jazzpicker

After owning a few TL's over the past several years, I've learned about avoiding scratched wheels on the 17" wheels and other "quirky" ways these cars get damaged but the thing that I can't avoid is bottoming out on inclined pavement and scratching the lower front bumper of my 07 WDP TL.
Yesterday, I turned into starbucks at a normal speed and didn't realize that the pavement was uneven and "bam" moderate scratches through the paint on the lower front bumper. This is the second time this happened (different places on the highway and was just repainted) and the scratches can be seen from the front of the car. Now, I have a new scratched car and I'm going to seek compensation from the state since the driveway is on state property and the thousand scrape marks on the entrance documents that this has happened to many other people. The people at starbucks claim many complaints about the driveway. it was a known hazard, except by me.

The dilemma is the insurance company, I think the state will pay for a repaint of the bumper but the determination will take several days or longer. If I report the damage to the insurance company I get charged for a claim even if the state pays. If I wait much longer the insurance won't pay.
What to do? Suggestions appreciated.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

The fault lies, not with the raised driveway, but becomes the driver's responsibility. Surely, especially if one had hit and damaged the front as many times as you, one would become overly cautious upon entering any driveway. One of my other cars has a front lower air damn that sits much lower than the TL, and over the years I've owned the car it's been lightly scrapped twice. Just go into the driveway on and angle and not straight on.

As I don't think you'll have a chance with the State, you'll need to go through the insurance co., or just pay outright for the repairs. From past history, it looks like it may happen again though.

pokin

There is a 0% chance that the state will pay for it. The condition is not a 'hazard' (does not lead to injury or death). You will have to show that the pavement condition does not comply with a set convention or standard.

shooter

Sadly but this is true .... sigh ... I've had similar encounters with a regular parking lot ... guess I just have to eat it ...

leedogg

Try to take these things at an angle, never head on. That includes going out of them

jazzpicker

Maybe I gave the wrong impression with my post. I've only scratched the bumper one other time on the 07 and since have been extremely careful. I have an 04 TL with ZERO scratches. Unfortunately this entrance to starbucks is on a very busy street and I was watching oncoming traffic and not calculating the angle of the driveway entrance in order to make a safe turn. I'm not damaging the bumper everyday.

What I was trying to say in the post that it pisses me off that there are areas where you can damage your car at no real fault of your own. I've landed aircraft 5000+ times and never scratched one, it seems I'd be able to safely turn in to
a driveway to have a coffee and a spanish lesson without it costing me $300. The staff at Starbucks claim that they made numerous complaints to the state and they state "has them on the list".

As far as getting the damage repaired by the state. The claims specialist for the DOT told me that if the pavement is uneven and if there have been previous problems, they'll fix the damage. Several years ago my car got hit by a chunk of wood thrown from a state mower and it was the same process, they repaired the damage. I have claim forms in hand and need to get 3 estimates now.
Nothing is ever easy as it seems and I realize that. We'll see what happens.

I agree with you that it will probably happen again. The guy that fixes scratches/ dents etc. for the dealership's cars tells me that this is the most commonly damaged area of this model TL.

I hate cars

Haven driven a lowered, prone to scraping car since I was 17, I have only scraped the TL's splash guard once in almost 2 years. My friends make fun of the way I go over bumps and driveways in the TL but I'm so used to the other car I can't help it.

What is surprising to me is that you scraped the bumper. The one time I scraped mine, it hit the splash guard which is made to scrape and not the bumper. How did you hit the actual bumper? I know of one guy in CA that got a bent rim replaced by the state due to a pothole but I suspect a steep driveway is a different story.

visuelz

How low is your car?

jazzpicker

It's too low but not modded. Completely stock.

jazzpicker

Cool Name, I'm beginning to hate cars too but so far it beats walking.

I don't know how I hit the bumper other than telling you that the drive entrance was really poorly designed. As I mentioned before the entrance has a thousand marks made from other cars.

It is a good suggestion to take steep driveways at an angle, I'll start doing that. This is a good forum with good people that give excellent suggestions.

:wink:

darksom1

Wow...I never even considered on making the state responsible for Stella's rock chips. LOL! Good luck!

I hate cars

It would be nice but not likely. The front end of my car is sand blasted from all the freeway miles. Just waiting till I get a job closer to home to file a claim with my insurance and not the state.

I do remember when the car was new and we had an emergency at work. I woked for 25 hours straight. Drove off at night, and drove right off a tall curb into the street. Never realized it wasn't a driveway lol. Luckily the tow hook in the back hit first and it didn't damage my bumper or tailpipes. I generally notice chunks or asphalt or concrete taken out of driveways and dips in the road from previous cars bottoming out and avoid those. Driving off the curb hurt my pride more than anything. I never make those kind of mistakes.

darksom1

Yeah the whole banging the bumper thing never happens to me. I'm careful of that. It's the highway that gets me. But I plan to do the same with my insurance company soon! Good luck!

steve9207

I'd vote for trying to get the state to pay and not going through insurance for something so minor (well minor compared to other collisions that could occur). It sounds like from what you say it wouldn't be that tough to get them to pay, just a lot of hassles in getting it done.

Regarding the scraping...I haven't experienced it in the TL yet. In fact, I think it's pretty good in this area compared to past cars I've had ('01 Olds Alero & '97 3.0 CL).

I think I'm more cautious because my driveway has a fairly high crub, so you can't back out straight, you absolutely must do it on an angle. When I was trying to sell my CL, which scrapped a LOT easier than the TL, I handed someone the keys to test drive it and there they went, flying backwards outta the driveway and BAM! They bottomed out SO bad, I was lucky there was no mechanical damage

jazzpicker

They paid.

FIled the claim with the state and found that the driveway was defective with a 19 degree incline. (should be no greater than 10 degrees) The state worked with the engineers and called me to tell me that will compensate the claim.

Bearcat94

Cool.

Way to stick with it.

mmade22

That's one for the record books! I once blew a tire in NY on a bad pot hole and I took pictures and had a nice letter written up and they basically laughed at me. Way to go!

scv76_

one for the good guys!! Way to go.

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

trying lowering the damn thing!

i had an 06 TL lowered almost 2.0", never really had a problem. i was over cautious with entrances/highways.... and the little "scrape" guard under the bumper seemed to do its job all the time. i have never scratched the bumper in a visible area.... many times, i have chosen not to go to a wendys or dunkin donuts based on the driveway entrance to them because i knew the angle was too steep.

eventually you get used to it

AcuraVic

I purchased a painted front bumper on Ebay for $49.00.