Crashed - Need Advice

Jason · 10-04-2009, 01:39 PM

Long story short: Someone tapped my back bumper, I spun and hit a guardrail.

Damage: Back bumper needs to be removed and painted. Front bumper, hood,fenders need to be replaced and painted. Driver side rim and tire need replacement. Front Aligment. Possibly some electrical problems (when I turn on my headlights, it smells like burning wires). Steering wheel airbag. Seat belt is retarded (it just stays stuck all pulled out). Some parts in the engine bay need to be replaced (I don't really know what they are but little plastic crap, bolts, plastic undercover, etc).

Advice needed: Ideally, I would like a new Z. I don't know if I have frame damage but they'll be doing a teardown inspection. Am I better off if they declare it totaled or fixable? Does anyone know how much I'd get if it were totaled? I was trying to find KBB prices but they dont have the Z on there (I don't think insurance goes by that rate anyway).

Just need some advice. I wouldn't mind just getting it fixed but I'm afraid of some frame damage and possible electrical issues.

SlikNik · 10-04-2009, 01:54 PM

Sorry to hear about that man, did the guy stop who spun you out? Did it happen on your 400 mile road trip with your bumper taped blue?

I don't have an answer to your question but good luck either way.

edeeZee · 10-04-2009, 01:58 PM

From your description, the car sounds salvaged. Get it totaled. Every insurance co. is unique what they consider "totaled." Some say 60,70%, etc.

If you get the car fixed, it won't be the same again. It'll drive funny.

SGTseanzie · 10-04-2009, 02:00 PM

I was almost sure this was going to be posted by the child who asked the "can i rev it up in neutral and slam it into drive" question a few days ago.

frost · 10-04-2009, 02:00 PM

pics?

JoeD · 10-04-2009, 02:01 PM

That sucks man. **** happens...at least you're ok.

You're best off having them total your car. If your air-bag deployed, which it sounds like it did, the car is likely totaled. Get an estimate from only high-end body shops (find out which shops your local Mercedes/Porsche/Ferrari dealerships use), and go from there.

dalparadise · 10-04-2009, 02:12 PM

I would press your insurance incessantly to total the car. No way they can return it to its before crash value with the kind of damage you describe. If you had damage in the engine bay, I'd say there's a pretty good chance you have frame and/or suspension damage which will most likely be a total.

Unfortunately, it'll still be a bad deal for you. You're probably going to be out $5-$7K, as the totalled compensation to you will be the depreciated value of a brand new car (meaning a lot of depreciation) minus your deductible. If you have it, perhaps this is one case where the rip-off gap insurance might actually pay off? I'm not sure.

Even so, press for a total loss. The value of a Frankenstein Z rebuilt from the level of damage you describe would be far, far less than you'll take on the loss from the depreciated value the insurance company writes for the total.

Sorry to hear about this and best of luck to you.

Blown32 · 10-04-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edeeZee

From your description, the car sounds salvaged. Get it totaled. Every insurance co. is unique what they consider "totaled." Some say 60,70%, etc.

If you get the car fixed, it won't be the same again. It'll drive funny.

He don't know if there is any frame damage?So how do you know what you are talking about scaring the guy if the car is fixed?Perhaps just new body panels and repaint if no suspension and frame damage.
Car will drive funny!What in the hell do you know?

Blown32 · 10-04-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGTseanzie

I was almost sure this was going to be posted by the child who asked the "can i rev it up in neutral and slam it into drive" question a few days ago.

lol!

Blown32 · 10-04-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeD

That sucks man. **** happens...at least you're ok.

You're best off having them total your car. If your air-bag deployed, which it sounds like it did, the car is likely totaled. Get an estimate from only high-end body shops (find out which shops your local Mercedes/Porsche/Ferrari dealerships use), and go from there.

"If airbag deployed it likely is totaled"?Where did that assumption come from?We have all these wannabe insurance adjusters assuming and haven't even seen the car.Why get this guy all upset for nothing if nobody knows anything!

nogoodname · 10-04-2009, 02:38 PM

pics ??

frame damage can be repaired, sure it will never be the.... mostly bc if it ever gets hit in the same spot again... it will bend up pretty bad

i leaning towards its not totalled

also, airbag being deployed does not mean the its totalled

kdo2milger · 10-04-2009, 02:53 PM

first of all i hope your ok, are you experiencing any back or neck pains?

make sure you medically document everything regardless if you feel pain now or not...ive been rear ended before when i was younger and didnt feel any real pain at that time...years later now i pay for both physical and financial...

as for the z i need to see pics of all four sides and of the frame area where you struck the guardrail...

either way its just a car and can be replaced...spinal columns cant...take care of yourself first!

JoeD · 10-04-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodname

also, airbag being deployed does not mean the its totalled

Not in and of itself, but enough damage to cause the air-bag(s) to deploy and the cost of a new SRS system on top of all the other damage needed to be repaired helps significantly. More often than not, if the air-bags go off...there is frame-damage.

frost · 10-04-2009, 03:13 PM

According to howstuffworks, an airbag can go off hitting a stationary object at 10-15 mph. So the airbag cannot be a good determiner of whether an auto is totaled.

Lone Wolf 75 · 10-04-2009, 03:48 PM

That sucks, sorry to hear about your crash. What speed did your accident happen at? From your description, it sounds like an awful lot of damage for low speed (say under 20mph). If there's significant frame damage and a lot of damage in the engine compartment, the dollar value of the damage will increase exponentially with the number of components that have to be replaced.

As kdo2milger said, make sure you get checked out too - a shock to your system like a rear end accident can have effects that do not show up immediately.

10-04-2009, 01:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jason Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 309 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	Crashed - Need Advice PICS ON PG2 Long story short: Someone tapped my back bumper, I spun and hit a guardrail. Damage: Back bumper needs to be removed and painted. Front bumper, hood,fenders need to be replaced and painted. Driver side rim and tire need replacement. Front Aligment. Possibly some electrical problems (when I turn on my headlights, it smells like burning wires). Steering wheel airbag. Seat belt is retarded (it just stays stuck all pulled out). Some parts in the engine bay need to be replaced (I don't really know what they are but little plastic crap, bolts, plastic undercover, etc). Advice needed: Ideally, I would like a new Z. I don't know if I have frame damage but they'll be doing a teardown inspection. Am I better off if they declare it totaled or fixable? Does anyone know how much I'd get if it were totaled? I was trying to find KBB prices but they dont have the Z on there (I don't think insurance goes by that rate anyway). Just need some advice. I wouldn't mind just getting it fixed but I'm afraid of some frame damage and possible electrical issues. Last edited by Jason; 10-04-2009 at 06:34 PM.

10-04-2009, 02:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	pics ?? frame damage can be repaired, sure it will never be the.... mostly bc if it ever gets hit in the same spot again... it will bend up pretty bad i leaning towards its not totalled also, airbag being deployed does not mean the its totalled Last edited by nogoodname; 10-04-2009 at 02:42 PM.

10-04-2009, 02:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
kdo2milger OG Priesthood Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 17,859 Drives: NISMO T Rep Power: 59	first of all i hope your ok, are you experiencing any back or neck pains? make sure you medically document everything regardless if you feel pain now or not...ive been rear ended before when i was younger and didnt feel any real pain at that time...years later now i pay for both physical and financial... as for the z i need to see pics of all four sides and of the frame area where you struck the guardrail... either way its just a car and can be replaced...spinal columns cant...take care of yourself first! __________________ Project *NISMO*

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10-04-2009, 01:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
SlikNik Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 294 Drives: 2015 Corvette Z51 Rep Power: 17	Sorry to hear about that man, did the guy stop who spun you out? Did it happen on your 400 mile road trip with your bumper taped blue? I don't have an answer to your question but good luck either way.

10-04-2009, 01:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
edeeZee Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: s. cali, los angeles Posts: 627 Drives: 09 370z plat 6 speed Rep Power: 265	From your description, the car sounds salvaged. Get it totaled. Every insurance co. is unique what they consider "totaled." Some say 60,70%, etc. If you get the car fixed, it won't be the same again. It'll drive funny.

10-04-2009, 02:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
SGTseanzie Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 176 Drives: Nada Rep Power: 16	I was almost sure this was going to be posted by the child who asked the "can i rev it up in neutral and slam it into drive" question a few days ago.

10-04-2009, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	pics?

10-04-2009, 02:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
JoeD Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: CA Posts: 495 Drives: Z Rep Power: 0	That sucks man. **** happens...at least you're ok. You're best off having them total your car. If your air-bag deployed, which it sounds like it did, the car is likely totaled. Get an estimate from only high-end body shops (find out which shops your local Mercedes/Porsche/Ferrari dealerships use), and go from there.

10-04-2009, 02:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
dalparadise The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 354 Drives: 2010 Z Roadster T/S Rep Power: 15	I would press your insurance incessantly to total the car. No way they can return it to its before crash value with the kind of damage you describe. If you had damage in the engine bay, I'd say there's a pretty good chance you have frame and/or suspension damage which will most likely be a total. Unfortunately, it'll still be a bad deal for you. You're probably going to be out $5-$7K, as the totalled compensation to you will be the depreciated value of a brand new car (meaning a lot of depreciation) minus your deductible. If you have it, perhaps this is one case where the rip-off gap insurance might actually pay off? I'm not sure. Even so, press for a total loss. The value of a Frankenstein Z rebuilt from the level of damage you describe would be far, far less than you'll take on the loss from the depreciated value the insurance company writes for the total. Sorry to hear about this and best of luck to you.

10-04-2009, 03:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	According to howstuffworks, an airbag can go off hitting a stationary object at 10-15 mph. So the airbag cannot be a good determiner of whether an auto is totaled.

10-04-2009, 03:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lone Wolf 75 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Future Age: 49 Posts: 191 Drives: 09 370Z PG 6M Rep Power: 15	That sucks, sorry to hear about your crash. What speed did your accident happen at? From your description, it sounds like an awful lot of damage for low speed (say under 20mph). If there's significant frame damage and a lot of damage in the engine compartment, the dollar value of the damage will increase exponentially with the number of components that have to be replaced. As kdo2milger said, make sure you get checked out too - a shock to your system like a rear end accident can have effects that do not show up immediately.