money and put it towards aftermarmet rims, a body kit, and get a new paint job.

questions:
are the stock front fenders fiberglass? i was looking at the Z3 fenders and wouldn't want to do it if it sacrifices safety.

anyone know a good, cheap place to shop for body kits and rims?
i might go to a local performance shop and check their prices. Ebay lists kits in the 300s, but shipping is insane (150 to 190).

what's a good paint job go for these days? what should i ask for in terms of paint quality and workmanship? (# of coats, clearcoat, that kinda stuff).

i just want to love my car again =(

 

[Addict]

I would opt for NEW OEM parts. The parts are not at their discretion. You should require them to use new OEM parts. Don't let them try to screw you over by that warranty BS. If they're oem, they will last. After all they are body parts.

And the front fenders are metal.

 

[tlnpwr]

man, that sucks.....i dont know how the laws are in NY, but in MD, the cops should have already filed a hit & run report. she didnt stick around for the report or for a cop to check out the damage to see if a report would be needed. that is classified as hit & run. she could have left for another reason too. maybe there is something going on...alcohol? drugs? hey just b/c she's 80 doesnt mean anything.

good luck with the car, but once i saw those pics, 1st thing that popped in my mind was it's totalled.

 

[doodie]

sorry to hear about the news. come joing our club at www.nyccdsm.com you can get some discount on the mechanics around here.

 

[Grafix]

dude personaly i would be careful with that car if they need to do uni-body work. well before i get ahead of myself how bad is the unibody bashed?

 

[jrivard00]

Ouch, accidents always look worse than they normally are except in the cases where an 18 wheeler mangles a car. A lot of time in a car wreck the sun roof will pop open from the sudden change in pressure when a body panel is hit. I would definetly stress new OEM parts. A good paint job will run you anywhere from 3k+ depeding on what paint you want. The body man will have to paint the side of the car anyways so now would be a good time to change the color if you want.

 

[theycallmebruce]

the item on the estimate for the unibody that i see are:

07 PNL, WHEELHOUSE INNE RT REPAIR-3 hours labor
PNL, WHEELHOUSE INNE RT REFINISH-.3 hours labor
(the 07 signifies: STRUCTURAL PART AS IDENTIFIED BY I-CAR)

i'm guessing from this that the wheelhouse is part of the unibody and the actual quarterpanel isn't. i'm a noob at this so i could be wrong. just spewing out info from the estimate i got.

then there's the item i mentioned above:
UNIBODY FRAME ALIGNMENT-5 hours labor

the guy doing the estimate said the same thing about the roof. he said the pressure probably popped the roof out and it needs to be reset or something after all the panels are fixed. the roof might be very slightly bent from the pressure of the impact, but it's so minimal enough that you can't see it. there's no bends or creases in the roof at all.

from the rear and front of the car, the car looks pretty straight. i guess i won't be sure of the extent of the damage to the frame, but i'll find out when they bust her open to do the work. i'm gonna take the car to a shop of my choice and get a better estimate or actual invoice from them. it will surely be more than the estimate that the insurance claims guy gave me. i don't think i know anyone that charges $40/hr labor around here. i'll also insist on OEM parts, which i am entitled to do. it's almost definite that i'll have to file for a supplement to the claim and that will be fine i guess, as long as the body shop provides the documentation.

3k+ for a paint job...owww.
i'll see what the difference in price is, since i'll have to paint 3 panels anyway.
maybe i'll just stick with the stock green. much better things that 3k can be used for =)
maybe i'll paint her later on when finances loosen up a bit.

 

[Grafix]

sorry i didnt see that part of the post, slow load. make sure that the alignment is dead nuts after the repairs, you may have some tire ware probs. and if your family has been with that mech. for that long just go with what he sugests.

 

[BUCK]

Yeah - once upon a time I wanted them to Total my 79 Celica - By the time I was done after they were "DONE" they wished they would have totalled it - new rear end, brakes, rims, tires, interior trim, etc, etc ALL after they were "DONE" - I inflicted some pain - Just keep the rental car till they are DONE - take the Rental to the Body Shop when they tell you it's DONE - DONE is a 4 letter word to a Body Shop. - I swear the last time I had the Mark 8 in the Body Shop (Dealer) - they called me & said it was DONE - The entire tail light assembly was still in the back seat when I got there - just got in the rental & left, never said anything to anyone - & then chewed them out for calling me up there for nothing when they called - next time they said it was DONE I made a punch list 2 pages long when I got there - Made copies in the Office left one with The Service Manager & left again - Screws & those damn rivets missing everywhere - Underhood Facia & Tailight lens was cracked by now, $500 - Glue on all kindsa shit - OVERSPRAY all over the windows - speaker unconnected in door - It was UNfreaking believable!

These Body Shop guys are NOT EXACTLY the Sharpest Tools in the box...

 

[my95tsi]

2 years before i got my car it was in a front end accident with the passenger side corner. It didn't do too much damage but it was enough to take out the radiator, front bumper, fender, headlight, hood, etc. Anyways i knew that they had to align the uni-body but i swear to god that it is not straight. First off i lowered my car with h&r sport springs roughy around 2 inches. I got a +/- degree camber kit for the front and they maxed out both sides as far out as they would go. The drivers side is now perfectly in spec i believe its -.08 and the passenger side is also maxed out but its not enough. It's at -2.5 and it was -3.5. Anyways the tire wear is minimal but still very noticable. That tire also wore unevenly when i didn't drop the car yet. I had several shops check out my suspension and no one can figure out whats wrong b/c everything looks fine. Oh well i guess i have to get those adjustable ball joints now. So make sure they align it as close to perfect as possible b/c ypou don't want any problem s in the future.

 

[theycallmebruce]

well, insurance finally panned out.

i'm gonna either sell the car as is or fix it up and sell it.

if you're interested, check out the cars for sale thread.

thanks again to everyone for their help.