Yaris Accident: How Much To Fix?

[bronsin]

On my way home from work a guy made a left hand turn in front of me. That, or he was trying to do a U or K turn.

I swerved left but JUST caught his rear bumper.

This is the result.

How much do you think it is to fix it? Taking it in today.

Thanks!

[CTScott]

A lot. You tagged every panel on that side. My wife did that once with a Honda Civic Wagon and the insurance company totaled the car. It was fully drivable, but they said that fixing all of the non-removable panels and repainting would be more than the car's value.

[bronsin]

How old was the Honda? Im was thinking possible total too. 2009 30k miles. Perfect condition except for the accident. Been driven from NJ to AK and back but you would never know it.

Will do a blue book. Guessing $10k?


Just got back from the shop. Preliminary estimate they say new door new fender. He thinks suspension dammage. Says wheel is bent. It does not look bent. Car drives OK but steering wheel cocked just a tad to the right.

[Hershey]

Wow , another one ! Sorry to see that . Take it that you're fine . Seems like the bigger vehicles are out to get the Yaris . Shame , black is a great color for the 3 door . Hope all goes well .

[MadMax]

Well, if he hit you then doesn't his insurance cover the repairs?

[Rockstar]

Wow, insurance companies in America classifies cars as 'totaled' pretty easily. You must have a lot of wrecker car yards.

At least there's aways part for others.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Well, if he hit you then doesn't his insurance cover the repairs?

Good question! Im 56 and have never had an accident. I have no idea how this works.

Anyone can help I am most gratefull.

Both cars are from NJ, accident happened in NJ. Both parties have Progressive Insurance.

He made a left hand turn in front of me. Probably he was making a K or U turn. Im thinking he is at fault.

When I called it in to Progressive they said "Hes probably at fault" BUT after I described the dammage to HIS car, they said "Im not sure about that."

I assume there is no fault in NJ? I guessed that means he takes care of his and I take care of mine. I asked Progressive about is he liable and they said they were not sure it might depend.

If the car is totaled this might be trouble. I do NOT want to get a lawyer because that is only going to cost more money Im thinking nd who knows where its going?

You may advise me thank you!

[Hershey]

Their insurance should cover it . The woman that pulled out in front of us got the blame . She moved her S.U.V. back after the incident . We thought that you're to leave the vehicles at the spot of the accident until police arrive to help determine who's at fault or if both parties may not be at fault due to weather conditions , etc...

[Hershey]

Did the Police come to the scene complete an accident report ? Do you know if the other person got a ticket ?

[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 Hershey

Did the Police come to the scene complete an accident report ? Do you know if the other person got a ticket ?

No they did not. No he did not.

A bicycle cop DID arrive on the scene AFTER we moved our cars from the spot of the accident to exchange information. There is a communter train tracks where we ended up and the train BLASTED its horn at us to move. So we moved!

The bicycle cop stated "I did not see the accident and officially I am not here. I am not filing a plice report. If you want to do that go to city hall. Officially I have nothing to do with this."

This happened in Camden NJ, Official Murder Capitol of the World. Where there is no law north south east or west of the Pecos.

[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

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

How old was the Honda? Im was thinking possible total too. 2009 30k miles. Perfect condition except for the accident. Been driven from NJ to AK and back but you would never know it.

Will do a blue book. Guessing $10k?


Just got back from the shop. Preliminary estimate they say new door new fender. He thinks suspension dammage. Says wheel is bent. It does not look bent. Car drives OK but steering wheel cocked just a tad to the right.

Glad you are okay. What an idiot. If it isn't judged the other guy's fault, it should be. Just curious what road it happened on (I want to visualize)....one an out of towner who has done a fair amount of driving in New Jersey (surface streets, Interstates, the GSP, and the Turnpike,etc.) would know or a road that is so local only locals would recognize it?

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by bronsin

How old was the Honda? Im was thinking possible total too. 2009 30k miles. Perfect condition except for the accident. Been driven from NJ to AK and back but you would never know it.

Will do a blue book. Guessing $10k?


Just got back from the shop. Preliminary estimate they say new door new fender. He thinks suspension dammage. Says wheel is bent. It does not look bent. Car drives OK but steering wheel cocked just a tad to the right.

At the time of the accident the Honda was about 5 years old with 50K on the odometer. On Her's the scrapes to the front and rear doors and the rear quarter panel were bad enough that both door skins would have needed replacing and the rear quarter would have had to be cut off and replaced.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Glad you are okay. What an idiot. If it isn't judged the other guy's fault, it should be. Just curious what road it happened on (I want to visualize)....one an out of towner who has done a fair amount of driving in New Jersey (surface streets, Interstates, the GSP, and the Turnpike,etc.) would know or a road that is so local only locals would recognize it?

Google Map Cooper and 3rd street, Camden NJ

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by CTScott

At the time of the accident the Honda was about 5 years old with 50K on the odometer. On Her's the scrapes to the front and rear doors and the rear quarter panel were bad enough that both door skins would have needed replacing and the rear quarter would have had to be cut off and replaced.

Hmmm Im thinking the rear of the car isnt going to need replacing, just the door and fender.

But there may be suspension dammage and the steering wheel is coked to one side.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Hmmm Im thinking the rear of the car isnt going to need replacing, just the door and fender.

But there may be suspension dammage and the steering wheel is coked to one side.

The cocked steering wheel is probably just a bent tie rod end. Measure the distance between the tip of the A arm and the rear of the fender well on both sides to see if the A arm is bent as well.