Another Prius Accident

DaveinOlyWA · 08-09-2006, 09:52 AM

Recently there was a thread that asked the question "Do Priuses get into more than their fair share of accidents?" many thoughts were suggested as to why this might be. looking at the MFD, concentrating more on the mileage than the traffic, BT phones (if available), etc.

in my case, none of those reasons applied. while coming home from a shopping trip yesterday i was headed west on hwy 507 in Roy about 1:45 pm with CC on at 50 mph (the posted limit). i was about 20 feet from the driveway of a private gated community when this 1991 ford f-150 traveling in the opposite direction decided she should turn left. another 2 inches and i would have avoided her completely despite her being more than ½ way into my lane. the glancing blow was so slight that my sleeping SO did not realize we had hit anyone until a lady came up with contact information volunteering as a witness. she heard it, but didnt think we were involved.

despite the minimal change in inertia, the damage is extensive. neither doors will open, the entire left side was creamed. (she basically had damage but admitted the only new damage was a busted headlight. the rest of her damage was from a previous accident)

her insurance company contacted me while we were on the way home (had to call for a ride since my baby was towed) performed a tape-recorded interview and accepted liability and offered a rental car, which i accepted. they should be calling me today to go pick it up.

hopefully, the car can be fixed. despite the front wheel, i did drive it off the road (hwy 507 is a narrow two lane road with less than a foot of clearance on the shoulders in the area the accident took place) so i am hoping that if there is no frame damage, that it can be repaired.

if not, well now is my chance to get SKS!!

**efusco** · 08-09-2006, 09:57 AM

Bummer Dave....Looks like it should just be body work, maybe a new 'thermos'. Glad all are ok.

withersea · 08-09-2006, 10:05 AM

Wow Dave- glad no one was injured. Good luck getting back on the road.

galaxee · 08-09-2006, 10:41 AM

ouch, hope this gets taken care of quickly

glad you are okay!!

theorist · 08-09-2006, 11:28 AM

I'm glad that the rear quarter panel is the least damaged. I realized a while ago how most modern cars have rear fenders that are integrated into a single a strip of sheet metal going all the way to the A-pillar and the windshield which is welded to and part of the unibody. Many cars use the same single uni-body piece for both rear fenders and the roof.

taoofbean · 08-09-2006, 11:40 AM

Dave, my condolences and glad no one was hurt. I saw this exact same damage on a silver Prius last week in Portland where three much older women were involved in an accident on I-5 heading into the city. Their car as I drove by was sideways on the interstate after being struck broadside by a dump truck. They all walked from the scene.

Did your airbags go off at all?

DaveinOlyWA · 08-09-2006, 11:53 AM

thanks all for the concern,

1) airbags did not deploy. my gf was half asleep in the car, heard the accident but did not realize that we were the ones involved. i saw the side view mirror removed and thought that the damage would be minimal. we were both shocked when we saw the extent of the damage

the rear quarter panel is damaged but by the time the accident had traveled that far, the impact zone was minimal. the rear bumper cover is bent back and distorted about 18 inches deep as viewed from the rear but the metal beneath was not touched.

hopefully this will be resolved quickly. since the other drivers insurance company will be paying for my rental, i assume it will be settled fairly quickly.

i had just filled up the tank too. had less than 15 miles on it. will have to see how much gas is in it when i get it back from the body shop

buyaninsight · 08-09-2006, 01:48 PM

seems from these pictures and others that toyota may want to re-evaluate the extremely thin panels they use to save weight

DaveinOlyWA · 08-09-2006, 05:15 PM

ya maybe but those thin panels could have prevented the cars from locking together and making the accident much worse. plus i think the lack of impact and the angle of impact would have done similiar damage to most cars.

Starbug · 08-09-2006, 06:21 PM

Oh wow! I'm glad nobody was hurt. I really wish people would be more cautious when they deside to make turns that take them across incoming traffic. And it always seems that when you do get hit like that, it's always by a much bigger vehicle....... grrrrr!

I hope you get your car back ASAP.

08-09-2006, 09:52 AM	#1
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,529 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	Recently there was a thread that asked the question "Do Priuses get into more than their fair share of accidents?" many thoughts were suggested as to why this might be. looking at the MFD, concentrating more on the mileage than the traffic, BT phones (if available), etc. in my case, none of those reasons applied. while coming home from a shopping trip yesterday i was headed west on hwy 507 in Roy about 1:45 pm with CC on at 50 mph (the posted limit). i was about 20 feet from the driveway of a private gated community when this 1991 ford f-150 traveling in the opposite direction decided she should turn left. another 2 inches and i would have avoided her completely despite her being more than ½ way into my lane. the glancing blow was so slight that my sleeping SO did not realize we had hit anyone until a lady came up with contact information volunteering as a witness. she heard it, but didnt think we were involved. despite the minimal change in inertia, the damage is extensive. neither doors will open, the entire left side was creamed. (she basically had damage but admitted the only new damage was a busted headlight. the rest of her damage was from a previous accident) her insurance company contacted me while we were on the way home (had to call for a ride since my baby was towed) performed a tape-recorded interview and accepted liability and offered a rental car, which i accepted. they should be calling me today to go pick it up. hopefully, the car can be fixed. despite the front wheel, i did drive it off the road (hwy 507 is a narrow two lane road with less than a foot of clearance on the shoulders in the area the accident took place) so i am hoping that if there is no frame damage, that it can be repaired. if not, well now is my chance to get SKS!! __________________ My 2006: Last tank 463.1 miles @49.2 pump (49.4 computer) 4.22 cpm winter mpg 50.70 summer mpg 54.59 lifetime: 33,038.3 miles 52.79 mpg pump (54.04 mpg computer) 5.74 cpm My 2007 Zenn Driven 5849 miles, 2.00 cpm/ 105 mpg (at $2.05/gal), 4.04 miles/ Kwh Savings over my Prius $300.79 The Corolla...567.79 The REAL SAVINGS from not driving Corolla 657.39 +Prius= 958.18 (excludes maintenance costs...would be unfair to ICE vehicles) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

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08-09-2006, 09:57 AM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,043 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	Bummer Dave....Looks like it should just be body work, maybe a new 'thermos'. Glad all are ok.

08-09-2006, 10:05 AM	#3
withersea DNF is better than DNS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,145 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Wow Dave- glad no one was injured. Good luck getting back on the road.

08-09-2006, 10:41 AM	#4
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,027 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	ouch, hope this gets taken care of quickly glad you are okay!!

08-09-2006, 11:28 AM	#5
theorist Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 330 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm glad that the rear quarter panel is the least damaged. I realized a while ago how most modern cars have rear fenders that are integrated into a single a strip of sheet metal going all the way to the A-pillar and the windshield which is welded to and part of the unibody. Many cars use the same single uni-body piece for both rear fenders and the roof.

08-09-2006, 11:40 AM	#6
taoofbean Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 14 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dave, my condolences and glad no one was hurt. I saw this exact same damage on a silver Prius last week in Portland where three much older women were involved in an accident on I-5 heading into the city. Their car as I drove by was sideways on the interstate after being struck broadside by a dump truck. They all walked from the scene. Did your airbags go off at all?

08-09-2006, 11:53 AM	#7
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,529 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	thanks all for the concern, 1) airbags did not deploy. my gf was half asleep in the car, heard the accident but did not realize that we were the ones involved. i saw the side view mirror removed and thought that the damage would be minimal. we were both shocked when we saw the extent of the damage the rear quarter panel is damaged but by the time the accident had traveled that far, the impact zone was minimal. the rear bumper cover is bent back and distorted about 18 inches deep as viewed from the rear but the metal beneath was not touched. hopefully this will be resolved quickly. since the other drivers insurance company will be paying for my rental, i assume it will be settled fairly quickly. i had just filled up the tank too. had less than 15 miles on it. will have to see how much gas is in it when i get it back from the body shop

08-09-2006, 01:48 PM	#8
buyaninsight Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 39 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	seems from these pictures and others that toyota may want to re-evaluate the extremely thin panels they use to save weight

08-09-2006, 05:15 PM	#9
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,529 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	ya maybe but those thin panels could have prevented the cars from locking together and making the accident much worse. plus i think the lack of impact and the angle of impact would have done similiar damage to most cars.

08-09-2006, 06:21 PM	#10
Starbug Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 684 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Oh wow! I'm glad nobody was hurt. I really wish people would be more cautious when they deside to make turns that take them across incoming traffic. And it always seems that when you do get hit like that, it's always by a much bigger vehicle....... grrrrr! I hope you get your car back ASAP.