Yaris Accident: How Much To Fix?

[MadMax]

Not sure about NJ laws, but here in Texas the police don't always come out for accidents that simply involve body damage (i.e. "fender benders"). Hershey has the right questions, if a police report was filed and/or the other person was cited, you want to get that info for your insurance company. If you have full coverage on your Yaris then they are the ones to go after the other person's insurance (even though it is the same company). You only need to file an accident claim with yours and give them all the info you can (to include the police report if possible).

There is more info on NJ's no fault laws here, you don't need a lawyer but you would wise to research the legal aspects yourself before talking with your insurance company.

Lastly, you might also want to get some recommendations for local body shops. One might be able to repair that without exceeding the book value of the car. Independent shops are usually cheaper, just find a reputable one as the one thing you don't want is to have someone do shoddy work on your Yaris!

Good luck! M2

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Not sure about NJ laws, but here in Texas the police don't always come out for accidents that simply involve body damage (i.e. "fender benders"). Hershey has the right questions, if a police report was filed and/or the other person was cited, you want to get that info for your insurance company. If you have full coverage on your Yaris then they are the ones to go after the other person's insurance (even though it is the same company). You only need to file an accident claim with yours and give them all the info you can (to include the police report if possible).

There is more info on NJ's no fault laws here, you don't need a lawyer but you would wise to research the legal aspects yourself before talking with your insurance company.

Lastly, you might also want to get some recommendations for local body shops. One might be able to repair that without exceeding the book value of the car. Independent shops are usually cheaper, just find a reputable one as the one thing you don't want is to have someone do shoddy work on your Yaris!

Good luck! M2

I am having the work done at a shop that does work for Progressive.

Unfortunately I have already disclosed everything i know to the insurance company.

Thankyou for your help my friends. I will post as things happen...

[MadMax]

Hopefully it can be repaired, I hate to think another beautiful black hatch would no longer be gracing our roads...

Good luck! M2

[harda toenail]

In my wreck, progressive took care of all the who's at fault stuff. We had a cop come out. You should always call for a cop to come write a police report!

But since both parties had progressive, progressive pays either way so they won't work as hard to make sure you don't pay.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by harda toenail

In my wreck, progressive took care of all the who's at fault stuff. We had a cop come out. You should always call for a cop to come write a police report!

But since both parties had progressive, progressive pays either way so they won't work as hard to make sure you don't pay.

There was a cop there after the accident and after we pulled over to exchange information. He said

"I didnt see the accident. Im not writing out an accident report. If you want that you have to go to city hall. Im not even here officially"

You are probably right about P not working to protect the person who wasnt at fault.

We will see...whatever happens happens...

But I can use all the information and advise I can get...thanks!

[harda toenail]

I can't believe the cop was that lazy. For him to say "Im not even here" would piss me off. They should always write a report. How often does the officer writing the report actually see the incident?

But sorry for the bad luck. Looks like it was a super clean yaris.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by harda toenail

I can't believe the cop was that lazy. For him to say "Im not even here" would piss me off. They should always write a report. How often does the officer writing the report actually see the incident?

But sorry for the bad luck. Looks like it was a super clean yaris.

It would piss me off too. The cop, though, knows that he won't pay any consequence for acting like that. If the situation ever got to the point where he felt his job was threatened and his union had public meetings with Gov. Christie like the teachers union did I'll bet he'd act as childishly as some of the teachers did.

[fnkngrv]

Did you happen to get the officer's name? If so and it were me I would try to make an anonymous complaint. This type of thing gives law enforcers a real bad name

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

Did you happen to get the officer's name? If so and it were me I would try to make an anonymous complaint. This type of thing gives law enforcers a real bad name

Yes I have his name. Having never had an accident before like this I have no idea whats involved. If I had nothing better to do, it might be interesting to pursue it. But I have other things going on.

Maybe I will wish I HAD done that before this is over...

[MadMax]

Well, in defense of the officer if he didn't witness the accident and the evidence doesn't clearly show who was at fault; he cannot make a determination nor can he issue a citation. Given the nature of this accident, it is entirely possible that either party involved could have caused it. Normally, unless it is blatantly apparent (i.e. rear-end or 90° collision with impartial witnesses), no one will be ticketed. If it is, and there is evidence to prove it, an investigating officer will file charges against the offending driver.

Hopefully your insurance company, which has a lower standard for burden of proof, will be able to resolve this in your favor based on the information they have.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Well, in defense of the officer if he didn't witness the accident and the evidence doesn't clearly show who was at fault; he cannot make a determination nor can he issue a citation. Given the nature of this accident, it is entirely possible that either party involved could have caused it. Normally, unless it is blatantly apparent (i.e. rear-end or 90° collision with impartial witnesses), no one will be ticketed. If it is, and there is evidence to prove it, an investigating officer will file charges against the offending driver.

Hopefully your insurance company, which has a lower standard for burden of proof, will be able to resolve this in your favor based on the information they have.

Although I dont know anything about this, thats about how I felt about it when it happened.

Any comments furthering my education appreciated!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Well, in defense of the officer if he didn't witness the accident and the evidence doesn't clearly show who was at fault; he cannot make a determination nor can he issue a citation. Given the nature of this accident, it is entirely possible that either party involved could have caused it. Normally, unless it is blatantly apparent (i.e. rear-end or 90° collision with impartial witnesses), no one will be ticketed. If it is, and there is evidence to prove it, an investigating officer will file charges against the offending driver.

Hopefully your insurance company, which has a lower standard for burden of proof, will be able to resolve this in your favor based on the information they have.

Well.....now that I just read your post.....you're right, HOWEVER he could have handled the situation better, He could have been more diplomatic re his choice of words.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Well.....now that I just read your post.....you're right, HOWEVER he could have handled the situation better, He could have been more diplomatic re his choice of words.

I agree, but having done several ride-alongs with various police departments, you never know what kind of day a cop is having hence sometimes they are not in the best of moods.

He still should have pick his words better, but sometimes the duties of the job can be a lot to handle even for the best of individuals...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

I agree, but having done several ride-alongs with various police departments, you never know what kind of day a cop is having hence sometimes they are not in the best of moods.

He still should have pick his words better, but sometimes the duties of the job can be a lot to handle even for the best of individuals...

I agree with you re those who are out in a patrol car and must manage all that entails, but Bronsin's cop was on bicycle patrol (he did post that after my initial comment though). The impetus for my initial feeling is that I think that many police officers in union states, especially older ones with quite a bit of seniority within their departments, don't appreciate what they have as much as they should. Some LEOs in Texas have that type of protection and relative security, but many don't. LEOs in many jurisdictions in the Tri-State area (NJ,NY, and CT) don't get the super generous pensions (in dollar amount relative to their salaries) that many jurisdictions in California enjoy, but they get them after less time on the job (especially NYC -- 20 years -- although I heard for new hires they raised it to 22 years).

[otterhere]

Believe it or not, I've had to have FOUR panels replaced in four years (on one side, a snowplow scraped two; on the other, I "Titaniced" a telephone pole while backing down a curved road); $2500 each go-around, with me paying $500 in deductibles each time.

Just now noticed a dent in my newest panel; someone must've breathed on it...

It really doesn't take much to damage the body of this car; one wonders what it's made of and how safe it would be a in crash...

: (

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by otterhere

Believe it or not, I've had to have FOUR panels replaced in four years (on one side, a snowplow scraped two; on the other, I "Titaniced" a telephone pole while backing down a curved road); $2500 each go-around, with me paying $500 in deductibles each time.

Just now noticed a dent in my newest panel; someone must've breathed on it...

It really doesn't take much to damage the body of this car; one wonders what it's made of and how safe it would be a in crash...

: (

There have been many pictures of accidents here of our cars that were in pretty bad accidents. The people werent seriously hurt...

[edmscan]

Originally Posted by bronsin

There have been many pictures of accidents here of our cars that were in pretty bad accidents. The people werent seriously hurt...

Maybe that is cause the Yaris has some pretty good safety features ? AirBags, ABS and the rest of the things we take for granted, until we actually need them. Just imagine if they weren't there .. I don't think that we would be walking away from these crashes quite so fast.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by edmscan

Maybe that is cause the Yaris has some pretty good safety features ? AirBags, ABS and the rest of the things we take for granted, until we actually need them. Just imagine if they weren't there .. I don't think that we would be walking away from these crashes quite so fast.

I happened to read this post after your following one, but I'm glad I did as that made it even funnier on it's own (for those of us who read a certain recent thread Bronsin started).