Huge Suckage...In An Accident With My PRius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by LOLGuy, Oct 26, 2005.

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  1. LOLGuy

    LOLGuy Member

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    On Monday, as Wilma was leaving a mess in South FL, here in the Tampa area we had wind and heavy rain. The wind wasn't bad but on the way to work a sub-division's street sign falls across a major road. The speed limit is 55 and I was traveling about 45MPH as it was dark (7:10AM) and raining hard.

    Couldn't avoid the pole (didn't want to end up in the woods), so I held on tight and went over it. It was SOME jolt!

    Didn't stop (dark, rain, left cell phone at home), gathered my wits and continued to work (about 5 miles). Car seemed to drive well -- held the line, no tire damage, kept good speed and battery level. The visable damage didn't look too bad -- front left bumper cracked, fog light dead and plastic from the left front wheel well pushed back. Checked on it at lunch and found it had leaked a red liquid.

    Since the dealers were closed on Monday for the storm (it was sunny by 11:30AM), AAA picked it up from my office parking garage on Tuesday to bring it to the local Toyota dealer (Kuhn Morgan f/k/a Precision). They do a diagnostic on Tuesday afternoon and this morning and I get a preliminary estimate of $14,000 for repair.

    The insurance adjustor from Geico goes to the dealer this afternoon and concurs with the list of damage the dealer's body shop has identified (I'll post it when received) and assures me there will be no problem from Geico in having the car repaired -- done by the dealer with genuine Toyota parts -- as the car is still effectively new (less than 8 mos. old with 8,800 miles).

    Current estimated time in the shop is 22 business days. I could cry!
     
    #1 LOLGuy, Oct 26, 2005
  2. Bill Lumbergh

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

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    That suuucks!

    But $14,000 for repairs? What the heck did you break?!
     
    #2 Bill Lumbergh, Oct 26, 2005
  3. eak354

    eak354 Member

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    wow! what else was damaged for it to cost $14000? i replaced my front bumper cover and it cost around $500 (mostly labor, the bumper itself was around $180 i believe).
     
    #3 eak354, Oct 26, 2005
  4. aka007ii

    aka007ii New Member

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    Wow they are replacing half the car huh?
     
    #4 aka007ii, Oct 26, 2005
  5. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    $14,000 and 22 days and business days at that??

    geeus... that sucks.
     
    #5 DaveinOlyWA, Oct 26, 2005
  6. aka007ii

    aka007ii New Member

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    I think they have you because you would have to tow it somewhere else for a 2nd opinion. That's why the price is so high.
     
    #6 aka007ii, Oct 26, 2005
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I think the damage and repairs needed list will be telling. If you damaged an inverter or something that could certainly be an issue.

    Sorry for your misfortune.
     
    #7 efusco, Oct 26, 2005
  8. popoff

    popoff New Member

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    I don't think Geico would pay if the dealer was overly inflating the cost.

    Sorry for your misfortune. Are they renting a car for you?
     
    #8 popoff, Oct 26, 2005
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Red liquid eh? Wonder if that's the washer fluid hehe.


    Hmm, $14,00 is a lot of damage. I wonder what else was damaged other that those that are visible. Good luck with the repairs! Tell us how it turned out.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Oct 26, 2005
  10. LOLGuy

    LOLGuy Member

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    Thanks for the kind words.

    It was one of those gas lamp style street lights and I went over the head of the lamp. From what I understand, it acted as sort of a can opener on the underside of the car. I'll post the full damage when I receive the formal estimate. The adjustor stated that he'd informed the dealer to strip down the underside to determine if there is any "non-obvious" damage or anything that might necessitate the car being totalled.

    Agreed that if the adjustor felt the estimate was excessive, he'd have requested a second opinion. Being new to the area, I really don't know the dealer well other than that's where my wife has her Sienna serviced and told the adjustor that I'm relying on his local knowledge to ensure things are done in a first class manner.
     
    #10 LOLGuy, Oct 26, 2005
  11. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I just did alot of asking around and investigating online to recently change my auto insurance.... form what I've found.. you are very blessed and fortunate that Geico is not giving you a real hassle!!!
    I"ve heard they are wonderful.. untill they have to pay!.... maybe they are not all that way.... count your blessings! and hope they don't drop you soon.
     
    #11 windstrings, Oct 26, 2005
  12. tripp

    tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it?

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    Man. That's terrible, but on the otherhand it sounds like you're in one piece. So there's that. Cars are a lot cheaper to fix when there's major damage. ;)

    Cheers,

    Tripp
     
    #12 tripp, Oct 26, 2005
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    A red fluid?

    The CVT lubricant is red. Uh-oh.
     
    #13 jayman, Oct 26, 2005
  14. Mystery Squid

    Mystery Squid Junior Member

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    14 large? I believe it. My mom got a into a small accident with her '02 Civic about 2 years back, ran 10 large, at Kuhn as well (formerly known as, I forgot..lol). You'll probably end up at the same Kuhn body shop as she did. Took just about a month too, so 22 days sounds right.

    To their credit though, the job they did was thoroughly amazing. No way you would ever tell it was in an accident.

    Sorry to hear, always sucks, especially with a car so new. :(
     
    #14 Mystery Squid, Oct 26, 2005
  15. popoff

    popoff New Member

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    Sounds like the adjuster is trying to do a good job for you.

    I would suggest you make sure an experienced body man and a Prius tech look the car over very carefully.

    I had a freak accident in a 2000 Audi a few years ago. There was not much visible damage but I sensed there was more than met the eye. The first estimate came in at 6K. I insisted they take a closer look and they upped the estimate to 9K. After they ordered the parts and started working on it, they found major structural damage, and told me they stopped counting at 20K. I got a brand new 2003 Audi out of it for $250 (the deductibile.)
     
    #15 popoff, Oct 26, 2005
  16. Mystery Squid

    Mystery Squid Junior Member

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    The coolant could also be easily mistaken for red...
     
    #16 Mystery Squid, Oct 26, 2005
  17. MNPrius

    MNPrius New Member

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    So sorry to hear of your accident - but at least you are ok. Keep us posted, I'm with Geico too
     
    #17 MNPrius, Oct 26, 2005
  18. Jack 06

    Jack 06 New Member

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    Using the description you gave of the apparent body damage, and allowing about $7,000 for parts under the approximately 50/50 divison between parts and labor, that's still a lot. Must have gotten into the drivetrain.

    The way Jeb, George and Mike passed out money in Fla. two hurricanes ago (having to red-facedly ask people to give some of it back!), maybe you can get FEMA assistance? :eek:

    What kind of warranty will Kuhn give you on their work? In a case like this, at least, 30 or 90 days doesn't sound like enough.
     
    #18 Jack 06, Oct 27, 2005
  19. Potential Buyer

    Potential Buyer New Member

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    I don't understand why you were going to work at all. I mean, it was a Class 3 hurricane and you knew it was coming ahead of time... many businesses were closed such as the car dealer... it seems inevitable you'd damage your car.
     
    #19 Potential Buyer, Oct 27, 2005
  20. slortz

    slortz New Member

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    His job is taking meals to children's orphanage's and helping the Red Cross prepare for disaster relief...ain't that right, LOLGuy? :D
     
    #20 slortz, Oct 27, 2005
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