Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site
 

 


 
Go Back   Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site > Technical Forums > DIY / Maintenance / Service
  The Tire Rack

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-27-2014, 10:30 PM   #1
nookandcrannycar
 
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
Found mirror shattered on the street. Four days later, rear ended by a Camry.

Last week was not a good week for my Yaris. On Tuesday I was legally parked on a city street. Upon returning to my Yaris, I noticed the passenger side mirror in the folded in position, the mirror glass shattered on the sidewalk, and the Bayou Blue cover for the mirror also on the sidewalk (broken into two pieces). The perpetrator didn't leave a note . If I had to guess what happened, I imagine someone was wheeling a delivery to a business and just kept going. I didn't want to get pulled over for not having a mirror, so I stopped by a Toyota dealer on Tuesday evening and ordered a new mirror ($48.97 including tax -- comes affixed to a plastic backing that allows a 'snap on' installation). I was on the fence re buying a new cover or trying to repair the old one. I now think I'll probably buy a new one.

Four days later (Saturday 1-25-2014), I was on my way to the Houston Auto Show and.....got rear ended by a woman in a Camry . I hope I have followed the right steps so far (I've never been in an accident in Texas), but any input would be helpful.

I was traveling East on Louetta Rd. I crossed over Interstate 45 (the Louetta Rd overpass is 2 lanes in each direction). I then turned right onto the cloverleaf that goes to the feeder road. This cloverleaf is oblong, rather than circular. Many freeways in Texas have 2-4 lane each (on both sides of the freeway) what they call 'feeder roads' to facilitate getting on and off the freeway (very effective IMO). I pulled up to the end of the cloverleaf at the feeder road (feeder road heading South to use next onramp to I-45 Southbound). I waited for the traffic to clear on the feeder road. I was just starting the 'clutch gas motion' and...BAM. She knocked me into the slow lane of the feeder road. The last car that had cleared past me left a tremendous gap, so no other cars were involved. We meandered a few feet under the overpass, and then both pulled into the Starbucks parking lot immediately to our right. She asked if I was alright. Her tone, combined with (unfortunately) my cynicism (and having encountered too many people with a machiavellian nature during my life) prompted me to truthfully say "I don't know". In hindsight, I think she was just being human, but at the time thought she was trying to bait me into saying something that might help mitigate liability (my family is chock full of attorneys, but they all practice in California). She then asked if I needed an ambulance. I said no. Neither of us was sure what to do next. I have AAA insurance and noticed on the right half of the 8.5x11 sheet they sent me (proof of insurance cards = left hand side of same sheet), step by step instructions re what to do after an accident. We followed that exactly (exchanging Names, Addresses, Plate numbers, DL numbers, and insurance company names and policy numbers) and also took some pictures. The next step for me (per the instructions) was to call my insurance company. I told her I would and would follow their instructions. Both of us then left the parking lot.

I drove toward the auto show, and then stopped at another Starbucks (parking lot) and called my insurance company on my cell phone. I have really high liability limits, but I don't have comp or collision. The person at the 800# on my proof of insurance sheet told me he'd make a notation that I called, but that because I don't have collision that I needed to contact the other person's insurance company myself.

I continued to the Houston Auto Show and had a great time. After the show, I went to a different Starbucks. By that time I already felt fine (no soreness). Sometime between 9-12 years ago (my last accident), I was rear ended in my Swift at a stoplight by a guy in a F series Ford pickup. I was sore for about 3 days, and then I was fine after that. While I was at the Starbucks, a Harris County Sheriff's Deputy (on duty) walked in. I wanted to know if I had covered my bases re following the law. I explained the situation to the deputy. He said if you think there has been more than $1,000 in damage then a LEO will come out and do a report (if that is what you want), but the law only requires the exact exchange of information that we executed. He told me I should call the woman's insurance company (Nationwide) on Monday (today).

Today I went to a local shop (the one that did my control arm bolts and a few other things), and asked the rep some questions. He said there was nothing special I needed to ask the rep at the body shop and said the dealer (Fred Haas Toyota World) was a good choice re having the insurance work done. He also said to call Nationwide claims department TODAY.

I next went to Fred Haas Toyota World. I picked up the mirror (from 4 days before the 'rear ender) and called Nationwide's claims department (on the way from the shop to Fred Haas I passed by a Nationwide agent's office and stopped in to get the 800#). The call with the claims office was pretty routine. I did tell him I'm not going to file a medical claim, but I don't know if he believed me. I learned that I needed to leave the bumper cover on until the adjuster sees the car (naturally...but ugh), precluding a detailed estimate. The parts rep showed me the bumper layout and then directed mr to the service department.

The service department told me to use a screwdriver to pry the old plastic miiror backing off (snap off). They also gave me some other valuable information. They told me that once the collision repair equals of exceeds the value of the car (obviously a 'total'), that the insurance company cuts you a check and then you can pay them a salvage amount to keep the car...but that entails having a salvage title. I asked if one can accept less than the value just to avoid a salvage title and was told no. Another rep chimed in and also said that getting a salvage title wasn't possible in Texas re also registering the car in Texas.

They sent me to the collision department to get a preliminary estimate (just under $700.00). I asked that rep what the basis is for a total. He said 75% or more of retail Blue Book.

Next...sent to the used car manager to get the retail Blue Book value. Very interesting. He took my mileage (272,491) and my vin # and asked a few questions. He plugged the information into his computer and out came a report (NADA southwest region). The thing I found most interesting was the 'mileage hit' (the same for all levels of condition) -- $ 2,060.00. The NADA Base Values are -- $3,600 for 'Rough Trade In' -- $4,450 for 'Average Trade In' -- $5,150 for 'Clean Trade In' and $7,175 for 'Clean Retail'. The NADA Total Adjusted Vehicle Values = $ 2,060.00 less for each ($1,540, $2,390, $3,090, and $5,115). The '75%' the collision rep mentioned = 75% of $5,115 per the information he gave me.

I hope I've touched all the bases I've needed to so far. Any suggestions, tips, etc?

P.S. I left out one thing. My insurance (AAA) via the 800# told me (I asked) that a not at fault accident in Texas is not held against you by either the state or the insurance company? Is that the case? (the 800# rep was I Iowa).

Last edited by nookandcrannycar; 01-27-2014 at 11:28 PM. Reason: changed all caps sentence to regular text, and added the P.S.
nookandcrannycar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2014, 04:22 PM   #2
jack black
 
jack black's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 red Yaris HB AT
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: southeast USA
Posts: 197
Do you write books for a living?
$700 sounds like a very minor damage. I was rearended in my prius that resulted in almost invisible dent and that was apprised at over $600.
jack black is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2014, 06:51 PM   #3
nookandcrannycar
 
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
Quote:
Originally Posted by jack black View Post
Do you write books for a living?
$700 sounds like a very minor damage. I was rearended in my prius that resulted in almost invisible dent and that was apprised at over $600.
Thanks for the reply. No, I'm just kind of 'Felix Unger-ish' about this. I'm well versed re how the insurance system, DL system, etc. (and all the nuances of each system) work in California, I just feel as though (re those systems) I'm like a fish out of water/unsure what to expect in Texas. This feeling is somewhat expanded by the fact that the agent I'd had for most of the time I've had my policy with AAA in Texas is no longer there, and the one new person I had rapport with (after that) is no longer there. My cynicism re making the right move/executing each step to my benefit was not unfounded (if anyone reading this in the future in Texas has AAA car insurance, take note of this). I learned today (from an agent at my local AAA office) that, given the parameters of this accident, I would have been best off by not calling AAA at all. The step by step instructions included on my proof of insurance sheet included calling the AAA Accident Assist Hotline to report the accident. I would imagine that the sheet is looked at by the underwriters who, of course, want to price in every whisper of risk. I felt the agent (by what he told me re not calling them) was in some small way looking out for my interest. He said that you are allowed a sort of 'accident forgiveness chit' every 5 years. My rates won't go up on my next renewal, but if I hadn't called at all I'd still have that 'accident forgiveness chit' left to use and wouldn't have to wait 5 years to get another one. As I neared the end of my original post, I realized it was too long...but I had written it at a Panera Bread after a meal and they were closing so I didn't have time to edit the post (and If I hadn't posted it I would have lost the whole thing). The Collision rep cautioned me that the 'just under 700' only covers what they can see from the outside and not anything they find once they get it apart.
nookandcrannycar is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
When will the Yaris hit the showrooms at dealers? Petrolhead New YARIS Purchase Forum 181 11-28-2011 07:03 AM
Found A Rear Wiper Blade Replacement jeff618 DIY / Maintenance / Service 8 11-03-2011 10:15 PM
Another rear spring option! Honda Fit springs!! kngrsll Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack 29 10-23-2009 05:02 PM
rear ended pics to come Fury85 Off-topic / Other Cars / Everything else Discussions 19 05-29-2009 10:36 PM
TRD rear sway bar...street or race setting? detroiter Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack 14 02-08-2009 02:26 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:26 PM.




YarisWorld
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.