vs t boned, maybe write off

[jas98]

VS got T boned buy a guy in a holden rodeo with a massive bull bar yesterday, front door, pillar rear door and rear guard (passenger side) all damaged. me girlfriend was driveing, guy in rodeao failed to give way and hit us. me girlfriend had no time to stop and swerved hard to miss and would have missed him if he didnt keep going and actually stoped and give way. if she didnt sweve it would have been allot worse.

anyway his insurance is covering it all as they took liability etc ( they with AAMI) im with RACQ (only fire and theft insurance) now i think they will write it off due to the repair cost but seeing that its not my insurance company its his, would they have to pay for teh repaires regardless of the price? and not write it off? as i read if its his insurance that has to pay as he was teh one at fault. my cars insured for 4700 or market value whichever is lower with my insurer but for fire and theft. im in QLD

see pics

[ENV5]

Your gf done a great job by swerving by the looks of it it should be an easy fix for insurance

[jas98]

im really glad she swerved ,

yeh i was thinking easy fix however the piller is damaged, can this be repaired?

not heaps of damage but enough

[kane88]

All that force has to go somewhere. If the pillar is damaged, the structural integrity of the vehicle is compromised and will never be the same, ie: you could repair it up and have it look fine, but the next little nothing accident that whole side of the car can collapse and not hold up like it did here.

Does that make sense? Its pretty late...

[simmons001]

They cannot write the car off, you are not in a contract with them UNLESS...

You use your own insurance.. who will write off your car and then get the cost from the other insurer.. If you do not use your insurer, (private claim, go to a repairer you trust who will handle it) the other guys people pretty much have to either fix it or come to a mutual agreement with you.

Think hard, sign nothing.

Oh and if the B pillar is bent? Car goes in bin. Simple as that.

[BRAWT_4TH]

hey man im a apprentice panel beater 2nd year it doesnt look as bad as it does but to be honest the qaurter panel would be cheaper and probley easier to replace same as the doors as for the pillar yes it can be repaired but it would need to be set up to be pulled

[BRAWT_4TH]

p.s like the other guys have said it can be repaired (pillar) but the car itself will never be the same youll probley find it will be a right off

[kane88]

It "can" be repaired, but it shouldn't.

[shane271184]

what a load of crap if it is fixed properly it will be every bit as good as it was before maybe even better as this whole side will be fresh it will look better than the rest of the car anyone who says it will never be as good shouldn't be working on cars and stick to there desk job tossers.

[kane88]

You better be able to back that up there son.
Do you realise how much work is going to need to be undertake if the pillar is deformed? the cost invoolved would make it ridiculous, where a new car is a far cheaper and more reliable option. AND it hasn't been crashed into.
There could also be unseen damage here. Driveline and suspension damage, steering, brakes, the shell inside the bay could have bent. Do you understand how much force it takes to stop even a slow moving vehicle? Thats 1.5 ton of steel there.

In short, if the pillar or structural sections are affected - and if you read up a little it has been said - it CAN be fixed, but it SHOULDN'T.

[HamaTime™]

Don't know where you got your info from, if any main structural damage to the pillars, the car is written off every time. The chassis/shell of the car which holds the body and structure of the car relies on it's 'rigidity' to maintain the structure of the car, if one part is damaged it's like a domino affect, everything is out of line.

If the pillar is bent, car is goin to the wrecker and you get a nice fat check for a new car.

[kane88]

Don't know where you got your info from

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest the he is perhaps one of those *cough* "mechanics" that does wiper blade fitting at supercheap, therefore making him an expert on the subject of automotive body repairs.

[TrikkBen]

It'll Buff Out....

[acarmody]

I had a metal light pole land on the roof of my car, didn't fall flat, cables under pole held it in ground so just laying 45 degrees on car roof. They basically chopped off the roof at the bottom of the pillars and welded a new one on. You would think that would compromise the structural integrity but its as good as gold. I'm sure they could do something here.

[simmons001]

You better be able to back that up there son.

In short, if the pillar or structural sections are affected - and if you read up a little it has been said - it CAN be fixed, but it SHOULDN'T.

Damn straight. Backyard idiots can and do 'fix' anything, but if you drive a car with a 'repaired' B pillar, you are just nuts. Car goes in bin. It's just not worth the risk.

[R0d]

how many of yous are actual panel beaters

[RX25SE]

If the pillar can be removed from the shell along the original seam, the body re-aligned and a new pillar fitted with the correct welds, how would this be any different?

[woteva]

It'll Buff Out....

There is always someone who says that

The OP's insurance company will not do much as he only has 3rd party + fire with them. It is all up to the other insurance company.

It's up the the crash repairer to say it's a write-off or not. If they need the buisness, they could probably fix it but would need to quote under market value. If the quote is around market value or over, the insurnce company will definately write it off.

If it was me, I would be getting out any good stuff you have ie. stereo and just put a cheapy back in there. It doesn't even need to be wired up, just in place.

[Zeussy]

Off topic,
My old VT was as bent as a bannana, and they were going to 'fix it' (borderline, said they could fix it but would cost a mint...)
Just when the panel beater (big respectable bussisness) asked me what was my opinion, with the answer being "I don't want it back" he wrote it off,

Food for thought...

[woteva]

Are there any ripples in the roof ??? or any on the floorpan you can see underneath ??

[R0d]

alot of people are talking bullshit on here thinking they know what there on about. I suggest doing a 3/1/2 or 4 year apprentice ship and more experience before commenting on whats a statutory writeoff.

[Zeussy]

Apparently NSW are stopping repairable write off's?


EDIT: more, off topic, jibber jabber....

[simmons001]

f the quote is around market value or over, the insurnce company will definately write it off..

This is simply not true. How do you think an insurance company can 'write off' a car that they have no contract with?

Some basic facts. If you get comprehensive insurance for say 5k you are basically entering into a contract with the insurance company that states if the car is damaged, the insurance company will repair it. They will do so until the point where the cost of repairs plus what they can get for your car as a 'wreck' and your excess is over the market or agreed value. At this point, they do the sums, work out its cheaper to give you the 5k and they get the excess back plus whatever the car gets as a junker. They will also cover damage you do to other people, vehicles, roadside furniture, garden gnomes etc up to 20 million on my policy. It;s a separate part of the policy normally termed PUBLIC LIABILITY. All clear?

If your car is damaged by someone else and you claim against THEIR insurance (as the posters situation), the insurer is fully liable for the repairs to your vehicle up to whatever the maximum payout of the policy is, normally in the millions and you don't pay an excess. It's NOT YOUR POLICY. You are claiming against someone else's policy under the LIABILITY CLAUSE. They CANNOT write off your car without your permission. You have not entered into a contract with them as you have with your OWN policy, they are paying out on damage caused by their client. Obviously if the car will cost 10k to fix and it's a 5k car, they will discuss with you and see if you want to make an arrangement, i.e. will you take 7 and call it quits? If you say no, they have to fix your car (obviously assuming it is repairable and not totally destroyed)

The only caveat here is is you claim through YOUR insurance, YOUR insurance company will/may write off an uneconomical repair, pay you your 5k minus your excess and then claim that back from the OTHER insurance company. It's a win win for them cause next time, the situation may be reversed.

I've just been through all this as a neighbour did about 4k damage backing into my Caprice. I did not claim against MY insurance, i privately claimed against theirs. In the end the quote came in under market value but their insurance people admitted early on (oh i checked and checked this and spoke with many people from consumer affairs, the insurance council etc etc etc before the clam) that they cannot write off a car they do not have a insurance policy on and in the end were very easy to deal with. I said i wanted it fixed, they approved the quote over the phone given by a good friend/panelbeater I trust and have known for 20 years who is running a Holden dealer repair shop who cut no corners and fixed everything properly with time and care, sourcing new parts where available. The insurance company basically agreed it would cost what it would cost to be fixed properly.

Be careful, get advice. If you want your car gone, it's easy to write off. I wanted mine fixed so had to do some research to be sure of where i stood. The three scenarios above can be tricky so decide what you want out of this and act accordingly. Your insurance company MAY act as a go between, but that can vary and I didn't want/need a middleman or feel the need to possibly pay an excess.

if you want it gone, it is easy enough to do with the right quote. If you want to keep it, get a proper quote from a reputable repairer you trust and claim against the other guys insurance privately.

Easy Peasy.

[jas98]

ok guys, the other guy is refuseing to pay his ecses so were haveing trouble there but i will not go into that

had a repairer come out and inspect car, said its fixable and the b piller will be an easy fix, as its (as he said) "fine and not bad at all" with a jig or watever they use lol, as there is no creases in roof etc, needs new/replace 2x doors, rear quarter needs replaceing tail light etc, didnt give exact price as he has to write one up and send to AAMI, but said around teh 4500-5k mark .
only have had one repairer look at it so far so will have to see what others say


so yeh pretty certain its a write off but will hgave to c, the cars in (was) extreamly good nick for its age only has 122 000 genuine k's, all new suspension interior is great no rips etc, new tyres mags (there near new lol), id make a few bucks stripping it and wrecking it if i buy it back if its writen off. or ill buy another shell and transfer everything over (engine gearbox, interior etc. tooo good to just throw away like that.

cheers

[jas98]

This is simply not true. How do you think an insurance company can 'write off' a car that they have no contract with?

Some basic facts. If you get comprehensive insurance for say 5k you are basically entering into a contract with the insurance company that states if the car is damaged, the insurance company will repair it. They will do so until the point where the cost of repairs minus what they can get for your car as a 'wreck' and your excess is over the market or agreed value. At this point, they do the sums, work out its cheaper to give you the 5k and they get the excess and whatever the car gets as a junker. They will also cover damage you do to other people, vehicles, roadside furniture, garden gnomes etc up to 20 million on my policy. It;s a separate part of the policy normally termed PUBLIC LIABILITY. All clear?

If your car is damaged by someone else and you claim against THEIR insurance (as the posters situation), the insurer is fully liable for the repairs to your vehicle up to whatever the maximum payout of the policy is, normally in the millions and you don't pay an excess. It's NOT YOUR POLICY. You are claiming against someone else's policy under the LIABILITY CLAUSE. They CANNOT write off your car without your permission. You have not entered into a contract with them as you have with your OWN policy, they are paying out on damage caused by their client. Obviously if the car will cost 10k to fix and it's a 5k car, they will discuss with you and see if you want to make an arrangement, i.e. will you take 7 and call it quits? If you say no, they have to fix your car (obviously assuming it is repairable and not totally destroyed)

The only caveat here is is you claim through YOUR insurance, YOUR insurance company will/may write off an uneconomical repair, pay you your 5k minus your excess and then claim that back from the OTHER insurance company. It's a win win for them cause next time, the situation may be reversed.

I've just been through all this as a neighbour did about 4k damage backing into my Caprice. I did not claim against MY insurance, i privately claimed against theirs. In the end the quote came in under market value but their insurance people admitted early on (oh i checked and checked this and spoke with many people from consumer affairs, the insurance council etc etc etc before the clam) that they cannot write off a car they do not have a insurance policy on and in the end were very easy to deal with.

Be careful, get advice. If you want your car gone, it's easy to write off. I wanted mine fixed so had to do some research to be sure of where i stood. The three scenarios above can be tricky so decide what you want out of this and act accordingly. Your insurance company MAY act as a go between, but that can vary and I didn't want/need a middleman.

if you want it gone, it is easy enough to do with the right quote. If you want to keep it, get a proper quote from a reputable repairer and claim against the other guys insurance privately.

Easy Peasy.

lots a good and very helpfull info that, thanks heaps

as there is problems with his insurance now (not paying to fix car untill he pays his excess which could take ages) i have recived leagly advive from my insurer (part of teh third party thing with who im insured from) of wat to do as AAMI has to buy law fix my car as they have accepted liability,

will have to c how it all goes, i know ill get bugger all for it if they write if off, so if i can repair it (have said its repairable) ill most likely do that, as stated its too good to just throw away, still drives straight etc didnt affect suspension etc. roofs fine no creases, juts the piller is a bit knocked and allot of people have said if teh piller has been hit dnt bother, well i can understand y they say this however how many cars are on teh road that have been in the same acident (and worse) and been repaired? im guessing a hell of allot, i mean i dunno if it was in an accident similar to this before (doubt it) but yeh

and to teh person that sugested to polish it out...i was waiting for sumone to say that :P, if u can buff it out ill give you teh car hahahaha


cheers