Rats! Got hit!

[JayG]

Originally Posted by njbray

So, after pulling out the damaged headlight this is what I found. I don't think this crumpled bit could be fixed - The new headlight, fender, bumper would probably never line up correctly!

It seems that very few bodyshops will deal with Geico - They force the bodyshops to use after market parts and pay a lower hourly rate! So i am gonna have AAA deal with them for me so I can get a fair market price for the repairs or the whole car.

In California, you can use ANY body shop you want. The insurance company cannot restrict who you use. Most will accept any insurance company estimate. I would be surprised if Geico uses a lower rate. From what I know they all use the "Mitchell" guide.

You can also get an independent estimate. Since it's the other persons insurance that is paying, yo can also go to your insurance company to get an estimate and repair done and they will go after the other company on your behalf, unless of course you both have the same company.

If you have different companies, just do everything through your company.
I would also insist that all parts are new. You may have to fight a little. The damage was not your fault, you need to be made whole and he car restored to the original condition
YMMV

[njbray]

Thanks for all the info & comments.
I have the insurance inspector dropping by this afternoon - so we will see what he says.
After showing the bodyshop - Basically the big question is that structural piece -arrowed below- that is pushed back, cracked & distorted. Apparently this could have 'compromised the Frunk side/shape'. It also is a hard piece to repair/straighten!

For a relatively small amount of damage it was a hard hit - some very hard part of the Honda (tow bracket?) was high enough to ride over my bumper reinforcement and make contact with the arrowed piece instead of being absorbed by the bumper or body panels.

I have to say, compared to other fender-benders I have experienced, this felt like a hard whack - I was almost expecting the air bag to go off.

[Frodo]

Yeah, I had the same thought...my airbag didn't deploy either. (Not that I'm complaining! )

[MrBen]

Once a car is damaged it's never the same

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by MrBen

Once a car is damaged it's never the same

Not necessarily. If the frame is not bent, as seems to be the case here, and you replace with original parts (even used) there is no reason the car can't be the same.

Maybe it's not the same psychologically, but in reality it could be just as good as pre-collision.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by MrBen

Once a car is damaged it's never the same

Let me take you for a drive sometime, in the same Box I pictured earlier. Good luck noticing any difference. Or seeing any. She's lost her virginity...but she's still the same ol' gal

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Frodo

Good luck noticing any difference. Or seeing any. She's lost her virginity...but she's still the same ol' gal

Well said :-)

[maytag]

Originally Posted by MrBen

Once a car is damaged it's never the same

Pfft.... that's just plain silly.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[mikefocke]

My'99 totaled car with nothing but front end damage did not have either air bag deploy either.

[MrBen]

Whenever I am looking at a used vehicle I always go around an lightly brush the paint with a fingertip. You can quickly discover any body work that is not factory. The paint will feel rough. At least here in Michigan with our climate extreme. You will also see the difference in a couple years.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by MrBen

Whenever I am looking at a used vehicle I always go around an lightly brush the paint with a fingertip. You can quickly discover any body work that is not factory. The paint will feel rough. At least here in Michigan with our climate extreme. You will also see the difference in a couple years.

Sorry, not persuaded big guy.
It was "a couple years" in September. I still see no difference. And I definitely feel no difference.