Minor front end hit = $8600 and counting

O

OORAH!!

My wife was driving her MY00 Forester on a
neighborhood street at 20 mph when a woman
rapidly backed out of her driveway in front of
her. They collided. The police and the insurance
companies agreed that it was 100% the fault of
the other driver, who had a large cardboard box
in the car blocking her view.

The Forester's grill was damaged and the hood
slightly crumpled. I would have guessed $2000 or
so... Boy! I was way off.

Actual body work = $5,600

The hit pushed something into the engine,
damaging parts including the timing belt or
whatever, and in the few seconds before the car
was turned off there was another $3,000 damage
done. The body shop says the dealer claims this
is common with front-end hits to the Forester.
 
My wife was driving her MY00 Forester on a
neighborhood street at 20 mph when a woman
rapidly backed out of her driveway in front of
her. They collided. The police and the insurance
companies agreed that it was 100% the fault of
the other driver, who had a large cardboard box
in the car blocking her view.

The Forester's grill was damaged and the hood
slightly crumpled. I would have guessed $2000 or
so... Boy! I was way off.
My '98 was totaled 6 months back in what looked like a repairable similar
accident.
http://www.dol.net/~frank.logullo/subaru.jpg
Both air bags went off. I think they said they are $800 a piece not
counting installation. When I bought a new one, my wife complained that the
Forester did not hold up well. The salesman said it did exactally what it
is supposed to do and protected me. I had minor bruise from the seat belt.
Woman in PT Cruiser that cut in front of me was hospitalized.
Frank
 
Cars today are made to destroy themselves in the service of saving you.
Seems like a fair trade...
 
yah, but another thing that bothers me is that there was actually an
agreement or debate as to 'who' was at fault for the incident. People at
stop signs, at cross-streets or in their driveways should yield to traffic
anyway, in spite of what's blocking their visibility. End of rant!

Phil
Montreal, Quebec
 
In Pennsylvania, the law requires that drivers entering or crossing the flow
of traffic must yield to drivers in the flow of traffic. This means if I am
going straight, and someone in the opposing lane makes a left in front of
me, and I hit them broadside (even towards the rear of the car), they are
100% at fault, even though I hit them.
 
Alan said:
In Pennsylvania, the law requires that drivers entering or crossing the flow
of traffic must yield to drivers in the flow of traffic. This means if I am
going straight, and someone in the opposing lane makes a left in front of
me, and I hit them broadside (even towards the rear of the car), they are
100% at fault, even though I hit them.
Same here in Delaware but when offending driver's insurance agent is in
Connecticut and driver says, "You ran into me", I had to go no-fault on my
insurance or wait 2 weeks for police report. Woman that caused my accident
got a traffic ticket, probably had her car totaled and was hospitalized but
I'm still pissed. It took my company, State Farm, eight days to estimate my
car. I was pissed at both insurance companies. Fortunately two of my sons
are lawyers and it ended up costing offender's insurance company more than
if I had handled details myself. I also found that putting out no-fault
deductible may take forever to get back so son threatened to sue if not paid
promptly - it was.
Frank
 
I've heard that State Farm is very slow.


Frank Logullo said:
Same here in Delaware but when offending driver's insurance agent is in
Connecticut and driver says, "You ran into me", I had to go no-fault on my
insurance or wait 2 weeks for police report. Woman that caused my accident
got a traffic ticket, probably had her car totaled and was hospitalized but
I'm still pissed. It took my company, State Farm, eight days to estimate my
car. I was pissed at both insurance companies. Fortunately two of my sons
are lawyers and it ended up costing offender's insurance company more than
if I had handled details myself. I also found that putting out no-fault
deductible may take forever to get back so son threatened to sue if not paid
promptly - it was.
Frank
 
I have had State Farm for my entire driving life (14 years of driving as of
Nov 1 or this year.) I can honestly say that I have had great luck with
them when it comes to claims (1 totaled car due to deer in road while
traveling at 85mph, 1 roll-over, was rear-ended several times, etc... about
10 claims in all) and I still pay only $48/month for full coverage insurance
w/ $250 deductibles ($0 deductible on glass). I usually do all my own
bodywork (except painting) and they just send the check directly to me
everytime within a few days of the claim.

Chuck
 
Yes they are. A friend of mine who had Geico got very prompt service. The
neighbor out of his driveway
and the bumper literally opened up the side of the car like a can opener.
He called Geico that morning at work
they were there by lunchtime. The guy took the specs on the car (83 Buick
LeSabre (cream puff condition)) he
said it worth $XXXX, it's totaled you'll have your check in two weeks.
Apparently the doors and fenders
were too hard to find. He was happy. As far as State Farm, they just
decided to base they're premiums on
your credit report. My brother's had State Farm all his life (parents
too). He had his business, multiple cars,
motorcycle, home and health. Never had a claim, they looked at his credit
report, tripled his premium! He
canceled all policies the following Monday.

Any just be glad you're not hurt. Cars are made to absorb all the energy
so you don't have to.
 
State Farm has always been very fast to pay any claims I've had. One of
the best, if not THE best in this state of Texas.

But as to the tremendous price to fix minor damage, that may explain
why my State Farm agent advised me that a Subaru Forester is in
a Risk Group 17 (I think 17, may have been 16). Point was that a
new Ford Excursion was only Risk Group 14... Risk group number
dictates what coverage will cost. IT is based, I'm told, on potential
costs which may arise from accidents. Maybe Subaru is one that
does (as someone just said in this thread) sacrifices the car to save
the passengers behinds! I guess that is not at all bad. I'd think you
should be glad you are here to complain about the costs! Consider
the alternative. Just my opinion.
 
no mas panzon said:
State Farm has always been very fast to pay any claims I've had. One of
the best, if not THE best in this state of Texas.
I will say, while State Farm took 8 days to estimate my damage, the check
was available immediately. If they look at your car right away, as did
others, and check takes 2 weeks, then this is not better service. I had
State Farm for house and cars but dropped house several years ago because of
the crap they gave us on a couple of small claims. I've theatened to drop
the cars but wife wants to continue. Something I've learned over the years
is that you do not have to jump through insurance company hoops and do
everything they say. Also, if any lingering doubts, do not settle right
away. You can get your money for car but hold off on medical etc.
Frank
 
I have had State Farm for my entire driving life (14 years of driving as of
Nov 1 or this year.) I can honestly say that I have had great luck with
them when it comes to claims (1 totaled car due to deer in road while
traveling at 85mph, 1 roll-over, was rear-ended several times, etc... about
10 claims in all) and I still pay only $48/month for full coverage insurance
w/ $250 deductibles ($0 deductible on glass). I usually do all my own
bodywork (except painting) and they just send the check directly to me
everytime within a few days of the claim.

Chuck

Stick with State Farm. They insured me at 19 because my Dad had
a policy. Next year will be my 50th year with State Farm. I've
had two totals of older used cars, neither my fault. In the last
twenty years only one major claim. Buckled the front end against
a high mounted tow hitch on the rear of a Jeep. Could not stop on
snowy hill, no damage to the parked Jeep, $4000 to the Legacy wagon.

None of the claims raised my premiums.

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.
 
As far as State Farm, they just
decided to base they're premiums on
your credit report. My brother's had State Farm all his life (parents
too). He had his business, multiple cars,
motorcycle, home and health. Never had a claim, they looked at his credit
report, tripled his premium! He
canceled all policies the following Monday.

I find that story very difficult to accept, mainly because I've had
automobile insurance with State Farm for over 46 years. I've never had any
problem with them paying, and paying promptly. Had one accident which was
apparently my fault, cost them $100K+, yet they didn't cancel, didn't raise
rates, just charged the little surcharge which our state prescribes for the
3 years.

Next, 'this awful thing' didn't happen to you, but to your brother. It is
entirely possible that he is not telling you the ENTIRE story. What he is
telling you is that he suddenly developed awfully bad credit, for some
reason or other, and but they just decided to check his credit rating one
weekend.

VOILA, up go his rates! More to that story than we see in this note.
Something bad must have occurred to cause a sudden JUMP in rates. Something
we do not see.

I do not imply that you are not telling the truth as you know it, and do not
doubt your word. But when you just generally run down a company with a
story your brother told you, and that story runs completely contrary to my
personal experience with that insurer, I feel I need to insert my story,
too. And my story I can personally vouch for. As they say, "been there,
got the t-shirt!"

I have very good credit, about as good as it gets, and I've never gotten
any special breaks from State Farm for that. Just doesn't respond to
logical analysis.

My agent did tell me that they consider a credit record to be a printed
profile of an individual's responsibility. If someone doesn't care about
paying his bills or writes hot checks, etc., etc., then their assumption is
that the person is not financially responsible, and that irresponsibility
often carries over into that person's driving habits. I'll have to leave it
to your judgment whether or not to accept that view.
 
Evidently that's an interference engine, and the
pistons and valves met with destructive results.

We were notified today that our insurance
company (USAA, the best there is!) has
negotiated with the other driver's insurance
company to TOTAL my wife's car. Evidently we are
to receive about $16,500 including tax, etc.

So...

Does it make sense to buy the car from salvage,
knowing as we do that there was no frame damage
(air bags didn't even deploy)? The car was in
perfect condition, with 36,000 miles on it.

I understand a rebuilt engine costs $2,000 minus
core, or rebuild the existing one perfectly for
$1,500.
 

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