Help! Need advice on Wrecked 2006 Prius

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(totallydepressed @ Jul 15 2007, 08:47 PM) [snapback]479374[/snapback]</div>

I don't think anyone could make a call on your car from pictures. There's a whole lot of the car that's still good, so only a trained eye can see how jacked around the engine compartment is and determine the cost to get it straightend out. They weigh that cost against the cost of buying your car out. They don't have to drive it, so they pick the cheaper of the two choices and go with it.

Glad everyone was ok.

 

The prius is carbarated? :blink:
How bout "throttle body"

Its definatly not totaled, but sucks that its now a salvage

 

The first thing I noticed is that there is no oil cap and the valve covers are bent enough to expose the head. And there is no hood on the car! All you need is rain, or maybe enough dirt and dust from all the commotion to have gotten into the engine. So maybe the insurance company should also be calculating the cost of a new engine in the equation. Also, with no windshield the interior will also be getting trashed from any rain, not to mention the squirrels who could take up residence there.

Also, as a result of helping a friend, I've learned about salvage titles. You may end up with one after the car is repaired. So I think the insurance company also has to reimburse you for the diminished value of the car being on a salvage title. I would NEVER buy a car with a salvage title, so I would expect that to be a considerable drop in the car's value.

Maybe it is too bad the air bags didn't deploy, that would push it that much closer to being totaled. But maybe the sensors could be defective and the insurance company will have to have them tested and/or replaced. That is too bad for the insurance company, but we have to be safe. OR maybe they could just decide to total the car.

 

I bet you are looking at more than $10K to fix. I would be most worried about the deformation of the passenger compartment (i.e. the passenger side dash moved, the windshield opening is no longer the same shape at the bottom edge).

I think your insurance co will total it at some point. I don't think they can force you to accept a car with a salvage title.

 

I apologize if you have already done so, but in my own accident experience, I found it very useful to scour my state's Insurance Commissioner's web site for information about the insurance company's responsbilities.

This page from California's web site looks like a good place to start.

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers...0010-automobile

It looks like California gives you the right to choose your own body shop. I'd try to find one that would take a few days to make a very thorough examination and estimate.
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I'm sorry about the car but glad your husband wasn't seriously hurt.

 

[gratuitous unhelpful snide remark deleted]

 

I'd say try to get it to a Toyota body shop and let THEM give you an estimate on the damage. They're the ones who know the engine and hybrid system best...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Jul 15 2007, 09:05 PM) [snapback]479425[/snapback]</div>

I don't think the car gets a salvaged title if the insurance elects to fix it rather than total it. Only if the car is classified as a Total Loss, and then someone buys the salvaged car and rebuilds it. THen it gets a salvaged title. I don't even think it will make it to a CarFax Report unless you filled out a DMV Report. Most likely, you are required to fill out a DMV Report, but no one ever thinks to do so.

I bought my son a 2001 Corolla, and I checked the CarFax Report which was clean. Then my insurance agent told me it had $3500 in repairs done two times. The unsurance companies CLUE reports has more reliable data than CarFax.

 

A salvage title pretty much is saying, Your car is totaled, but still drivable. You cant trade in a salvage title, you can hardly sell them because no one wants them. The estimated depreciation of a salvate title is 50%. So, If you bought your prius for say $25k, its now worth an awesome $12K with a salave title, IF everything is working perfectly in the car. Usually It would probably sell for around $10k or below with the scarlet letter. Also, thats if you can find someone to buy it. You would have to do it privatly, because no big named dealer would trade it in w/ salvage.

Try your hardest to total it. Go big or go home.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Jul 16 2007, 08:46 AM) [snapback]479538[/snapback]</div>

with this amount of damage, the only thing I would accept other than Total, would be if the insurance company could get Toyota to accept an extended warranty and maintenance package on the vehicle. This is the one time I would consider paying for the extra manufacturer coverage.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ Jul 16 2007, 03:48 AM) [snapback]479510[/snapback]</div>

In Florida, if the car has repair work totaling more than 80% of the car's value at the time of repair it is supposed to get a salvage title. I think the insurance companies are being more vigilant about taking the proper proceedures with the titles so they don't get in trouble later.

 

Sorry about your car, but I am glad your husband is OK. That is a tough call about whether to fix or total. I hope they total it for you. Looks like an awful lot of metal to try to get back where it started from and it will not have the same impact absorbing capability as it did when new. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Everyone stop with discussion about "Salvage." Question was trying to force an insurance company to "Total" the vehicle. Normally look at the value of the auto. If the damage is over 75% of the value, the car is totaled. I wouldn't worry about, would the car will be as good as new. The repair estimate is just that, an estimate. Should the cost increase as the work is done, the insurance company receives a, supplemental estimate. If it were my car, I would fix it. Sorry for the accident I know it's really upsetting but consider that cars are metal and can be repaired, better to be grateful to walk away with minor aches and pains. I'm Tenor1's sister and we were having coffee discussion this topic. I work for an insurance defense legal firm and have been reading "accidents" for the past 13 years.
Good luck.

 

If you want an insurance company to do anything, you need to make sure you have a medical claim attached to the accident, otherwise they will give you a run around, make sure your husband has been to the doctor and that you have a medical claim open. Those guys want to settle, the property damage people want to screw you over, they don't care how long it takes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tenor1 @ Jul 16 2007, 09:39 AM) [snapback]479573[/snapback]</div>

Our prius was wrecked last Friday and I am thinking I hope they total it. Sure, it's just metal but it will never be the same. This car is built on the assembly line under strict quality control. Not the same environment as a 19 year old kid fixing your airbag sensors. Frame damage can be fixed and parts replaced but I don't believe it will be as good as new.

So what's the reasoning to fix a car with tons of damage? The insurance company will pay you full retail value of the car if totaled. If you fix it then the car just lost a ton of value. It might be likely the dealer won't even accept as a trade-in and in a competitive market people will only by wrecked vehicles with a heavy discount.

 

Nevermind, I didn't read the OP's full post......

 

Take that car to the Toyota dealer with the best bodyshop in your area. I had less damage than you and my cost was $13,000. My car came out nearly perfect. Good luck with yours.

~buttster

 

wow... that amount of damage!? should be totalled. take it to toyota and have them quote repairs of the mechanical stuff. then take it to the body shop, if the dealer does not have one, and ask for a quote for the body repair. that should do it...

10k is a JOKE.