Parking lot incident

MDarius · 05-09-07, 09:06 AM

My incredibly wonderful and talented wife made a simple mistake in judgement the other day, could have happened to anyone. But these are the results on our cruiser. The other guy was a Toyota Corolla. He's gonna need front lights, his bumper is all scratched up, and the hood and fender don't align but don't appear to be dented. The question: To go with insurance or to go out of pocket?

http://picasaweb.google.com/foutsm/EdParkingLotDamage

ssbob · 05-09-07, 09:07 AM

I guess you will just have to replace the bumper with something a bit stronger just incase

And the wife can't give you crap about it now, bonus!

-Sean

roncruiser · 05-09-07, 09:12 AM

That's an easy one. Let me help you out: http://www.hannaquality.com/index1.html

Get an estimate. If there's money from insurance, that should off-set some of the cost towards your new after-market bumper.

e9999 · 05-09-07, 09:23 AM

I'm always puzzled by the notion that folks would buy insurance and then don't use when they could.
I'm starting to wonder if the concept of rates going up upon a claim is largely a disinformation campaign by insurance companies so that customers are less likely to make claims. Talk about a profit incentive....
Would be interesting to see how much these rates going up stories are confirmed when looked at closely. One would hope that the regulators would not go for that...

clarification: I meant this for not-at-fault claims, should have been more precise. Was making a side editorial comment. In this particular case, if there is fault, then yes, making a claim may or may not be the best move, obviously, depending on cost.

MDarius · 05-09-07, 09:40 AM

I added pictures of his car. I have the accident forgiveness on my Allstate plan...the feature actually reduced my rates. I have a $500 deductible for my vehicle and no deductible for my liability coverage. The repair to my cruiser will be under the deductible, so no point even dealing with the insurance on that. His might be under $500, in which case it also might not be worth bothering with. If it's over $500 I'll probably use my insurance. Anybody have any ideas from the pics?

This is NOT what I was planning to do with $500 right now. BUT, I have been looking at aftermarket options since it happened.

I was hoping for a lift and sliders before a rear bumper, but I guess you take what you get, eh?

DanKunz · 05-09-07, 09:53 AM

Man, if that happened to me I would have totaled him out and parked on his hood.

MDarius · 05-09-07, 10:38 AM

I think this would make a GREAT Mother's Day gift...

http://www.obstaclesensor.com/?gclid...FRI7ZQodHgtYyg

Tool Pusher · 05-09-07, 10:47 AM

If all that is damaged on the cruiser is the rear bumper end then you can probably find some for free from someone who put on an aftermarket bumper. The ends just bolt to the frame that is the center part of the bumper.

David Sword

landtank · 05-09-07, 10:57 AM

I've avoided using my insurance before. Using it when it's your fault raises our points so besides having to pay the deductible our rates go up as well. In my case instead of getting a good driver deductible it was going to be a surcharge.

If that was my wife's truck I'd get a used return and pay the other guy's bill. Just the most cost effective solution around here.

kup99 · 05-09-07, 11:03 AM

Parking lot accidents are usually 50-50 on the fault end of things.. atleast with my experience!!

EricE · 05-09-07, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kup99

Parking lot accidents are usually 50-50 on the fault end of things.. atleast with my experience!!

It depends on who was moving. If both are moving they yes, 50/50. If only one is moving then that one is at fault.

NovaFZJ80 · 05-09-07, 11:18 AM

even if you don't use your insurance, they will find a way to raise rates, ie hurricane, tornado, tsnunami, whatever they can to jack your monthly rate up.

KliersLC · 05-09-07, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9999

I'm always puzzled by the notion that folks would buy insurance and then don't use when they could.
I'm starting to wonder if the concept of rates going up upon a claim is largely a disinformation campaign by insurance companies so that customers are less likely to make claims. Talk about a profit incentive....
Would be interesting to see how much these rates going up stories are confirmed when looked at closely. One would hope that the regulators would not go for that...

When I had my incident last year, the adjuster mistakenly coded it as "at fault" and my rates tripled. Luckily a phone call fixed things.

e9999 · 05-09-07, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KliersLC

When I had my incident last year, the adjuster mistakenly coded it as "at fault" and my rates tripled. Luckily a phone call fixed things.

sure, if they increase the rates if you're at fault, that is justified.

jditom · 05-09-07, 11:29 AM

Looks like all you need is the bumper end. I got one when I needed one for $25 from a board member who had a custom bumper. That would be the cheepest way to go.

I like the idea of getting insurance money and buying a real bumper!

MDarius · 05-09-07, 12:01 PM

So far I haven't found any board members to sell just one bumper end. I'm look at nearly $100 shipped...which isn't bad if you're looking for both or the whole thing. In one case it's an entire bumper, in the other it's 2 bumper ends. I think the prices are reasonable, I'd just like to do the minimum necessary...or upgrade. I'll see what the end of the week brings. $100 is on it's way to an upgrade.

I like Luke's steel bumper ends at 4X4 Lab's. You can get a rear tire carrier upgrade, just looking for pricing still.

I bought the back up sensor for her. Won't make it by Mother's day, bit it can be installed next week. I figure if we can hit a parked Corolla, we can hit one of our kids to. Might as well play it safe and keep the kids alive. Happy Mother's Day!

knorrena · 05-09-07, 12:30 PM

I recently tapped a 2006 corolla in my pickup. There was no visible damage. The bill came to $1400 cdn. I would contact you insurance company and tell them you would like to option to pay out of pocket. At least this way it would not be too difficult to get them involved if you had to.

Karl

fj80toyman · 05-09-07, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDarius

I think this would make a GREAT Mother's Day gift...

http://www.obstaclesensor.com/?gclid...FRI7ZQodHgtYyg

Ooohhh, yeah! Rub salt in the wound. I think he said he likes his wife!

kup99 · 05-09-07, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knorrena

I recently tapped a 2006 corolla in my pickup. There was no visible damage. The bill came to $1400 cdn. I would contact you insurance company and tell them you would like to option to pay out of pocket. At least this way it would not be too difficult to get them involved if you had to.

Karl

I also bumped (Barely even scratched the car.. I was going less then 10Km/hr a lady on valentines day (don't tell my wife) and she said .. oh we can settle this outside of insurance.. then i call her to see how things are going.. she says.."Oh well we are a little stif and sore" I almost reached through the phone and choked the b*tch. anyway.. the next thing i know I have 3 (her and her 2 kids) personal injury claims against me, and my insurance rates go up $100/year for the next 6 years. Now if I get in another I am really screwed..

hope this shitty story helps!!

MDarius · 05-09-07, 03:59 PM

Thanks! Nobody was in the vehicle. It was parked correctly, my wife was juat paying attention to the kids instead of the parked car. So, no personal injury possibilities here. It was in the church parking lot and we are friends...for now...with the owner of the other vehicle.

He should be getting a body shop quote today. If it's reasonable we'll go for it, if not, insurance it is. My insurance guy says I have a day or two to file, so no big.