2016 GT PP hit by a semi

[Gigantor]

Enjoy your new car.. that will be a 20K+ repair for sure at a Ford Dealer with Ford parts. If something like this happened to my car, I'd be getting a new one. No way I'd accept the loss of value

Take these words of wisdom to the bank, Agent is one of the
Guru's on this site

Sponsored

 

[GTP]

So I got hit by a semi from behind. The lane came to an fast stop and the semi behind couldn't brake fast enough. It tried to dodge to the left but the rear trailer tire caught my driver side back.

The car is at a shop being assessed. It looks like my driver side rear wheel took a pretty big hit, so I'm pretty sure the axle must've been damaged. There might be some frame damage but hope not. Question is, even with the best repair job on the suspensions, will there be any complications to the feel or performance of the car?

Sorry for your loss, and the time and trouble you are about to go through.

First, my advice is to search for a high-end shop with a rep for high-quality repairs. It will not cost you more, because insurance allows you to choose the shop, and insurance sets their labor rate!

if the car requires straightening the frame, then there is a chance they will write it off at ACV (Actual Cash Value). This could be because there is the chance that your car won't be able to be fully straightened out.

If the major repair is replacing your quarter panel, then it will not be totaled out, because the repairs would have to be ~$25k. I would guess in this case, that the repairs would be around $10k.

IME, insurance will send out an appraiser, which may be a second opinion to the shop estimate. You can expect the first check to come quickly. Then, as they get into it deeper, there will be supplement(s) with matching check(s).

If it was towed in, then that will help move you closer to the head of the line. Otherwise it is first in, first out, and you may wait 3-4 weeks before they start on your car.

I do not recommend taking it to the dealer. The repair will get on the records of your car, and perhaps on to CarFax, too.
Ask up front if the high-end shop reports the accident to CarFax. It it does, then you should look into Diminished Value laws in your state.

Again, sorry that you are out of your ride for a while, but glad you were not hurt bad.

 

[Martman GT]

Doesn't matter where he gets it fixed, it's going to get reported to Carfax. He's in CA and the DMV requires you to report any damage from accident that exceeds a certain $ amount (I don't remember exact $, but it's not very high). Once reported, the DMV record gets picked up by Carfax. Ask me how I know.

 

[Tamadrummer88]

Doesn't matter where he gets it fixed, it's going to get reported to Carfax. He's in CA and the DMV requires you to report any damage from accident that exceeds a certain $ amount (I don't remember exact $, but it's not very high). Once reported, the DMV record gets picked up by Carfax. Ask me how I know.

Do you have to sign some sort of form acknowledging that the accident has to be reported to the DMV? Because when I had my accident I didn't sign any form or anything and my damage was $14k.

 

[klumpikat]

I do not recommend taking it to the dealer. The repair will get on the records of your car, and perhaps on to CarFax, too.
Ask up front if the high-end shop reports the accident to CarFax. It it does, then you should look into Diminished Value laws in your state.

Slightly off topic: Does Diminished Value apply to a bumper cover replacement, even without structual damage?

 

[Agent_S550]

Slightly off topic: Does Diminished Value apply to a bumper cover replacement, even without structual damage?

Hard sell. It's a very cosmetic item. Won't really change the value of the car. If I found out there was sheet metal work performed on a vehicle before I purchased it, that would impact the value for me. Not a bumper cover job if it was done correctly.

 

[obgod3]

since a good friend of mine is a 25 year adjuster...you have to read your insurance contract, it will spell out what happens during a total loss. It is likely you agreed to this without knowing whats in it. But generally it will go based on current book value, you can then hire an attorney to gain the remaining back from the person that caused the accident. It is normally not that hard to get that money back but dont expect your insurance company to cover anything more than current book value. USAA has an option for a 20% adjustment in the event of a total loss, its great and it works...trust me.

Anyway sorry to see that. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[crs2879]

since a good friend of mine is a 25 year adjuster...you have to read your insurance contract, it will spell out what happens during a total loss. It is likely you agreed to this without knowing whats in it. But generally it will go based on current book value, you can then hire an attorney to gain the remaining back from the person that caused the accident. It is normally not that hard to get that money back but dont expect your insurance company to cover anything more than current book value. USAA has an option for a 20% adjustment in the event of a total loss, its great and it works...trust me.

Anyway sorry to see that. Hope it all works out for you.

Yes, that is all I have been saying. Since he is not at fault, getting retail value for his car, in lieu of repair, is not a stretch at all given the extent of the damage.

 

[Catax]

Sorry for your loss, and the time and trouble you are about to go through.

First, my advice is to search for a high-end shop with a rep for high-quality repairs. It will not cost you more, because insurance allows you to choose the shop, and insurance sets their labor rate!

if the car requires straightening the frame, then there is a chance they will write it off at ACV (Actual Cash Value). This could be because there is the chance that your car won't be able to be fully straightened out.

If the major repair is replacing your quarter panel, then it will not be totaled out, because the repairs would have to be ~$25k. I would guess in this case, that the repairs would be around $10k.

IME, insurance will send out an appraiser, which may be a second opinion to the shop estimate. You can expect the first check to come quickly. Then, as they get into it deeper, there will be supplement(s) with matching check(s).

If it was towed in, then that will help move you closer to the head of the line. Otherwise it is first in, first out, and you may wait 3-4 weeks before they start on your car.

I do not recommend taking it to the dealer. The repair will get on the records of your car, and perhaps on to CarFax, too.
Ask up front if the high-end shop reports the accident to CarFax. It it does, then you should look into Diminished Value laws in your state.

Again, sorry that you are out of your ride for a while, but glad you were not hurt bad.

Thanks for the pointers. I did have it towed to a collision center that works on Fords. Large and clean facility and very up to date.

I did ask them about frame damage, and they say it's very unlikely this car will be totaled since they have the laser precision oem specifications blah blah frame adjustment whatever things.

I honestly just hope this car will drive like before.

 

[Catax]

airbags go off?

Nope

 

[Mike02z]

There is no way they total that car. I have seen cars in far worse shape that didn't get totaled. As far as the car losing value due to the wreck, if you were to sell right away it might impact value. If you sell in 7 years from now I doubt there will be any real loss. It's a Mustang, not an Enzo.

Good luck with the repair. I'd be more concerned if it was the front end that took that hit.

 

[EFI]

Yes, that is all I have been saying. Since he is not at fault, getting retail value for his car, in lieu of repair, is not a stretch at all given the extent of the damage.

Fault has nothing to do with it. You don't get more or less from your insurance based on who's fault it was.

Also, unless I'm looking at a different picture than you are then there's no way that costs more than 10k...and the actual value of that car is in the mid-high 20s.

So once again I ask, what's the financial incentive for the insurance company to cut a 25k check for the value of the car instead of a 10k check for repairs?

 

[crs2879]

"Fault has nothing to do with it. You don't get more or less from your insurance based on who's fault it was."

Fault matters in terms of who pays the claim. I agree that if the truck driver had no insurance and he had to claim it on his own policy the discussion would be different. "Fault" matters in insurance claims...100%.

 

[NoVaGT]

I would think it would be relatively easy to hit the semi-driver's (company's) insurance company up for a bit additional. They'd rather settle things quick than face some law-suit that drags on forever and costs them money in legal fees.

 

[EFI]

Fault matters in terms of who pays the claim. I agree that if the truck driver had no insurance and he had to claim it on his own policy the discussion would be different. "Fault" matters in insurance claims...100%.

Right, but fault does not matter in how much or what kind of payment is made.

Just because he is not at fault, does not make it any more likelier that he gets the full value of the car vs. getting it repaired. That part has nothing to do with fault.

By what you're saying, is that since he is not at fault, he has a better chance at getting the car totaled.

Sponsored