help..got into a accident - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ant · 01-05-2005, 01:35 PM

i was going to school this morning and i stopped at a red light behind this truck with a hitch behind it (the metal ball that is used to tow stuff). i hear tires screeching behind me and i suddenly get hit from behind causing my car to push forward into the hitch. whats wierd is that nothing wrong with the rear of the car just a little scratch thats barely noticable and there are no dents. but when she hit me it pushed my car into the hitch causing a hole in my front bumper. nothing wrong with her car or the truck in front of me. we all pull over and exchange info and i have the trucks info for witness. if i tell the insurance company will they think its my fault since theres is no damage to the rear but to the front of my car making it look like that i hit the truck instead or is a witness enough to tell the story? she doesnt want to go through with the insurance company but has a bro that owns a shop that will fix my car. im afraid that he will order aftermarket parts and i heard they suck and wouldnt fit right. so will autoshops be able to order oem bumpers and parts or do i have to get em at the dealers. any advice?
i also have a scratch on my driver side doors and if i want to fix it could i repalce the outside part of my door or du i have to replace the whole door? thanks

virtualkuz · 01-05-2005, 01:48 PM

well, i don't know what your actual liability would be but I can bet that under your back bumper cover there is damage even if the cover is in good shape. This is a case where you have to call your insurance company and see what they think. Unless you actually file a claim with them they aren't going to do anything with your rates. I would speak to an insurance agent.

87Camry5Speed · 01-05-2005, 01:49 PM

IS the scratch in the door just a scratch? Just sand and repaint, if it's less severe (e.g., not down to bare metal,) grab some touch-up paint, you can get the right color by getting the paint code from your doorjamb sticker (driver's door) and hittin up the 'yota dealership.

What I see as the shitty part of your situation is it might have been a good idea to get a police report. Doing so does not imply points against your driving record or even a trip to insurance, but it would have been nice to have in order to keep the witness who punted you into the truck honest. It's just a report of what happened, and depending on the dept you can get a copy either for free or for a nominal sum. Some ppl do get wishy-washy when their ass is on the fire, so to speak...

As for replacement parts go OEM wherever possible... just 'cause it LOOKS right doesn't mean it's gonna FIT right! Demand OEM, she fooked your car up and she should be lucky you're not going to insurance (in terms of a claim) on her (which, in this case, would likely screw you just as bad as it would her).

Steve

TheMajesticking · 01-05-2005, 02:17 PM

I would always go through insurance company. You have a better chance of not getting screwed.

99camryLE · 01-05-2005, 02:55 PM

Personally, I'd go through the insurance company, but that may raise your rates. As for the mechanic, they can get origianl Toyota parts, they just have to order them and YOU have to make sure they're Toyota parts and, like you said, not some aftermarket company parts. I'm sure that they should say TOY### somewhere on the part (I think).

Toysrme · 01-05-2005, 03:53 PM

A blow job is not worth the trouble she's going to give you.

There is nothing wrong done on your part. There is no excuse (except someone cutting you off) for hitting someone in the rear.

Go through her insurance, and let the insurance adjustor pick a shop THEY use and are comfotable with.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 01-05-2005, 03:58 PM

here's a couple of questions...

what kind of car do you drive? depending, the bumper covers are different and have different results if hit

how old are you? in regards to insurance

to the older people here, they don't realize that for us younger people, no matter what the claim, and who's at fault, they'll find some way to raise our rates

and if you DO go through insurance with a witness, then they won't think that you hit the truck yourself...especially if hte guy in the truck is your witness

ant · 01-05-2005, 08:15 PM

thanks a lot guys for helping..
i assume its too late to do a police report.
im with 21st century and it only covers one way. im 19 and i drive a 94 toyota camry LE v4.
i asked some of my friends and one of them told me that no matter what, the insurance company is gonna raise my rates because they'll use any excuse to get more money and thats what im afraid of.
i will post some pics soon

Toysrme · 01-05-2005, 08:21 PM

Illegal for insurance to raise your rates when you're not at fault, unless you have a ton of circumstances otherwise. (i.e. lot of tickets, history of poor driving)

BTW I'm 21 and already have a ton of insrance company experiance. The major thing you need to remember here is that you have THEM by the ballz. Act like it at all times. If you have to throw a fucking fit every time you meet the agent.

If your insurance tries to raise your rates, call them. Throw a fucking fit to them and tell them what they do is illegal.

Either way you can easily get what you want from insurance people, you simply have to know how to ask.

ant · 01-05-2005, 08:35 PM

here are some pictures for you guys to check out

the front wear the hitch went through

the right side of my rear bumper

left side of my rear bumper

***Eye8Pussies*** · 01-05-2005, 08:54 PM

don't know how its like in the US, but here in Canada, its the insruance companies that have us by the balls...its not illegal for them to raise rates for no reason at all...espcailly if you give them an excuse

and ant:

it looks like your rear bumper probably didn't even flex hardly at all...your rebar should be fine, but your foam may be cracked, and if it is, should be replaced

and for the front, take off your bumper cover and check the rebar
you'll need a new bumper cover for sure, and a new foam if you think you need it...tho many people don't even use one

99camryLE · 01-05-2005, 09:05 PM

If your under 21 or newly licensed, insurance companies love to look for any reason to jack up your rates. Its rough for us younger drivers. If they see even one moving violation, they can tag younger drivers as "bad drivers"

Sucks about the car man. Looks like the trailor hitch did some real damage. I'm sorry.

Toysrme · 01-05-2005, 10:05 PM

Just be sure you don't let them get off half-assed. New grill & logo & make SURE that all of your cooling is OK. Include the hood... It needs to line up correctly & with no scratches. They need to replace the front bumper, and there definately needs to be someone doing a good paint job front and back.
(This is a great time to front some money to whoever does the paint if you want a new paint job too!)

Tommy · 01-05-2005, 11:59 PM

that sucks hard core dude, I would call the cops and have a report filed, just incase they try and screw you, and i would talk to a cop and find out what type of liabilty you have in this accident. Ive heard of insurance companies saying that you are too close to the car in front of you and thats why when you are rear ended the damage to the front of your car is your fault.

if the cops and insurance company says its not your fault, go through the insurance company, dont let this chick submit your car to some shaddy mechanic.

ant · 01-06-2005, 01:35 AM

yea thats what im afraid of when talking to the insurance company. they'll probably tell me that im suppose to leave a big space between me and the car in front of me and then tell me tat the front bumper is my fault. is it too late to talk to a police officer and tell them about my accident and have a report filed?

how could i tell if the bumper is oem or not? the feel of the material? the look? so i wont get rip off by the autoshop. thanks

o yea..i cant get the hood to open because the grill somehow went over the lever making it hard to pull up because of the grill piece tat is blocking it and i dunt wanna rip out the grill until i get everything straightened out.