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2012 Prius w/SPORT Package SMASHED in Accident

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Me Here, Nov 28, 2012.

  1. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    No I haven't. Did u?
     
  2. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    I did when I had the supplement for the repairs. The supplement put the repairs at 10.5k so all the free estimates would now be off as the repairs actually ended up being 13.5k. Even at 10.5k though all the estimates were above 5k for DV. While you are pleased with your repairs I have gripes about mine. There are flaws in the body work, sport emblems that couldn't be found to replace the original ones I had, a rattling sound inside the cabin and under the hood etc. All things that on top of having frame damage would increase the diminished value amount

    I'm waiting on State Farms DV offer before I pay any out of pocket expenses like hiring a DV appraiser, but if and when I need to I have decided on collisionclaims.com as the company I want to hire.

    Diminished Value Appraisals - Collision Claim Associates, Inc.

    You may have more local options, like an actual "property (vehicle) appraiser," unfortunately for me the only 2 people I found in my area that do that can't help; 1 has conflicting issues with it because they know the owner of the body shop I used and also in large their company has some kind of deal with State Farm and the 2nd just didn't respond to my phone call or e-mail.

    I would avoid using any company that would charge you for a "desk appraisal." In the past I have done one for a previous accident, they didn't take the appraisal seriously because no one came out to physically look at the car.

    I'm trying to avoid hiring someone because it does cost $395 and if State Farm comes close to what the free estimates said I can save that money. Of course if they are far from it, which I expect them to be, I plan on telling them what the free estimate said for a value and also sending them yet another document with photos of all the cars tell tale signs that is has been in an accident and is no longer the car is use to be. If that doesn't get me the amount I want then I will hire a DV expert and they will do as I have done only it will be official and some even use a paint meter (and my car has been nearly completely repainted.)
     
  3. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    Have you been seeing a chiropractor at all? Were you hurting after the accident?
     
  4. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    No, I wasn't hurting or in any pain so no chiropractor.

    I should look into a free DV report so I'm ready when that time comes.
     
  5. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    While i dont condone insurance fraud or people faking injuries, its always a good idea to get checked out. I was hurting and now get frequent headaches, i am also now 3 months later experiencing dizzy spells. Which for me is unusual as I rarely have any sort of issue at all. I'm the type of person that doesn't have a primary doctor because I don't generally need to make a visit.

    I spoke with a lawyer and he said what I've heard many times before; its hard to make up for your property loss, but the personal injury portion usually covers what you lose out on in property.
    That link I sent is for a free estimate, there are also a few others if you just google diminished value. Let me know how it pans out for you.
     
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  6. Miata Racer

    Miata Racer Junior Member

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    Sheesh what a nightmare.....$13k spent to fix it and several more Grand in DV still owed.....clearly they should've totalled it, and saved themselves a TON of hassle in the process.
     
  7. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    You would be correct, they saved themselves about $4k by not totaling it. But spent a whole lot of their employees time, body shops time, insurance reps time, and more of the insurance reps time because I sent in a lot of e-mails and made a lot of phone calls. $13.5k spent on repairs, $1.5k spent on rental, and $6k spent on DV. A little over $21k spent on a car that they valued at about $25k. Chances are with how much time all of the insurance companies employees spent in dealing with me, coming to see the car, and answering e-mails and phone calls they about broke even.
     
  8. David C.

    David C. Junior Member

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    You always get screwed if you don't claim personal injury even if you were slightly injured. Even shock and mental stress is considered injury arising from an accident. Claiming injury to the full extent of your injury will help you with recover in all other aspects when the other party is negligent. I learned this the hard way years ago in my first accident, from now on if I'm slightly injured I still get checked out and documented. That way if the injury arises again, i have a valid claim.
     
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  9. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    I completely agree with you there. I always seek chiropractic relief after an accident because I tend to get minor to major headache, can't sleep and back/neck pain. Even from minor accidents this can happen. A lot of people don't realize they can seek out treatment and not have to pay a dime for it; chiropractor, therapist etc. If the person they see are experienced in car accident injuries they will see you for "free" and once the treatment period is over they will submit the bill to the at fault parties insurance company.

    Keep in mind that you can only make a valid claim within a certain time frame. I'm not sure if varies by state, but generally you have 1-3 years to seek treatment and file a Personal Injury claim.
     
  10. OceanEyes

    OceanEyes Active Member

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    It did not work out so well for my mom. A distracted woman ran a red light and T-boned my mom's 1999 Rav4, totaling it, on my birthday. Front airbag did not deploy as it was a side impact. Distracted party claimed her brakes did not work. State trooper determined the brakes were fine and working. The at-fault driver's insurance enabled my mom to get a new car to replace the Rav4 but will never replace what we ended up ultimately losing - our mom.

    My mom had extensive scans and x-rays to determine the pain from the accident - no cancer seen and no broken bones. Two to three months later she still has pain and she starts coughing and was told it was bronchitis. Treatment for bronchitis did not work.

    A year ago New Year's Day she went to the hospital as she could not no longer breathe on her own... and she never came back out - an aggressive tracheal cancer was found on biopsy. She passed on January 26th... marking 1 year this year. Lawyer and doctor consulted said it would be hard to "prove" the accident triggered the cancer - I share this only so no one else has to go through what my family went through. The personal injury case we only hope covers the medical bills... wishing for nothing more.

    My wish is that everyone can be safe behind the wheel - it is a privilege and not a right.
     
  11. Miata Racer

    Miata Racer Junior Member

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    That is terrible - so sorry for your loss, but do you really think the car wreck caused cancer? I don't see how that could be connected. I do know that cancer can be rapid in progression, though. My grandpa died in '94, leaving my grandma alone for the first time in over 50 years. Within 6 months she died from a large cancerous brain tumour that there had been no trace of 3 months prior (during unrelated tests).

     
  12. OceanEyes

    OceanEyes Active Member

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    I am sorry to hear of your loss - there are more cases like that of life partners who pass closely of each other. Science has yet to explain it but true love transcends everything IMHO.

    There is no proof in my mom's case other than her scans... but to go from car accident and no cancer at all over two months of scans with resulting pain from said accident to fatal cancer was coincidental... the doctor and lawyer said it was hard to prove so we let it go.

    Not to get off the original thread but there is so much out there we don't know... what would have happened had my mom not been in that accident? Would I be here today posting in my current capacity? Only a greater Power knows and I wish I knew more.

    Just my wish to all - be safe out there behind the wheel and be aware at all times. The life you may save might be your own.
     
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  13. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    I believe trauma can bring forth under lying issues. What I dont understand is how the doctors missed it, maybe you should be after them for answers.
     
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  14. OceanEyes

    OceanEyes Active Member

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    After speaking with a relative the tracheal cancer stemmed from a "shadow" on an x ray two to three months later where the shoulder restraint cut in on impact (We still have all the scans on a disk that go from no cancer to cancer, from September to December). Doctors that my siblings and I spoke with (some of my former hunting buddies are MDs) said as sad as it is, not many docs want to go out on a line to try to prove something one of their brother/sisterhood may have missed.

    Be safe....
     
  15. Grren4ever

    Grren4ever Active Member

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    OMG. I have the same prius w/sport package. It is seriously my other half. If someone damaged my car like that, my health would take a serious toll from the sadness. I hope you are ok and the car is back to normal.
     
  16. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    It's been nothing but problems since the accident. There are clips on the rear bumper and one day I was driving down the road and heard a very loud noise on the drivers side, I thought someone threw a huge rock and hit my car. Turns out the clips popped off. Being that the repair work is under warranty for the time I own the car I stopped back into the shop and he was dumb founded and had never seen anything like it. Probably because the bumper is pinched on (you can see it bows out in the corners from being forced fit).

    The at fault parties insurance paid me out 6K in DV, not sure if I ever updated anyone on that info. They spent closer to 24K for repairs, DV, and rental, and the Prius at the time was valued at about 25K. Idiots.

    I'm still looking to get rid of it, but decided because I bought the warranty and wouldn't get very much back from it, especially now that I've had to use it, that I will drive it for another year+ until the 60,000 mile mark and by then I'll have paid off another 6k ish and just get something used because of the last 3 new cars I've bought, they have all been hit by idiot drivers.
     
  17. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    I recall my Bimmer getting rear ended. The car was never the same in my eyee's. I'm sure when the numbers work to your satisfaction you will sell. much better luck in your new car