First accident...

Air bags deployed. That alone can be 6K if not more. In many cases the dash and steering wheel will need to be replaced, new bags, it's a big deal. Leaking fluids. There is internal damage. It may be a total loss, settled, and sold for parts or overseas . I'm leaning toward repairable but somewhere between 8K-11K. My last bid was 11K.

Someone is at 14K

 

Unless the car is brand new, they'll often total a car that had airbag deployment, regardless of other body damage.

 

Hardly. Airbag is deployed, hood is bent out of shape and there are probably other underlying damage. In both front end accidents I've been in, the insurance adjusters/body shops have always missed at least one broken component that went undetected.

 

Lucky the accident did no happen in Beijing China known for the worst traffic in the world. Would probaly take a long time for the tow truck to arrive.

 

This thread has turned into the price is right. I think that your insurance coverage has to factor in the repairable vs. totaled argument. Do a quick KBB check on your car to see the value of it. Keep that number in mind when you talk to the body shop. It does seem like all of us with airbag deployment have usually had a total loss though. Perhaps there are risks with replacing them and I heard the costs are pretty high regardless. I am glad that you are okay, and hope that it all works out. No one wants to be in an accident.

 

Could you be more specific?

 

I don't know... look for the hood is up. That isn't a result of the bumper cover, that's probably a messed up frame. Even if you fix it, it might not drive the same or get the same mileage.

how fast were you going when this happened

 

Also whats that red puddle? engine coolant or tranny fluid

 

OP needs to return and tell us what the outcome is, as the insurance adjuster has probably already told her by now.

 

OK......... YOUR ON.......

 

Nice round number spiderman. You da man!

 

Well, I just had my first Prius accident.

Foot slipped off the brake pedal and hit the accelerator (and caught under the brake pedal). Car was in a parking deck and clipped one car driving by and hit the concrete wall on the opposite side of the parking lane.

Total distance traveled from where the foot slipped off to the wall was about 40 feet or so.

Driver side airbags (steering wheel and knee) went off, and both sets of curtain airbags went off (why?). Seat belt tensioners probably fired too.

I can understand the front airbags, but don't understand why all side curtain airbags (driver and passenger sides) went off. It seems to me as though that was unnecessary and will contribute significant expense to the repairs (if it can be repaired).

No damage on the sides and back, except at the front fender areas and the front/hood. Fluid looks like coolant.

The car is maybe 6 months old (2013 purchased in October of 2013). See attached photo.


Opinions? Will this car be totaled? I suffered only mild chest contusions.

Thanks, Shawn

 

There's probably a fair amount of damage you're not seeing. In all honesty, I'd hope they total it out so you can get something new, rather than them repairing it.

Since so many airbags deployed, I wouldn't be surprised if they call it a loss.

 

I'll say repairable since the pre-accident value is somewhere around $20k, but the airbag deployment pushes the cost WAY up. $10k sounds about right to me.

If this was a case of driving too fast, too close to the car in front, or driving distracted, please draw conclusions.

 

Nope, car was in a parking deck. I'd have to believe that the speed never exceeded 10 - 15 MPH. I literally went from a dead stop in one parking space, shot across the aisle to the opposite space, and hit the concrete wall.

No distracted driving or following too closely. Simply unfortunate luck with the foor slipping off the brake pedal and hitting the accelerator.

 

Sorry I was not clear; my post was a response to the OP.

 

Well, I have a feeling that if it gets totaled out, I'll walk away with nothing (the car was financed and, being only 6 months in, was no where near paid for.) I have to call the adjuster back tomorrow - we'll see.

Still not happy that the curtain airbags deployed -- that seems like a waste.

 

I like the idea of not having the front airbags knock me against the hard door. I'll take bruises over broken bones any day.

And frankly, if I walked away from a severe accident pretty much unharmed, I would not second guess the wonderful care the car took of me.

 

$9800 for the OP and $14500 for what's behind crash number two.

 

Most insurance companies (depending on your coverage of course) always total out a car if the airbags deploy. The replacement costs are ridiculous, and frankly, if they were replaced, it ensures that you won't be able to sell the car in the future. I would hope that they would total your car. The situation is unfortunate, but it is good that you are okay. When I had my accident with the airbags deploying, the only place I was sore was at the bottom of the seatbelt and my shoulder. I don't know how Toyota airbags work, but in my Honda, when the sensors were activated, the seatbelt immediately pulled you back, and locked, I could hear the charge go off in the seatbelt, and I never got close to the airbag that deployed on the drivers side only. The one thing I will never forget is the horrible smell of the airbag. Not pleasant at all!