Rear Ended!

jimnjo · 12-28-2007, 12:55 PM

I am sad to report that our Prius has been hit - hard - in the rear. I am curious to learn what others have experienced in terms of potential pitfalls in the repair and problems later that may have resulted from undiagnosed damage or things that simply broke down later as a result. Here are some details: Rear ended on the expressway (yup, and hard too) at highway speed, not at all sure of other driver's speed. 2006 model with about 30,000 miles. The other car rode up and over the bumper a bit, and pushed the back of the car most of the way to the back seat, without however getting into the rear doors. The synergy drive worked after the accident until I turned it off; then the dash would light up, but it would only go into neutral. It is at a body shop that the local Toyota dealer uses, and they claim to have experience going back to the first Prii. They believe (in preliminary analysis) that the main battery is not impacted at all, and the frame damage is 'extremely minor.' Initial estimate is about $8,000 and change, with the possibility of another grand or more if there are technology issues (which would be fixed at the Toy dealer). The estimator is suggesting that there is little likelihood of totaling the vehicle. Any comments or experiences? Jim

Rae Vynn · 12-28-2007, 01:49 PM

No experience, but I feel truly awful for you.
Do post photos, especially if they are able to fix it... before and after. (good documentation for you, too)

Good luck, and all the gods bless you.

Skywalker · 12-28-2007, 01:58 PM

Please post pictures if you can. I work at a body shop so I'll be able to help you out with any questions.

If it's a hard hit and I'm trying to vision it I wouldn't be suprised if they total it. If the damage amount exceeds what the vehicle is worth ( by a percentage) then you get to buy a new one.

After a wreck a lot of things can go wrong long after the hit. it might dog track a little bit going down the road which will cause irregular tire wear and bearing failures. It's not common to see it with cars but you will see it with trucks when the rear axle gets hit and tweaks the frame a bit. It's like you going down the road slightly sideways.

Prius101 · 12-28-2007, 03:55 PM

When my poor Prius got hit, it crumpled most of the right rear. I had some canvas bags in the hatch that were unreachable until in the body shop. I was very lucky that the body shop was experienced with Prii and worked with the Dealership. The dealership sent a van to pick up the hybrid batteries before they started working on the replacements - safety reasons. But the dealership apparently did testing of it while they had it - and after the body work was done replaced it in the car - checking wiring etc at the time.

I was really pleased that the people in the body shop allowed me in to see the car at various times while they had it in the shop. Also lucky that the other insurance company agreed to all new Toyota parts.

ceric · 12-28-2007, 04:10 PM

Such a severe accident repair will show up in CarFax report when you try to sell it later. Most private buyers who use CarFax will be turned off by this repair. That means depreciation of your Prius even if they can repair it nicely. If you trade in your Prius, it probably won't make any difference if the dealer will not check CarFax and send it directly to auction. More and more people rely on CarFax (or AutoCheck for that matter) to investigate the history of any used vehicles.

I am just suggesting that you probably should deal with the insurance company from this depreciation angle to cover your future loss in value due to this accident repair. Make sense?

N3FOL · 12-28-2007, 05:34 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your accident,

Jimnjo. Glad to hear that you are still around. Physically, I hope you are alright. Good Luck on the repairs and hopefully you can get your Prius back on the road.

JimN · 12-29-2007, 12:02 AM

The traction battery needs to be pulled before it goes into the paint booth as the heat used to cure the paint will damage the battery. My condolences.

jimnjo · 12-29-2007, 06:52 AM

Thanks for the kind words.

I thought of taking pix a little too late...the eve of the accident I was simply too rattled to think of it and now it is in a body shop 200 miles away. I do wish I had some!

I had considered the accident reporting that will now follow this car, but had not thought of hitting the insurance company up for accelerated depreciation. Sounds like a long shot, but worth asking about anyway.

The adjuster has agreed, generally, with the appraiser and they will go ahead and fix it. We had some hopes, actually, of it being totaled so that there would be less potential for trouble down the road. But the guy at the body shop is quite reassuring, suggesting that any tech issues will be dealt with, and by Toyota techs. And that they will be thorough in their analysis and repair. The shop has a very good reputation.

Jim

diamondlarry · 12-29-2007, 09:53 AM

I have no experience with it but am sorry to hear about your accident.

It sounds like the car did a good job of keeping you from being injured. Keep us posted on the progress and, watch your back around the insurance company. Good luck.

jimnjo · 12-30-2007, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

I have no experience with it but am sorry to hear about your accident.

It sounds like the car did a good job of keeping you from being injured. Keep us posted on the progress and, watch your back around the insurance company. Good luck.

It is true that we felt that the car took the brunt of the impact and left us shaken but unhurt. It also handled very well after being hit, albeit almost straight on. There was a brief moment that I thought we would lose control but it quickly straightened out and we were able to coast to a safe stop. Jim

12-28-2007, 12:55 PM	#1
jimnjo Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 90 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Rear Ended! I am sad to report that our Prius has been hit - hard - in the rear. I am curious to learn what others have experienced in terms of potential pitfalls in the repair and problems later that may have resulted from undiagnosed damage or things that simply broke down later as a result. Here are some details: Rear ended on the expressway (yup, and hard too) at highway speed, not at all sure of other driver's speed. 2006 model with about 30,000 miles. The other car rode up and over the bumper a bit, and pushed the back of the car most of the way to the back seat, without however getting into the rear doors. The synergy drive worked after the accident until I turned it off; then the dash would light up, but it would only go into neutral. It is at a body shop that the local Toyota dealer uses, and they claim to have experience going back to the first Prii. They believe (in preliminary analysis) that the main battery is not impacted at all, and the frame damage is 'extremely minor.' Initial estimate is about $8,000 and change, with the possibility of another grand or more if there are technology issues (which would be fixed at the Toy dealer). The estimator is suggesting that there is little likelihood of totaling the vehicle. Any comments or experiences? Jim

12-28-2007, 01:49 PM	#2
Rae Vynn Tree-hugging Vegan Witch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grays Harbor, WA, USA Posts: 4,155 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 258 Thanked 61 Times in 51 Posts Friends: 66	Re: Rear Ended! No experience, but I feel truly awful for you. Do post photos, especially if they are able to fix it... before and after. (good documentation for you, too) Good luck, and all the gods bless you.

12-28-2007, 01:58 PM	#3
Skywalker Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 19 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Rear Ended! Please post pictures if you can. I work at a body shop so I'll be able to help you out with any questions. If it's a hard hit and I'm trying to vision it I wouldn't be suprised if they total it. If the damage amount exceeds what the vehicle is worth ( by a percentage) then you get to buy a new one. After a wreck a lot of things can go wrong long after the hit. it might dog track a little bit going down the road which will cause irregular tire wear and bearing failures. It's not common to see it with cars but you will see it with trucks when the rear axle gets hit and tweaks the frame a bit. It's like you going down the road slightly sideways.

12-28-2007, 03:55 PM	#4
Prius101 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 71 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Rear Ended! When my poor Prius got hit, it crumpled most of the right rear. I had some canvas bags in the hatch that were unreachable until in the body shop. I was very lucky that the body shop was experienced with Prii and worked with the Dealership. The dealership sent a van to pick up the hybrid batteries before they started working on the replacements - safety reasons. But the dealership apparently did testing of it while they had it - and after the body work was done replaced it in the car - checking wiring etc at the time. I was really pleased that the people in the body shop allowed me in to see the car at various times while they had it in the shop. Also lucky that the other insurance company agreed to all new Toyota parts. __________________ M. Falk 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius Port Orchard, WA

12-28-2007, 04:10 PM	#5
ceric Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 1,040 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Rear Ended! Such a severe accident repair will show up in CarFax report when you try to sell it later. Most private buyers who use CarFax will be turned off by this repair. That means depreciation of your Prius even if they can repair it nicely. If you trade in your Prius, it probably won't make any difference if the dealer will not check CarFax and send it directly to auction. More and more people rely on CarFax (or AutoCheck for that matter) to investigate the history of any used vehicles. I am just suggesting that you probably should deal with the insurance company from this depreciation angle to cover your future loss in value due to this accident repair. Make sense? __________________ 2005' Tideland Prius (Dec, 2004) Mods Done: body-side moldings, wood dash kit, rear bumper applique, ultrasound backup sensors, backup camera, signal mirrors, BT stiffening plate, 205/60R15 tires, leather-trim interior, all-weather mats, shark-fin antenna

12-28-2007, 05:34 PM	#6
N3FOL Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stewartstown, PA. Posts: 791 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Rear Ended! I'm sorry to hear about your accident, Jimnjo. Glad to hear that you are still around. Physically, I hope you are alright. Good Luck on the repairs and hopefully you can get your Prius back on the road.

12-29-2007, 12:02 AM	#7
JimN P719 of ??? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,702 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 30 Times in 28 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Rear Ended! The traction battery needs to be pulled before it goes into the paint booth as the heat used to cure the paint will damage the battery. My condolences.

12-29-2007, 06:52 AM	#8
jimnjo Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 90 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Rear Ended! Thanks for the kind words. I thought of taking pix a little too late...the eve of the accident I was simply too rattled to think of it and now it is in a body shop 200 miles away. I do wish I had some! I had considered the accident reporting that will now follow this car, but had not thought of hitting the insurance company up for accelerated depreciation. Sounds like a long shot, but worth asking about anyway. The adjuster has agreed, generally, with the appraiser and they will go ahead and fix it. We had some hopes, actually, of it being totaled so that there would be less potential for trouble down the road. But the guy at the body shop is quite reassuring, suggesting that any tech issues will be dealt with, and by Toyota techs. And that they will be thorough in their analysis and repair. The shop has a very good reputation. Jim

12-29-2007, 09:53 AM	#9
diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 560 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Friends: 6	Re: Rear Ended! I have no experience with it but am sorry to hear about your accident. It sounds like the car did a good job of keeping you from being injured. Keep us posted on the progress and, watch your back around the insurance company. Good luck.