pits200

Clean, you know the area being from Long Island. I'm worried about the police report, the cop didnt even look at my car, he took my statement for about 15 seconds and went on his way writing up his report.

It won't be available till later today, but he kept making comments about me being from Pittsburgh and that this area is "confusing". In hindsight, Im wondering if he thinks I cut off the truck driver and Im worried to see the final draft from the cop.

Its obvious I couldn't have cut him off, I was in the middle lane trying to get right. If he was in the right lane when I went from left to right, the impact would have been made on my rear right, not the rear left.

I'm getting the police report today, so we'll see.

As for the rental, i know if the fault falls on him that his insurance company will pay for it, but at this point I'm waiting to be 100% sure that the police didn't write something messed up in the police report.

pai_gow

Dude, that blows, glad to hear that you made it out in one peice. I had a similar accident happen to me, which caused my 98 Accord to be torn in half by a semi. He admitted to me later on that if it wasn't for my side view mirror flying up the hood of his truck, he would have never know he hit me and just kept driving. Thanks to this tool, my lower back has been in constant pain now for 4 years.

pits200

I know, those semis are beasts. He hit me, his hood flew open like it was suppose to. After the cop got all his information, he jumped in his rig and just drove away leaving me there broken and battered.

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

yup, typical NYPD. i wouldn't worry about it, your biggest issue will actually be getting the copy of the report. sometimes you have to physically go to the precinct to get a copy and they charge you a fee. you will want to get a copy if you can, your insurance will request it, but it's always good to have your own. there's really no argument that puts you at fault for getting rear ended. the only way they could fault you is if he hit you from behind and on the side, but this was direct rear end.

i think i know the area you were hit, there's a few off ramps to the grand central from 495, but the one you were at is pretty common place for accidents. there's a lot going on at once. it doesn't matter, you weren't doing anything wrong. and since you have collision, geico will fight for you on your behalf. and i'm sure the semi has a business insurance which will pay up in full no problem, it's cheaper than a possible lawsuit.

as for your back, i've been rear ended a couple of times, and my neck is totally out of wack from it. i've got pinched disks/nerves/etc. keep in mind if you go to a doctor or hospital and tell them you were in a car accident, your neck hurts, their going to send you a bill. this is because your automotive insurance is supposed to pay any automotive related health injuries. i usually just go in and say my neck hurts, they scan it, and give me some painkillers. my condition isn't too serious, i just experience stiffness and dull pain every now and then. it helps a ton going to the gym and doing physical therapy to exercise the back/neck/shoulders.

DaLuke

can you do me a favor? pm me

scholtew

are you going to take off the mods???? If so dibs on the sway bar!!!!

DK Type S

iTrader: (1)

SHIT! glad to hear you're ok. i'd probably cry like a girl if anything happened to my car.

pits200

Lots of people don't understand the insurance process. If your car is totaled out, technically it becomes the insurance companies car and all the mods are bye bye.

I have so many mods.
CT Headers
CT Icebox
CT Sways
CT Tranny Cooler
Neuspeed Strut Bar
Tokico Illumina Struts
HR OE Springs
Outlaw manifold and tb spacers
Navi/video converter

Well thats not a ton, but its a good amount.

C

pits200

You don't get pms, sorry DaLuke

pits200

Just got off the phone with the adjuster and they said its going to be fixable. Since he hit me up high, the damage looks a lot worse than it actually is. He looked underneath and there doesn't appear to be any frame damage but they will put it on a frame machine.

Going to be 5-6k in damage and he was impressed how clean my car looked for having 162k miles on it.

I'm kind of glad they are fixing the car, I have it paid off and planned on keeping the CL when I decided to get a new vehicle.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

It's an 01 with 160K miles. It's book value is only $9K, If the damage is $5-6K why wouldn't they total it? That's like 60%+ of the value.

Makes no sense.

pits200

Good question, but most insurance companies I've seen have a 75% threshold which this is very close to. The adjuster just got done looking at the car and didn't actually look up the cost of the parts, he was just making a guesstimate.

But I don't know if he realizes how much just the rear quarter panel costs on this car, its close to 1k just for that, not including labor or painting. I foresee the price going up when he starts adding it up on the calculator that they use.

cbusAcuracls

Glad your ok. I was just in PA last weekend. Some of those semi drivers are nuts.

I too find it hard to believe its not totalled. If they offer you 8K take that and put it towards a fit. Might not be the best DD but it will get you there cheap. Leave your TL for the weekends.

VIPCLS

So u decided to stick to the AZ family hu??!!

pits200

$6,901 is the estimate.... wow, I can't believe they are fixing it.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Neither can I. I hope the other guys insurance is paying for it.
I would dump it as soon as it's fixed.

clpassenubye

iTrader: (20)

Ask them why they are fixing it if its over 75% of the value of the car they should be totaling it out. If you do let them fix it I agree with Fuzzy dump it after the fact. When the car is totaled the insurance company gives you an option to buy it back from them for a small amount so sometimes its worth it to buy it back and part it out.

pits200

No, no reason to dump it after them fixing it. Based on the estimate and everything, the suspension wasn't even touched. It seems to be 95% cosmetic, no frame damage.

It wouldn't be worth it for me to sell the car. The most I would get from a private seller with my mods and miles is 7-8k. If I planned on doing that, I would just fight for them to total out the car.

If this was a front end accident, I would be much more concerned about quality of work and driveability.

And yes, it is going to be the other guys insurance company who is paying for this.

pits200

1 rear bumper
2 o/h rear bumper 1.1
3** repl recond bumper cover 1 223.00 incl. 2.8
4 add for clear coat 1.1
5 repl bumper cover grommet screw 1 2.32 incl.
6 repl lt spacer 1 26.03 incl.
7 repl rt spacer 1 24.97 incl.
8 repl rt energy absorber 1 18.32 incl.
9 repl lt energy absorber 1 18.32 incl.
10 repl reinf beam 1 203.73 incl.
11 repl rt reinf beam gusset 1 7.77 incl.
12 repl lt reinf beam gusset 1 7.77 incl.
13 rear lamps
14 repl lt lens & housing 1 248.20 incl.
15 r&i rt lens & housing incl.
16 repl license lamp 1 19.65 incl.
17 trunk lid
n 18* repl qual recy parts trunk lid 1 437.50 0.8 3.5
assy +25%
19 repl nameplate "3.2 cl" 1 16.13 0.2
20 repl nameplate "type s" 1 28.77 0.2
21 repl nameplate "acura" 1 39.53 0.2
22 rear body & floor
23 repl rear end panel 1 254.40 6.2 1.4
24 overlap major adj. Panel -0.4
25 add for inside 0.7
26* rpr rear floor pan 3.0* 1.0*
27* rpr rt side rail assy s 1.0* 0.5*
28 overlap major adj. Panel -0.4
29* repl lt side rail 1 347.88 3.0* 0.5*
30# rpr unibody pull 2.0
31# rpr set up & measure 2.0
32 repl spare cover 1 102.33 0.1
33# repl lt side trunk trim 1 66.80 0.3
34 repl rear panel trim 1 111.78 incl.
35 repl lt pocket 1 54.65
36 repl lid 1 16.93
37 quarter panel
38* rpr rt quarter panel 2.0* 1.5*
39 overlap major adj. Panel -0.4
40* sect qual recy parts lt qrtr & lwr 1 437.50 20.5 4.7
rear +25%
41 overlap major adj. Panel -0.4
42 deduct for rear bumper r&i -0.6
43 deduct for overlap -1.5
44 refn fuel door 0.4
45 overlap minor panel -0.2
46 clear coat 2.5
47 repl lt protector 1 17.53 0.2
48 exhaust system
n 49 repl lt muffler & pipe b20% 1 212.35 m 0.8
50# repl flex additive adj 1 9.50
51# repl restore corrosion protection 1 10.00 t 0.2
adj
52# rpr color sand and pol
53# repl car cover complete adj 1 0.2
54# repl 3m seam seal adj 1 20.00 0.2
55# repl glass installation kit 1 15.00 t
56 other charges
57# e.p.c. 1 2.90
58# towing 1 100.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
subtotals ==> 3101.56 42.9 19.0

line 18 : More cost effective lkq not equipped w/spoiler. Veh has spoiler
option suppliers part description: Lid t-67233
gry,w-spoiler,000,w/spoiler
line 40 : Suppliers part description: Side panel, lt lwr lh-sil 000a,l.
Line 49 : Beterment taken for prior wear

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
prior damage notes:
Rt fndr 0.5///rt dr 0.5///veh is clean for mileage

parts 2973.66
body labor 42.9 hrs @$ 44.00/hr 1887.60
paint labor 19.0 hrs @$ 44.00/hr 836.00
paint supplies 19.0 hrs @$ 24.00/hr 456.00
sublet/misc. 25.00
other charges 102.90
----------------------------------------------------
subtotal $ 6281.16
sales tax $ 6281.16 @ 8.3750% 526.05
----------------------------------------------------
total cost of repairs $ 6807.21

cbusAcuracls

Hmm... If it was me I would've wished they totaled it.
It will never look or feel the same.

My integra got rearended and it never perfectly matched. Luckily it was only the rear bumper. If it was the whole rear end (like on your car) I think it will stick out alot more.

pits200

We will see, I have no idea why they aren't totaling it either. Oh well, now I have to wait three weeks to see how things are going to turn out.

WetPavement

You can buff that out. maybe some double tape. . .

colemab

I worked at a defense firm for 3 years but I am not a lawyer. Anyway here are my thoughts on this.

In this case I wouldn't have taken money from my insurance company but would have instead sued the other guy (and via proxy his insurance company). This is assuming you don't have a requirement in your policy to settle with them in all cases.

The reason being is that your insurance company is only obligated to replacement cost on your policy (unless you have gap coverage) but the other guy's insurance is obligated to actual losses (i.e. your mods, time, misc costs, hassle, etc).

Having defended a couple of cases, I have to say that most people who have CDL drivers as employees carry very large insurance policies. And the insurance company has an obligation to that company to settle a case if it is a real case and it is less that the max of that policy. Otherwise the paying company can sue the insurance company for bad faith settlement talks.

You could have settled for more than just the repair costs to your car but it would have taken much longer.

jproy

What an ass! Cant believe he actually told you you shouldnt have hit the brakes! Based on that total ignorance and the fact it is a company rig, get a good lawyer. Man that pisses me off. You have a text book case from the appearance of things and you could easily get 15-25K on top of the car(pain and suffering). I see it happen everyday. I really wouldnt care if the guy werent so wreckless. Im not one to sue anybody but the stars have really lined up here. I have been rearended on two diff ocasions and neither was as bad as yours. I still have random back pain and spasams after months of PT. This is the type of case lawyers line up for FYI. It is a fact insurance comps pray on people who dont know better to get a good lawyer from the start. Its really to bad.

jproy

It wouldnt cost you a thing to get a lawyer either. I also have vast legal experience. Im not just shooting from the hip. You should contact a GOOD lawyer tomorrow who knows the law in your area. Explain the situation and what you want. You have nothing to lose$$$ and everything to gain.

YeuEmMaiMai

Good luck with that.........let them fix it and drive it....no reason to get into another car payment if the car is properly repaired

pits200

Thanks for the advice everyone. Honestly, COLEMAB, I don't mind that they are fixing the car.

1.) I definitely could have argued more and found a way for the insurance company to settle with me and total out my car and give me a lump payment instead of fixing. But I know if they gave me 10K, I would not be able to find another car for 10K (I dont want a car payment) that I like as much. There was no frame or suspension damage so that put my mind at ease. As for getting more money for misc hassles, etc.... that will definitely come down the road

2.) JPROY, my sister is an attorney and I have been off work ever since the accident, I travel a lot for work, both driving and flying and my back and neck have been out of whack ever since about 5 hours after the accident. It was strange how it just got progressively worse. I am scheduling a follow-up with my doctor this weekend and will get some rehab because its still pretty bad at this point. As for his insurance company its with Travelers Commercial and I filed a claim with them already but I am going through fixing my car with my company first to expedite the claim. As for pain and suffering we will see down the road on that matter.

3.) Yeuemmaimai, thats exactly what I'm thinking, if its repaired properly, I technically have a better car than what I started with. I also told the guy at the repair shop that if I toss him an extra $500 what he could do for me in terms of fixing up some other things. He seems like a pretty decent guy, so we will see.

Thanks again all