Opinions needed! Wrecked Car

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Hey all,

I have a dilemma. My wife slide into a curb last night in her 2008 Camry SE. The driver's side front wheel took the entire impact, she was doing less than 10 mph when she slide into it. I wasn't sure the extent of the damage (and I am still not), but from what I can see, the rim has serious curb rash, the tire doesn't clear the wheel well properly anymore and I am sure it needs some serious alignment help as the steering wheel is 90 degrees off of straight.

I crawled under it last night and the cv shaft and tie rod seem tight still, no excessive play or anything that is obviously broken, but the car drives like crap. I tried to drive it to a local tire store where I have become good friends with the manager, just to have him evaluate the damage, but the car drove so horribly and irratically (almost like the steering wheel is no longer connected to the wheels right) that I went less than a block before turning around and taking it back to my apartment. The wheels cycle like normal when at a dead stop from lock to lock, other than the clearance issue in the wheel well, which I assume is due to the alignment now.

So my questions are...

1. Should I notify my insurance, and if I do, will I be forced to complete the claim and run it through them even if the extent of the damage is less than my deductible? My deductible is $500.

2. Is there something else that I should be checking for as far as damage to components that would compromise the safety and cause the horrible steering/control issue?

3. I don't know that I feel comfortable driving it very far, the local Toyota Dealerships are all about a half hour drive from me. Would you, if it was your vehicle chance it and try to drive it there anyway, or would you pay to have it towed?

Any and all thoughts/help would be appreciated. I am torn as to what to do...regardless it has to be fixed. We can't be without a second vehicle for long.

Thanks,
Daniel

[wreyes1989]

towl it.
if you have AT&T, they offer roadside ass and they will towl it for you. its $2.99 a month.

[Glenn8963]

you got bent parts. file the claim with the insurance company, and they may require a police report as well, as proof of your claim (not scamming them) ....as long as all she hit was a curbing, she wouldn't be charged with anything like if for instance she hit a telephone pole, then that would be hit an run, property damage.....

call the dealer that you do business with, they should tow it for either no charge, or add that charge on to to final bill.

use, you will have to pay the deductible, but that *what you say she said* 10 mph hit did more internal damage than you can imagine....

i have seen cars slide at less than 10 mph and do damage of over $2,000........it is so easy to bend, fold, mutilate cars these days.....even 4x4's.......they just ain't built like your dad's oldsmobile or buick.........of by gone years.....

[gdanaher]

Consider your insurance deductible. If it is high, such as a grand, the total cost might come in under that figure, in which case you would not report it. Likely it will go over that. The cost of an oem alloy wheel is going to be high to begin with, and the parts in the lower strut arm are bent and will need to be replaced. Look at any of the on-line parts dealers and get an idea of the cost of some of this stuff. In theory, you might be able to fix it yourself with new parts and then get it aligned. If you aren't a good shadetree mechanic, then the body shop will do the job for you.

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Originally Posted by Glenn8963

you got bent parts. file the claim with the insurance company, and they may require a police report as well, as proof of your claim (not scamming them) ....as long as all she hit was a curbing, she wouldn't be charged with anything like if for instance she hit a telephone pole, then that would be hit an run, property damage.....

call the dealer that you do business with, they should tow it for either no charge, or add that charge on to to final bill.

use, you will have to pay the deductible, but that *what you say she said* 10 mph hit did more internal damage than you can imagine....

i have seen cars slide at less than 10 mph and do damage of over $2,000........it is so easy to bend, fold, mutilate cars these days.....even 4x4's.......they just ain't built like your dad's oldsmobile or buick.........of by gone years.....

This is what I am afraid of...I can't see all the underlying damage that might exist.

The police won't take a report as the incident occured on private property. IE my apartment parking lot.

Do you think the apartment complex has any liability??? I don't know that they would, but I thought I would through it out there because they definitely had not thrown any salt or plowed the complex when the accident happened.

Originally Posted by gdanaher

Consider your insurance deductible. If it is high, such as a grand, the total cost might come in under that figure, in which case you would not report it. Likely it will go over that. The cost of an oem alloy wheel is going to be high to begin with, and the parts in the lower strut arm are bent and will need to be replaced. Look at any of the on-line parts dealers and get an idea of the cost of some of this stuff. In theory, you might be able to fix it yourself with new parts and then get it aligned. If you aren't a good shadetree mechanic, then the body shop will do the job for you.

I called last night, the stock alloy is $483.38...figure in a tow and I am already way over my $500 deductible. I am leaning toward filing the claim with my insurance.

[GT-R]

$483 for a stock wheel? You might as well get aftermarket wheels for that price.

I'm sure your apartment won't take any liability for that, unless some parts of the building fell off and hit your car then it's their fault.

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Originally Posted by GT-R

$483 for a stock wheel? You might as well get aftermarket wheels for that price.

I'm sure your apartment won't take any liability for that, unless some parts of the building fell off and hit your car then it's their fault.

That's what I told my wife.... I told her we could put a nice set of aftermarket wheels on for a couple hundred more than the one stock alloy!

But it is the dead of winter, and she and I don't want to spend the money on new wheels just to have them ruined by salt.

[GT-R]

That is true. But still, that's too much for just 1 wheel. Can't you find some at the junk yards?

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Originally Posted by GT-R

That is true. But still, that's too much for just 1 wheel. Can't you find some at the junk yards?

I am going to call around, but most aren't open yet, still too early.


Now my question is. If I have it towed, should I have it towed to the tire shop, body shop, or dealership?

[GT-R]

Body shop makes more sense to me cause I as far as I know dealers will send it to another body shop to do those kind of stuff. At least here in cali it works that way.

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Originally Posted by GT-R

Body shop makes more sense to me cause I as far as I know dealers will send it to another body shop to do those kind of stuff. At least here in cali it works that way.

Would a body shop be able to diagnose internal damage to the drive train though?

[gdanaher]

Every town has a bunch of body shops, but one will have the reputation of premier. My city does, and everyone knows who it is. Ask some old timers who have lived in your city for awhile and they will tell you who to take it to. If you have a 500 deductible, might as well as get a great repair job as opposed to a mediocre repair job.

[novataco]

I'd get it looked at, but sounds to me like significant damage. Assuming that bears out with the mechanic's inspection, I would just pay the deductible and get it fixed. Its the least stressful solution, your insurance is there for a reason, and I doubt any potential premium increase would affect your insurance not all that much.

My feeling is that's the most painless way to get it taken care of, and done so properly to keep the car in best condition, and your wife will be happiest with the quickest, safest solution.

(edit: I would have the dealership look at it)

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by 08TRDOFFROAD

This is what I am afraid of...I can't see all the underlying damage that might exist.

The police won't take a report as the incident occured on private property. IE my apartment parking lot.

Do you think the apartment complex has any liability??? I don't know that they would, but I thought I would through it out there because they definitely had not thrown any salt or plowed the complex when the accident happened.



I called last night, the stock alloy is $483.38...figure in a tow and I am already way over my $500 deductible. I am leaning toward filing the claim with my insurance.

ok, so private property......no cops involved....

too bad you didn't think to take pictures of the area that wasn't plowed or sanded, that may have helped you a bit in your claim.

the apartment complex will assume NO responsibility...but those pics could have helped you in some sort of small claims court later.

as for the wheels, actually you might be better off buying stock steel wheels and cheap hub caps, and all seasons radial tires, then each year swap them out. of course though, i would imagine you would also need the tire pressure monitor sensors as well, or heck, do with out those for the price...

just put in the claim, take photos of the area now, while any snow/ice might still be there.

you're going to end up paying one way or another, and i suggest you take the car to the dealer (for OEM PARTS, not off brand parts or used parts that an independent body shop will use), and have this professionally repaired rather than YOU try the repairs and run into trouble you cannot get out of, because once YOU START the repairs, the insurance company will NOT pay any extras for damages that you find, HOWEVER, if a body shop finds extra repairs, the insurance will pay them.....


you will make out fine, its just the aggravation involved......

[arabianobsession]

Take it to the dealer. When we get wrecked cars at our dealership...they originally come from the body shop but everything mechanically must get fixed before the painting/body work can be done.