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Insurance settlement on auto body repair: take the check or do the fixing?
19 Apr 2010Wife just had a 4-car pile-up accident. She was the second. The first car braked hard to avoid something and wife hit it slightly. Then the third car slammed into her …
So, here are the final results:
First car a little scratches.
Wife’s car, front hood won’t open. Some damage in front bumper and lamp. More damage on the rear bumper and some foam fell off.
The third car, air bags deployed, close to totaled .
The 4th is a big truck, almost no damage.
Police report did say the first car had fault too. I assume the front is at our own fault. Rear is 3rd car’s liability. Advised by our insurance agent that to fix the car in time we could file under our own policy and let the insurance companies take time to settle. My insurance agent estimated the front damage is $500 and rear is $650 and issued us a $650 check (minus $500 deductible).
The car is 1999 Corolla and still drives well. I doubt it is worth the >$1000 for the face-lift if there is no safety issue. But one thing worries me a little is the 5-6 drops per night the car left under. It might have a drop now and then before the accident. Adjuster said it probably was coolant. They cannot open the hood unless we decided to repair over there.
So we are debating whether we should take the check and find a cheaper body shop to fix the hood only, or fix at that insurance appointed body shop. If we go with the latter, we’ll pay $500 out of pocket. Go with the cheap, the $650 should be enough to fix the hood. But, possible problem inside the hood? Could the auto frame be damaged?
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5 Responses to Insurance settlement on auto body repair: take the check or do the fixing?
salrobyn123
April 19th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
at least you know what you got with the car you re driving and how it runs been taking care of etc… when you take you re car to get it fixed even though the insurance company only gave you 650 if there is other damage that he couldn’t see when it gets to the body shop and something else is found they will call the insurance company for you and they will come look at it again if that’s the case but anyway you cant buy much for a tho sand dollars anymore stay with what you got at least you know how it is
dunn
April 19th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
frame can be bent. i wouldnt give up on the car. you can get an aftermarket hood for a decent price also check out a local junkyard.
Scott R
April 19th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
A couple of photos would have really helped, but from the estimates you don’t have much damage.
Sounds like you need somebody to at least get the hood open so you can see what the hells leaking.
I don’t know why people don’t fix damaged cars, you realize of course that they deduct more than your damage is worth when you trade it in?
Lawn Gnome
April 19th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
If frame needs work, and you never stated that it did, that will be a bit more than $500.
Do all doors open and close, straight.
Does the trunk lid still function.
Look at all the boy panels were they meet at, check for uniformity and crumples or bows in the panels.
I know of one body shop that would take the $500 just to do the estimate.
I know another that gives free estimates, but they do lousy work.
I am certain there is a free estimate place that can give you the facts as to what the exact damage is and what it would cost to repair or replace, then finish up with a paint job.
That is what is gonna tag you, that is one lousy insurance company if they did not figure in the matching paint job for the hood.
So it isn’t a 65 Mustang, or a 67 Corvette, it is still metal and parts.
In 6 years it will be a Classic.
Yeah, get another estimate on the repairs.
She was at fault. That point is a moot issue.
Get it repaired, but also have a mechanic give an estimate.
Your insurance place should have info on that. If they are a body shop, they can open any hood, and inspect it properly.
Still want to have a mechanic look at it, shims, front wheel drive parts, oil pans, crankcases, heads, exhaust systems, copolant systems, alot can be wrong, or nothing major, until you know, you don’t know.
If it happened on a street, biz zone is 35 mph, so I assume that was the approximate speed. Any more than that and it would be totalled.
JAMES S
April 19th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
My suggestion is trying to collect as much information as you can before making up your mind,here http://www.CarInsuranceFree.info/free-car-insurance.htm is a good one.