Rear ended again!

[alvarorb]

Brent,

I'm glad you're OK.
You need more lift and a beefier bumper.
Next time let them feel some of Golden, CO steel.

Alvaro

 

[cary]

how can you tell you're in Newport? A Lexus rear ends a Land Cruiser then the Lexus gets rear ended by a Benz....

My thought was there was a 3 car accident in southern California and all the parties had insurance. The odds against that are astronomical.

 

[Long Duck Dong]

Let me guess Brent.......

I would guess you got tagged on PCH south of Fashion Island as you were headed north?

Traffic always sucks in that section of PCH until you get out of the 4 lane portion (headed north) toward fashion island....Once you pass that hidden Shell or Cheveron on the right (heading north) your ok...

BTW, I used to live off Crown Valley Pkwy and Clubhouse Dr.....so I know the area REAL well. My parents still live in Coto.

 

[DirtyRice Joe]

Glad you're mostly okay, Brent, but sorry to hear about your damage. You mentioned "stiffening up" a little. PM me if you need a good PT or chiro (my wife had some neurological symptons from an accident where she was rear-ended, and she's found some good ones). BTW - coincidence - Same morning I was following Otis to drop off his commuter car for some AC work, and I was rear-ended! Low speed, looks like she slid under my stock bumper so my spare tire absorbed the impact. No real damage to my car - no new bumper for me . Light damage to her car, nobody hurt.

 

[Brentbba]

Joe - saw Chris today and he told me. Glad all is ok with you. Kaymar bumper itself is fine. What's tweaked is the latch mechanism to the tire carrier. I can't open or close the tire carrier. 3/8 inch steel on the elbow down to the latch is bent upward enough to not allow the mechanism to be used. Only option is to replace the tire carrier.

Estimate is $1300 and that includes $460 for a new tire carrier. Was told at the autobody shop that Mercury is HORRIBLE at paying off on aftermarket stuff like our bumpers w/o a rider to the policy. He said I had a gray area to use since I was the victim in this case, regardless of who's insurance is paying. Gal that caused the accident is also with Mercury, so we'll see how it goes. Sugar water first, then vinegar, then nasty and legal action if necessary. I have a right to have my truck back as is was before the accident. One week w/o the truck.

Bumper itself seems fine and the spindle swings out fine. I can unlatch if I back off the four bolts holding the latch catch on the bumper. I'll also ask for a new spare as that's where the brunt of the impact occured. I don't know if it's damaged or not, but I'd rather not find out at 65mph on the 405 freeway and I'll tell the adjuster that as well. The rim was scraped in the impact so the estimate includes reconditioning the rim and I'll give that up for the tire carrier. After all, what's a few scraps on our rims anyway.

Long Dong - pch northbound in south CDM at Morning Canyon 7:55am. About 3 blocks south of Five Crowns.

Landtank - at this point a pic of the latch mechanism showing how straight it should be. I'd originally though the upper part of the carrier was bent and it may be, but the latch mechanism is definetely bent upward. I'll check the pics on MAF to see what may work there. SteveO's pics were of the back where the tire lock is showing the clearance between it and the truck. I may also have some from my initial install set of pics as well.

 

[Brentbba]

Couple of pics - damage to the rear hatch and the tire carrier latch mechanism. You can see how much the latch mechanism is bent up. It should be horizontal to the ground. The catch itself is bent as well.

 

[cary]

Estimate is $1300 and that includes $460 for a new tire carrier. Was told at the autobody shop that Mercury is HORRIBLE at paying off on aftermarket stuff like our bumpers w/o a rider to the policy. He said I had a gray area to use since I was the victim in this case, regardless of who's insurance is paying. Gal that caused the accident is also with Mercury, so we'll see how it goes. Sugar water first, then vinegar, then nasty and legal action if necessary. I have a right to have my truck back as is was before the accident. One week w/o the truck.

Just remember the end of your quote above. You have the right to have your truck back as it was before you were rear ended. Just be nice, keep reminding the adjuster of this, and ask if there is any paperwork or other information you can give them to help them process the claim.

 

[landtank]

The latch problem is nothing. That angled piece that comes down from the carrier and bends over the top of the bumper got tweeked. Shouldn't be hard to bend it back into place. I'll take a pic of mine in day light.

 

[Slomo]

Brent unless you see visible damage to the sidewall, I wouldn't worry about the tire. If it were under your rig and aired down, say the east end of Holcomb, it would suffer more.

Don't even bother with trying to fix the tire carrier. It will be a ton of work, even more hassle, and too much of your time. You are being much too nice. Insist on an new carrier.

If you are referred to Prestige Auto Body on Via Fabricante, DON'T GO THERE! I learned the hard way when they took 2 months to fix two quarter sized dents in the tailgate from being rearended. I then had to fight them to replace the carpet panel on the tailgate because the gorilla that removed it broke it along the entire top row of plastic clips that hold it in and I had to find a Valley reciever hitch for them because they couldn't do it even when I gave them the part number. Sorry, on a tangent.

Follow cary's advice and insist on getting your truck back to how it was before the accident. You deserve that much.

 

[KliersLC]

Maybe when you get a new bumper, you could sell the bent one....

Or give it to me......

Good luck in any case.

 

[GXO]

I know an insurance agent or adjuster would probably EASILY understand how much more the accident would have been if you had a stock rear...that would have been multiple thousands.

Difficulty in getting back to exactly what you had seems like it should be a non-issue...

 

[e9999]

I know an insurance agent or adjuster would probably EASILY understand how much more the accident would have been if you had a stock rear...that would have been multiple thousands.

snip

..

well, didn't the tire carrier do the hatch in? that may have compounded the damage, no? Maybe a stock bumper may have been destroyed but it may have taken all the damage? Kinda like a front damage multiplier? Just asking... always been wondering about these tire carriers in this regard...

 

[GXO]

I can say, with no doubt, that the upper hatch cost is WAY less than the potential frame, crossmember, and body damage that would have been incurred with a stock rear bumper.

a hit that did this to a kaymar would have munched the rear quarters.

 

[Bluetribal]

You WISH you could get in a wreck to SCORE $. That is sick! And second, how do you know all parties are okay?

Oh c'mon like you wouldn't mind getting an insurance claim from an idiot tailgating you or not paying attention... I knew someone would think there 'S' doesn't smell and make a comment. Honestly it's a harmless accident and from the story it sounds like all parties are fine. Heck the person who went to the hospital is probably just doing it to score more money from insurance and get free chiropractor visits.

 

[Slomo]

well, didn't the tire carrier do the hatch in? that may have compounded the damage, no? Maybe a stock bumper may have been destroyed but it may have taken all the damage? Kinda like a front damage multiplier? Just asking... always been wondering about these tire carriers in this regard...

Originally Posted by DanKunz
I can say, with no doubt, that the upper hatch cost is WAY less than the potential frame, crossmember, and body damage that would have been incurred with a stock rear bumper.

a hit that did this to a kaymar would have munched the rear quarters.

FWIW my rig got rearended by a Sienna while it was parked. She hit my truck with her foot on the gas and turned around to yell at her kids. Totalled the Sienna but did amazingly little damage to mine. I had factory rear with Valley (factory) reciever. I had two little dents the size of a quarter each and the driver rear corner, mud flap and fender half of the flare were toast and that was it. Frame checked out fine. IIRC the damage total was about $2300. Probably comparable total. Sounds like with a decent hit the tailgate/hatch could still get whacked anyway even though in Brent's case it was undoubtably the carrier that made the dent. Not knocking the Kaymar, I would rather have that than factory any day.

 

[landtank]

Sorry Brent but the simple task of taking a picture escaped me today. I leave early in the AM for work that won't get me home until Friday, sorry man.

I still say a few grunts with a 2' pipe wrench and that thing would be as good as new.

I realize people think that they deserve to have things back exactly as they were, but s*** happens and it's part of the game of motoring. I personally try and make it as easy on the other guy whoever is at fault in hopes it comes around when I'm more at fault. I'm not saying anything about you but just explaining why I think a pipe wrench is a good first start.

 

[Brentbba]

Rick - no problem. Don't worry about it.

I'll only become a 'dick' if the adjuster gives me any problem about the carrier. If I have to I'll press for an entire new bumper because the spindle 'may' be damaged as well. Hard to tell with that one.

Cary - I agree 100%. If it were my policy I'd be hosed. Mercury only covers OEM w/o a specific rider for aftermarket. Body shop said lots of policies are written that way, so if anybody is really interested, a call to your agent may be in order.