Liberty Mutual decided not to total my car. They wrote and initial check for 13.4k and I sent the car to Quality Auto Body in Rahway (Ray Catena's recommended shop). I don't think that initial is going to be enough, although I don't think they know if the frame is even straight yet.


eden.rutgers.edu/~sripanya

Pics are in link.


EDIT: The car is a lease. I don't need to resell the car, but I'm still trying to figure out if I got the gap insurance or not.

 

Damn, it really hurts to see that I'd think it would've been totatalled, the front end isn't too bad, but the back quarter panel is gonna require a lot of work. I think I see an airbag or two that deployed. Well I hope the body shop you're taking it to does a good job, hopefully it will look like it never happened.

Take Care.

 

Even if your frame is OK it'll be more than $13K to fix. So sorry to see your car in that condition.

 

Ouch. Surprised that it is not totaled...that looks very bad.

I can't determine what is worse...the car or the lot they always end up in. I hate those back gravel lots

 

I'd get a lawyer. I'd have totalled it. I wouldn't want it back.

 

Yikes that's bad. Most panels are bent. Get a lawyer to have it totalled.
C.

 

Isnt that the scam that the body shops pull? They tell the adjuster or claims agent that the car isnt totaled and give them a repair estimate a few thousand less than the totaled value. Then start working and continue to submit adjustments until finally it would have been cheaper to total the car. The body shop ends up making out because of all the labor involved. At least that's what happened with my integra. The body shop estimated $3700 for repairs. It ended up well over $6000. I could have easily replaced the car for that. And yes, those pics are painful to look at. Good luck with everything, I cant imagine....

 

So your insurance isn't going to cover the damages? (Do you have insurance). I also recently got into an accident and my front end is destroyed. The extent of the damage is as follows:

* Right-side headlights
* Front Bumper
* Hood
* Right front fender
* Radiator

Estimated Cost to fix with labor: $6700

I hope that's all the damage involved. Since I'm insured, I just have to pay the deductable. From the looks of it, both front fenders look destroyed and the rear left fender and taillights are busted... probably another couple thousand. Keep us informed on your decision.

 

I agree with Ray, I've seen that many times. The big problem is once the Body Shop starts, usually the Insurance company just follows through cause they end up more at a loss if they had stopped.

However, Looking at your pics I'm not sure if its a total. The Rear looks like a simple pull and the front (The way nissan designed it) would also be easy to repair. I'm sure its well above 14k in damage but will be well less than 75% of the value of the car which is where most insurance companes concidered total.

Ask to see a copy of the estimate that was done and maybe pot a copy of it.

 

thank god for Carfax

 

+1 Exactly! If they repair that car and you get it back, it's not going to drive the same like it used to....and it's going to have a lot of little problems from sustaining such a big crash like that. Can you say headache?

 

That 13.4k was the insurance's appraisal. I haven't gotten an estimate from the shop yet.

 

you're kidding right?

if that isnt a totalled car i dont know what is.. def. get a lawyer

 

oh, hell no....i would not get that repaired.

Try to find a repair shop that will say it is a total loss, or at least give you a quote showing the repairs will cost much more than your current estimate.

If they will not total it, you should ask for max diminished value from the insurance and try to get more $$ for the repairs. Then get yourself a wrench and start parting it out. You can probably buy yourself a nice used (unwrecked) replacement for about $25k. I don't think a car with that much damage can ever be right again.

 

Hahahaha good one! Dude thats nuts! Well the bodyshop isnt the only one that writes a estimate, adjuster does also. But man that looks like a lot more work then 13k!