Day 15! - Rear ended at a red light

[Mr. Incredible]

You got hit pretty hard then.

State Farm is pretty good. They usually stick with new OEM for 5 years. I have seen Allstate put used parts on a car with 3k miles on it before. Progressive, Geico, American Family, they love aftermarket parts. I actually got a body order today from a body shop going OEM on a 2003 Elantra. State Farm being the insurance company as well.

yeah lowered fast and fugly Acura Integra, slammed into me at highway speed, I was stopped. the dash cam shows I was stopped (stop and go traffic) for a full 8 seconds and he hit me at full speed, never even touched his brakes. He was texting.

as low as he was, he went under the car he hit the lower cowl and squared off on the spare tire well, shoved his hood into his windshield, but did little damage to his headlights or front bumper to give you an idea.


I saw him coming, knew he was going to hit and took my foot off the brake, I had enough room in front of me to roll and absorb the impact, else the car would likely have been totaled.

 

[PaFromFL]

...I saw him coming, knew he was going to hit and took my foot off the brake, I had enough room in front of me to roll and absorb the impact, else the car would likely have been totaled...

If you're stopped, it's probably better to keep your foot on the brake so the car takes the impact instead of your neck. Hospital bills can make car repair bills look like pocket change, and you might still wind up with permanent health problems.

 

[Mcc]

If you're stopped, it's probably better to keep your foot on the brake so the car takes the impact instead of your neck. Hospital bills can make car repair bills look like pocket change, and you might still wind up with permanent health problems.

Plus you might have been better off with a totaled car and you would get a new car instead of a rebuilt one.

 

[50jae]

Just for another point of reference, I got rear ended last March at a red light, he was going around 15 mph so his airbag didn't go off. We both had progressive and the bumper replacement/repaint came to around $2k total as the BSM didn't need repairing, but I recall the metal had to be replaced.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

If you're stopped, it's probably better to keep your foot on the brake so the car takes the impact instead of your neck. Hospital bills can make car repair bills look like pocket change, and you might still wind up with permanent health problems.

My neck didn’t take any impact. Keeping foot on the brake would have made the impact much worse and I likely would have been injured.

Allowing the car to move as the impact occurred lessened both the damage and injury.

It’s a physics thing. The whole object in motion meeting an immoveable force.

 

[PaFromFL]

It is a Physics thing (I have a Ph.D. in Physics, but got the tip from a drivers ed teacher back in the 60's.). In a crash, your body collides with your own car. By stepping on the brakes, your tires provide a counter force to reduce the impact acceleration of your car and hence the whiplash acceleration. For a smallish impact, just keeping your head tight to a properly-adjusted headrest without braking should provide adequate protection while reducing damage to the car.

 

[Mcc]

It is a Physics thing (I have a Ph.D. in Physics, but got the tip from a drivers ed teacher back in the 60's.). In a crash, your body collides with your own car. By stepping on the brakes, your tires provide a counter force to reduce the impact acceleration of your car and hence the whiplash acceleration. For a smallish impact, keeping your head tight to a properly-adjusted headrest should provide adequate protection while reducing damage to the car.

I only have a BS in physics and I agree completely. It’s the change in acceleration that counts. You should brake.

 

[crizzlec]

Great news! Other driver was insured, they accepted liability, and are working with my preferred shop. Off to pick up the rental car.

 

[crizzlec]

She is sitting at the body shop waiting on the adjuster to arrive....

 

[Spanky61]

Make sure you pop his insurance for "diminished value," on top of the repairs and other costs.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[Michael_V]

Stopped at a red light. No injuries. I was the lone occupant. The insurance company totaled the car. 160K and it ran like the day it came out of the factory. Appraiser said it was in mint condition.
I received nothing above book value from Plymouth Rock Ins. The only good thing to come out of all of it is that I am now driving a new G70 that's got more hp than the 325 of the Sonata. Color of the new cah, same as the old cah.

 

[crizzlec]

I would be hot in that case, that Sonata does look to be in great shape.

@spanky: Already started that conversation but I'm not holding out hope.

 

[Spanky61]

Have a lawyer of your choice, write them a letter. Do not take "no" for an answer. They'll push back but not much.

 

[crizzlec]

Got the first offer from them, includes significant LKQ parts, and still comes in well north of $6k. Requested a second quote from the shop with OEM only parts, and working on retaining counsel.

NADA Black book on the car in Indiana (CPO, Ultimate, Color rarity, mileage) is north of $32k. I hate dealing with this crap when all I was doing was sitting stopped at a light. I know that my insurance will use OEM only as I have that specified in my policy, however I really want to stay away from subrogation. Working on the mental calculus of which will be the better course of action here.

 

[Spanky61]

I know what you're going thru. We've all gone thru this at one time or another. Those who haven't, will eventually. We've gone thru it three times in the space of 30 years with being hit in the rear by other drivers. It's worth the efforts you are putting into it. If the insurance companies had it there way, you'd never get the Genesis repaired properly.

One of the most important things you need to do is; insist on "all new OEM replacement parts." They will attempt to use rebuilt, salvage or aftermarket manufactured parts. Don't let them and insist on all new OEM replacement parts. I know you said you thought they might but for your own sake and safety, please do make sure and check the sources of all the parts provided.

 

[crizzlec]

Stopped at the shop and grabbed some pictures while hashing everything out with their insurance. I think my favorite part was their claim that the vehicle is "drivable."

 

[EdP]

Stopped at the shop and grabbed some pictures while hashing everything out with their insurance. I think my favorite part was their claim that the vehicle is "drivable."

View attachment 16509View attachment 16510View attachment 16511View attachment 16512

Sure looks driveable to me. What you have to do is get two red lens flashlights. Have your kid ride in the back seat and when you hit the pedal, just holler "brake" and your kid turns the flashlights on. Some flashlights have a button and it makes it easier for turn signals.

 

[Spanky61]

Wonderful, more of the insurances tactics to dismiss any responsibility above and beyond their own ignorance. Hey maybe, they'll pay your ticket fines or step in and get them dismissed for you, if you did!
By the way, who is the insurer of the driver who hit you? I'm sure they'd be appreciative of the publicity on an International forum as well!
I'd like to know, so I can stay clear of their incompetence.

Thank God you weren't injured and the individual a least had insurance. Injuries on top of it are another story all together! Been there also

 

[crizzlec]

I will certainly name and shame at the appropriate time. Giving them plenty of opportunity to do the right thing first.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

well I'm on 31 days now at the shop, 82 days since the accident.

car was supposed to be ready this past Friday, but the shop called to tell me a part is still on back order, Genesis is claiming it will be shipped on the 13th so it will be another few days before I get the car back.

My insurance company won't release the car until it is 100%, the part I am waiting on is cosmetic, but I was told if I picked up the car incomplete then the lifetime warranty on the repair would be void. So it shall sit at the body shop until 100%.