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Wife-accident-side airbags deployed-not starting=total loss?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by psycho_drama, Apr 22, 2012.

  1. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    out on a day long ride with my buds on my moto, stop, check vm, wife.

    she was making a left turn and didn't see the car coming due to a huge median with a tree that blocked her view (this is her story :p).

    huge dent in rear, passenger side, sider curtain airbags deployed and the damn thing won't start. they are towing it home as the repair shop and rental car company is closed. i will post pics when i get some.

    total loss? many seem to think airbag deployment = total loss.

    UPDATE: the tow company towed it to their lot until morning and will tow it to the repair facility in the morning.
     
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I can't speak as to the damage of the car and whether or not that makes it totaled.

    What I do know is that when there is an airbag situation, a physical breaker is severed cutting all power. This is why the car will not start. It needs to be reset. Someone more technical than I will be able to either provide a better explanation or tell you exactly how to reset it. Though if it's being towed to a shop they should be able to do it.

    Good luck. Glad your wife is okay.
     
  3. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    here is a pic.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    ah, yes, i remember reading about that... yes, most importantly my wife is okay, no injuries. :)
     
  5. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    I would think you are looking at 4-5K tops! I looks like a low impact crash, depends on if the axle is bent. Also the Airbag thing needs to be looked at, bang it out and Bondo, maybe a little cheaper, replace and repaint still under my 5K limit. I would make sure you go to a repair shop both Toyota and the Insurance agree on. Here in CA, I have a shop I have used several times that AAA and Toyota both agree on, makes a fix really easy. The shop looks, calls Insurance, they say OK, car is fixed, happy happy happy! Let us know how it works out for you!
     
  6. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    the shop we will be taking it to is toyota certified, i think. we used this shop couple months ago when my wife got into an accident. :( the cost was well over 2500 for a slight dent on the lower passenger side door (she scraped the car on a boulder while parking).

    this damage is much more extensive and airbags deployed. i guess we will find out when the adjuster looks at it this week.
     
  7. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    she just now told me the car got spun around 270 degrees. i wish i can see it myself. i'm dreading the insurance jump, which is due in june.
     
  8. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    you're lucky you have those narrow low rolling resistance tires, if you had wide sticky performance tires the car would have been more wanting to stay stationary during the accident instead of "jumping" away from the other car which would have resulted in a much worse accident IMHO.
     
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  9. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    It takes a while for the insurance to jump. You're probably looking at next year or 18 months later to see the jump. At least what's what happened to me when I wrecked my truck in 95.
     
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  10. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Glad everyone walked away.

    That doesn't look like too much of a bump, though it has hit the wheel and that's where my concerns would be - has the chassis been bent? Is there damage (esp hidden damage) to the rear suspension? You might be lucky that the rear bumper might just clip back in without too much trouble, the rear door might pop out nicely without too much to tidy up, but that wheel (and everything connected to it) would be where I'd concentrate my efforts.

    The airbag is an easy, if expensive fix. The warning lights are probably just because the car spun at highish speed.

    As there's another party involved (as apposed to hitting a tree or gatepost) it'll defo be an insurance job. Just make sure they check it over fully before AND after if they decide to fix your car - you don't want it to crab along the road due to unseen rear suspension damage.

    Good luck.
     
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  11. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    yeah, there is another party involved. now after getting additional details from my wife, i'm thinking the fault may lie with the other driver. we'll just have to have the adjusters figure it out.

    we have full coverage, so regardless of who's at fault, we want to have this handled properly. chassis/wheel concern me as well and i will make sure they fix it thoroughly. considering the value of my prius, the total damage needs to exceed $12500 or so for them to even consider it a total loss and i'm guessing it won't be. many seem to think airbag deployment often ends in total loss...

    at any rate, i want it fixed right if it's going to be fixed. a part of me also wish it would just be totaled so we can just purchase another for piece of mind. we'll see, thanks for the insights everyone.
     
  12. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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  13. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    It might be total loss. Deployed airbags means a hard hit. The estimate will be $10K +/-. The curtains and airbag computer alone are $2K just for parts.
     
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  14. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    yeah, the insurance adjuster will be looking at the car tomorrow morning. i've already spoken to the the guy that will be doing the estimate at the shop and made sure the chassis and suspension of the car is looked over closely as the car was struck on the rear passenger side wheel and car spun 120 degrees (originally my wife thought the car spun 270).

    we haven't received a call from the investigator that will be assigning fault. if the other driver is found at fault, i will be obtaining consultation about diminished value as well (if not total loss).
     
  15. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    If you, or more importantly, your wife, have any concerns at all about diminished value or future driveability, push hard for it to be totalled. The facts that it won't start and has already been repaired once could be helpful. Your user name suggests sensitivity to drawn out processes and a total loss declaration would be the quickest way to end it.
     
  16. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    actually, my handle has to do with my profession... :)

    well, the verdict is in. i spoke with the adjuster and he told me around $7,000 in damages. he did indicate that rear axle is damaged and told me he quoted using a used rear suspension system from another 2008. he also told me 2 wheels will be replaced using a refurbished wheel and a reconditioned wheel. the $7k estimate i'm assuming is without looking at any possible internal damages.

    after talking to the guy i'm thinking fault will be placed on my wife. can i still pursue diminished value even with fault placed on my wife?
     
  17. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    nevermind, i found information and you can't claim diminished value if it's your fault. :(
     
  18. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

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    Update:

    Yesterday we were told adjuster was on their way back to the shop as they found more damage after they tore into it. Shop tells me another 600-700 in damages with the original estimate of 7800.

    I get a call late afternoon from the adjuster informing me that the car will now be a total loss as the estimate now has gone over $10,000. Apparently this is due to high salvage rate on Prius'. The shop then proceeded to tell us that not all states require that the title is marked. So, people buy them at auction from other states. They also said that they (insurance company) don't report the total loss sometimes, only reporting that they paid for repairs only to prevent salvage titles. :eek:

    We will not be purchasing another Prius, we're going with a TDI wagen. I'm glad this is finally getting resolved.
     
  19. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

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    Why would you go TDI after owning the most FE and most trouble free car in the world? H