Just fricken great... my Prius was rearended on Highway 80...

Yup, my wife is in a similar position.

Your prior injury history will make it tough, should you decide it is necessary to file a lawsuit. The defendant's insurance company will probably say that your current medical problems can be attributed to prior injuries.

The claims adjuster will call you soon to get your story and see whether any part of the accident blame can be assigned to you. You'll need to be very careful with that discussion, good luck.

 

Many dealers do not have collision shops.
And a being a dealership does not necessarily mean your car will be repaired properly.
Find out recommended shops from anyone you know who has used a local shop.
An insurance company will try to "steer" you to one of their "preferred" shops.
I always look at shops that are preferred by the insurance company to be a shop to avoid.
They will try and use re-conditioned parts, or non-original parts.

Look into "diminished value" of your car.
Once involved in an accident, a dealer will give you significantly less for it in trade in.
You should be entitled to a settlement for the lesser value to your car.

 

Sacramento has some really careless drivers. I just came home from Arden mall. From Howe all the way to 50-E in El Dorado Hills...several people tailgating and driving 10+ mph over speed limit...and it was pretty windy out too.

Hope everything works out


iPhone ?

 

As someone who grew up in the SF Bay Area and drove in LA intermittently for ~2 years, I've observed people do drive pretty fast in/around Sacramento the few times that I've visited or passed through the area.

I wasn't sure what to make it of it how strictly speed limits are enforced there...

 

The speed limits are somewhat enforced. I've noticed that on the 99 there are plenty of chp but a lot less on the 80 and there are plenty on the 50 especially around Folsom.


iPhone ?

 

[FONT=&quot]Mr. edthefox5 [/FONT]
Can you check out my new threads on a problem with our 2005 Prius. Someone on the Forum told me that you are/know of someone who is a Prius expert in the Tampa - Orlando area. Any help direction would be so appreciated . . . 4-robinsnest
a newby @ the Prius Chat Forums & still a proud Prius Owner since 2005

 

Re: my Prius was rearended on Highway 80...

Glad that you got your Prius back!

 

Hi Amm0Bob,

Time to put that minigun in the rear hatch, hey? And welcome to the 2nd Gen Rear Ended club. Mine was hit by a Suburuban doing about 40 mph, and rammed into the back of a Camry. The Camry decided to stop, rather than to continue onto the Interstate.

It was crushed up to the battery, bent about 5 degrees and totalled by State Farm. The Suburban was undrivable due to its bumper being smashed back into the tire. The Camry had a collapsed fender (glancing blow).

I never saw it coming.

That is why I am in a new 2010. State Farm only gave me 4 days to buy a replacement, and none of the used car dealers could come up with service records on what they had.

No airbags either here. But, the collision with the Camry came so quick, my head was still pressed into the head rest as the secondary collision occured, apparently.

 

The guy in front of you has recourse only against the guy who hit you and started the whole thing, I believe . . . I've been in a similar accident, all claims were against the insurance of the guy in the (back) car.

 

This confuses me a bit. Is State Farm your insurer or the other guy's? Either way, I don't understand why they would impose a time limit on getting a replacement vehicle. Particularly if it was the other guy's insurer. In that case, you are the injured party and therefore have the strong position as to negotiations. So: Why the hurry? Were they trying to limit rental charges or just clear the thing from their books?

In your position, I'd tell them to go fly a kite, that I would find a car when I found one and if it took more than 4 days, the company is still obliged to make me whole (or as whole as can be in such situations...).

I guess it turned out fine for you, as you got a new 2010 for your ride. But insurance companies may want to pressure you to close on the deal for whatever reason. Doesn't mean you have to dance to their tune.

 

I have unfortunately been through this process many times in CA, and this bit about the other party not having contacted his insurance company is, in fact, so much hooey. In the first place: you are filing a claim with his insurance company, nicht wahr? If you haven't, you should. They are then obligated to investigate that claim, which means THEY have to contact THEIR client. If they don't do that, one wonders whether they are a reputable insurer.

That's one side of it. The other side is: You presumably also filed a claim with your own insurance company, and your company is (or should be) your best friend in the process, and the two companies would presumably work out how the thing will finally be settled.

Whether or not there is a police report, every party involved in an accident must file a report with the DMV within 10 days if the total damage is greater than $750. Virtually ANY bent metal is going to be more than that. The 10 day limit appears not to be strictly enforced. Usually, your insurance company will send you the form if it's required and urge you to file it with the DMV. I don't know what, if any, enforcement there is if, for example, you file the form and a corresponding form from the guy that hit you never shows up, but I would presume that would eventuate in a warrant against that party that would either be served directly or by mail. And if there is no response then, I suppose it's attorney time and you may have to sue him. BUT: usually, I let the insurance companies handle the legal action. That's partly what you're paying them for.

Finally: there is, unfortunately, little you can do to hurry this process along. These things move at their own pace, and patience is the watchword.