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Crash !!!

7576 Views 33 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  JOHNNYWISHBONE, 
S
Well, I have had my TDi for two weeks at Boom! Nasty accident.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes the body shop to get parts! I have never had an accident like this, so I am looking for any advice you guys have on dealing with the repair process.

Thanks.

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sportriderseattle
:(

I am so sorry to hear about your misfortune. Actually the damage does not look too bad and there is no major structural damage. I think you'll be fine. First off, take it to the shop of YOUR CHOICE, not one that the insurance company tells you to take it to. In nearly all states it comes down to wherever you want it repaired at.

Luckily, the car is a new design so you have nothing worry about other than getting NEW factory parts.
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C
Oh wow, that sucks. What happened? It looks like it does need a lot of repair because the unibody is dented up. It's not a simple bolt off and replace job. If there are any aftermarket bumpers that you want you might be able to convince them to pay for those instead. I would stay away from fiberglass on the bumpers though cause they will crack.
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chittychittybangbang
Is it just on the left side? Does the hatch open and close without problem? Carefully inspect for even gap along all seams when you get it repaired. Wait a week and then wash it. Brand new paint needs a few days to really harden and then a few weeks before you should wax it. I once had a car where the paint literally came off in the wash after a repair.

Yea, that really sucks. Do you go to Barnard college in NYC?
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S
The damage is on one side. The other car (an Iszzu Trooper) hit my rear wheel and the area behind it. The hatch opens without any problem. The rear wheel is damaged and is a bit crooked. There won't be anyone at the shop to look at it until Monday.
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R
:( Did they have insurance? At least nobody was hurt. A car is replaceable and it could have been worse - they could have hit and run.
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sportriderseattle said:
:(

I am so sorry to hear about your misfortune. Actually the damage does not look too bad and there is no major structural damage. I think you'll be fine. First off, take it to the shop of YOUR CHOICE, not one that the insurance company tells you to take it to. In nearly all states it comes down to wherever you want it repaired at.

Luckily, the car is a new design so you have nothing worry about other than getting NEW factory parts.
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Didn't you say you were an accident investigator? I would have thought that a bent rear quarter would result in major repair because that's not removeable.
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glennmax
1- Get repair quotes from at least (2) dealer body shops to share with insurance adjuster. The dealer body shops will be expensive quotes (don't worry). The other guys insurance adjuster will low-ball the amount.
2- Receive check from insurance payout after negotiating the highest amount possible (good luck)
3- Then get the best NON-dealer body shop around to agree to an amount to fix your Golf. This should cost less than the insurance check amount.
4- Spend the extra money on tint, or wheels, or anything you will enjoy.

Why?
The person who hit you has blemished the history of your car ( resale value )
No matter how nice the repair work is, your car history is branded.
Spend the extra money you fought for on something you will enjoy while owning the car.
The other guys insurance company will try very hard to pay you just barely enough to get your car fixed. That's it. The expensive quotes will help you win the fight for as much money as possible.
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chittychittybangbang said:
Is it just on the left side? Does the hatch open and close without problem? Carefully inspect for even gap along all seams when you get it repaired. Wait a week and then wash it. Brand new paint needs a few days to really harden and then a few weeks before you should wax it. I once had a car where the paint literally came off in the wash after a repair.

Yea, that really sucks. Do you go to Barnard college in NYC?
Click to expand...
One of the kids goes to Barnard - I went to Michigan State (undergraduate) and Arizona State (graduate)
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sportriderseattle
glennmax said:
1- Get repair quotes from at least (2) dealer body shops to share with insurance adjuster. The dealer body shops will be expensive quotes (don't worry). The other guys insurance adjuster will low-ball the amount.
2- Receive check from insurance payout after negotiating the highest amount possible (good luck)
3- Then get the best NON-dealer body shop around to agree to an amount to fix your Golf. This should cost less than the insurance check amount.
4- Spend the extra money on tint, or wheels, or anything you will enjoy.
Click to expand...
Bad advise. Just take your car to the shop you want it fixed at period. If you take it to two places and get "two quotes" which is the old ways insurance companies use to do business, they will certainly pay you the lesser of the two, GUARANTEED. Then they give you a check for that and you end up taking it to the shop you want it taken to anyhow and if it cost more and you signed off on a settlement they may not owe for hidden damage if they find (which they will) new damage.

I was in the insurance field for 7 years (and hated it) but take my advise. :)
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sportriderseattle
ZoomALH said:
Didn't you say you were an accident investigator? I would have thought that a bent rear quarter would result in major repair because that's not removable.
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Yes I am currently an independent accident investigator and have been in the field for 20 years. With quarter panel damage they can place the car on a rack. Your car gets chained down to it so it can not move and then they literally pull on your car from the rear and typically the quarter panel will pull out. From there they simply have to do minor straightening by hand. Worse case scenario, which it does not appear they need to do, they may cut out and place a new quarter panel.

By the way quarter panels ARE removable. They are just panels welded into place. You just can not see the seams as they are finished off to be non-noticeable. You're is likely up in that "C" pillar between the rear side window and the rear hatch window.
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glennmax
The lesser of the two dealer body shop quotes will still be higher than an independent body shop. GUARANTEED. The "new" or "hidden" damage does not have to be overlooked during the the quote process. Ask questions during and after the quote. Slow them down and don't let them rush. Did they examine the suspension components? This is the "new" damage he knows they will find. So, have them find it.
For motivation, think of the car value that has been taken from you and will not be paid.
A 20 year pro could probably elaborate on the usually damaged suspension parts they find during the body repair.

The other guys insurance company will try very hard to pay you just barely enough to get your car fixed.
It will sound like this, "Just take your car to the shop you want it fixed at period."
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sportriderseattle
glennmax said:
The lesser of the two dealer body shop quotes will still be higher than an independent body shop. GUARANTEED. The "new" or "hidden" damage does not have to be overlooked during the the quote process. Ask questions during and after the quote. Slow them down and don't let them rush. Did they examine the suspension components? This is the "new" damage he knows they will find. So, have them find it.
For motivation, think of the car value that has been taken from you and will not be paid.
A 20 year pro could probably elaborate on the usually damaged suspension parts they find during the body repair.

The other guys insurance company will try very hard to pay you just barely enough to get your car fixed.
It will sound like this, "Just take your car to the shop you want it fixed at period."
Click to expand...
Please do not take this personally, or the wrong way but please only give advice on something that you can help someone out on and know something about. Your advise is not good, accurate, realistic or appear to show any level of expertise. That being said, no body shop will spend more than maybe 10 minutes to give an "estimate" on what they can visually see. By looking at this picture, I know there will be hidden damage on this car that no one will be able to see until more or all the parts come off the car. Also, no body shop will spend much time giving an estimate for damages unless they know that they will be getting the job to fix that car; i.e. a signed authorization to begin repairs. If they have any reservations someone is just getting a couple quotes, they will half-ass it knowing the customer will likely not have their car fixed at that shop.

I would never give advice or recommendations on something that I am not a pro about and I suggest you doing the same.
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Good luck on the repair :( don't back down on a perfect repair.
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glennmax
studhilo said:
… so I am looking for any advice you guys have on dealing with the repair process. Thanks.
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Sportriderseattle,
Please do not take this personally, or the wrong way.
Your confrontational opinions of my posts in studhilo’s thread are not what were asked of all of us.

Please remind yourself that this is a public forum for turbo diesels.

sportriderseattle said:
I would never give advice or recommendations on something that I am not a pro about and I suggest you doing the same.
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By your doctrine, if a member of myturbodiesel asks about how to buy tires or modify their car, only someone with tire industry expertise or a certified automotive mechanic should reply with advice or recommendations.
You should not limit your advice or recommendations within this forum to topics that are solely within your profession.
There are other specific forums for professionals.
insurance-forums.net , accidentreconstruction.com

I will continue to feel free to contribute any of my thoughts to any thread within myturbodiesel.com.
1- Because I own one.
2- This is a public forum.
And, I suggest you do the same.
I will add, please refrain from bashing other members you disagree with.
That behavior is unfriendly. :D
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chittychittybangbang
Glennmax, it's the internet so don't take anything too seriously or personally. Sportriderseattle, try adding a smiley face after your comment and it can prevent people from getting too offended. My goal is a friendly forum :) See how that works?
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D
Having read over this thread several times, Sportsrider gave solid rational advice (have your car fixed at the place you want to fix it). Not his fault someone else was offended for not doing the same. While a smiley face is cute, I doubt it would pacify glenmax.

CCRR: You run a great site and I'm impressed that you take the extra time to try and keep the peace on it.
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glennmax
:panic: .........
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chittychittybangbang
glennmax said:
:panic: .........
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that's the spirit :)
DslDawg said:
CCRR: You run a great site and I'm impressed that you take the extra time to try and keep the peace on it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm always tweaking the behind the scenes stuff and adding articles as well.
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Update

Here is the latest. The claims people tell me it is my fault and I will be paying the deductable, so I took the car to a body shop that appears to have a good reputation. It is taking them a few days to get a quote, since they don't have the 2010 Golf TDi parts in their database yet. But they are talking about $6500. I haven't got all the details yet, but got some info about the quarterpannel. The guy from the shop was talking about 19 hours labour to install, etc. He did tell me that they order the parts from VW, so I should get genuine replacement parts.

Insurance company tell me that since I have been with them for 20 some years without incident, this shouldn't impact my rates.

Keep the discussion going. I am learning a lot. Never been ini a crash before, so this is all new to me.
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