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Got into a 3 car crash on the expressway with my 3000 mile z06 1 month old car.
No fault of mine. I was the middle car. we were stopped and rear ended which slid my car into the first car with radiator damage as well as hood, bumper and the like damage.
The rear of the car smashed to the point where opening the hatch reveled the floor under the hatch had buckled. All the door, hatch, roof, middle seams are not the same as on the opposite side of the car.
All three vehicles in this crash are with Geico. My car is at Auto nation's Chevrolet Body shop. Shop worker told me 30K plus and a min. of 6 weeks down time. Rental is covered and no deductible due to at fault person is Geico also.
My writing of this problem is to ask the community what I need to be aware of once the Geico insurance adjuster looks at the car.
Thanks for any advise on how or what to do in this case.
JUST INCLUDED PHOTOS REAR AND FRONT, THANKS GUYS
Last edited by Ahr691; 06-30-2016 at 12:08 PM.
Reason: ADD PHOTOS
OP, don't pay any attention to the peanut gallery. From the pictures it doesn't look "THAT" bad. If the frame isn't tweaked it looks like it is mostly cosmetic. I wouldn't sign or do anything without talking to a lawyer.
And if there is NO legit Neck or Back pain, don't be part of the problem.
I had a much smaller accident with my 2013 convertible and I found the Lizard pretty good with the claim. Now make sure you get a luxury class rental out of them also. Make sure you tell the Lizard you EXPECT depreciated value and it wouldn't hurt to go to the Dr. with some neck and back pain!
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 08-11-2016 at 04:32 PM.
Reason: No need to re-quote the OP, especially if you're the next person posting.
Geico adjuster tried to screw me, said my 4 month old car could be repaired with minimal parts replaced. I said I wanted it brand new again with all new parts, adjuster said no. Have been a customer for 20+ years, and that's how I was treated. Long story short, everything was replaced and I'm now an Allstate customer.
If they total it, do not accept the first offer. Come back with some comp prices that show greater (legit) value. Most insurance companies are counting on the fact that most people will take a smaller $amount now instead of the larger $amount later. Be patient...
Rule of thumb they will only total if the repair damage totals within 20% of replacement cost. Not going to happen with a $90K car.
What if:
The frame or under carriage is damaged, and to what degree would a total constituent? Meaning, is there a gauge in the industry to measure what is exceptable on this type car for frame damage. And how is that determined?
OP, don't pay any attention to the peanut gallery. From the pictures it doesn't look "THAT" bad. If the frame isn't tweaked it looks like it is mostly cosmetic. I wouldn't sign or do anything without talking to a lawyer.
And if there is NO legit Neck or Back pain, don't be part of the problem.
If the front and rear rails are both tweaked, bags blown, etc it could hit that cost pretty easy with an insurance estimate as they tend to be high.
Hard to say without pics.
please see the pictures. Also, no blown air bags as the rear end was hit first, then the car went into the car in front.
Any help on how to determine with the adjuster the damage and if the car will have special circumstances due to the miles of 3000 and car 1 month old?
I was an adjuster with the lizard company for a few years. It doesn't look anywhere near totalled. Looks like an easy fix if you find a good shop who will work to match the shark grey.
These cars are easy to fix as most all the body panels just unscrew (except for the rockers and the roof bar on some models).
You can use your own insurance, pay the deductible, let them fight it out and then they pay you your deductible back in the end, or you can file directly on the carrier for the at fault party; up to you.
Back in 2003 I had owned my Z06 for a week and a dump truck merged into me... it was horrible. Took 3 shops to finally match the yellow paint to where my eye couldn't see it.
So I do feel your pain, but again... based on the pics it looks like exterior panel damage only... easy stuff. That said, I'd have them measure the frame just to be 100%.
Oh... and if you really want to bitch and moan and fight you can push for diminished value. Some states automatically pay it out, but others you have to fight the carrier. The standard line is that, "You haven't had any diminished value until you sell the car..." but we all know that in today's electronic Carfax world there is some reduction in market value for accident history.
and it wouldn't hurt to go to the Dr. with some neck and back pain!
thus contributing to rampant insurance fraud and higher rates for the rest of us. If you really do hurt, go, of course, but I'm sure you are smart and wise enough not to commit a felony.
That's not bad at all, thought it would be a lot worse. I can't see that impacting the frame at all. The rad is held in by a piece of plastic on the top so it's probably not broken unless there's coolant shooting out.
I see Around 5-8k in parts, plus assembly and paint. Matching a metallic is never fun.
Like others have said it will depend on how insurance handles it and it will affect future resale, diminished value, etc.
If the frame is bent, they will total the car; otherwise, $30K worth of damage will be repaired. Your car is new so you should be able to get a diminished value settlement, so push for that. Since it will be a 6 week repair, check in frequently to both let them know you are on top of the problem and nothing will get past you.
Sorry for the damage to your baby. It really sucks.
06-30-2016, 11:21 AM
Crashed Vette...now what?????
