So my ride got backed into by a coworker on friday. This is my first claim on my insurance and im not sure how it all works. His insurance is going to pay for everything but i have a few questions.

Will they pay if I want to buy aftermarket parts instead of oem?
How much do you think I can expect from insurance?

any advice will be helpful.


the damage



You can see the obvious damage. Going to need a new rear bumper and DR Tail light. The trunk doesn't look bad HOWEVER when the spoiler got hit it ripped a few holes where the spoiler bolts on to the trunk. Quarter panel damage is negligible but it might have to be pulled back out a little.

 

Sucks this happened to you man. At least his insurance is paying for it.

I'm not sure how the laws are in Texas, but here in Cali, you have the right to take your car to a shop of your choice. His insurance will send out an adjuster to assess the damage to your car, your body shop will do their own evaluation. Have his insurance write you a check, then you're free to spend that money however you want. I'm not sure how much they'll give you, I see a new CS rear, Strafespeed trunk, and JDM tail lights in your future.

 

1) If you have any mods then avoid telling your insurance company unless you informed them of your previous mods. Unless your insurance company was too stupid to hire lawyers to draft their policies, if you didn't previously inform them of your mods then they have the right to claim you misrepresented a material fact and rescind your insurance contract

2) looks like you should push for a new rear bumper, new spoiler, new tail light and some rear quarter panel work.

3) you would want them to write you a check for OEM replacement parts since that stuff will cost more. But you have to check your insurance policy to see whether they're obligated to pay for the cost of OEM replacement parts or just after market

 

I wouldn't even waste your time talking to your insurance company unless his insurance company refuses to work with you. Even if your company doesn't pay a penny, they consider it an occurrence. I got hit 3 different times in just over a 1 year period. I went to my company to get my deductible lowered, because I could afford to do that at the time. I found out after the 3rd report to my company (that didn't pay a cent to any of the 3 incidents) that because I reported the accidents to them that I was a liability and the underwriters wouldn't let me lower my deductible. Had to wait 3 years of no accidents reported before I could be considered for reducing my deductible.

Just hash it out with them first and only involve your company should his company dig in and refuse to pay.

 

I agree 100% with GAU-8.. don't file with your insurance company.. make sure u have a police report saying that the other driver is at fault. If he is at fault then his insurance company will take care of your car.

If his insurance company does not want to take care of ya car.. THEN u contact yours with all the correct paper work (the police report) and then they will go after his insurance company

 

What a great excuse to get the chargespeed rear and strafe trunk! lol
at least thats a positive

 

Forgot to answer the other question too. If you're dealing with a decent body shop and the insurance company you're dealing with is understanding, you shouldn't have too many issues with buying aftermarket parts. If you need a new rear bumper cover and you want a custom one, the insurance company will pay for what it costs to make the OEM parts look like they were before the wreck. If the aftermarket parts cost equal to or less than that quote, you win. If the bumper costs more than what the quote comes out to, the body shop will charge you for the difference. Be upfront with both the body shop and insurance company about what you'd "like" to do. Then when it's all done, be sure to declare these aftermarket parts with your own insurance company. Should you be involved in another collision and these parts get messed up, you can claim them for repairs or replacement.

 

GAU-8 on point again..

 

thanks everyone for the advice. I don't think Ive claimed any after market stuff on my car to my insurance company yet. The rear was stock anyway so it shouldn't matter in this particular case but ill be sure to do that as soon as i get everything fixed up for this accident.

 

How much is the damage? Did you get that yet?

 

no not yet. happened on Friday and the insurance company couldn't get in contact with the guy who hit my car on Saturday so im expecting to learn about it and get a appraisal today.

 

Bear in mind, you are under no requirement to go to their "recommended" collision center. If you're simply returning the car to its original condition (OEM parts) a good collision shop will do you right. But if you do take the advice of some on here to go after some aftermarket replacements, it would be in your best interest to find a good body shop. Ask to look through their current work. If all you find is collision repairs done to OEM specs, look somewhere else. If you find old restorations torn down to frames and skeleton bodies, consider them for your aftermarket parts. It' a good sign they got a few good body and paint people that can do the custom stuff right.

 

UPDATE


SO! got my estimate for my repairs. comes out to a little over 2100 which is about what I expected... however, because the insurance is NATIONWIDE, they only estimated for reconditioned parts, which in total is 200 less then oem.

 

Wait a minute, the persons insurance that hit you is Nationwide? What do you have insurance for? Turn it over to them and choose your own bodyshop where you can get your choice of parts of replace what was damaged! If you didn't have insurance you'd have to put up with Nationwide bullsh!t. This in no way will go against your insurance or what it costs you! This is where you can be a real dick and get exactly whay you want....enjoy the moment! Let's see new tail lights, Strafe f/g trunk lid along with your choice of poly rear bumpers, does that cover it? Good Luck Johnny!!
Gary

 

Fudge that. Make them give you a check for OEM materials AND the "labor" the body shop you chose is going to charge you to install the pieces. Maybe they could throw in an alignment because you're worried the hit could have thrown that rear tire out of spec.