Got Into Accident- Need Your Help for Damage Estimate! (Photos Included)

[the great him]

the fact that you hit him from behind is null at the moment he left/"ran" period. it is now a hit and run, he is at fault. if you would have called the cops and had them show up and do a report he would have been listed in the report as being at fault, end of discussion -i ran this by my training officer and several other deputies at the office today, and a friend who is a state trooper. the bottom line is if you leave the scene of an accident for any reason with out stopping and or exchanging info with the other driver(s) then you are at fault, even if the other guy ran a red light and T-bones you, if you leave its now your fault.

that being said if you didnt have the police come and make a report your insurance will fault you and it will go on your record with them so i would do this outta pocket if you dont have a police report to state other wise. from the looks of it you are looking at a bumber that is about $350-400, lower valance that is about $185-250, fender could be upwards of $600 by the time paint is done, that piece below the headlight is around $80-120, and you are looking at at least 6 or so hours of book labor so you will be close to the $2000-2500.

i just had a guy hit me a few weeks ago http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...4runner-vs-ford-probe-not-good-day-probe.html and the estimates where between $1100 and $1600 for that little bit of damage

 

[JWaldz]

regardless of the outcome whether insurance is covering it or not, the damage is minimal(ish) and the parts needing replacement are easily bolt on. It just takes common tools and maybe a helping hand for the bumper. If insurance covers it, then pay your deposit and take it in.

If you have to pay out of pocket you might be able to save on the biggest portion by just pulling the fender back out. If it's not in the way of the passenger door opening and nothing is messed up other then that single corner, pull it out. You can easily find junk yard parts or used parts on ebay.

If you haven't already, you need to have an adjuster come out and check the damage. If you feel there is more damage than what you feel comfortable with fixing yourself then a body shop it is. But if it's something as little as replacing the bumper, grille, headlight, corner light, and pulling the fender out a little you would easily save thousands doing it yourself.

 

[Immortal]

the fact that you hit him from behind is null at the moment he left/"ran" period. it is now a hit and run, he is at fault. if you would have called the cops and had them show up and do a report he would have been listed in the report as being at fault, end of discussion -i ran this by my training officer and several other deputies at the office today, and a friend who is a state trooper. the bottom line is if you leave the scene of an accident for any reason with out stopping and or exchanging info with the other driver(s) then you are at fault, even if the other guy ran a red light and T-bones you, if you leave its now your fault.

that being said if you didnt have the police come and make a report your insurance will fault you and it will go on your record with them so i would do this outta pocket if you dont have a police report to state other wise. from the looks of it you are looking at a bumber that is about $350-400, lower valance that is about $185-250, fender could be upwards of $600 by the time paint is done, that piece below the headlight is around $80-120, and you are looking at at least 6 or so hours of book labor so you will be close to the $2000-2500.

i just had a guy hit me a few weeks ago http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...4runner-vs-ford-probe-not-good-day-probe.html and the estimates where between $1100 and $1600 for that little bit of damage

As I previously stated, I did file a police report after the incident by calling 911.

Though the other posters said that since I hit him from behind, I will be blamed for the accident even though the other driver CAUSED it by braking in the middle of the road. And technically, it is classified as "HIT AND RUN" since the other driver did not stay after the fact. I TRULY hope that my insurance pays for this. What state were you referring to when you mentioned state troopers?

 

[jeeper1]

I just got into a situtation just like yours back in March. Dude jumped into my lane and slammed on the brakes and I slid into his rear bumper in my 350z. All you have to tell the insurance is he slammed on the brakes and took off, which is the truth and your uninsured motorist will cover it. All you have to do is pay for the deductable and your good. Doesnt look as bad as mine did!

I didnt make a police report and I was not blamed at fault and no points or insurance increase was given.

 

[t4r4life]

only thing i see that need to be replaced is the bumper, so 200 bucks would do it and some bending and pounding of the metal that you bent from the accident, just do it your self

 

[Immortal]

I just got into a situtation just like yours back in March. Dude jumped into my lane and slammed on the brakes and I slid into his rear bumper in my 350z. All you have to tell the insurance is he slammed on the brakes and took off, which is the truth and your uninsured motorist will cover it. All you have to do is pay for the deductable and your good. Doesnt look as bad as mine did!

I was not blamed at fault and no points or insurance increase was given.

May I ask what your insurance was and did your insurance require a "Collision Coverage" in order to pay for your claim? And What state?

P.S. Notice the previous poster response regarding "Uninsured Motorist"- do you think his response is more applicable or your perspective is more applicable to my situation? (See Quote BELOW)

I work insurance in california, and if you were one of my clients, this is how it would roll out.

Unfortunately since you hit him from behind, you are at fault, as others have said. Doesnt matter if he slammed the brakes for no reason, law states you should have been following far enough back to avoid him.

Uninsured motorist coverage if you have it will only apply if you are not at fault. Even though he ran, since you are "at fault", with my company, it would not cover it.

For instance, I was driving my truck on a residential road, and a lady pulled out of her driveway to go the way opposite of me, and she came into my lane and side swiped me. She stopped, gave me here info, and didnt have insurance. Since I was deemed not at fault, and they were able to prove she didnt have insurance, my uninsured motorist coverage applied, and i got a nice check. Had i been the one at fault, i would have to use my collision insurance and pay my deductible if i wanted to get my repairs taken care of.

Even if they catch him, and he has insurance, you will still need to file a claim with your company under your collision insurance, or pay out of pocket for your truck. He will get a hefty fine or whatever the law requires for running, but it doesnt change the accident outcome unfortunately.

Hopefully that answers your questions regarding that. Its nearly the same in all states

 

[jeeper1]

I live in california and state farm was my insurance at the time. I just know what happened and what they told me from my experience. I dont really care too much of the law or what they are expected to do. If you have insurance might as well get it taken care of. I see it as you pay all this monthly money into getting covered might as well cover it. I had to call an 800 # to file the claim. Just tell them the truth man, no need to worry about bending it as it will come back and bite you in the arse. Karma if you know what I mean.

 

[the great him]

As I previously stated, I did file a police report after the incident by calling 911.

Though the other posters said that since I hit him from behind, I will be blamed for the accident even though the other driver CAUSED it by braking in the middle of the road. And technically, it is classified as "HIT AND RUN" since the other driver did not stay after the fact. I TRULY hope that my insurance pays for this. What state were you referring to when you mentioned state troopers?

yes i saw you called 911 but did an officer come out to the scene and make a report or did they just note the collusion in the 911 call? -big difference. i live in Washington, but the state trooper that i talked with is an OSP(Oregon) -we deployed together so thats how i know him. if no actual police report was filled out by a police officer then its up to your insurance co and how they decide to deal with things. for what its worth, if this ever happens again, get checked out by medical! im not saying fake an injury or anything like that but request them come a check you out... -several reasons for this; first, if you are hurt you may not know it cause of all the adrenaline from the "action" or situation, and it may take a few(up to 12hrs) to full manifest any issues that may have been cause. this way if it dose take a few hours after the accident you already have the ball rolling and documentation of the accident from a medical standpoint and its a lot easier to have it covered by insurance. secondly, if you are hurt and it is a hit and run, its now an automatic felony, no questions asked, and some states depending on how the laws are written if you have to be treated at the scene by medical that constitutes as an injury, especially if you are transported by an ambulance to a hospital -thats an almost garentee. and no insurance co is gonna fault you in a felony hit and run, even if you rear-ended the guy. they would be crazy to try it, they know they would lose if you fought them on the issue. so yeah just some food for thought.

 

[Immortal]

yes i saw you called 911 but did an officer come out to the scene and make a report or did they just note the collusion in the 911 call? -big difference. i live in Washington, but the state trooper that i talked with is an OSP(Oregon) -we deployed together so thats how i know him. if no actual police report was filled out by a police officer then its up to your insurance co and how they decide to deal with things. for what its worth, if this ever happens again, get checked out by medical! im not saying fake an injury or anything like that but request them come a check you out... -several reasons for this; first, if you are hurt you may not know it cause of all the adrenaline from the "action" or situation, and it may take a few(up to 12hrs) to full manifest any issues that may have been cause. this way if it dose take a few hours after the accident you already have the ball rolling and documentation of the accident from a medical standpoint and its a lot easier to have it covered by insurance. secondly, if you are hurt and it is a hit and run, its now an automatic felony, no questions asked, and some states depending on how the laws are written if you have to be treated at the scene by medical that constitutes as an injury, especially if you are transported by an ambulance to a hospital -thats an almost garentee. and no insurance co is gonna fault you in a felony hit and run, even if you rear-ended the guy. they would be crazy to try it, they know they would lose if you fought them on the issue. so yeah just some food for thought.

Yes. A Police unit came and took a report. I told him that the guy slammed the brake when he got into the right lane and ran. Fortunately, I am OK without any injury.