Accident repair journey

[65 Cobra]

Most importantly no one was injured.

My son was on the way home from school today and while at a complete stop, a car lost control and skidded into him. There is some damage to the hood and fender but the airbag did not deploy. The other driver would not release her info or insurance information to me, but did to the police. We have 2 strangers that witnessed and were nice enough to wait for me and the police to arrive. I believe it was over heard that she has Farmers insurance.

We are all sick about it but the important thing is no one was hurt. I have not had a car in my household damaged since 1996. My son has only been driving about 5 months and the car has 1900 miles. Just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I will have to wait for the police report tomorrow and then start the process. I have no experience with local body shops and I was thinking about taking it to the local ford dealer. Although, I guess some of that will depend on the insurance of the at fault party.

Any advice?
Thanks

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[90Notch]

That sucks but at least nobody was injured. I wouldn’t wait to call their insurance and report it. It usually takes 7-10 days to get the actual police report, at least here in Texas. No reason to wait on it to get the claim rolling.

Edit: just re-read it. So you don’t have her insurance information yet, only the police do? The officer didn’t give you a slip of paper with her insurance info before leaving?

 

[65 Cobra]

That sucks but at least nobody was injured. I wouldn’t wait to call their insurance and report it. It usually takes 7-10 days to get the actual police report, at least here in Texas. No reason to wait on it to get the claim rolling.

Edit: just re-read it. So you don’t have her insurance information yet, only the police do? The officer didn’t give you a slip of paper with her insurance info before leaving?

He gave us a slip with the report number and said it would be on the report and it would be available tomorrow.

 

[hcappie]

You can have it repaired anywhere you choose. Her insurance might try to steer you to a place of their choosing, but remember, they are looking to save themselves money on the claim. Find a reputable shop, get an estimate from them, and let her insurance adjuster come tou your shop. Don’t let them have you go to their shop

 

[jonrjen]

Call your insurance company and report it. Get a couple of estimates and then take it to the location of your choosing. Your insurance company will go to/after the repair cost and rental vehicle.

 

[Wine dude]

If u own the car u may want to also look at diminished value claim
I would find a great body shop, insist on OEM parts
Notify ur carrier so they can contact the other drivers company
Glad no one hurt

 

[65 Cobra]

Do you have to own it out right for diminished value? I actually financed 8K to take advantage of a deal incentive and have just let it ride the past 5 months?

In TN if less than 2 years old OEM parts are required by law.

 

[Wine dude]

Financed is same as owning
At the end u own it and when u sell it u get the hit in the wallet from the crash

 

[JCFoster]

I can say my wife took out some mailboxes on a metal post that did $2k worth of damage. We let a Ford dealer do the repairs and it came out perfect. When we traded we got the same trade in value as if it hadn’t been damaged. With that I wouldn’t sweat the deminished value thing. It’s minor damage, let em fix it and if it’s done right you’ll never see the difference.

 

[65 Cobra]

So..I heard from Farmers. Their client is staying my son ran a stop sign and hit her.

Here is a copy and paste from the police report, which Farmers had not seen yet.

My son was driver 2 and vehicle 2

Vehicle #1 was traveling north on Downs Blvd, turning left onto Willow Springs Blvd when it struck vehicle #2, which was stopped to turn right onto Downs Blvd from Willow Springs Blvd.

Driver #1 stated she was turning left onto Willow Springs Blvd when she skidded due to wet road conditions and struck vehicle #2.

Driver #2 stated he was turning right onto Downs Blvd when the other car struck his vehicle.

Witness #1 stated he was behind vehicle #2 on Willow Springs. He said vehicle #2 stopped at the stop sign to make the right turn, vehicle #1 cut the corner to turn left and struck vehicle #2.

Witness #2 stated she was southbound on Downs Blvd approaching Willow Springs Blvd when she saw vehicle #1 start to turn left and skidded into vehicle #2.

What's wrong with people?

 

[samd1351]

People, in general, suck.

 

[Bullitt1589]

Never deal with the other parties insurance, either speak with your insurance or an attorney. The other company only wants to save money, your company wants to keep your business.

And if my first car had been a 460hp GT PP, I wouldn't have survived... lucky kid!

 

[Clink]

Isn't that insurance fraud? We need a purge bad.....

 

[samanosuke47]

Thankfully the witnesses were there! I don't know how old your son is, but I'm willing to bet the other driver is older, so on paper their insurance is already going to push their word over your sons. I wish I had separate witnesses the time I was in a similar sounding situation and not just a friend in my car.. I think since he was in my car with me his statement didn't count as heavy.

 

[Bluelightning]

So..I heard from Farmers. Their client is staying my son ran a stop sign and hit her.

Here is a copy and paste from the police report, which Farmers had not seen yet.

My son was driver 2 and vehicle 2

Vehicle #1 was traveling north on Downs Blvd, turning left onto Willow Springs Blvd when it struck vehicle #2, which was stopped to turn right onto Downs Blvd from Willow Springs Blvd.

Driver #1 stated she was turning left onto Willow Springs Blvd when she skidded due to wet road conditions and struck vehicle #2.

Driver #2 stated he was turning right onto Downs Blvd when the other car struck his vehicle.

Witness #1 stated he was behind vehicle #2 on Willow Springs. He said vehicle #2 stopped at the stop sign to make the right turn, vehicle #1 cut the corner to turn left and struck vehicle #2.

Witness #2 stated she was southbound on Downs Blvd approaching Willow Springs Blvd when she saw vehicle #1 start to turn left and skidded into vehicle #2.

What's wrong with people?

If that's in the police report, then you should have no problem with whose at fault.

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