Any advice on accident damage?

[UglyVrs]

Hi, would appreciate it if anyone on hear has any experience with accident damage?

Had a Fiesta crash into the back of me at the Humber Bridge toll booth this morning, I was stationary!

I've been told that because I have a crease in the o/s A-Frame it might be a right off?

The rear bumper is knackered and has been shoved in destroying the parking sensors, the boot is badly dented and will not shut properly and I have a stiff neck!

Cant believe it, at first glance it looked like just a few scratches, it felt like a right wallop inside the car!

The insurance provided repair company is picking it up on Wednesday, I'm hoping I don't have to look for a replacement!

[shane_saintsfc]

Get the work done at a main skoda dealer as you won't be paying it.

[B.DIFFERENT]

Should pull out ok, but tell them you would rather have the quarter repaired if possible then replaced as you would only start tin worm by replacing the panel.

[FUBAR]

Cross your fingers could be a good deposit on an FL add the physical and emotional damage the English are famous for suffering in accidents and you might be able to buy one for cash.

[Davidsr20]

I'd prefer them to write it off if it was me, after a cars been damaged and repaired it never feels the same again.

[Anddenton]

Cross your fingers could be a good deposit on an FL add the physical and emotional damage the English are famous for suffering in accidents and you might be able to buy one for cash.

Don't forget the whiplash and the other seven people who were in the car at the time. Lol

[shane_saintsfc]

Do not falsely claim whiplash. People that do that are the reason we are face car insurance increases.

[cheezemonkhai]

If your neck hurts get up to the hospital and get yourself checked out.

If it's not hurting and you don't have whiplash, as above don't claim for two reasons:

1) It means your insurance goes up

2) It means people who really have it are doubted at every stage of the process.

[Anddenton]

Do not falsely claim whiplash. People that do that are the reason we are face car insurance increases.

Hello, it was a joke, as was the suggestion he had another seven people in the back, do I really have to point it out every time I make an obviously jokey comment?

[paradad]

Hello, it was a joke, as was the suggestion he had another seven people in the back, do I really have to point it out every time I make an obviously jokey comment?

A very good point. I read in the Daily Telegraph Motoring section a few weeks ago about some bloke who got hit from behind & said "no problem", then a few days later started to get really bad neck pains!

If it's genuine, claim but don't just try & make money because we all pay in the end!!

[blueR36]

What about your wrap, do you know who put it on, I once had a Tipo, twice I was rearended whists stationary at lights, hope you get it sorted

[UglyVrs]

Thanks all, I am going to visit a local bodyshop tomorow to get an independant view.

I am certainly not an ambulance chasers whore, going to see how I feel in the morning before a visit to the failed consultants.

No idea what is going to happen re the vinyl wrap, has been declared to insurance.

[Aspman]

Nooo get it away from the insurers repairer. It's all done as cheaply and quickly as possible by them. Get some recommendations and put into a good body shop

My insurers chosen repairer caused more damage than the accident. Took 4 months so get it sorted by a proper body shop. A touch up to the drivers door turned into the whole side of the car getting sprayed plus the rear bumper, all the window rubbers replaced and two alloys refurbished.

Edited 27 March, 2012 by Aspman

[Stoofa]

The problem with not using the insurer's chosen place of repair is that you tend to lose the loan car option - your insurance company will only tend to guarantee a loan car if you use their authorised repairers. So remember that you will have to negotiate a loan vehicle with any "other" garage that might be doing work for you. They cannot bill the insurance company for this, so just make sure they can offer you one.

[Stuart_J]

Re repairs you can elect any repairer you choose. Insurance approved repairers arent always the best as they are squeezed on prices, some are even owned by the Insurance companies. Most good repairers will offer a loan car, it may not be a shiny new equivalent of yours but personally I would prefer a car that moves as a loaner to get a good repair.

Downside looking at the ripple in the pillar I fear its totalled. One option if you love the car & if its only Cat D, get an honest quote for fixing it PROPERLY !!!!!!! & see if a buy back is worth it. a proper repair can be done & they will save on s/hand bumpers etc, ie the non structural bits. remember though a repaired cat D car is worth probably 40% less than the equivalent non cat D car & will be harder to sell on later but if its a keeper for a few years you should make money on it. I repaired our tatalled Mk 1 Octy, pocketed around 3K & the car ran on sweetly to 165K by which time it was worth little anyway.

[M12MKD]

With regards to the injury claim I was very much one of the Dont be silly dont claim bunch. But after my rear end accident on 2009 I would recommend that if you still have paid after a week to see a specialist and not just your normal GP. Mine missed the fact that I had done a bit of damage to my back. Ended up having to have my back sorted out by a Chiropractor.

I claimed and settle on the first offer which covered the time off work, it did not pay compensation for pain etc, nor has it covered the continuing issues with my back. So just make sure you see someone who know's what they are talking about.

I'd also insist on the garage of my choice, I've been on the receiving end of an insurer approved repairer (approved for what? doing cr*p work?)

[FUBAR]

Likewise I am in process of becoming a part of the claim culture but for life long lasting damage which I will have to put up with to the grave. Not into that type of thing and its annoying the heck out of me but even if I don't get anything it might put some attention on the issue and make council pull their finger out with crapy contractors repairing roads.

I would think its more than reasonable to have yourself checked out by a medical professional (or even an NHS one.....) for your own peace of mind and ask for the related costs of that any charges parking fuel time off etc. (pennies but nothing you should be having to fork out for)

[B.DIFFERENT]

Don't tar us all with the same brush! Some of us take pride in our work, but granted not enough do. If you tell them that your going to be picky and you want it right n don't care how long it takes. it will be given to the right people and from the start.

[Stuart_J]

Don't tar us all with the same brush! Some of us take pride in our work, but granted not enough do. If you tell them that your going to be picky and you want it right n don't care how long it takes. it will be given to the right people and from the start.

I wont tar all with the same brush but I know how tight margins are & how hard the bosses push for profit

Announcing I am the fussiest bloke they will ever meet when you drop the car off I agree works

[Aspman]

Don't tar us all with the same brush! Some of us take pride in our work, but granted not enough do. If you tell them that your going to be picky and you want it right n don't care how long it takes. it will be given to the right people and  from the start.

Fair enough but you'll have a good reputation in that case.Unfortunately I couldn't find out how bad mine was before they'd molested my motor with a spray gun.You should be able to get a courtesy car from any good repairer.

[UglyVrs]

Had the car collected this morning and told the driver I'm a fussy one!

Courtesy car turned up at the same time to from a different company which was a bonus, just going to have to wait and hear from the repairer.

Sods law I was busy at work yesterday so didnt get a second opinion.

Got a nice new kia cee'd with 400 miles on the clock, shame its guttless compared to the vrs.

[B.DIFFERENT]

What company has taken it?

[evan15281]

don't get me started on whiplash

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8622449

Edited 28 March, 2012 by evan15281

[UglyVrs]

Nationwide are the repairers.

[B.DIFFERENT]

Sheffield by any chance