Yet Another TL Accident w/pics!
#1
Yet Another TL Accident w/pics!
So the other day I was minding my own business completely stopped at a red light. I was in the right hand turn lane behind one other car when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a car coming right at me out of control. Supposedly this lady was going straight through the light when another driver started to change lanes in to her lane, so instead of hitting her brakes she swerves, hits ice and smashes into my front end.
Before she hit me I was facing south, the impact spun my car 90 degrees and I ended up facing west. The officer estimated that she was doing 40 when she hit me. Both the seat and side air bags deployed, yet once again the TL did it's job, I walked away not hurt in anyway and my 10 month old daughter who was in the back middle was not hurt either.
The crappy part is because the other lady said that she got cut off by a car changing lanes the officer didn't cite her, and now her insurance company is saying she is not at fault!!! They are blaming the accident on the car that "supposedly" cut her off, my insurance company is telling me that they are still going to pursue her insurance company for the damages, but in the meantime I'm out my $500 deductible and the costs of a rental car!
The worst part is the car is repairable. I wanted the car to be totaled but the initial estimate was 12K, and since the car is still worth around 28K the adjuster advised me it's not close to being totaled. Today I got off the phone with the body shop and the additional damage they found once they tore the car apart is another 4K, plus they are telling me it's going to be another month for repairs! And I highly doubt that my car is ever going to be the same, all because some dumb bitch over-reacted by swerving instead of hitting her brakes!
Before she hit me I was facing south, the impact spun my car 90 degrees and I ended up facing west. The officer estimated that she was doing 40 when she hit me. Both the seat and side air bags deployed, yet once again the TL did it's job, I walked away not hurt in anyway and my 10 month old daughter who was in the back middle was not hurt either.
The crappy part is because the other lady said that she got cut off by a car changing lanes the officer didn't cite her, and now her insurance company is saying she is not at fault!!! They are blaming the accident on the car that "supposedly" cut her off, my insurance company is telling me that they are still going to pursue her insurance company for the damages, but in the meantime I'm out my $500 deductible and the costs of a rental car!
The worst part is the car is repairable. I wanted the car to be totaled but the initial estimate was 12K, and since the car is still worth around 28K the adjuster advised me it's not close to being totaled. Today I got off the phone with the body shop and the additional damage they found once they tore the car apart is another 4K, plus they are telling me it's going to be another month for repairs! And I highly doubt that my car is ever going to be the same, all because some dumb bitch over-reacted by swerving instead of hitting her brakes!
#5
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#8
+1,000
Ouch. If my 10 mo. old was in the car, I might've flipped out on the other driver. If you were legally where you were supposed to be, the fact that she hit you is indisputable, citation or no citation, cut-off by another car or not. If your car was parked on the side of a road or in a driveway legally and you weren't in it, wouldn't she still be at fault if she hit you? I'm no expert, but her ins. co. is bluffing/stalling. I'm pretty confident your ins. co. will get the money back. I know it sux for the down time and deductible.
Ouch. If my 10 mo. old was in the car, I might've flipped out on the other driver. If you were legally where you were supposed to be, the fact that she hit you is indisputable, citation or no citation, cut-off by another car or not. If your car was parked on the side of a road or in a driveway legally and you weren't in it, wouldn't she still be at fault if she hit you? I'm no expert, but her ins. co. is bluffing/stalling. I'm pretty confident your ins. co. will get the money back. I know it sux for the down time and deductible.
#10
Glad to see no one was hurt either. I would go after the INS company to compensate you for lost value if they make you keep your car. At 16K with of damages though, there has to be some sort of frame damage, no?
#13
Sorry bout the collision. But as Chessie has stated, she is still at fault, not your insurance company. So in the end you will receive the deductible back.
By the looks of the images, doesnt seem as there is frame damage, so car will still ride like new, provided its a good body shop.
Glad everyone is alright though!
By the looks of the images, doesnt seem as there is frame damage, so car will still ride like new, provided its a good body shop.
Glad everyone is alright though!
#19
Yeah, once the whole situation of who was at fault get figures out I will be going after her insurance company for diminished value. The hard thing is supposedly in Utah you have to prove it and my insurance company told me that the only way to really prove it is by actually selling it and then showing the other insurance company what you sold it for and what you could have sold it for if it hadn't been in an accident.
As long as the car rides OK I plan on keeping it, I only have 2 years to pay it off and I really was planning on keeping this car for 7 years, so as long as it can last 5 more years all will be well...
And if I do get rid of it I will be purchasing another TL, not the '09 with the crazy, ugly body style though, I'll just have to find a used '08, but after walking away from this accident without a scratch I swear by the TL and it's safety rating.
As long as the car rides OK I plan on keeping it, I only have 2 years to pay it off and I really was planning on keeping this car for 7 years, so as long as it can last 5 more years all will be well...
And if I do get rid of it I will be purchasing another TL, not the '09 with the crazy, ugly body style though, I'll just have to find a used '08, but after walking away from this accident without a scratch I swear by the TL and it's safety rating.
#20
Make sure even after the car has an alignment that it in fact drives straight. Find an alignment shop that can perform a frame alignment as well as a wheel just to make sure you have no bent suspension parts and/or your frame didn't shift. It looks like it took a pretty hard hit.
Did the cop really even question her story? She is still at fault since she failed to maintain control of her vehicle. Say for instance you swerve out of someone’s way that is pulling out in front of you and you hit a stop sign, light pole, mail box etc.... it will be your fault since decided to moved out of the way. Now if the person hit you causing you to run into the sign, pole etc... then is that persons fault.
Did the cop really even question her story? She is still at fault since she failed to maintain control of her vehicle. Say for instance you swerve out of someone’s way that is pulling out in front of you and you hit a stop sign, light pole, mail box etc.... it will be your fault since decided to moved out of the way. Now if the person hit you causing you to run into the sign, pole etc... then is that persons fault.
Last edited by xmrgoodcatx; 01-28-2010 at 06:02 PM.
#23
For SURE the most important thing is that we both walked away not being hurt...
As far as the insurance crap, yeah I agree, she is at fault regardless if she got cut off or not, all she had to do to avoid the other car was hit her brakes, but by swerving she is the one that caused the accident. My insurance company has assured me that they will pursue her company through arbitration, it might take awhile to get my money back, but I guess that's life!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the frame is bent and I will be sure that it gets done right no matter how long it takes.
As far as the insurance crap, yeah I agree, she is at fault regardless if she got cut off or not, all she had to do to avoid the other car was hit her brakes, but by swerving she is the one that caused the accident. My insurance company has assured me that they will pursue her company through arbitration, it might take awhile to get my money back, but I guess that's life!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the frame is bent and I will be sure that it gets done right no matter how long it takes.
#26
Sorry about your accident but glad no one was hurt. The law in FL says that a person has to be under control of their car at all times. If that is the same case in UT, the other person is going to be charged and you should be good to go as far as deductable and rental reimbursement. Keep us posted on what transpires.
#27
#28
If taken to the right body shop, your car can come back to you good as new. I had a head on collision with a school bus in my 04 TL about 3 yrs ago. Big time damage and bent frame. Estimate was almost $19,000, but not totalled because the value was too high. I called around to some friends in the business and they told me that the only body shop to bring it to was one with a computerized frame straightener. There was only one place near me, so I sent the car there.
After 3 yrs, I can honestly say that I can not tell the difference from before and after the accident. I've put 20,000 miles on the car, and tire wear and handling is perfect.
Just make sure that a computerized frame straightener is used.
After 3 yrs, I can honestly say that I can not tell the difference from before and after the accident. I've put 20,000 miles on the car, and tire wear and handling is perfect.
Just make sure that a computerized frame straightener is used.
#33
aren't you like number 8? jeez...man!
is your daughter really okay? you should definitely get both of yourselves checked out; especially your daughter only being 10 months old. lawyer up!
is your daughter really okay? you should definitely get both of yourselves checked out; especially your daughter only being 10 months old. lawyer up!
#37
Ha! Agreed! I could probably be in an accident a day if I didn't pay close attention to the actions of other drivers!
Yeah the shop I took it to has a computerized frame straightener. It's good to hear that someone else had a lot of damage and that their car is back to as good as before, this gives me hope. We did take my daughter to her pediatrician and he did an exam and some x-rays and she is fine and acts totally normal. I can honestly say that I thought I was going to be sore, but I wasn't even sore the next day, I did sit in a hot tub for 2 days after the accident and have taken Aleve but I honestly feel great, the TL is a great, SAFE car.
Yeah the shop I took it to has a computerized frame straightener. It's good to hear that someone else had a lot of damage and that their car is back to as good as before, this gives me hope. We did take my daughter to her pediatrician and he did an exam and some x-rays and she is fine and acts totally normal. I can honestly say that I thought I was going to be sore, but I wasn't even sore the next day, I did sit in a hot tub for 2 days after the accident and have taken Aleve but I honestly feel great, the TL is a great, SAFE car.
#39
Make sure your frame isn't touched or torned. If thats the case, then the car needs to be declared totalled... even if the body shop didnt declare it tottalled doesnt mean it's not.
My friend did evaluate his car by an external garage and they saw the frame was damaged and that added the extra buck$$ to make the car totalled....
good luck and happy to see ur OK!
My friend did evaluate his car by an external garage and they saw the frame was damaged and that added the extra buck$$ to make the car totalled....
good luck and happy to see ur OK!
#40