4Runner got hit today and need some help (pic inside)

A

ace50421

New member
My wife got hit and it was the other persons fault. The at fault insurance company uses a couple different car dealership repair shops to do their body work. One being a Ford dealer and the other being a Chevy dealer. Any problems taking it to one of the body shops they recommend? Any hints or tips to make this easier for me?

It also appears some of the 4Runners on this sight have an FJ grill that says "TOYOTA" and I love that look. Where did you get that and is it a lot of modifying to put it on. Thanks.

NNa4oAf.jpg
 
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In Washington State we have the right to specify who we want to do the repair work. The insurance company will 'recommend' whomever will do it the cheapest. I highly recommend you do some research on these shops and some of your own. If your state allows, pick your own shop and insist on all OEM replacement parts - meaning they shouldn't use cheap cloned parts.

A really long time ago I was in a crash that resulted in a lot of front end damage (I was young, it was red, 'nuff said). The shop I took it to repaired it back to new, or as far as I could tell, but when I took it to the dealer for service later that year the guy instantly knew it was in a crash. He said there wasn't a single hose, wire or conduit that was in it's original location. The body shop basically kludged it back together.
 
Be sure to check the paint work out really well upon delivery. Look at it from the side as well as straight on, from the side well tell you if theres any difference in color match. That color is a bit challenging to match if their replacing the bumper and not blending the fenders. If you have a chance talk with the shop manager about blending the paint. Speaking from expierence.
 
Don't call your insurance, they don't need to know about it because you weren't at fault. They could raise your payment because you were involved in an accident. Like they said above you should be able to choose who does the work, I'd start looking for the best body shops in your area.
 
Vizwar said:
In Washington State we have the right to specify who we want to do the repair work. The insurance company will 'recommend' whomever will do it the cheapest. I highly recommend you do some research on these shops and some of your own. If your state allows, pick your own shop and insist on all OEM replacement parts - meaning they shouldn't use cheap cloned parts.

A really long time ago I was in a crash that resulted in a lot of front end damage (I was young, it was red, 'nuff said). The shop I took it to repaired it back to new, or as far as I could tell, but when I took it to the dealer for service later that year the guy instantly knew it was in a crash. He said there wasn't a single hose, wire or conduit that was in it's original location. The body shop basically kludged it back together.
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I live in AZ and we can pick our own repair shop and that is what I actually planned on doing. I figured this paint would be a ***** to match perfectly.
 
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Bummer to see that happen, but if it were me I wouldn't get so bent out of shape (no pun intended) in getting a Shrockworks front bumper to replace it.
 
ace50421 said:
I love in AZ and we can pick our own repair shop and that is what I actually planned on doing. I figured this paint would be a ***** to match perfectly.
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Similar thing happened to me 3 weeks after I got my car (a guy backed into my driver's side pretty hard. Screwed up the rear door and rocker panel). :doh:

I would suggest that you find out if your Toyota dealership has a body shop. Then you can make sure they use OEM parts. Also, I made them re-paint the area around the door too to make sure that it all blended and matched. Granted, magnetic grey is probably a little more forgiving than the BP.

As for the satoshi grill, read through this:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/109347-adio3xs-satoshi-grille-order-thread.html
 
When I lived in the Phoenix area you got to pick your repair shop. However, dealers don't always have the best ones, because they don't specialize in accident repair. I suggest you go to a well recommended body - repair shop and require OEM parts be used. Also have them check for hidden damage, although a reputable body shop will do so anyway. I've been out of Arizona too long to recommend anyone - sorry.
 
At least in NC, your insurance can't change if you aren't at fault. Your insurance company has an interest in your car being repaired correctly and well on someone else's dime. The can get theist out of the other insurance company and you can have the repairs done at the shop if your choice. Your insurance company has their own lawyers that can handle all of this at no extra cost to you.
 
LuckyRunnerLTD said:
Don't call your insurance, they don't need to know about it because you weren't at fault. They could raise your payment because you were involved in an accident. Like they said above you should be able to choose who does the work, I'd start looking for the best body shops in your area.
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The OP is in Arizona, which is probably among the many states where insurance companies report any loss to a central record keeping system that other insurance companies can, and do, access. Just as they can access your DMV driving record. So whether or not ace50421 reports this accident directly to his insurance company isn't likely to matter.

BTW many states also have a law where your insurance company is barred from raising your rates based on any accident in which you are not 51% at fault. For example California has that law, and based on MuddyDuck's post it sounds like North Carolina does too. In addition some major companies will not raise your rates (regardless of what state you're in) under those circumstances. Such as State Farm where your rates are not affected by any accident where you are less than 51% at fault, AND the loss is not more than $1,000.
 
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ace50421 said:
I love in AZ and we can pick our own repair shop and that is what I actually planned on doing. I figured this paint would be a ***** to match perfectly.
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You can definitely use your own shop as long as the estimate is reasonable. While you're technically supposed to notify your insurance company of any accident, I wouldn't bother UNLESS you're have a problem dealing with the other parties insurance company.

Be prepared for a paint match issue with the BP (or any color for that matter). They will likely blend the front bumper in with the fenders to garner a better match. The paint mismatch will really stand out after the work is done but this has to do with the fact that you know it's been repainted and you're obviously looking for the difference. If you look at all the new white 4Runners people are posting, you'll clearly notice that the front and rear bumpers don't really match straight from the factory. This has to do with the bonding agents used when painting plastic vs metal. All colors show a difference but white seems to show it the worst!

I was an auto claims adjuster years ago so I may be able to help you if you have any claims-related questions.

Good luck! Don't forget, you DO NOT have to accept the repairs done by the shop until your satisfied. If something doesn't look right, make them fix it no matter how many tries it takes them.
 
definitely find your own repair shop. my 87 Cressida rear passenger quarter panel had to be replaced and the body shop I went to didn't weld the c-pillar correctly but wasn't noticed until a year later. was not happy with them and never went back. forward 20 years later and my 1st choice was so back logged with repairs I couldn't get it in for 3-6 months later. 2nd choice was the one I had the bad experience, but under new owners. night and day difference in quality.

sadly my Toyota dealer no longer has a body shop and farms everything out to the 1st and 2nd choice repair shops as they do better and cheaper work than they did, hence the reason they closed up the body shop.

comes down to your insurance policy. I know at state farm when they price out the repair they may use all or part OEM replacement depending on the approved repair shop they use locally.

With state regulations spotty, car insurance companies have broad discretion in deciding whether OEM, generic or recycled parts are used in a particular car repair. Whatever restores the car to its "pre-loss condition" is usually the operative term.
"We do prescribe recycled parts if they are appropriate, and when their use would restore the car to its pre-loss condition," says Dick Luedke, spokesperson for State Farm Insurance. "If it's an older vehicle, and the right parts aren't available, we'll match the vehicle with a similar part that was made after market."
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Jeff M said:
You can definitely use your own shop as long as the estimate is reasonable. While you're technically supposed to notify your insurance company of any accident, I wouldn't bother UNLESS you're have a problem dealing with the other parties insurance company.

Be prepared for a paint match issue with the BP (or any color for that matter). They will likely blend the front bumper in with the fenders to garner a better match. The paint mismatch will really stand out after the work is done but this has to do with the fact that you know it's been repainted and you're obviously looking for the difference. If you look at all the new white 4Runners people are posting, you'll clearly notice that the front and rear bumpers don't really match straight from the factory. This has to do with the bonding agents used when painting plastic vs metal. All colors show a difference but white seems to show it the worst!

I was an auto claims adjuster years ago so I may be able to help you if you have any claims-related questions.

Good luck! Don't forget, you DO NOT have to accept the repairs done by the shop until your satisfied. If something doesn't look right, make them fix it no matter how many tries it takes them.
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Thank you. I will be taking in on Friday to get the estimate done. If I have questions I will not hesitate to ask.
 
ace50421 said:
My wife got hit and it was the other persons fault. The at fault insurance company uses a couple different car dealership repair shops to do their body work. One being a Ford dealer and the other being a Chevy dealer. Any problems taking it to one of the body shops they recommend? Any hints or tips to make this easier for me?

It also appears some of the 4Runners on this sight have an FJ grill that says "TOYOTA" and I love that look. Where did you get that and is it a lot of modifying to put it on. Thanks.

NNa4oAf.jpg
Click to expand...

This is pretty depressing. I bought the vehicle new in August 2013. It only has 3100 miles on it. Talk about diminished value :(
 
sorry to hear. but on a side note, isn't there another thread where a white one just like yours was hit in the same spot recently?
 
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