Crash (sorta)

molgrips · 11-08-2006, 03:44 PM

So someone pulled out in front of me last weekend. I was doing 25mph or so on a crowded street, and the lady in a black Fiat Punto was rolling up to her junction. Except, she kept on rolling right out in front of me. When I realised she wasn't going to stop I slammed on the brakes and the horn. Even with the horn she continued to roll, and I continued to move what with the road being really wet and everything. So I bumped the corner of my car into her door - but only a bit. I thought I should've been able to stop quicker than that, and I swear I heard tyre skidding noises coming from the nearside front wheel... Is this normal if the ABS is working?

[attachmentid=5637]

So we're taking it in to be fixed tomorrow. She of course owned up to everything, which was nice. However - I suspect the headlights are out of alignment now. There's a tiny scuff on the headlight cover, and the wing appears to be perfectly in tact, but when driving in fog last night I noticed the beam from the affected side of the car (that is, the left) was pointing way over to the right.

How can I check this? I want to make sure it gets fixed if it's a problem.

eagle33199 · 11-08-2006, 04:07 PM

First off, glad that everyone's OK and that it was relatively minor. Make sure it goes into a Dealer's body shop, they use genuine Toyota parts, etc...

I'd say the best way to make sure is to mention it to the tech - make sure they do some sort of headlight alignment as part of the service. After all, it's the ladies insurance paying for it!

molgrips · 11-08-2006, 04:31 PM

I don't get to choose where it goes

The place they are having me go seems a little scruffy, not like the nice Toyota place we went to initially for a quote.

Charles Suitt · 11-08-2006, 04:51 PM

Can't select your repair shop? I don't know Insurance procedures in the U.K., but in Texas we are able to select our repair shops for body damage repair. At least, we are able with my Insurance carrier.

Sounds as if you might need to research auto insurance conventions there and consider a different Insurance Company to allow selection in the event of major damage. I hope you don't have that problem in the future.

Pinto Girl · 11-08-2006, 05:47 PM

It does seem a little surprising that you can't select your own repair shop...or at an absolute minimum, take the money that the insurance will pay the scruffy shop to do the work, add in a little bit extra, and take it to a place where you're comfortable with the quality.

Not being able to select a shop could be a great scam:
1. you're in an accident that's not your fault
2. you go to the insurance company with the claim
3. they direct you to 'their' body shop for an estimate
4. 'their' body shop estimates high then does substandard work
5. the remnant of the money (paid out by the insurance company) is split between unscrupulous people in on the sceheme the body shop, and unscrupulous people in on the scheme at the insurance agency.

I know it's a longshot, but there's something really odd about not having this choice...if just from a philosophical standpoint, I think.

**Tideland Prius** · 11-08-2006, 09:59 PM

The bumper damage doesn't seem too bad so they should be able to hammer it out. The headlight can be re-aligned so that isn't a problem.

Does the UK get the coolant thermos? If so, that's the location of the thermos where the impact is.

bhaynnes · 11-09-2006, 12:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(molgrips @ Nov 8 2006, 12:44 PM) [snapback]345758[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

So someone pulled out in front of me last weekend. I was doing 25mph or so on a crowded street, and the lady in a black Fiat Punto was rolling up to her junction. Except, she kept on rolling right out in front of me. When I realised she wasn't going to stop I slammed on the brakes and the horn. Even with the horn she continued to roll, and I continued to move what with the road being really wet and everything. So I bumped the corner of my car into her door - but only a bit. I thought I should've been able to stop quicker than that, and I swear I heard tyre skidding noises coming from the nearside front wheel... Is this normal if the ABS is working?

[attachmentid=5637]

So we're taking it in to be fixed tomorrow. She of course owned up to everything, which was nice. However - I suspect the headlights are out of alignment now. There's a tiny scuff on the headlight cover, and the wing appears to be perfectly in tact, but when driving in fog last night I noticed the beam from the affected side of the car (that is, the left) was pointing way over to the right.

How can I check this? I want to make sure it gets fixed if it's a problem.
[/b]

Dunno where you live, but here in Calif. you donn't have to go to a place the other party chooses. You can go anywhere you want.

molgrips · 11-09-2006, 01:20 PM

I think it varies company by company wether or not you can choose repair place. I chatted with the hire car people who gave me a replacement, and they seemed to think that the repair place was good. The repair people were quite astonished to see a car move without any engine noise though!

They should wait til they see it park itself

Got one of these as a replacement though - nice but a little small for putting my bike in the back:

http://www.nissan.co.uk/home/vehicles/pass.../K12/index.html

IsrAmeriPrius · 11-09-2006, 01:27 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bhaynnes @ Nov 9 2006, 09:06 AM) [snapback]346303[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Dunno where you live, but here in Calif. you donn't have to go to a place the other party chooses. You can go anywhere you want.
[/b]

He lives in England. Their laws are not necessarily the same as those of California or the rest of the United States.

**Tideland Prius** · 11-09-2006, 05:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(molgrips @ Nov 9 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]346358[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I think it varies company by company wether or not you can choose repair place. I chatted with the hire car people who gave me a replacement, and they seemed to think that the repair place was good. The repair people were quite astonished to see a car move without any engine noise though!

They should wait til they see it park itself

Got one of these as a replacement though - nice but a little small for putting my bike in the back:

http://www.nissan.co.uk/home/vehicles/pass.../K12/index.html
[/b]

ooh, a Nissan Micra! That car has a lot of kit for the money, although I assume the hire car is a lower end model.

11-08-2006, 03:44 PM	#1
molgrips Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 197 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	So someone pulled out in front of me last weekend. I was doing 25mph or so on a crowded street, and the lady in a black Fiat Punto was rolling up to her junction. Except, she kept on rolling right out in front of me. When I realised she wasn't going to stop I slammed on the brakes and the horn. Even with the horn she continued to roll, and I continued to move what with the road being really wet and everything. So I bumped the corner of my car into her door - but only a bit. I thought I should've been able to stop quicker than that, and I swear I heard tyre skidding noises coming from the nearside front wheel... Is this normal if the ABS is working? [attachmentid=5637] So we're taking it in to be fixed tomorrow. She of course owned up to everything, which was nice. However - I suspect the headlights are out of alignment now. There's a tiny scuff on the headlight cover, and the wing appears to be perfectly in tact, but when driving in fog last night I noticed the beam from the affected side of the car (that is, the left) was pointing way over to the right. How can I check this? I want to make sure it gets fixed if it's a problem. Attached Thumbnails

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11-08-2006, 04:07 PM	#2
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 5,120 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 53 Thanked 255 Times in 166 Posts Friends: 4	First off, glad that everyone's OK and that it was relatively minor. Make sure it goes into a Dealer's body shop, they use genuine Toyota parts, etc... I'd say the best way to make sure is to mention it to the tech - make sure they do some sort of headlight alignment as part of the service. After all, it's the ladies insurance paying for it!

11-08-2006, 04:31 PM	#3
molgrips Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 197 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I don't get to choose where it goes The place they are having me go seems a little scruffy, not like the nice Toyota place we went to initially for a quote.

11-08-2006, 04:51 PM	#4
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,640 My Car: 2012 Prius Model: Four Package: Navigation Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 0	Can't select your repair shop? I don't know Insurance procedures in the U.K., but in Texas we are able to select our repair shops for body damage repair. At least, we are able with my Insurance carrier. Sounds as if you might need to research auto insurance conventions there and consider a different Insurance Company to allow selection in the event of major damage. I hope you don't have that problem in the future.

11-08-2006, 05:47 PM	#5
Pinto Girl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,095 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 68 Thanked 342 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 0	It does seem a little surprising that you can't select your own repair shop...or at an absolute minimum, take the money that the insurance will pay the scruffy shop to do the work, add in a little bit extra, and take it to a place where you're comfortable with the quality. Not being able to select a shop could be a great scam: 1. you're in an accident that's not your fault 2. you go to the insurance company with the claim 3. they direct you to 'their' body shop for an estimate 4. 'their' body shop estimates high then does substandard work 5. the remnant of the money (paid out by the insurance company) is split between unscrupulous people in on the sceheme the body shop, and unscrupulous people in on the scheme at the insurance agency. I know it's a longshot, but there's something really odd about not having this choice...if just from a philosophical standpoint, I think.

11-08-2006, 09:59 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,177 Times in 850 Posts Friends: 31	The bumper damage doesn't seem too bad so they should be able to hammer it out. The headlight can be re-aligned so that isn't a problem. Does the UK get the coolant thermos? If so, that's the location of the thermos where the impact is.

11-09-2006, 01:20 PM	#8
molgrips Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 197 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I think it varies company by company wether or not you can choose repair place. I chatted with the hire car people who gave me a replacement, and they seemed to think that the repair place was good. The repair people were quite astonished to see a car move without any engine noise though! They should wait til they see it park itself Got one of these as a replacement though - nice but a little small for putting my bike in the back: http://www.nissan.co.uk/home/vehicles/pass.../K12/index.html