1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Rear-Ended!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by kgall, Apr 28, 2016.

  1. kgall

    kgall Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    984
    152
    2
    Location:
    Olympic Peninsula, WA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    PriusAcc20160425IMG_3715.JPG

    While stopping at the end of a freeway exit to let cross traffic pass, WHAM!
    Hit by a pickup truck with a big metal grill attached to the front.

    I'm OK. I was alone. Occupant of pickup OK too.

    Seems to me like the Prius safety features worked--a lot of the impact absorbed by the rear of the car, glass shattered properly, seat belt held. I guess it wasn't that hard, since the airbags didn't go off.
    Only a few pieces of glass made it up to the rear seat area.

    The insurance adjuster will be here tomorrow morning. Don't know if it will be totaled or not. While it doesn't look as bad as it might, based on a couple of prior repairs of smaller incidents, I wonder.
     
    #1 kgall, Apr 28, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2016
    bisco likes this.
  2. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    3,318
    1,103
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    To upload the pics, click on "Upload a File" button to the lower right of your post.

    You could also "edit" your first post and then upload it from there. Might have to choose More Options to get to the upload a file button.

    Sorry to hear about the crash, it is good YOU are okay though. Metal can be replaced, life cannot...

    EDIT/UPDATE: After looking at the pic you uploaded, it makes me wonder what the sides look like. I can see the lower tail end is pushed down, but can't see the doors to see about out of alignment there.

    Hatch will have to be replaced, as well as lower back end. Left hand combination light will also have to be replaced. It won't be cheap, but probably not totaled unless there is hidden damage or damage to sides also. Surprised to see the spoiler survived. It all depends on the adjuster really. He/she might deem it to be a total loss depending on current value and amount of damage. Something tells me the whole thing might be twisted a little bit now since it hit more on the left side than square down the back end, but I am not a adjuster... nor am I a body shop repairman...
     
    #2 dorunron, Apr 28, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2016
    kgall likes this.
  3. kgall

    kgall Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    984
    152
    2
    Location:
    Olympic Peninsula, WA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks, dorun!
    As you can see, your advice on the upload worked.
     
    dorunron likes this.
  4. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Glad you're ok! Welcome to the club. Same scenario for me about 6 months ago. There are a lot of drivers out there the suffer from H.I.A..
     
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,668
    6,483
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Doesn't look totaled to me.
    I'm glad you're OK, but beware that some soft tissue injuries take a bit of time to manifest themselves.

    It's an insurance company thing now.
    Use a good body shop (don't let their insurance company pick which one you use!) and inquire about diminished value.
    It's not going to be much on a 6 year old car, but it's something to be compensated for without having to buy a neck brace and hire some bottom-feeding attorney.
    Be very firm about this, since your car will never again have an accident-free pedigree.

    If they get the hatch sorted out and you're not knocked out of alignment (insist on a 4-wheel alignment when they're done!) then it looks like a relatively minor accident-------until you go to sell the car that is.

    Good Luck!
     
    kgall and dorunron like this.
  6. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Sorry to hear & glad you're OK. It could be a good idea to go to a doctor, if nothing more than to register your concern in case something comes up in future.

    Regarding airbags, they're less likely to go off on a straight rear-ended accident. Front airbags are primarily for front crashes, side for side crashes. Sometimes, the sensors will still trigger (eg a severe front impact will often trigger the side airbags).

    This video (very high impact) illustrates the side bags triggering with the front crash, but with the side impact (about 1:20) only triggered that one side, as did the later pole impact.

    I had a quite low speed rear-ending incident 5 yrs ago, with the only obvious damage being a scratch both sides of the rear bumper and 2 dimples from what looks like bolts behind the bumper. I took it to a panel shop who suggested I look underneath - the reinforcement bar was severely deformed - what looked minor, cost (from memory) about $1600 to repair.
     
    kgall likes this.
  7. kgall

    kgall Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    984
    152
    2
    Location:
    Olympic Peninsula, WA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Probably not totaled, but I can't see if the frame is bent or if there is any damage to the moving parts or the traction battery area. Plus, after seeing what a rear-side scrape (which was my fault) cost a year or two ago (3,000+), I'm not so sure it is less than 3x that accident--and Blue book has the car in the $8-9 K range, given the mileage (90K).
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you would look very good in a gen 4.:p happy you are not hurt. texting behind you?
     
    kgall likes this.
  9. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  10. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    looks like you personally met a prius-basher. no wonder there was no damage to your bumper. there was probably no damage to his car either. trucks with mismatched bumpers should be made illegal.
     
    kgall likes this.
  11. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    You may have some say in whether the car is repaired or totaled. If it's repaired, they should fully fix it and write you a check for diminished value. But if you were thinking of a new car, now might be a great time.
     
    kgall likes this.
  12. kgall

    kgall Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    984
    152
    2
    Location:
    Olympic Peninsula, WA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    On diminished value--anyone have experience with how much an accident like this might diminish resale value?
    Or a link to a source that looks at such stuff?
    Thanks again
     
  13. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    You could always ask your car insurance agent... Since this damage is getting paid for by the other driver's insurance

    I'd think it would be about 20 to 25% of the car's value. Just a guess.
     
    kgall likes this.