x3

 

^^not necessarily true. 90% of the time yes...but; my mazdaspeed protege got totally fuxored on the back left side. whole new suspension on the wheel, cut and weld on the fender, new door skin, new bumper and trunk lid. pretty much everything on the rear left of the car. got hit at around 45 by a kid who slammed on the brakes and tried to avoid but didn't make it. i pushed the car just as hard before the accident and handled just as well.

 

brand new car... doubt it will be totalled... but what all of us has to say means nothing. Its up to that ***** of an insurance inspector... i hate them, cost me thousands of dollars over the years

 

The car can be fixed as if nothing ever happened that is if you take it to a good body shop. I actually bought cars in worse shape than that and fixed them right up and you would have to know what to look for to know it was in a wreck. A front wheel alignment is one thing you most probably will be needing.

 

I agree with the rest of them. As long as no frame damage occured I am sure it is fixable. Even considering some suspension problems may have occured and possibly some steering practicalities, it will be fixed and will cost a pretty penny, for the insurance company that is.

 

Can go either way, knowing Insurance companies, "every penny counts" they will repair it. Be sure to be picky getting it back, cause you don't want to leave with a car you are not happy with. I know your pain, but know that i will not drive the same.

 

That is incorrect. A car is registered as being "salvaged" or "reconstructed" when the dollar amount of the damage to the vehicle exceeds a certain percentage of the car's value. (which can vary by state and insurance company)

Example. If the "totaled" limit is 80% of the value of the vehicle... and your vehicle is worth $1000. If the damage to the car exceeds $800, your vehicle is totaled. If it is totaled at that point, but the damage isn't TOO bad, you can "buy back" your vehicle for an amount of money and register it as being salvaged or reconstructed... if there's anything left to fix and have the car still pass safety inspections. Has nothing to do with the airbag going off.

(I did collision repair and painting for 5 years... btw) In my opinion, I don't see why it can't be fixed, but I can't make an accurate determination of the amount of damage without seeing it and tearing it apart to look. Your best bet is to takeit to a shop and get some estimates... prices will vary from shop to shop, from region to region. And whatever you do, do NOT take it to a shop that will not warranty their work. If they won't stand behind the work they do and offer a lifetime warranty on their work... walk out the door.

 

What Fallen said is correct amount of damage means next to nothing. The factor that determines if it called totaled car is cost to repair. Most insurance now do 75% of the sale value of the vehicle. So even if there is not structural damage if there is enough superficial damage insurance will claim total.

From the looks of it u well need new fender and bumper. Hood can be banged back into shape the door is tricky part. The skin in bent but its the hinges and mounts holding it that might have been damage which would cost a lot to repair. Plus you need to replace airbags and repaint a quarter of you car. There also chance that axle or hub needs to be replaced. So depending on how much your car it worth its a close call.

 

I do know that some body shops (helps if they are family friends) can sway the decision of an insurance adjuster toward--
totaling the car. More often than not the body shop will deal with
the same adjuster from a particular insurance company, and over a period of years, you get to know them pretty good.
Also a little helps too.
And from what I hear and see, this is not an uncommon practice.
My friends and I have benefitted from this family friend. I hate driving cars that have been in an accident.
It never feels 'right'. And right before the insurance company comes to tow my car to
the junk yard, I am given ample time to remove all my aftermarket parts and wheels which I already got reimbursed for by the insurance company + any other oem parts I may need for future mods or to sell.
There are people doing worse to drive up the insane cost of insurance. I figure-
can't fight.. join em' .. I pay for it anyways..

 

And if anyone ever found out... it's insurance fraud, and you can get into deep doo doo for doing that. Plus, just because everyone else is being dishonest and driving up insurance, doesn't mean you should contribute to the problem.

My dad's 3 rules of life are as follows:

1. Shiz happens
2. Shiz happens on a regular basis
3. Get used to rules 1 and 2

 

So what was the outcome of this? New car or like-new car?

 

Turned out at first it was not totaled and they can fix it, then insurance took another look at the car another day and turned out to be totaled. So were waiting on the check, should be here in the next couple days so we can go get a new tC

 

The damage doesnt look that bad so it will have Salvage Title?

 

No, his insurance claimed it as a total so theyre giving him a check for a new one.

 

aww dang, I feel sorry for you buddy. I got into a similar accident so i know how you feel, cept i only got my mirror knocked off. its a good thing it was minor and i didnt have to report it to the insurance comp. Good luck with ur next car and ur insurance.

 

Think about the Upside... If there was EVER anything different he wishes he could have and should have done to his car, hes got a 2nd chance! :D