How safe is car after rear end collision

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Berzerkeley, Aug 2, 2012.

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  1. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    It's NOT silly. I retired 12 years, ago, having finished a 23 year career with the US Justice Department.

    The corporate world and the insurance companies want you to feel that way. It helps their bottom line. Unless you are or have been employed and have experience in the legal system, the corporate world pays you little or no attention to your claims.

    When you are represented by a lawyer, they know that "the meter is running" and that the more that they cost you; the more that they will eventually need to pay to settle. If you are reasonable what are seeking no more than to made "whole," they will settle.
     
    #21 Mike500, Aug 6, 2012
  2. smassey22180

    smassey22180 Junior Member

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    Have you researched a diminished value claim? If fixed and traded in the history report will show damage and the trade in value you get will be significantly lower. My guess is by 2-3k. You are eligible to claim this difference now. Bring that up and see what they say. Sometimes if you are on the edge of being totaled, mentioning diminished value can push you over and get you a total. Plus total gets them out of a few weeks of rental charges and limits liability for all involved.
     
    #22 smassey22180, Aug 8, 2012
  3. Berzerkeley

    Berzerkeley New Member

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    Update:
    After some time trying to understand how the crush zone / subframe can be repaired, Blake's Autobody in San Rafael, CA claimed the car was fixed after $9333 in repairs. The left rear wheel (the impact area of the crash), however, is not centered in the wheel well. It is 6.5 cm gap in front of the rear wheel and 3.5 cm gap in the rear of the wheel. The right rear wheel is evenly spaced at 5 cm.

    when we contacted Blake's, they claimed that this 'variance' was normal and not a concern. A friend who works for Firestone said it could mean an alignment issue, frame rail is still bent, axel is bent or mounting arm is bent. How do I get some answers?

    Best
     
    #23 Berzerkeley, Sep 17, 2012
  4. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Your insurance company should not be satisfied with the repair and should go after them to make it right. Why did you not go to a Toyota repair facility? Might be time to go to court. Sorry to hear you got stuck with a worthless bent car :(

    Mike
     
    #24 WE0H, Sep 17, 2012
  5. Berzerkeley

    Berzerkeley New Member

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    My insurance, GEICO, diverted us to this autobody shop in order to get the nationwide guarantee. I was surprised they didn't total the car.
    So, this variance in the gap on the repaired side of the frame rail is NOT normal or safe.
    Yes, this rear ended accident experience just never ends.
     
    #25 Berzerkeley, Sep 17, 2012
  6. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    What a shame they didn't know how to repair your car :( Your going to have to fight this one out in court unless you can get a Geico rep to come see the car and say it is not right and you get to bring it to a Toyota dealer to get it repaired right. That body shop must employ a bunch of uneducated idiots. Even the old school repair books had chassis measurements in them for the shop guys to verify a chassis was back to factory measurements. No way your car is safe or straight. How much did Geico give you for a depreciated car value? It should have been several thousand as it isn't worth anything being crooked. Since you can see how it is not straight without taking out the tape measure, there is no way you could take it in and trade it on a new Prius without having the dealer notice the so called repair. Talk about a frustrating experience. Hope you get it resolved fast or someone else comes along and flattens the car so you do get a new one :)

    Mike
     
    #26 WE0H, Sep 17, 2012
  7. Berzerkeley

    Berzerkeley New Member

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    Does anyone know the tolerance/variation allowed for the wheel being centered in the wheel well? Is it .25 of an inch?
     
    #27 Berzerkeley, Sep 19, 2012
  8. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Jerked and hooked 'round again and again by the insurance companies and repair shops.

    Get rid of the car! Sell it and then sue the insurance company for the reduced value.

    The wheels should be aligned where there is absolutely minimal runout.

    They are pressuring you to accept their lame explanations. They are wishing you to be a fool.
     
    #28 Mike500, Sep 19, 2012
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  9. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    That car should have been repaired as new.

    Mike

    Mobile on my SGH-i717
     
    #29 WE0H, Sep 19, 2012
  10. Berzerkeley

    Berzerkeley New Member

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    Yes, I know. We are getting second opinions: Toyota dealer says the left rear tire is out of alignment and it is pulling to the right. This contradicts their auto body shop's alignment report. Now we are paying for a frame measurement to detect why it's pulling right. Then GEICO says it will have the auto body shop correct it. Why didn't they just do it right the first time?

    Since I'm also dealing with my and my son's post concussion syndrome, it's nearly impossible to analyze every step when I know so little about cars. I want to sell the car but the wheel is visually so off-center how can I?

    Argh....thanks for letting me vent.
     
    #30 Berzerkeley, Sep 19, 2012
  11. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Easy,

    Take it to a dealer and trade it in................

    Then, sue GEICO for the difference. There's got to be hungry lawyers in Berkeley. CA.
     
    #31 Mike500, Sep 19, 2012
  12. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Were all here to listen, so speak what you want. It's all good and we might learn something too :)

    Mike

    Mobile on my SGH-i717
     
    #32 WE0H, Sep 19, 2012
  13. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    First take it to CarMax and get a quote on the car's value. They will show that it has been wrecked and repaired. You'd likely get a diminished value. Have them put on paper what and why the diminished value is.

    That's evidence that would likely stand up in court.
     
    #33 Mike500, Sep 20, 2012
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  14. Brentley

    Brentley Junior Member

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    You might want to go to Toyota of Berkeley's collision center. They are supposedly one of the only Toyota Certified ones in the area.
     
    #34 Brentley, Sep 20, 2012
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  15. Berzerkeley

    Berzerkeley New Member

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    Thanks for the suggestions...they help me keep moving forward! I'll definitely give the Collision center a call.
     
    #35 Berzerkeley, Sep 20, 2012
  16. Berzerkeley

    Berzerkeley New Member

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    Okay, folks, riddle me this.
    Even though I will eventually sell this car, it's a puzzle. Toyota Service said the left rear tire is out of alignment, so there must be some frame or body component that is pulling the car to the right. (The left toe is higher than the right). The left rear (the impact of the accident) wheel is not centered in the wheel well: 6.5 cm gap on left and 3.5 cm gap on right.

    The second opinion body shop (well regarded) said that although they measured the frame and examined the repair bill, the car is measuring okay. They can't find anything obvious (frame is okay, left 1/4 panel is okay, all components seem fine, etc.) to indicate why.

    The fact that the rear wheel is not sitting centered in the rear wheel well is not according to Toyota Factory Specs, correct. Anyone have the factory measurements? We will send this back to the original body shop that didn't repair this and tell them to correct it, but any ideas as to why? Although Blake's and GEICO are saying this is okay (within the variation allowed by Toyota), I need some documentation that it isn't.

    Thanks!
     
    #36 Berzerkeley, Sep 22, 2012
  17. MPG Seeker

    MPG Seeker 20k miles and counting

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    Berzerkeley, how did you make out getting the repair issues resolved? I've been following your tale of woe as a kindred spirit since 9/11, when I too was rear ended in my 2011 Gen 3. Like you, the penetration was greater on the left side and my car looked much like the picture you posted. Also, like in your situation, the car did a great job of protecting the occupant despite being rammed while I was traveling at 65 MPH by an SUV going at least 20 MPH faster (other driver claimed she fell asleep).

    Total estimate was $11,496 and it was not totaled. I'm supposed to pick up the car tomorrow and will have to decide whether to keep or sell in the weeks ahead. I sure appreciate all the valuable input made by all contributors to this thread.

    Dave Scarlett
     
    #37 MPG Seeker, Oct 24, 2012
  18. Me Here

    Me Here Member

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    I know this thread is old, but the almost exact thing happened to me. Only it was my right rear that was bent and damaged, resembling the photo you posted almost exactly (along with front end damage from being pushed into the car in front of us.) They ended up cutting out the rear floor pan and replacing it, along with pulling the vehicle. When it came time for the alinement, the toe was off on the right side (which is where they replaced a piece of the frame behind the rear tire.) Come to find out the rear axle was bent. Total repairs for being rear ended at 35mph while being a sitting duck = $13,667. I was able to get the alignment read out after they fixed it.
     
    #38 Me Here, Dec 1, 2012
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