Crashed my 2009 beloved 370z =(

CameronCR

Hey Guys,

I really need some help on deciding what to do. I would also love to hear some opinions.

Friday morning, March 8th 2013, I was driving to work at 5:30 am (in the rain). The car was hydroplaning A LOT on the back end. I decided to get in the slow lane and slow down to about 50 - 55 MPH on the 5 freeway. Once I started on a connector (5 Freeway to the 22 Freeway) I had slowed down to 35 to 40 mph. I had almost completed the connection, but at the top of the connector (bridge) the back tires hydroplaned to the right and took my 370z into the sidewall.

All in all, the outside and inside damage I could see is as follows:

• Driver side window airbag deployed
• Driver side front seat airbag deployed (This is the airbag in the front seat, not the steering column)
• Front left bumper seems destroyed
• Front left rim and tire seem destroyed
• Back (driver side) rim has major scratching, most likely needs to be replaced
• The frame is possibly bent, but unconfirmed until later this week

(I will try to post photos as soon as I see the car next)
Now for the questions:

• Should I take it to an auto body shop that the insurance company recommends? Or an auto body shop that I have found that I believe I can trust?
• Do you think the car is totaled? The outside damage does not seem that way, but I saw other posts on this forum that have been reported totaled with the same looking amount of damage. What considers a car totaled? I've read 75% of the cars worth needs to be done in damage. Is that true?
• Due to the fact the car crashed due to hydroplaning (something one can not avoid) do you believe they will put me at fault? Or will I not be at fault?

Just trying to get some honest opinions as I have never been in an accident before.

I appreciated it guys!

~Cameron