My Kia Sportage V Lincoln Town Car

[doubledragon5]

Was on my way to work, yesterday at 4pm like always. Got up to Denton on 35E, had to stop for traffic.. Next this car did not stop and rear ended me.. I looked out the window, threw up my hands, and said "What the ####". Get out looked at both cars and his was totaled, mine is damaged, but appears to be not to bad so far (will let shop look for hidden damage). I asked if they were ok (father&son) the son who looks to be in his late teens or early 20's said they were fine, and apologized for what had happened..

Cop shows up 45min later does his thing and off we go.. To bad his car needed to be towed, while I just drove off to work. They live in Ok city Ok, and had to wait for a friend in FT Worth to pick them up... This is the second time in two yrs I have been rear ended, the first was not nearly as bad as this.. Hopefully it won't happen again..

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...5/IMAG0001.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3...5/IMAG0002.jpg

[HAL9000]

Surprized the Ford didn't burst into flames

[David M]

It would not surprise me if he was texting.

I see way too many people doing this on the road now. You can tell who they are, the people who are weaving back and forth or driving really slow or both. I wish the police could cite more of them.

[HAL9000]

It's a $280 ticket here... but I think it should be more.

[David M]

Maybe the penalty should be for the cop to drive over the cell phone and hand it back to them?

[juppy]

Jeez, Chris, it looks like your's barely got the paint scratched. His.....not so lucky.

Reminds me of a wreck I saw years ago.....older VW Bug rear-ended a pickup that had custom bumpers made out of heavy pipe and diamond tread. After the wreck, they backed the VW out from under the pickup and it had an L-shaped "step" right in the middle of it's hood. The pickup barely even moved when it got hit and afterwards the bumper didn't look like it was even scratched very much.

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by juppy Jeez, Chris, it looks like your's barely got the paint scratched. His.....not so lucky. Reminds me of a wreck I saw years ago.....older VW Bug rear-ended a pickup that had custom bumpers made out of heavy pipe and diamond tread. After the wreck, they backed the VW out from under the pickup and it had an L-shaped "step" right in the middle of it's hood. The pickup barely even moved when it got hit and afterwards the bumper didn't look like it was even scratched very much.

Ya jubby I did find some more damage under the car. Gas tank seem to have a dent or two.. Right tow hook underneath is damaged as well... I suspect most damage will be behind the plastic part of the bumper.. Good thing I do not notice any problems when he car is in motion.. No weird noises, nothing.. The insurance company tried to call me early Sunday morning, but I was asleep and missed the call. So I will look forward to the call am Monday.. will let ya all know when it goes to the shop,and how much damage..

[doubledragon5]

Ok talk with their insurance today. My insurance company had a hard time getting a hold of them. So they suggested I make the call.. They said they will have the adjuster contact me within 48hrs.. Next I went to the body shop I have used in the past, and did excellent work.. So far the estimate for the shop is $1397.14. This includes the bumper cover, step pad, exhaust (muffler) flex additive, corrosion protection.. They said naturally this does not include damage that will likely be found once the cover is removed.. Now I wait for them to take a look at the car, and probably will low ball the damage LOl... They shop said the same thing, and that all adjusters do that...

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by doubledragon5 Ok talk with their insurance today. My insurance company had a hard time getting a hold of them. So they suggested I make the call.. They said they will have the adjuster contact me within 48hrs.. Next I went to the body shop I have used in the past, and did excellent work.. So far the estimate for the shop is $1397.14. This includes the bumper cover, step pad, exhaust (muffler) flex additive, corrosion protection.. They said naturally this does not include damage that will likely be found once the cover is removed.. Now I wait for them to take a look at the car, and probably will low ball the damage LOl... They shop said the same thing, and that all adjusters do that...

Not to be a ball buster or anything but a good collision shop does one, complete estimate. All the parts are ordered and the vehicle is not worked on until all the parts are in. That way there are no additional's and vehicle is delivered in a timely manner. In reality, most shops do it the way your shop does but it is not the correct or most efficient way. This process eliminates the adjuster "chop" affect and your vehicle is fixed correctly. Many times a collision shop will compromise and/or negotiate with the insurance company and then compromise the repair to meet profit margins.

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by jdeb Not to be a ball buster or anything but a good collision shop does one, complete estimate. All the parts are ordered and the vehicle is not worked on until all the parts are in. That way there are no additional's and vehicle is delivered in a timely manner. In reality, most shops do it the way your shop does but it is not the correct or most efficient way. This process eliminates the adjuster "chop" affect and your vehicle is fixed correctly. Many times a collision shop will compromise and/or negotiate with the insurance company and then compromise the repair to meet profit margins.

I understand, but my problem is I do not have a second car to use while it is in the shop.. I would have dropped it off, but this is my only way to work.. His insurance did not even mention a rental yet. But like I said I used them in the past. Last time the car was dropped off and a complete inspection was done at that time.. The last insurance company who fixed my car, when it was hit in the rear offered me a rental and my choice as to whom I wanted to use, the same day I called. That is because they knew thier insuree was a fault from the police report.. But this insurance company sounds like their going to play hard ball if you will.. They told me that when the adjuster looks at the car and gives it estimate. They will start the work, and call the adjuster back with additional repair if needed.. Last winter I broke off one of my door handles on the rear passenger door. The dealer wanted $400 for parts and labor. I already bought a new handle painted the same color has the car.. I yet to have installed it.. But the shop told me as a repeat customer, just bring in the part, and they will install at no charge.. Who they charge is not my concern as they are going to take care of it.. Last time, there was minor damage to one of the front fenders on the care, and they repaired it at no cost.. All I'm looking for is for my car to be the way it was before the accident..

[glc]

If you have problems with the insurance company, and you have collision insurance on your car, contact YOUR insurance company and ask them to negotiate with the other company on your behalf. Start by asking for a rental and a complete inspection for hidden damage.

[rwest]

We did that once. It was worth it. Let your insurance battle for you. The other company knows you dont know the rules and regulations as well was they do and will take advantage of that.

In our scenario, my wife and I both contacted the other party's insurance company and they tried getting both my wife and I to take a settlement. We both said, "Let me talk to my spouse". Anyway we both thought the amount offered to us [seperately(and different figures)] just didn't seem right.

We contacted our insurance company(State Farm) and our rep said,"Let us handle it". She explained to us how it is legal for them to use thier professional knowledge against us. Bottom line, our rep got us 3 grand more than what we were offered. She said she used their own sneaky tactics against them. She said while it is legal for them to do that, it is frowmed upon by the courts and upstanding insurance companies.

She was very funny about it too(ha ha funny)because she threatened to take it to court and forced a much hiogher payout, but less than it would have been had it gone to court. All because she said most of the judges hate seeing insurance companies using people like that. She was laughing the whole time she was expalining everything to us, as she was handing over our check.


BTW any car that crawls up under a truck, van, or SUV is gonna lose. It doesn't matter who makes it.

[acr98disc]

Originally Posted by David M Maybe the penalty should be for the cop to drive over the cell phone and hand it back to them?

Back in a day, when cells were non existent, did we have less accidents? No, because the root cause is not in it.

That law is sooooo dumb, because it is not okay to text or use a handheld, but it is okay to eat, slurp on 7up or even do a makeup behind the wheel.
Read a paper or a book is not against the law.

People don't really value driver's license because it is very cheap and very easy to get compared to elsewhere.

[HAL9000]

Originally Posted by acr98disc That law is sooooo dumb, because it is not okay to text or use a handheld, but it is okay to eat, slurp on 7up or even do a makeup behind the wheel. Read a paper or a book is not against the law.

Not here... the law is "distracted driving", so if you are driving erratically while eating your Big Mac, you WILL get a ticket.

[doubledragon5]

Well Insurance adjuster or whatever you call them, came out and looked at the car.. Took the usual pictures. Said I will now in a few days, what they say it is worth...