Mom gets t-boned in her brand new car

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
16
81
Pic1

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The car is only about 2 weeks old (lexus IS300h). At least most of the damage will buff out.

Considering that the impact was only about 5 mph, that's going to be an expensive repair. The guy that hit it with a mini came off rather worse; bumper was hanging off, and fluids were pouring out all over the road.
 

Black2na

Senior member
Nov 25, 2010
629
1
0
Request they replace the whole door shell. Don't let them do a door skin most people are terrible at them and in 2 years the door is gonna be a rusty hot mess.
 

tortillasoup

Golden Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,977
4
81
Find a replacement door at a salvage yard-> Collect as much insurance monies as possible-> profit. This is what I did when my neighbor hit my car door, made like $2K off of his insurance from him hitting my car. The best part was that the replacement door I bought had security glass in it while my door originally did not have it. (Security glass is basically a laminated side window)
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
Find a replacement door at a salvage yard-> Collect as much insurance monies as possible-> profit. This is what I did when my neighbor hit my car door, made like $2K off of his insurance from him hitting my car. The best part was that the replacement door I bought had security glass in it while my door originally did not have it. (Security glass is basically a laminated side window)

Good luck with finding parts like that for new cars like this.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Make sure to ask for diminished value and get every penny. The car will lose a good deal of value and will be harder to sell in the future.

Good posting that may help.
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/880666/

Let me expound on this. Make sure you ask for diminished value and then prepare to get a lawyer to get the amount you are owed. The insurance company tried to low ball me and wouldn't budge until I got an attorney involved. Pissed me off.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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Let me expound on this. Make sure you ask for diminished value and then prepare to get a lawyer to get the amount you are owed. The insurance company tried to low ball me and wouldn't budge until I got an attorney involved. Pissed me off.

Threaten an lawyer; actually make a trip to the state insurance commission first and let them know about it.
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
Is this in the UK? I don't believe Lexus sells an IS hybrid in the US. So any specific advice anyone offers may not be applicable.

But the general advice is the same...ensure this gets made right, as you just paid for a new car; not a used one with prior collision damage.

I'd be so irreconsilably pissed...seeing what I have with typical collision repairs, the only thing that would satisfy me is a brand new replacement car. That, or send the car back to Toyota and have brand new (and complete) doors hung by the factory, so that you get factory, guaranteed undamaged parts, factory paint applied in the factory manner, and factory fit. And be certified as factory hasn't-been-wrecked with a clean history. Obviously, this ain't gonna happen.

So, basically, the only thing within any realm of actual possibility (at least in the US): Sue. You're owed a new car. And compensation for the headache. I have doubts that you'd ever get either, though. Really sucks.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,158
11,033
136
5mph, you sure? sounds like a hell of a lot of damage for that low a collision... i mean, that's almost idling.
 

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
11,820
955
126
5mph, you sure? sounds like a hell of a lot of damage for that low a collision... i mean, that's almost idling.

That's about 2.5KJ (for a 1000kg car) of energy to dissipate, that's gotta to go somewhere.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
16
81
Good luck with finding parts like that for new cars like this.
Yup. This is a brand new just launched 2014 model.

The car was picked up from the dealer just a couple of weeks ago, having been pre-ordered about 6 months ago.

The collision occurred at an intersection, in heavy traffic. My mom had stopped at a red light, and then got a green light to go. Traffic going the opposite direction was gridlocked. A guy in a mini was crossing at right angles and had gone past a green light on the previous cycle, but had got stuck a couple of car lengths into the intersection due to gridlock.

The gridlock cleared when the lights went green in my mom's direction, so the other guy no longer having visibility of the traffic lights starts going, but with his vision still obscured by the partially gridlocked traffic, ends up t-boning my mom's car.

The insurer sent round a claims assessor round to inspect the car, and the guy said it probably needs new doors and a new wheel, and it's being collected to go to some place recommended by the claims assessor. The insurer's lawyers are dealing with all the paperwork. So, surprisingly low stress, but we'll know what's going on for sure once it gets properly inspected at the body shop.
 

FuzzyDunlop

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2008
3,260
12
81
find out what body shop its going to and make sure to check them out online for reviews. Last thing you want with a brand new vehicle is for them to send it to a shop that does Maaco level paint repair.
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
22
81
Yup. This is a brand new just launched 2014 model.

The car was picked up from the dealer just a couple of weeks ago, having been pre-ordered about 6 months ago.

The collision occurred at an intersection, in heavy traffic. My mom had stopped at a red light, and then got a green light to go. Traffic going the opposite direction was gridlocked. A guy in a mini was crossing at right angles and had gone past a green light on the previous cycle, but had got stuck a couple of car lengths into the intersection due to gridlock.

The gridlock cleared when the lights went green in my mom's direction, so the other guy no longer having visibility of the traffic lights starts going, but with his vision still obscured by the partially gridlocked traffic, ends up t-boning my mom's car.

The insurer sent round a claims assessor round to inspect the car, and the guy said it probably needs new doors and a new wheel, and it's being collected to go to some place recommended by the claims assessor. The insurer's lawyers are dealing with all the paperwork. So, surprisingly low stress, but we'll know what's going on for sure once it gets properly inspected at the body shop.

You do not have to go with the insurer's body shop. Take it to the dealership and have them quote for repairs as well. Since your mother is not at fault, the cost for repairs should come from the other driver's insurance and not your own. If they deny, claim through your own insurance carrier and let them fight it out.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,060
576
126
But don't forget OP is in the UK so we don't know what the rules are for that sort of thing.

OP likely wouldn't get your Maaco reference either Fuzzy ;)
 
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JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
Is this in the UK? I don't believe Lexus sells an IS hybrid in the US. So any specific advice anyone offers may not be applicable.

But the general advice is the same...ensure this gets made right, as you just paid for a new car; not a used one with prior collision damage.

I'd be so irreconsilably pissed...seeing what I have with typical collision repairs, the only thing that would satisfy me is a brand new replacement car. That, or send the car back to Toyota and have brand new (and complete) doors hung by the factory, so that you get factory, guaranteed undamaged parts, factory paint applied in the factory manner, and factory fit. And be certified as factory hasn't-been-wrecked with a clean history. Obviously, this ain't gonna happen.

So, basically, the only thing within any realm of actual possibility (at least in the US): Sue. You're owed a new car. And compensation for the headache. I have doubts that you'd ever get either, though. Really sucks.

Yes they do. A coworker of mine has one.
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
Looks like damage to the right rear wheel well area as well. Sucks for all that damage on a brand new car. Some people are better off buying a slightly used car, say 1 year old. You get almost the same thing and save on the cost, plus you don't lose the depreciation when the car leaves the dealer when you buy it brand new. That car needs two new door skins, the wheel well areas are easily repaired. But either way, you are looking around $2-$3K I would say to fix it.