You Gotta Be Kidding Me...

[shane82388]

I was going to get gas yesterday and I got plowed in to, reverse T-Bone style by a minivan and some teenage girl driving.

She was at a gas pump and i was just driving in the parking lot behind her on my way to the other side of the gas pumps and she inexplicably just started reversing...apparently without looking behind her at all.

It didnt hit too hard but my car's quarter panel is pretty dented in. The car runs an drives totally fine, its just the sheet metal it appears.

She totally admitted fault and was really apologetic but WOW...this sucks. I have liability only insurance at the moment but since its totally her fault her insurance should be covering it, but im not sure how that works really just incase the damage is over the value of the car...I mean can her insurance company even potentially total my car since they dont even insure me?

I made a claim with my insurance company and they contacted their insurance company and so i guess the ball is rolling on that or whatever but yeah...if anyone has any tips or experience with this kind of a thing, please feel free to send em' my way.

I'll attach a picture so you can see...

[KnudsonsM3]

wow sucky way to total a car :(

hope youre ok though!

[graphite9]

wow, everyones M's are getting smashed. Sorry to hear

[mmark.]

This Shite burns.
Mine got damaged on the left rear quarter by some silly bint who thought it would be fun to make a right turn out of a mandatory left turn only lane.
On top of that, the E36 M3 values nose dived shortly afterwards.
My plans to trade it up for a Lotus Elise went to hell.
I'm pretty much stuck with it now.
Oddly enough, the car is now cheaper to retag than my 87 GTI.

m

[Inicent Child]

I wouldn't total it from that.

[alanilil]

That's gonna be expensive. Sucks she didn't hit your door instead.


The damage could be $3-4k to weld a new quarter skin on and paint.

Depending on how much your car is worth it could be close to totaled.

Get an estimate from a good shop and take if from there.

[shane82388]

Oh god i dont want it totaled AT ALL...I want THIS car FOREVER. Seems like it took that long just to save for it and find it...

Yeah i mean i dont think its gonna be totaled but its just a worry in the back of my head because im paranoid and have pretty horrible luck with most things in life.

[Volf]

There's an old saying that goes hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

[Uraharasan]

I took a harder hit than that this past St. Patty's day...drink kid in a Ram rear ended me at a light. Ended up being $4600 in repairs for the bumper, tail lights, trunk and driver's side QP to be replaced.

Didn't total it out, thankfully, so you should be good to go. Just don't ask for a "new" QP to be put in...try to get one from any other E36 coupe around so long as it isn't damaged.

[l1ttlej7]

Hey man you are good as far as being covered my insurance. The liability would only cover you if you hit someone and that person was injured, you'd have to pay for the damages out of pocket for the other car. However, since you were not at fault and assuming that she does have collision you will be covered. Depending on the insurance agency they will total a car out if the damages are between 70-80% of the total value of the car (if the car is worth 10k and the damages are from 7-8k they will total it). You will prolly be ok.

Most companies will give you the option of taking some money and paying the rest out of pocket. So if the car is worth 10k and the damages are 8k they may give you 6k with a salvage title or something like that. Like I said you will be fine though I don't think will total it out, GL either way man.

[weaksauce]

i hope her insurance company doesn't deny your claim since it was in a paring lot. Lots of times parking lot accidents get filed as no-fault and each persons insurance covers thier own car.

if so your going to get boned for only having liability.

[M13]

If it's totaled, there might be a few things I would like from it.

I hope it works out though.

[breakfast]

:/

[alanilil]

Hey man you are good as far as being covered my insurance. The liability would only cover you if you hit someone and that person was injured, you'd have to pay for the damages out of pocket for the other car.

That's not true. Liability insurance covers damage you to other peoples property, injuries, etc..

Collision covers damage to your car caused by you hitting stuff. Comprehensive covers theft, mother nature, etc.

The OP's insurance will not cover the damage if he has liability only. He will need to go after the person that hit him for the damages.

[jasonslackisrad]

If the car does get totaled, take the money, and buy the car back from the insurance co for cheap.

take the money, get it fixed.

you will have a salvaged title, but you'll still have the car.

[Jrcanes55]

BRO! we're dent buddies I have the exact same dent in the exact same place only in my case it was my fault because I was looking at the wrong light at the intersection I was at. Got hit by a guy in a Honda. Sad part was my car drove away and his entire front bumper fell off. I got a quote for the repair it's gonna be about 1.7-2k. But the worst part was two days later my mom backed into the front left of my car so now I have two dents. =(

[l1ttlej7]

alanilil, right, if he had hit her then the repairs to her car would be covered by his liability coverage but the damage to his car would have to be paid out of pocket, however, since it's the opposite then he should be covered because it doesn't matter what his coverage is if he's not fault. If there is no fault then it will have to paid out of pocket.

[kevinwilly]

All I can tell you is that I got hit last year. Lady hit my car while it was parked. MY insurance company said for them to repair it, they would use my collision deductible because it was hit by another car.

I thought it should have been comprehensive, as I was not in the car at the time. Like if a tree branch fell on it. I think soccer moms fall into the same category if I'm not driving.

But- this is not the case. At least in NC. I mean- they said that I would pay the deductible, and they'd go after her insurance for everything and I'd get the deductible back, so whatever- and it would not increase my rates, obviously... but I was a bit miffed that it was under collision. Even though I have $100 deductible on collision on all my cars.

The reason it angers me is that on my motorcycles, I only have comp, because collision is insanely expensive.... and if someone hit them with a car while parked, according to my insurance company, they would not be covered- so if it was a hit and run, I might be screwed. But maybe if it's a hit and run, they put it under comp, I dunno.

Insurance is such bull. Thankfully, all the people that hit my car ended up settling out of pocket, because hitting a parked car must REALLY make your premiums go up, lol....

[l1ttlej7]

^damn parked car just popped out right in front of me-haha!

True though it really depends on your insurance company and how they want to handle everything with the other insurance companies, body shop, etc...

the basic moral of the story is that if you own a black M3 expect to have it hit by soccer moms, teenage girls rocking out to miley cyrus, and old Asian women because black M3s seem to be a magnet for crappy drivers...

[nighthawk328i]

i hope her insurance company doesn't deny your claim since it was in a paring lot. Lots of times parking lot accidents get filed as no-fault and each persons insurance covers thier own car.

if so your going to get boned for only having liability.

This is exactly what happened to me a few months ago. I was inside a wal mart and my 328i got hit while it was parked. I only had liability and since it got hit in a parking lot it was ruled a no fault accident because it was in a private lot. Obviously my insurance didn't cover it so I got screwed out of a car.

[autoE34]

BRO! we're dent buddies I have the exact same dent in the exact same place only in my case it was my fault because I was looking at the wrong light at the intersection I was at. Got hit by a guy in a Honda. Sad part was my car drove away and his entire front bumper fell off. I got a quote for the repair it's gonna be about 1.7-2k. But the worst part was two days later my mom backed into the front left of my car so now I have two dents. =(



:'[

[shane82388]

Well I'm pretty sure California doesn't have that bullsh*t "get out of jail free card law for parking lots" so im thinking it shouldnt effect me but i dono...still waiting to hear from their insurance company...

either way, its a very uneasy feeling right now.

[kevinwilly]

I think if you SEE the person hit your car in a parking lot, they don't just get away with it anywhere. The grey area comes in when you come out and just find a dent or whatever.

I can't imagine that someone can just hit your car right in front of you and totally get away with it. If that is the case, I'd have bought a beater truck with a brushguard and followed around people I don't like until they get into parking lots and let them have it a LONG time ago...

[BeansM3]

That really sucks bro, I hope you come out better than before!

[kingchris]

I can't imagine that someone can just hit your car right in front of you and totally get away with it. If that is the case, I'd have bought a beater truck with a brushguard and followed around people I don't like until they get into parking lots and let them have it a LONG time ago...

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/images/smilies/laughhard.gif

[l1ttlej7]

I'd have bought a beater truck with a brushguard and followed around people I don't like until they get into parking lots and let them have it a LONG time ago...

Is that why you follow me all over the place...?:shifty

[tEckniks]

...I want THIS car FOREVER.

lmfao.. keep telling yourself that.

[scottyp]

pics of girl?

[weaksauce]

Well I'm pretty sure California doesn't have that bullsh*t "get out of jail free card law for parking lots" so im thinking it shouldnt effect me but i dono...still waiting to hear from their insurance company...

either way, its a very uneasy feeling right now.

well keep us posted.

[wildbill990]

Her insurance will cover it all even if they total it. I got t boned by a woman making a left turn at an intersection on my ducati. She admitted gault, bike was totaled, cut me a check, bought bike back for pennies. Sold the bike to friend w/ salvage title which he is getting inspected when fixed for a reconstructed title. As long as you don't have any probs w the insurance they should take care of it all and it took about a month to get my check. Just need a shop to send a quote to her insurance. Each state varies a little so check with the insurance in Cali too. Good luck and sorry to hear. It be a shame to total that lovely cosmos M.

[shane82388]

Ok so i haven't gotten any repair estimates but the insurance adjuster guy came out a few minutes ago and checked out my car. He said its "gonna be close" and could be a total.

He said it will need a new quarter panel and could cost "2, 3, 4 thousand dollars"...I was just thinking like, well which is it, 2 or 4?...or 3?

I could tell he was just trying not to say much. Took a bunch of pictures and then left. I asked if i should get quotes from body shops now? He said "well different shops have different rates..." and kind of left it at that. Um...Really? lol

He said "You'll hear from the insurance company."

What should I do now? Go get estimates?

[l1ttlej7]

Ya go get estimates. Most places do free estimates and you can also talk with them to see if you sway them in whatever direction you want (in this one to not total it). You can show the company that you go to other places and get it fixed for less, which I would think would be a good thing for them since they have to shell out less money. It'll give you a good idea about how much it'll cost, 2, 3, or 4. Only thing you have to worry about is that some insurance companies will force you to go to a place that they consider reputable (whatever that really means). Sometimes you can fight it but it is a PITA. Good look man, keep us posted.

[MPRESV]

I got t boned by a woman...

I read this and at first didn't see the 't'. Then I wondered if the woman looked like this:

http://184.72.239.143/mu/a6cd0baf-0eb3-9723.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Safetywork]

I read this and at first didn't see the 't'. Then I wondered if the woman looked like this:

http://184.72.239.143/mu/a6cd0baf-0eb3-9723.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tat Fuddy.......:lol

[alanilil]

Ok so i haven't gotten any repair estimates but the insurance adjuster guy came out a few minutes ago and checked out my car. He said its "gonna be close" and could be a total.

He said it will need a new quarter panel and could cost "2, 3, 4 thousand dollars"...I was just thinking like, well which is it, 2 or 4?...or 3?

I could tell he was just trying not to say much. Took a bunch of pictures and then left. I asked if i should get quotes from body shops now? He said "well different shops have different rates..." and kind of left it at that. Um...Really? lol

He said "You'll hear from the insurance company."

What should I do now? Go get estimates?

Yes get an estimate!

The insurance company will do whatever they think is going to be cheaper for them.

They will likely give you a lowball value for your car and try to total it.

If they can say your car is worth $5k and they can get $2k for it at the insurance auction they are only out $3k vs fixing it and spending potentially more.

I say do whatever makes the most sense. Everything is negotiable.

Don't know the condition or mileage but let's say you can get the ins co to give you $7k for it and buy it back for $1.5k. So you get to keep the car, get a check for $5.5k and can sell it to a racer for $3 or $4 grand. Netting $8-9k.

[shane82388]

Ok so I'm back with a little bit of an update...

I opened the mail today and i there was an envelope from the insurance company with a check for about $2900. Thats how much they estimate it will cost to get the thing fixed i guess. They said in the letter attached that if the reapir shop say it will be more, to have the shop contact the insurance company directly...

Does this all sound kosher?

Is that figure about low or high or right on the money or what?