Was in Accident--Opinions on Whether Car is Totaled?

[Maljey]

Ugh this f*cking sucks.

Was driving home from work on a two lane road at night. It's lightly raining, and the roads are wet from continuous rain all day. One car passes by me in the opposing traffic lane, and then immediately behind that car is a pickup truck sliding sideways into my lane. I end up hitting the passenger side of the truck (t-boned it), as it was completely sideways in my lane.

Gonna be talking with insurance adjuster today. Airbags went off--the steering wheel and driver footwell.

Taking a poll to see if any of you think the car will be totaled!

I am so pissed....

 

[OHstinger]

That sucks, but glad you are ok. The car can be replaced if it is totaled.

 

[Maljey]

That sucks, but glad you are ok. The car can be replaced if it is totaled.

Thanks, yep just slightly sore this morning. Frankly the car damage looks a lot worse than how it actually felt. I barely felt the airbag hit me. Was like someone lightly tapped my nose with a pillow.

 

[D.J.]

Glad you are OK (assuming you are OK based on you posting here)

No dashcam footage?

Hope your insurance company determines you to be 0% at fault.

 

[Kamauxx]

Hopefully it's totalled. I certainly wouldn't want to own it. Are you hoping it's totalled or want to repair it?

 

[Maljey]

Glad you are OK (assuming you are OK based on you posting here)

No dashcam footage?

Hope your insurance company determines you to be 0% at fault.

Thanks, nope I don't have a dashcam. Was very much going to get one in the coming days but had been dragging my feet. Uuuuggghhhhh.

The drvier of the truck ended up getting taken away in an ambulance. I hope they are testing her for impairment. I didn't see any of her airbags deployed, so she may have legitmately taken some hard bumps. I just hope she is honest and doesn't try to spin some BS.

 

[Maljey]

Hopefully it's totalled. I certainly wouldn't want to own it. Are you hoping it's totalled or want to repair it?

Absolutely hope its totalled. Only had the car since May-ish, so I'm gonna hate going through the car buying process again. However another Stinger would definitely be at the top of my list.

 

[RedCal]

#1 - glad you are ok, cars are very replaceable
#2 - I'd guess write off... but it will depend on how many airbags deployed, and what's broken in the engine bay... fight for the write off if they don't offer it

 

[Flynfishmedic]

Wow, glad you are not injured! I say totaled and if they try to repair decline it! Car will never be the same again!

 

[CDv6]

Just to give you a relative comparison number, I had the same level of (visual) damage after a head-on in a rental Corolla a couple of months ago. Damage essentially remained forward of the firewall, and no airbag deployment in my case, because my car was at a stop during impact. Repair estimate was $17K, so that $21K car was totaled. Stinger parts will be way more expensive (plus your airbags), but the Stinger is also more than twice the cost of the Corolla, and I don't know what ratio insurance companies typically use to determine to repair vs to total.

 

[chattanoogastinger]

Even if it isn't, you damn sure want it to be. Diminished value on this will be through the roof.

 

[chad1064]

That side photo + the airbags makes me think it's totaled. Maybe that front damage is mostly cosmetic, but I'd wonder if there is damage to the frame?

I know nothing about insurance or repairs though.

OP how fast do you think you were going at impact?

 

[stoopid]

That passenger wheel is bent in the wrong direction, so there's likely a full suspension setup needed for that corner plus an entire new front end (and headlamps), hood, possible intercooler and 1+ turbos. This is assuming the frame isn't also damaged or that subtle bending didn't ripple up the driver's side of the vehicle resulting in more cosmetic repairs. You could take the repair estimate and try to fix it, but I wouldn't want a car with this level of repair. Repair shops aren't always detail oriented.

As far as fault, assuming this wasn't at an intersection, there's no way you could hit her vehicle on the passenger side and the vehicles end up being where they are after if you left your lane. So I wouldn't worry about what she says, reality bears this out clearly. Get a dashcam and no one can question the cause. Would have paid for itself (peace of mind) in this single event.

 

[Sam Ian]

Less than 6 months into ownership this happened. Uninsured motorist decided he couldn't wait to turn around at the light so he turned across 6 lanes of traffic and in front of me - I T-boned him.

Fought hard with the insurance company because they wanted to total it. I had no gap insurance which meant I would be out my deposit plus they only wanted to give me $47K on a car that I paid $54K for. I learned that Stinger parts are insanely expensive - Things like inner tie rods for example can't be replaced without changing the entire $3k steering rack. In the end I was able to find a shop that quoted just under the threshold of 35K ( Threshold to total the car). Final cost to repair was $33K.

Damage to my car was all front air bags and drivers side side air bags, right front quarter panel and suspension, steering rack, etc. Based on your pictures I'd say its totaled.

Glad you're okay and I feel your pain.

 

[SIMONGUEY]

yooo!! so I'm kinda dislexic. can't even spell it right. butttt!! how does that work? I have good insurance and thankfully I haven't been in a crash. but when would it be best if a car is totaled and not? also, will my rates go up even if it is not my fault?

 

[Flynfishmedic]

Well my friend I have a story for you...pull up a chair! I got into my stinger from an Audi S4. Fully paid off and since it was...I tuned, exhaust and intake, and it was fun! I have been with my insurance carrier for 18 years now...no issues!
I was rear ended by an F150 driven by someone with no DL but insurance on the vehicle. Police ticketed him, gave me info. His company accepted liability but wanted to further investigate and would not give me rental, towing or initiate medical until they were complete.
I was hurt, numbness to left foot, left arm and pain.
Car was totaled. I went to an attorney who suggested I let insurance companies fight it out! Well I now have an exorbitant rate, got less than half of what my Audi was worth and found out his insurance weaseled out of coverage by saying he was not a covered driver!

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Hopefully they will total that car. I wouldn't want to own it, if it get repaired.

 

[Maljey]

Thanks all. I was going probably 30 to 35mph at most. Probably even less. Not too fast since we have ALOT of deer in the area, and I'm always driving to keep a look out for them. Plus the ground was wet so I wasn't in any kind of hurry.

I do have gap insurance (through dealership), so I'll be ok in that regard.

 

[stoopid]

I went to an attorney...

If you're hurt in a wreck, call one of those scumbag attorneys on TV. Really, they do this for a living. You got screwed because you didn't get one. They don't even require a retainer in most cases. On top of that, if you had any injuries related to the accident you would have been fully compensated for repair/replacement plus pain and suffering/medical (whether his or your insurance). Having an attorney keeps all parties involved 'honest'.

Maljey, same applies to you. My GF had a 35-ish MPH accident similar to yours and had a concussion that affected her for months after (plus her knee hit somewhere under the dash on impact). It took a few days after the accident for the effects of the concussion to become apparent. Lawyer up or lose out.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Totaled. Keep saying it.