Bumper replacement from Road Debris? HELP!!!

Ryn01599 · 12-08-2007, 05:13 AM

So last night I was driving home and I saw a giant steel mesh ball of scrap metal or something rolling my way (apparently from one of the construction trucks in front of me) and before I knew it, I smashed into it and swerved a bit with a huge shock!!! I immediately pulled off the highway, unable to locate the bastard who's truck it rolled off of and found that my front bumper had a gash on the left side, Lower grill missing with no foam padding behind it, and the majority of the harder plastic wheel wall surrounding the left tire gone.

My car is just over a year new and I didn't want to have to take it to the body shop so soon! I didn't see any other damage to the tire, radiator, giant cylinder thing in front of my left tire. Mainly the bumper and foam stuff behind it.

My question is this: How much would it cost to have the front bumper replaced and looking like new (any other parts that might be damaged)? secondly, given that it was a non-vehicular accident and I have a low deductible ~$50, will my insurance go up to have it fixed?

Hopefully someone can help me out as I am overwhelmed and stressed out about this given that I might not be able to get Christmas gifts this year if my insurance is going to go through the roof. Thanks!!!

-Ryan

bwilson4web · 12-09-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryn01599

So last night I was driving home and I saw a giant steel mesh ball of scrap metal or something rolling my way (apparently from one of the construction trucks in front of me) and before I knew it, I smashed into it and swerved a bit with a huge shock!!! I immediately pulled off the highway, unable to locate the bastard who's truck it rolled off of and found that my front bumper had a gash on the left side, Lower grill missing with no foam padding behind it, and the majority of the harder plastic wheel wall surrounding the left tire gone.

My car is just over a year new and I didn't want to have to take it to the body shop so soon! I didn't see any other damage to the tire, radiator, giant cylinder thing in front of my left tire. Mainly the bumper and foam stuff behind it.

My question is this: How much would it cost to have the front bumper replaced and looking like new (any other parts that might be damaged)? secondly, given that it was a non-vehicular accident and I have a low deductible ~$50, will my insurance go up to have it fixed?

Hopefully someone can help me out as I am overwhelmed and stressed out about this given that I might not be able to get Christmas gifts this year if my insurance is going to go through the roof. Thanks!!!

It is called hazard insurance and part of your coverage. If your rates go up, check the rates for a higher deductible. We have a $500 deductible. BTW, you can change insurance companies and/or send a complaint letter to the state government office that oversees insurance companies.

Bob Wilson

barryjkaufman · 12-09-2007, 03:49 PM

Ryan: I was backing out of a parking space on a rainy afternoon and didn't see the minivan behind me. Kaboom.....I hit the corner of the minivan's front bumper. Not a scratch to the minivan, but my bumper suffered a major dent and a number of gashes. The bumper and the foam padding behind it, had to be replaced at a cost of $700.00. Pretty significant considering for a little bump at a very slow speed. Toyota...are you listening? This should not be a compromise to get a car with great gas mileage.

Barry

etw934 · 12-09-2007, 04:20 PM

Cost of repairs to cars these days are surprisingly high. Last year, my wife was backing her '99 Honda out of parking space in a parking garage when the woman across the aisle back out without looking and hit the right corner of the bumper on the Honda, denting it, and cracking the lens on the right tail light. The cost to have the damage repaired was estimated at $750. The repair involved removing the bumper's external plastic skin and sending it out to an outside contractor for smoothing out the dent in the bumper skin, refinishing the bumper and replacing the tail light lens. The cost out-the-door was $717. I have $500 deductible on my collision damage so I had to pay the $500 and my insurance company paid the balance. The other woman driver had Allstate insurance ruled that there was 50/50 responsibility for the accident and would pay only 50%. So I got $250 back from my insurance company once they collected from Allstate.

Sounds like the damage on your Prius is much more extensive than the damage to our '99 Honda. I don't see any choice other than to contact your insurance company and get estimates from the body shop(s) they recommend or will accept. Good luck to you on this one.

Steve-o · 12-09-2007, 07:12 PM

Your story sounds pretty much exactly like what happened to my wife a few years ago. She hit what she thought was a rolled up piece of chain link fence as it was cartwheeling down the freeway, and it ripped the driver mirror off and scraped the left side of the car. Our insurance DID go up, although I didn't find out until our next 6 month policy was issued. This was through Allstate at the time (ironically who I have once again) and I was pretty pissed. They called it an 'At Fault' accident. Crazy. I suppose they would have rather she swerved into another car or the guardrail.

You might want to call your agent and just explain the situation and see what they say. You shouldn't have to worry about your rates going up unless they actually issue a check.

You may also want to take it to a body shop and see what the cost would be.

subarutoo · 12-11-2007, 03:46 PM

Same thing happened to me 2 weeks from new - only 1,000 miles! Truck tire tread took out front bumper, lower grill, 1 fog light, and damaged the passenger door - $1300+. Like the man said, that's what insurance is for. Just pay the deductable, and drive away as good as new. No big deal. Your comprehensive/road hazard coverage should cover it. I've had 3 such incidents on different cars over the past 5 years, and my rates didn't go up. Thanks, State Farm. Watch out for the road "furniture" !

Rest · 12-11-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryn01599

My question is this: How much would it cost to have the front bumper replaced and looking like new (any other parts that might be damaged)?

Do you mean the bumper cover or the actual metal bumper under the plastic cover?

Ryn01599 · 12-12-2007, 12:58 PM

Thanks for helping all.

I contacted AllState - they claim it to be an Act of God and the repair is $1500+ any other damage they find underneath the car (if there is any). My deductible is $250 but my insurance would go up roughly $20 per month!!! Am I looking at the right coverage for this or can I go through another coverage like "road hazard"? I don't mind paying the deductible but I don't want to pay $20 per month for 3 YEARS!

subarutoo · 12-12-2007, 03:14 PM

State Farm called it "Comprehensive". I didn't see any rate increase. I did pay the $500 deductable.

galaxee · 12-12-2007, 03:52 PM

an act of god is like a tree falling on your car, or flood damage iirc. (i last read the policy in july so it's been a while.) road debris is an act of some idiot who didn't secure his cargo. i just don't see where it's your fault.

our vandalism was covered with no increase in our premiums, by allstate, because it was not our fault.

12-08-2007, 05:13 AM	#1
Ryn01599 Hybrid Owner for Life Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: rohnert park Posts: 18 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Bumper replacement from Road Debris? HELP!!! So last night I was driving home and I saw a giant steel mesh ball of scrap metal or something rolling my way (apparently from one of the construction trucks in front of me) and before I knew it, I smashed into it and swerved a bit with a huge shock!!! I immediately pulled off the highway, unable to locate the bastard who's truck it rolled off of and found that my front bumper had a gash on the left side, Lower grill missing with no foam padding behind it, and the majority of the harder plastic wheel wall surrounding the left tire gone. My car is just over a year new and I didn't want to have to take it to the body shop so soon! I didn't see any other damage to the tire, radiator, giant cylinder thing in front of my left tire. Mainly the bumper and foam stuff behind it. My question is this: How much would it cost to have the front bumper replaced and looking like new (any other parts that might be damaged)? secondly, given that it was a non-vehicular accident and I have a low deductible ~$50, will my insurance go up to have it fixed? Hopefully someone can help me out as I am overwhelmed and stressed out about this given that I might not be able to get Christmas gifts this year if my insurance is going to go through the roof. Thanks!!! -Ryan

12-09-2007, 03:49 PM	#3
barryjkaufman Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 22 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Back bumper experience Ryan: I was backing out of a parking space on a rainy afternoon and didn't see the minivan behind me. Kaboom.....I hit the corner of the minivan's front bumper. Not a scratch to the minivan, but my bumper suffered a major dent and a number of gashes. The bumper and the foam padding behind it, had to be replaced at a cost of $700.00. Pretty significant considering for a little bump at a very slow speed. Toyota...are you listening? This should not be a compromise to get a car with great gas mileage. Barry

12-09-2007, 07:12 PM	#5
Steve-o Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lithia FL Posts: 101 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Your story sounds pretty much exactly like what happened to my wife a few years ago. She hit what she thought was a rolled up piece of chain link fence as it was cartwheeling down the freeway, and it ripped the driver mirror off and scraped the left side of the car. Our insurance DID go up, although I didn't find out until our next 6 month policy was issued. This was through Allstate at the time (ironically who I have once again) and I was pretty pissed. They called it an 'At Fault' accident. Crazy. I suppose they would have rather she swerved into another car or the guardrail. You might want to call your agent and just explain the situation and see what they say. You shouldn't have to worry about your rates going up unless they actually issue a check. You may also want to take it to a body shop and see what the cost would be. __________________ "The People's Manners Are Now Corrupt" Join The Revolution

12-09-2007, 04:20 PM	#4
etw934 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Cost of repairs to cars these days are surprisingly high. Last year, my wife was backing her '99 Honda out of parking space in a parking garage when the woman across the aisle back out without looking and hit the right corner of the bumper on the Honda, denting it, and cracking the lens on the right tail light. The cost to have the damage repaired was estimated at $750. The repair involved removing the bumper's external plastic skin and sending it out to an outside contractor for smoothing out the dent in the bumper skin, refinishing the bumper and replacing the tail light lens. The cost out-the-door was $717. I have $500 deductible on my collision damage so I had to pay the $500 and my insurance company paid the balance. The other woman driver had Allstate insurance ruled that there was 50/50 responsibility for the accident and would pay only 50%. So I got $250 back from my insurance company once they collected from Allstate. Sounds like the damage on your Prius is much more extensive than the damage to our '99 Honda. I don't see any choice other than to contact your insurance company and get estimates from the body shop(s) they recommend or will accept. Good luck to you on this one.

12-11-2007, 03:46 PM	#6
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 988 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Same thing happened to me 2 weeks from new - only 1,000 miles! Truck tire tread took out front bumper, lower grill, 1 fog light, and damaged the passenger door - $1300+. Like the man said, that's what insurance is for. Just pay the deductable, and drive away as good as new. No big deal. Your comprehensive/road hazard coverage should cover it. I've had 3 such incidents on different cars over the past 5 years, and my rates didn't go up. Thanks, State Farm. Watch out for the road "furniture" !

12-12-2007, 12:58 PM	#8
Ryn01599 Hybrid Owner for Life Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: rohnert park Posts: 18 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for helping all. I contacted AllState - they claim it to be an Act of God and the repair is $1500+ any other damage they find underneath the car (if there is any). My deductible is $250 but my insurance would go up roughly $20 per month!!! Am I looking at the right coverage for this or can I go through another coverage like "road hazard"? I don't mind paying the deductible but I don't want to pay $20 per month for 3 YEARS!

12-12-2007, 03:14 PM	#9
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 988 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	State Farm called it "Comprehensive". I didn't see any rate increase. I did pay the $500 deductable.

12-12-2007, 03:52 PM	#10
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,806 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	an act of god is like a tree falling on your car, or flood damage iirc. (i last read the policy in july so it's been a while.) road debris is an act of some idiot who didn't secure his cargo. i just don't see where it's your fault. our vandalism was covered with no increase in our premiums, by allstate, because it was not our fault.