Questions before claim adjuster arrives

[The Wok]

If you didn't notice, I got rear ended on Sunday. The claim adjuster is coming Friday, so I wanna get a few questions out of the way!

1. I heard that one of the tell-tale signs of frame damage are bends/wrinkles/kinks on the other side of impact. Now, I was hit more left-of-center in the rear. The left rear is kinda crunched, but the right tailight and most of the body is intact on the right rear except there's a crease at the base of the right C-pillar. Is my frame damaged? What are other tell-tale signs (if there are any) of frame damage?

2. Since a full-size truck hit me, the collision pretty much bypassed the bumper and hit the metal part where the spare tire and junk is stored. I'm assuming this is a more costly repair, am I correct?

3. Can the rear quarter panels be replaced or would they have to be pounded out? Both are damaged.

4. How much do you think the replacement/repair of both front and rear bumpers, tailgate, spoiler, rear windshield, tailights, trunk area, and both rear quarter panels would be? What is the criteria for totalization? I've heard 75% of original retail value, I've heard current blue book value. Which one is right?

Sorry I don't have pics, my friend who took the pics on his digi cam is slow. I'll try to get them posted up soon.

Thanks if you answer, I'm quite aware my threads go largely unnoticed.

[GTS LAID]

2. no... if it hit the frame which is lower down it would probably cost more... anyway theres no way of telling till he sees the damage.

3. they can be replaced... they'd pick a point to replace the old ones and then blend them in with the old bodywork

4. i think your damage is somewhere in the area of 5500 to 6500 dollars.

[Deftech]

The Celica is a UniBody construction, There is no frame to speak of. So that is not an issue when considering totalization. The insurance adjustor will look the car over, tell you he cannot make an accurate estimation due to unseeable damage (under the pannels) and send your car to one of their approved body shops (probably give you a list to choose from).

3-7 days later, you will get a call from either the ins. company or the body shop telling you what the initial estimate is. If the estimate is higher than the blue book value of the car, They will prob. total it and pay off your loan, Possibly giving you the xtra if you don't owe too much.

If the estimate is lower, they will fix it.

Hope you have rental coverage. I lost my car for 44 days following a similar front side collision. $8000 of some other ins. companies money and it was fixed (mostly).

If you have subs in the rear and they are undamaged take them out now in case they decide to tow it. Also any CD's ect. you don't want to lose.

[autxr]

"Totalled" varies from state to state. Some say 75% of the vale, others say 85% (and others have different numbers). It most certainly will be totalled if the damages are equal to the blue book value.

Find out from the insurance company or body shop if the repairs will show up on a title search (car fax). If the answer is "yes" then remind them they will need to pay you for the depreciation as well as the actual damages.

Scott

[The Wok]

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[Jacque Strapp]

Those pics make baby Jesus cry...

[autxr]

They'll fix it. About $6000 in damage is my guess. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less, probably depends on how much if any damage there was to the rear suspension.

Rear panels can be cut out and new ones welded in (I know).

Scott

[Mistrimeat]

Originally posted by Jacque Strapp
Those pics make baby Jesus cry...

:stupid:

[silver2001gts]

Now the back of your Celica looks like a Pontiac Aztec. :(

Make sure you get genuine Toyota replacement parts, if that's what you prefer. Sometimes shops and insurance companies save money by using aftermarket parts (and I don't mean Bonzai bodykits). Non-OEM parts might be just as good as the real Toyota parts, but maybe not.

[The Wok]

To those in similar accidents: will there be a noticable difference in handling characteristics after repair?

[2002GT_Celica]

Ouch, that hurts. As far as the totaling thing goes, when I got in a wreck with my Explorer they told me that if the damages cost more than the blue book value of the car than they would consider it totaled and write me a check.

[The Wok]

the first words out of the claim adjuster's mouth was...

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you got smashed. This looks like a total loss."

Stay tuned, more info to come.

[FriedRice]

chassis damage like crazy.... dont think they can fix that. good luck on ur search for a new car.

sorry to see that bro. heart literally skipped a beat....

[apexsw20trd]

Originally posted by The Wok
If you didn't notice, I got rear ended on Sunday. The claim adjuster is coming Friday, so I wanna get a few questions out of the way!

1. I heard that one of the tell-tale signs of frame damage are bends/wrinkles/kinks on the other side of impact. Now, I was hit more left-of-center in the rear. The left rear is kinda crunched, but the right tailight and most of the body is intact on the right rear except there's a crease at the base of the right C-pillar. Is my frame damaged? What are other tell-tale signs (if there are any) of frame damage?

well since the celica is a uni body design and from teh looks of your car , i think the adjuster will consider you car totalled.

2. Since a full-size truck hit me, the collision pretty much bypassed the bumper and hit the metal part where the spare tire and junk is stored. I'm assuming this is a more costly repair, am I correct?

your claim will be totalled

3. Can the rear quarter panels be replaced or would they have to be pounded out? Both are damaged.

quarter panels can be replaced by cutting them off and rewelding a new one on but cost is high.

4. How much do you think the replacement/repair of both front and rear bumpers, tailgate, spoiler, rear windshield, tailights, trunk area, and both rear quarter panels would be? What is the criteria for totalization? I've heard 75% of original retail value, I've heard current blue book value. Which one is right?

sorry to say but your car is a good exampled of what a totalled car should look like.

Sorry I don't have pics, my friend who took the pics on his digi cam is slow. I'll try to get them posted up soon.

Thanks if you answer, I'm quite aware my threads go largely unnoticed.


man , i feel your hurt. that is major damage. the reason i say that your car is totalled is because my friend and i was invloved in an accident in which we was hit from teh rear passenger quarter panel, from the looks of it it didnt look all that bad but when my friend got the call after 5 days the claims adjuster said its totalled after a complete inspection of the car. they found damage to the axles and many other unseen parts. good luck and hopfully you have a good outcome.

at least your ok.