This afternoon I got rearended by a truck at a stoplight, it was a slow collision(4-5mph) but it cracked the big plastic reflecter in the middle of the trunk(the thing that says maxima) and a tiny crack in the passenger-side taillight. It also pushed the taillight in. I took the trunk apart to see if there was any sheet metal damage but there wasn't. my question is, how can I bring the taillight back out flush? Can I put rubber shims between the body and the light to bring it out flush or shoud i just push on the back of the tailight until it is flush?

 

you need to take the car to a REAL body shop and let them fix it.

you need to call back the guy that hit you and make hime pay for it. you're looking at a new trunklid, reflector, and tail light. well over $1500 in damage after you repaint the new trunklid.

 

why do I need a new trunk lid? it doesnt appear to be damaged, just a crack across the reflecter, I probably will take it to the bodyshop for the tail light though...

 

if it cracked then some pressure was put on the sheet metal behind it to make it crack...unless it was just cracked like i got hit w/ a baseball.
in your case u said it looks like it pushed the tailight in...so the sheet metal behind the light is bent..that's a good indication the force was strong enough to bend the metal in the trunk.

a good body shop can repair the bend if it's not too bad...but get ready to get another trunk lid.

 

Alright, thanks for the explanation, I'll take it to my bodyshop tomorrow and get it appraised, My local junkyard has a 91 SE parts car and going to get the reflector from it. The reflector looks like it was "cracked just like a baseball hit it." The whole taillight wasn't pushed in it was just the top corner by the reflector... I'm going to still go to the body shop but I'm trying to get off without spending much money. It was my buddy who rearended me so I was hoping I could fix it my self so I didn't have to bring the insurance company into it...

 

worse case you just have to get a new reflector w/ a new trunk and maybe adjust the taillight.

 

When you really think about it, who cares, the guy hit you so make him pay for new parts. I know I would rather have new parts than used parts if at all possible.

 

I have no-fault insurance (like most people), so if I make a claim won't both my insurance and his insurance rates go up?

With my insurance, he is at fault for rearending me, but I also am at fault too... oddly enough(well at least I think it is odd), If I had backed into him he would also be at fault(I guess because he would have been to close to begin with), but again the the fault is shared....

 

I had a very similar thing happen; trunklid and driver side light. Car was parked correctly and hit by driver insured by 21 century, damaging 2 other cars apparently.

What's a good body shop in Los Angeles.

Any experience with 21st century or other advice.

Do I get a maxima rental :-)

The car is old and the bumper has these hairline cracks all over it. How is this going to look with new parts?

Should I fix first or call 21st before fixing it?

 

If you need it, I have a reflector I just shaved off my car. I would sell the reflector for next to nothing if you wanted to pay shipping.

 

I worked for an insurance company over the summer - the last thing you wan't to do is go through insurance... sad to say but if your're technically not at fault (as in this case) you have to be a big @sshole, although you might be the nicest guy in the world...

This is what ALL my co-workers told me...
1) immediately grab all the info, insurance policy #, driver's licence #, licence plates, phone number #, etc.
2) if the laws are similar down there, you have like 24-48 hours to make the claim/report it to a colission centre... don't, explain to the other driver that you are willing to take cash from him to repair the damage (even if it is really minor) - otherwise you'll report it.
3) the other driver being totally at fault (and not knowing that you have that no-fault insurance - or even colission coverage for that matter) will more than likely agree - claim a rear end, and your screwed.

End result: he's happy you didn't claim/report, so are you, plus you have cash for repairs.

But that's just what I was told - I don't think I would be an @ss to a guy/girl who just had an accident. I know how it feels like to be the person who hit the car .

 

no fault usually only applies to bodily injury, not auto body damage. you either have collision coverage or not. new york liability makes us have underinsured/uninsured motorist in it which i believe is connected to no fault, but again it only covers people damage

 

Interesting to know ... BTW what is that car in your sig?

 

Ok.. you can stop posting on this thread, the car is really totaled now... I wish it was only a $1500 fix now

 

49-50 mercury. good old lead sled