twysk

I was driving to pick up my kids last Thursday when a school bus ran a full stop and broadsided another school bus. The bus that got broadsided then came over the double yellow lines and hit me head on at about 35-40 mph. The front wheel of the bus popped up and rolled over my hood. The bus came down on my hood and dragged me for about 50 ft, wedging me between the bus and a big dirt pile. The air bags did not go off, even though one of the sensors was sheared off!

I actually managed to get myself out and then went to the hospital with some neck pain and a torn ACL in my right knee. Not bad for no air bags!

My big problem now is that the insurance adjuster just saw my car and it will not be totaled!! He claims that just looking at hit he estimates about $12,000 damage. Once they start stripping it, I'm hoping they find enough more to total it.

The pictures below don't do the damage justice. They also don't show the bus coming to rest on the A pillar.

Anyone else have any experience having a car repaired after this much damage? I really don't want it back, but I won't have much of a choice it the appraisal isn't readjusted. It only had 23,000 miles on it and true market value was about $28,500. I can't see how it would be the same after repairs.


http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3664/2yn1.th.jpg

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/331/1ky6.th.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9636/3vg8.th.jpg

MiaQbn23

Hope your okay! I had an Infiniti I30 a while back and had a someone in a 15passenger van rear end me. The car was a lease. The amount to fixed the car ended up being more than what the car was worth, especially after having a cadillac rental car for 8 months! As soon as I got the car back the lease was up and I just turned in the car. The Inifiniti didn't drive the same. I could tell that it had been in an accident.

2003BlizAkTL

wow thank god ur alrite, but how is that not considered totaled that thing looks like it got jacked up, thank god tho

Pat D

Glad you're ok. After your story, I expected the car to be demolished! Unfort, from the pics, I don't know if it will get totalled. For your sake, I hope thet find serious frame damage or something so they'll write it off.

Or do as my friend did and tell the insurance your neck is really starting to hurt, especially since they may not total it! Worked for him.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

glad that you are alright... that has got to be scary as hell... but from the looks of the pics, the figures may look correct and it may seem like you will be stuck with the car being repaired.... can't tell how much frame damage there is but keep your fingers crossed because that may help u... is the engine damaged???

Eoanou

I don't see why they don't replace the car the car clearly won't be the same after a major accident like that.

twysk

Other than the air cleaner and throttle body being broken off, I can't see any other engine damage. I'm hoping that it shifted on the mounts. That would be good for at least a few grand more.

VelfarreClubber

the weight of the bus should have done serious damage to the frame and engine bay, i would fight them to not take the car back!

RSA_Secure

Glad you are okay...collisions with bigger vehicles can so easily go wrong.

ubnpast

Glad to hear you are OK, those torn ACLs suck ass, but hopefully it will heal. I wouldnt want that car back after that, fight it!

ndabunka

Glad to hear that you were not seriously injured. You may want to take a clue from the "Big Boy" forums where the cars are typically $80 and up (Benz, BMW, etc) in letting your adjuster know that you will be expecting them to take into consideration the loss in value from the wreck. That in itself can add another $5K to this car. It's your rights. do NOT let them "fix it" right away. I think you can even pay someone else to have it appraised by an outside source (and bill that cost back to your insurance company). Go to mbworld.org and search on "diminished value" (I think) to get an idea of how to approach this with your adjuster.