After 20 days of waiting I finally got the damage estimate: over $10,000!

To make matters worse, the woman won't respond to calls from the insurance company regarding collision, AND now she has left the country on vacation! So, I'm suing her.

I posted about this a few weeks ago (https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....995#post926995) but I never expected such high costs in damage done. There's $5500 in body parts , the engine cooling system, AC, radiator, and Nismo CAI were ruined. Also, the front frame rails are bent, so it needs to go on a frame machine... suggestions? time to order a 2005? Even if the repair is excellent, will the car still perform the same?

There are pics in my old thread link, FYI.

 

Does the insurance company give you a choice of buying the car from you or fixing it?

If I had a choice, I'd go new. I'm pretty **** about having a perfect car though... I have a wee bit of curb rash on my passenger front wheel that's hardly noticable and I'm almost ready to get a new rim!!!

Is the woman being charged with anything? Running a stop sign? Lying to the police? etc?

 

Sorry to say man but the car will never be the same. Dump it and get another vehicle. Thats my honest opinion. With $11K in damages, thats way more than exterior body parts. Besides, since there was damage to the frame, you now have a "Salvaged" title and you wont get anything if you try to sell it after repairing it.

Also, it shouldnt matter that the woman left the country. If the police report indicates who is at fault and you have witnesses, you can either go through your own insurance company and have your company pay first and then go after the other party's insured, or you can wait for the other party's insurance to claim liability with all the sufficient evidence. Either way, try to get it written as a total loss and have the insurance buy back the vehicle cause there is no way in hell that car will drive/feel the same (especially with you knowing the damage that was done to it).

 

The problem is that the insurance company won't approve repairs until she gives a recorded statement regarding the accident. This she refused to give; she stonewalled the insurance company for almost 3 weeks, ignoring their phone calls and letters and now has left the country.

I could make my own claim to the insurance company, pay the $1000 deductable, but then my rates would go up. There's no point in doing this since she is entirely at fault as officially stated by the police report. The matter is complicated by the fact that we both have the same insurance (Geico). So I authorized the repair with the body shop knowing that eventually this would be sorted out and a claim would be made against her, not me.

The car had been sitting almost 3 weeks with nothing being done to it... I needed to get the ball rolling here.

I think I'm just going to order a 2005 once the MSRP is posted :-/

 

Since both of you are with Geico and you have a police report, I don't see the reason why Geico should wait for her statement. The only reason why I'm thinking they're not caring as much is because if they don't get a response from her, you pay $1k and your rates go up and they make more money. They don't want to pay you, that's insurance for you (a waste is what I think).

Also, Geico is crap. They wanted $2,800 a year from me, but All State gave me $2,400. Ha, I saved money by not switching to Geico.

I say get a new car because I bet you plan to sell this car in a few years for something else. Good luck though with whatever happens!

 

Damn...10,000? Doesnt really look like it. Seems like u juss need to replace hood, light, bumper and some other lil stuff. Its pretty funny how such a little accident would be worth like 1/3 of the cars price.

 

If the frame's damaged, then I'd definitely have it declared as totalled. My first car got totalled in the same manner. Some dude ran a stop sign and spun my car 180 degrees. Only had that car for 6 months.

 

Yeah I agree, Geico is horrible even out here in So. Cal. Since it is a cross claim, nothing should come out of your pocket. Even if Geico on your end pays for everything, they will eventually subrogate that amount to the other party's insurance policy depending on her limits. You shouldn't even have to pay the deductible, and if you do, it will be returned to you as soon as liability is established. If she is giving you the run around, have your adjuster take care of everything or do the wise thing and get a PI attorney. They will take 1/3 of the final settlement, but the good thing is nothing will come out of pocket for you. Also, go see a chiropractor or doctor and get some medical treatment cause you never know what happened in the accident. This also helps your settlement amount in the end and since your Property Damage was so high, you are looking at a pretty big settlement from the other party. If you need other answers, PM me anytime as I handle PI claims out here in Los Angeles.

 

After going thru a claim for my car in the last few weeks I have learned a couple of things.

1. Most insurance companies will not total a vehicle until the damage has reached a certain percentage of the cars value (71%-80% is typical) or is flooded to level of 1' above the floor board.

2. Having a bent frame does not necessarily equate to totaling. Frame ends can be fixed fairly simply.

3. If your vehicle is totaled the insurance company will pay the actual cash value of your vehicle. This may be fine unless your loan is for more than that value in which case your responsible for the difference.

Good luck and I hope everything turns out ok.

 

sorry to hear that. i am in the same boat with my car. some woman hit my car while it was parked by my house and ran. my damages came out to be about 11000. hope you have good results.

 

You can get gap insurance for this. It's very inexpensive. It only cost me $140 and if my car is totalled it will probably get me several thousand. It covers the gap between the $ value of the car and the remaining balance of the car loan so you don't have to cover any of the difference.

 

Get a new one... it'll never be the same

 

Don't make your own claim. It's not your fault and you'd never get that money back. If Geico keeps stonewalling you, contact the Dept. of Insurance/Banking in Florida.

 

A car DOES NOT automatically get a salvaged title if the frame is bent. A salvaged title is given to a car when the insurance company decides to "total" it rather than fix it, then a third party buys the the car as is and restores it for sale.
Either way, with a bent frame the car will never be the same as before. If you can afford to, then YES, try to get a good deal/trade-in for your car once its fixed, and start with a new one. It will definately be worth it in the long run. Also, don't pay a deductible. If the other party as completely at fault, then you should not have to pay for anything. In fact, the insurance company should provide you with a rental car in the meantime, and as people have stated go get yourself checked out at a chiropractor, because even if you feel ok now, injuries can show up later.

 

well i just got mine back, and i have the same spot crashed.. my left frame got hit, but no engine damage..

so i have the shop replace the left frame (it extened to the side of the engine) , and after test driving it after the fix, it is totally perfect. just make sure the shop didn't use the old frame and pull it straight, if so, dat ain't good ..... just make sure you see the actual new part came in to the shop, and make sure they put the new ones on...

IMO, if there is no engine damage, it should be fine. well.. getting a new car sounds good ofcourse, but all the tax u paid are just not worth to get a new car.... only if u can afford it

Good luck! i still love my Z alot... have fun drive safe

 

Is it ok if the body shop states they have to cut a piece of the body that was damaged with a new piece? The piece they are refering is by the back cross bar frame by the left side. I dont know. Any ideas?

 

if the frame is bent, they just replace the bend piece. The frame is not one solid piece that they can bend back. They used those one piece solid frames in much older cars. There are lots of replaceable frame pieces on the Z...and if one gets bent, they just replace that piece.

If done correctly, your car will be good as new. But you should disclose its been in an accident if you sell it, and that could reduce the resale value.

 

Oh mine is about $15000 in damage.

Pics and link attached if anyone wants to feel depressed.

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....1&pagenumber=1

 

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Didnt read the replies, but definitely go for a new Z. The repaired one has probably lost half it's value and will never be the same. You'll realize it with all the squeaks and the noises it will make in tight turns.
Good luck