Sad day yesterday.. I'm on my way to work traveling down a two lane road, when all the sudden a white Ford Ranger is right in front of me.. Slammed on the breaks, but it wasnt enough.. I slammed into him..
him being a highschool kid on his way to school. He was "waved on" he says by a car stopped in the right lane, im traveling in the left remember. He didnt even creap up and look left!! Just slowly went on out..

Long story short: I now need a new hood, grill, bumper, lights, possibly fenders (or they just need to be re-aligned) they're budged over a bit. And well, lets hope but some possible front end damage as in frame, steering components etc could be involved.

His insurance will be covering it (once i get the ball rolling, or should i say the cops get the paperwork rolling, slow fkrs)

NOW, suggestions on a new color? Cause they better spring for a new paint job! It's a white 1992 SE 5 sp, tan seats, black dash.
Was thinking about going smoke grey.

Any mechanics around the Springfield Massachusetts area? Make a buck with me ah. Id love to do all the work myself, and turn around and buy an exhaust maybe more. But unfortunetly i dont think im going to be able to. Will need reciepts lol

Im completely miserable right now, It's memorial day weekend, nice out, I wanted to get out of town this weekend. Now i will be stuck home

 

Sorry to hear..

His insurance company will probably total the car...

 

That's what I'm worried about.. KBV is not that much, and it's going to be pricey.
So un-realistic and un-fair to me if they do. I worked my *** off and spent a good deal of money on this car. I LOVE IT.
Their methods for calling a car totalled are beyond unrealistic, the car is NOT totalled, its fine. But if the price exceeds half of what they say its worth, they total.
Then i rip a bumper off the nearest wrecked car and hit the insurance agent over the head

Im not very experienced in this area, I wonder if a civil lawsuit would work, sue the kid whos at fault.

Cause I see NO reason why I should be punished for someone elses mistake.

 

If they total it,just buy it back from the insurance company with the money you get from the accident,then use the remainder of the money to fix it back..

 

What a bummer. At least you were not injured.

vibes+ for you and a speedy resolution of your problem.

 

This is pretty common for that kind of accident. Especially with these cars. Even if you didn't want to fix it up, you could probably buy it back for a few hundred and part it out and make more money.

 

Keep it the same color. If you change colors you sill see the white when you open the doors, around the firewall etc. Maybe go for a white with some pearl in it.

 

Im unclear on this insurance business... how is it that you have to buy back a car that is yours. I only had a single minor accident when I had just started driving, so I dont have experience in dealing with these companies.

Its good that you're not injured, hope you get the car back on the road!

 

When any insurance totals a car,they technically "buy" the wrecked car from you for what it was worth prior to being totaled..

 

pics? You might have bent the core support, but most everything else is bolt off/on.

Make sure you have no injuries at all!! Dont let them get away w/o paying for them if you do.

~Alex

 

man. im soooo sorry!!!
Go smoke grey! :P

 

i will get pics tomorrow, went to get pics and the digital cam battery died.
it doesnt look to bad, but def needs new front end.

if they total it, im buying it back and fixing it, and hoping to have leftover money.

not sure about the paint, saying to keep it white.. i wont get a maaco paintjob, wont a good place paint everywhere?

 

would it be a good idea to try and pull the fenders and front bumper cover before they estimate it? so they and you can see the frame+inner apron?

if money wasnt a factor can these minor frame bend accidents(basically if the bumper mount part of the frame gets crooked ahead of the strut towers)
can they be fixed so they are just as strong or stronger than original?agian if money wasnt a factor ...just spaeking of capabilitys of body shops and welders?
i think ive heard of swapping whole front clips?
and when they make a limo dont they cut the frame and add a section and re weld?

 

total it....but dont take their first offer on how much its worth. print out the kbb value of it and any receipts on recent work, that will help you get a better price.

then part it out and buy a different maxima...

 

ya i agree. if they total it, buy it & fix it.

 

92 5sp maximas in the shape mine is in, arent exactly everywhere around me.. im not parting it out and finding another one.

i bought it from a dealer about 2 months ago, so i will use that reciept for what the cars worth. KBB value is different for private party/dealer.. its about a $1000 difference.

No recent work on it, it hasnt needed anything, just some good oil/filter, changed the gear oil with good stuff, and a k&n air filter.

its been a holiday weekend, so i couldnt go do nothing with my car yet, since its in a tow yard. I wanna take it out, but if i do that on tuesday, I get the bill.. which then i have to give to his insurance, but i wanna take it out and get an estimate on it from a good local collision and frame repair shop.
might just have to take time off of work on tuesday

 

I have come to know that you can usually find Maximas for the low low on craigslist.org

 

Update.. finalled got it appraised, and my own quote from a good local body shop. Its at the body shop NOW, waiting for paperwork and my X saying to go ahead woohoo

Here's some pics of the damage.

 

oh, wow. Not as bad as I was thinking.... You could probably get away with the hood, bumper cover, headlights, and a little bit of frame work by the radiator.

 

exactly what it is, well.. little more

hood
grill
bumper
left light
right and left fenders need to be re-aligned, that smack to the radiator support tweaked them
but i agree that the radiator support isnt that bad, but they may replace it anyways. It is knocked pretty good from the hood hitting into it.

air bag censors?? mine didnt go off. those might need to be reset or shut off, cause i dont want them blowing up in my face when i hit a pothole!

 

damn that sucks, I've also been getting lucky by stupid drivers around me lately. I think there's hope for your car still, as mentioned it looks like you just need a few JY parts and you're good to go, I think you can get a nice hammer and pound the core support SOMEWHAT into shape, that IS if you want it fixed cheap, I'd have a shop do the frame work and you can take care of the rest

 

Don't feel bad. I totaled my GXE against the rear bumper of a suburban. (yea just the rear bumper) insurance totaled it and gave me its value, around $2600. So I took it to my mechanic, who helps me do everything for free cause he loves cars, or he's crazy.. and restored the biyatch. Ran BETTER and had a new paint job.

Month later, some crazy asians waves over an asian woman to go ahead and make her left turn on the yield on green and I took out her front and hit a pole. (30-35 mph).

Couldnt restore it again, it had taken almost a year. But I got the same value out of it again..

Color? I would go with a nice metallic grey or graphite color. Always thought that looked real nice.

 

like they have said changing color would require that you do the firewall and inner door jams so i would juz recommend another white paint job or a white with pearl in it not total color change unless you plan on ripping out the engine and all interior to get it all painted correctly.

 

man. all i have to say is you totally have it easy! My max had a hood that was crushed halfway and the bumper cover/hood latch/frame/and grill were screwed.
Me and my dad bent it 3 inches forwards to get the new hood i have now on the poor thing.
Just go to a junkyard. Or salvage yard. I know where you could get a light cheap and a grille.

 

Why are you making a big deal about such minor damage? Let the insurance company total it, deduct the $100 or whatever the salvage is and go get a new bumper, hood and headlight. All this talk about suing a kid who made a common driving mistake and beating the insurance agent over the head just makes you look like an a$$. First of all, the agent has nothing to do with whether or not the car will be totalled or not, that would be up to the claims adjuster or the appraiser who actually inspects the car. And consider yourself lucky if they total your car. Personally I hope they just repair the damage because judging from your comments, I think that's about all you deserve. You sure aren't entitled to any color changes so enough with the "NOW what color should i paint, they better spring for it", and have some sympathy for the kid instead of contemplating a lawsuit. Ugh.

 

Now those are fighting words, so much rage in that last post lol

 

Heh, it's not that harsh is it? Kind of touched a nerve though. My dad is an insurance agent, and I wouldn't want some policy holder talking about whipping him with a Maxima bumper. Especially for something he has no control over and ironically, would benefit the claimant.

 

Personally I'd hate for my car to have a salvaged title... what would be the advantages since you make it sound like a good thing?

 

the advantage is financial.
these cars don't really matter whether it has a salvage title or not anymore.

 

^Exactly. Total loss = free car or better. For example, you buy your car for $1,500 off Craigslist, get hit, claims dept compares your car with 3 on Autotrader where cars are listed @ retail. You recieve $2200 plus you get to keep your car and fix it.

 

In georgia you cannot drive a salvaged car, you need to have a certified rebuilder fix it, then have it inspected by the state... Real pita. Now I bought mine in vermont salvaged, went to register it, and they gave a me a Clean title .

 

oooow. I hate to see those pics. Sorry to hear about your accident. The max should be fine after the work.

 

good luck with that because it's not happening. good luck with the fix

 

Why?
Because I just bought the car 3 months ago for $3300, its a VERY clean, in excellent shape Maxima SE. It was worth every penny to me, I love the car.
It's my first car since I was 21, and got into trouble..

I did my time, Ive had my share of having to pay for my own mistakes (never caused an accident though)

So as Ive had to pay for MY mistakes, so should ANY person at fault for an accident. I was nice to the kid when he hit me, sitting against a guard rail shooting the **** with him, sure I was stressed out, but its not like I beat his a$$. I understood it was an ACCIDENT!
But regardless, that doesnt mean im going to say "Oh dont worry about it, its cool"
Bottom line to this story was, I planned on fighting tooth and nail. I was NOT willing to spend a single DIME for something that was 100% not my fault.
And i wanted my car back 100% how it was prior to the accident, by any means..
If it took a lawsuit, so be it. He's 17, he will (would have) bounced right back. No big deal, we all have mistakes in life, we HAVE to be held accountable when we do.

And the insurance claim agent I had thruought this, was a woman, with a nice voice. I was obviously joking about anything with hitting with a bumper. haha.. If anything, Id take her out to dinner and show her my OOO face!
So back off, and dont tell me what I do or do not deserve.

I deserved my car to be fixed back to its original condition, no ifs ands or buts.
Not my fault your dad works for the devil (car insurance) I dont hold them personally accountable, just who they represent.
Its a terrible system which needs updated regulations. If youre NOT at fault.. well, no more questions, your vechicle should be fixed at ANY cost.
If YOU'RE at fault.. and the damage exceeds the cars worth.. Total away! It was your bad, time to pay for your mistake.


Now onto other things said

My first posts were before most talking, appraisals etc. Im obviously keeping the original paint color now, they only will paint the parts being replaced.
And like others have said, A salvage title sucks in most states. In massachusetts I would have to do the state inspection also, which is incredibly picky! And realistically I would have failed.. So I would have taken a check for $2500 (after owning the car 2 months driving, for $3300)
Do what with the money? Fix the car, try the state inspection and get rejected? now i have a car for parts or serious repair all over to pass. cause its an insane inspection.
IF they totalled it, i would have had to take the money, and sell the car as parts..


So anyways, car will be done on monday. I will post pictures of the new front end.

 

All I was saying is that you aren't entitled to a brand new paint job and color change. It's true that SOME insurance companies will try and settle claims while paying out the least amount possible, there are plenty of honest companies who will give full value for losses. Although just because you paid $3,300 for the car, it doesn't mean that is what the car will be valued at. You have to consider depriciation and whether or not you overpaid for the car.

I understand where you're coming from though. I was in the same boat 5 months after I bought my car for $2800 with 87k on the clock. The least I wanted was for them to fix the damage and for me not to have to pay or lose anything, they ended up totalling it, and it worked out for the best. It's really not hard to fix a total when you just have to replace a fender, bumper, hood and even core support. Shouldn't be hard to pass inspection. The most expensive part of the repair is the paint, and I doubt any state bases the inspection on whether or not the front end matches. If It were my car i'd probably be disappointed that they didn't total it, although it seems you just wanted it fixed and not branded, so hopefully you're happy.

Of course if there are laws like the GA one Goon is talking about, throw what I said out the window, because you can't do any of the work yourself, which means you don't benefit from getting a free project car

 

Yea, my state is like goon said. All the work done to the vehicle would need to be professional, or at least brand new parts with receipts to pass the state police ran inspection. But, i heard if the cars 10 years or older, you dont have to do the inspection.. But then your car wont ever have a clean title again.
If they totalled it, that was the option i was headed for, wouldve depreciated the value ALOT.
And thanks Im definitely happy now that everyone got taken care of for me, i was lucky to have a good body shop that has a good relationship with the appraisals people..

 

Bla I know exactly how you feel dude, except it looks like you're in a better spot than I am at the moment. I'm about to sue the guy, I just need to obtain a copy of the official police report and my lawyer will be taking care of the rest Yea I wont get much and yes it'll mostly go to the lawyer but at least I'll get my car fix assuming everything's all swell. Beside I just wanna teach the other driver a lesson on not telling the person he drove into "Go FFFF yourself" when you ask for insurance information

 

yea, sorry man that sounds like a rougher situation..

got mine back finally, heres pics of the "new" front end. I had to bring it back again today though, I wasnt happy with what they called "done". They left my passenger side fender stickin out about a quarter inch, the passenger blinker was out about a half inch (plastic connecting bracket broke). The grille was WAY out of line.. AND the bumper, they just painted the one that got hit.. but i dont think im getting a new one.. You cant really see whats wrong in the pics, but I can see it.. the little "slots" near the parking lights. they got "crimped" in alittle bit. Everyone just says "oh it was probably like that before the accident, you wont get any better". But I know its from the accident.. at least they did alot more today, lines are alot cleaner and lining up now since I wasnt letting it be finished like that! Now its just the bumper.. im still going to try for a replacement bumper cover, but my expectations arent good. And I wont bother going after the kid at fault for it i dont think.. not worth the time spent trying to get a .. how much is a bumper cover? Not alot. Paints more.



these slots, to the right and left of the license plate.. the plastic inside is crimped up..

 

*twiches* now im going for a drive!! haha
hm maybe I was better off without this car, its to addicting to drive aimlessly, damn gas prices!

 

damn dude lucky you! I'm getting 2 doors and a bumper from the JY tomorrow and fix it myself...I'll just pay myself later after my lawyer gets the money back from the guy that hit me