My first accident today!

[awsrock]

So some dude hit me as I was backing out in our apartment parking lot today. I think my car damaged his more..

Anyway, what can I expect from the insurance company? Luckily the only part that needs to really be re-constructed is around the right light cluster..
I was thinking that I could get away with getting a new bumper at the junkyard, as well as a new light cover. I guess it depends on the damage assessment.

This all new to me, thus I ask your advice and experiences!

Luckily the damage is light, and nobody was hurt. Unfortunate, though!!

[Kuan]

Should be pretty routine I'd say. Call them, they'll either send an adjuster out or tell you to take it to a place of their choice, or you can just take it somewhere to get an estimate.

[Mike D]

If it's YOUR insurance company paying for it then I'd suggest you pay for the repairs yourself. By the time you figure in the deductible and what your rates will go up, it will be a money losing proposition on your part.

THEIR insurance? Highest priced, snazziest body shop in town!

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by awsrock

So some dude hit me as I was backing out in our apartment parking lot today. I think my car damaged his more..

Anyway, what can I expect from the insurance company? Luckily the only part that needs to really be re-constructed is around the right light cluster..
I was thinking that I could get away with getting a new bumper at the junkyard, as well as a new light cover. I guess it depends on the damage assessment.

This all new to me, thus I ask your advice and experiences!

Luckily the damage is light, and nobody was hurt. Unfortunate, though!!

Call your insurance company and find out.

[awsrock]

Cool, thanks guys.

Knowing how body work can be, I'm afraid that this little dent will add up. If it hadn't bent the frame for the tail light assembly, I'd even consider leaving it alone and finding a used bumper and light fixture.

Oh well. We'll see what the insurance company says!

[cmbdiesel]

Get ready to pay for it yourself. If it happened in a parking lot, you stand an even chance of getting nothing from his insurance. Because you were backing out lowers the odds even more, and may even put you on the hook for his damages. Doesn't matter if the other guy claimed responsibility or not, his insurance is going to be very reluctant to cover damages to your car. In general, the guy going backwards is the at fault driver. In many states, it is illegal to back out of your driveway, and any accident that happens as a result is the fault of the person backing out.

At a bodyshop, your probably looking at ~$1500 depending on how they figure the refinish. Chances are they won't blend the trunk or put a full coat of clear on the qtr.

Good luck.

[awsrock]

Well, apparently it is considered my fault, since I was backing out of my parking space (just talked to insurance)

Also, since I took the cheap route and didn't cover my car, I won't be getting any compensation for the damage. I'm mostly ok with this, though, since half the repairs I can do for dirt cheap..I'm just worried the dent repair might cost a lot. It isn't very big, though, so maybe it won't.

Perhaps I should upgrade to full coverage. I dunno, I always figured that if I got into an accident, it wouldn't be my fault..I am very safe and aware.

[awsrock]

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

At a bodyshop, your probably looking at ~$1500 depending on how they figure the refinish. Chances are they won't blend the trunk or put a full coat of clear on the qtr.

Good luck.

$1500!? It's really a pretty small part, and the trunk was not damaged at all.

Is that including the bumper and tail light?

[Mistress]

PM Dogchow or PeterGeither- they are both body men and can tell you about what you'll pay. Sorry this happens it stinks. That's why I always back into the spots at my condo....

[cmbdiesel]

Originally Posted by awsrock

$1500!? It's really a pretty small part, and the trunk was not damaged at all.

Is that including the bumper and tail light?

In my guess, yes. And that was an 'insurance company' kind of guess, not a 'how much would an indy charge'.

Check www.car-part.com for competitive used parts in your area, many bodyshops use them for salvage parts.

Depending on the condition of the car, it is typical to put a blend refinish on adjacent panels (within ~18 or 20" of the damage). The new paint will match closely, but not exactly, so the area that gets repaired will get full paint color where it was primed, and then less and less color as you move away from the spot. Hence the term 'blend', the color blends from new to old in a span of ~20".

Seeing as how you are going to be out of pocket, you may want to find a used taillamp assy and bumper then put them on yourself.

What year is the car?

[awsrock]

It's an 87

I'm going to call up the local junkyard, I think they might have a couple of early model 124s sitting around that I can get the bumper and tail light from. That will help a lot, since a new bumper is like $500 and tail light $150. I could probably grab both for $100 used.

I'm also considering trying to fix the dent myself..it could be exciting. I suppose at the very least, I can try and maybe cut down on a professional repair cost. Luckily there is very little paint damage, but I guess once it gets repaired that might change.

Mistrss, yes, I am thinking that I might just start backing into my spot too.

It sucks that I am at fault. We were lucky enough to not get any tickets since it was private property. I think he was going a little too fast and probably not paying attention..because I looked one way, then while looking the other started to back out, and bam...came from the way I had just checked.

[cmbdiesel]

Definitely grab the bumper assy and light if you can get them.
Trying to fix that damage yourself, might make it worse, and cost more later.
Bring it to an indy body shop and see what they would charge for the sheet metal and paint work. Let them know you already have the salvage parts, and that your willing to pay cash. Cash jobs with no receipts and no parts invoices to hide can be MUCH cheaper, if you know what I mean.

[Michael_Vila]

Ouch!

[EricSilver]

Be forewarned: Your insurer may declare it a total loss if the market value of the car is close to the repair cost, and you have a high deductible.

Also, I suggest lowering your deductible for that very reason. There is a lot of wiggle room for them with a typical $500.00 deductible, but considerably less with a $200 or $100 deductible, and the rate difference is only a few dollars/month.

I think it is so unfair that the driver backing out os at fault because he/she has little visibility if there are cars on either side (and no visibility if there are minivans or SUVs). I always give folks backing out the right of way because I know they cannot see me.

[cmbdiesel]

Originally Posted by EricSilver

Be forewarned: Your insurer may declare it a total loss if the market value of the car is close to the repair cost, and you have a high deductible.

Also, I suggest lowering your deductible for that very reason. There is a lot of wiggle room for them with a typical $500.00 deductible, but considerably less with a $200 or $100 deductible, and the rate difference is only a few dollars/month.

I think it is so unfair that the driver backing out os at fault because he/she has little visibility if there are cars on either side (and no visibility if there are minivans or SUVs). I always give folks backing out the right of way because I know they cannot see me.

He has no collision.

Deductible has no bearing on damage/ACV (actual cash value) ratio. If your car is close to totaled, a few hundred bucks isn't going to save it. Typically, the insurance company totals at about 65~70%. Best thing you can do is keep your car in good shape. I've seen very minor damage result in a total loss due to UPD (unrelated prior damage) UPD comes right off the top of ACV . The tricks used by insurance companies are myriad and sleazy. Damage they have to fix gets written in the lightest possible manner (no blends, salvage parts, no supplies etc) while UPD gets written like a wish list (blends on everything, new OEM parts, all supplies, sometimes even at a higher labor rate)

That's why you are supposed to back in. I always give way to the person backing out because I don't want to get hit