Van backs into my driver's side door

[ThosL]

I was doing an errand downtown today waiting for a light to turn and a lady turning around pulled out and backed into my driver's side door today in the rain. 97 Outback wagon.  No glass damage, etc., but the driver door is a lot harder to open with the damage right in the joint, crinkled up but not that bad.  The lady said it was all her fault the police came and did the report, usually done in 72 hours.  I spoke to my insurance company which was next to worthless just wanting to record my version and check to see if they had any liability, Nationwide, I don't have collision.  They said I would be totally on my own filing a claim with the other insurance company.  I have never had such an unhelpful insurance company.  How many Subaru owners here have collision?  Is it worth it on lower value cars?

[montana tom]

In my opinion, No , they will total your car out every time.  They want you in a NEW car! Then they can soak you on purchase cost , insurance cost , depending on your state the licence plate cost. Its a scam in my opinion.  Pay yourself and fix your car and your title won't say totaled !   Only time to have collision is on a brand new car , I drop mine as soon the car is paid off. 

[DaveT]

Set aside the payments for collision on an older car, then you have $ to repair if it's your fault. The cost of having 2 old cars registered and insured is close to having one with collision added. My 2 25+ year old wagons, no collision. Our 09 Forester, has it.

[Rooster2]

Advise pursuing a claim against the insurance company of the person who hit your car. I assume you have the name and insurance info from the other driver. You need to call that insurance company. You have, or can get the police report on the accident, and it will probably state the other driver admits fault in the accident.

 

I am surprised that your insurance company did not give you advise on how to pursue this matter with the other person's insurance company. Your agent seems uncaring to the point, that if it were me, I would be shopping elsewhere, when it is time to renew the policy.

 

I also agree with others, it is far better not to carry collision coverage on an older car. It is just not money smart to do so.

[ThosL]

When the police report is done, within 72 hours, I will contact other's party's insurance.  With "Nationwide" I was pretty ticked off be the agent's attitude like she was trying to find me at fault. So I probed her on why she couldn't tell me what the usual procedure is by the injured party?  Send me a copy of our recorded conversation, etc..  Either they are not well trained or paid or just had too many claims recently.  

[lmdew]

www.car-part.com

 

Find a door near you and swap out the complete door.

Easy!

 

Cheap if you find one at a self serve yard.

[DaveT]

I would find a new insurance agent / company also.

[Olnick]

ThosL, take your car to a reputable auto body shop and get an estimate to repair the damage.  Then present a copy of the estimate to the other party's insurance company--that would give you the best chance for a fair settlement.  Good luck.

[idosubaru]

This is really easy and simple, there's like 10,000+ accidents a day so this is just routine. Liability only coverage works like this:

 

1. Call their insurance company and find out how they do things (they can cut you a flat check to settle, have an inspector come to you, take it somewhere, get an estimate - it varies by company/area/situation)

2. If there are complications call a couple of lawyers or ask here for advice on how to proceed.

 

I have always been able to avoid step 2 and it's been smooth and seamless, ask here or someone really good before you go to that step, it's not usually needed in simple situations like this. Go into with a good attitude, know how the system works, and things work out.

 

Even if it's totaled it is entirely possible to keep the vehicle without them totaling it.

 

You can also have it totaled, get a check, do a buy back for $100, and then put the vehicle back on the road again and have some cash left over for your efforts. Sometimes the title doesn't even get branded salvage, though rare and unlikely bu i've seen it happen. But normally you get a salvage certificate and have to have it recertified which isn't a big deal but most people freak out about the unknown and states can vary in requirements.

 

Done all of that before, easy peasy.

 

I would find a new insurance agent / company also.

Why?

 

. They said I would be totally on my own filing a claim with the other insurance company. I have never had such an unhelpful insurance company. How many Subaru owners here have collision? Is it worth it on lower value cars?

They're not unhelpful - they're just providing you the services you paid and signed up for. If someone gets free services from an insurance agent, then that's a bonus, not the norm. Stick with me and this should make sense.

 

Three main reasons they don't give advice:

 

1. Simple economics: You didn't pay for it and it would cost money - a scalable business has to hire staff, managers, and draft acounting and lawyer models and policies for this additional service model - it's abundantly clear that doesn't work. It's the same reason we, ourselves, don't routinely do free work as a rule (not due to family, friends, reciprocation, etc) just because someone asks/expects it. I decline free help/work all the time - simply because I don't have time. If those people started throwing cash at me, I'd be more available.

 

2. If a customer felt like they got bad advice on an issue with liability associated with it - they could sue the insurance company - there are often lawyers involved so this wouldn't be uncommon.

 

They would be supplying free advice, forking out tons of money, and assuming more litigation. Can't make a business model out of that.

 

*** It is possible to have an excellent relationship with an insurance agent who might help you, or one who may circumvent that from time to time, but that's relationally or circumstantially dependent, not the norm. I'm fairly certain I could get some advice from my agent, but I think that's relationally/circumstantially dependent, not the norm.

 

Insurance companies could create a new product - "Liability only with collision assitance" or something like that - but my guess is it doesn't exist because few people will pay for it or the cost-to-benefit ratio simply doens't exist.

Edited December 1, 2016 by grossgary

[idosubaru]

It'll probably be totaled - though I can't tell since I haven't seen it.  options:

 

1.  they'll total it - you go find another car with the check they give you.

 

2. they'll total it and you do a buy back - which means they give you $1,500 for the car, and you can buy it back for $100 (or whatever the amount is - i bought a 2003 back for only $400 last year - though probably with a little more damage than yours). 

You're left with your vehicle and $1,400.  

What I would do is go fix it for $250 and I'm $1,000+ to the good on the deal.

 

3.  they'll work with you and try to give you a fair amount and stay just under the limit where they total it - probably best done in person if you can meet with someone.   in person, calm, and focused always works well IMO.

same as above fix it for chump change and pocket the rest. 

 

www.car-part.com is your friend. 

[sirtokesalot]

how bad is it? can you post a picture?

[idosubaru]

Also - watch where it's rubbing because that area will rust out quickly in rust prone areas. 

 

how bad is it? can you post a picture?

 

Good question. 

 

Matching doors and fenders are usually $50 - $200 each and can be installed in one hour. 

 

Here's a high end estimate:
$150 fender, $100 door, $150 labor = $250 to repair yourself or $400 for someone else. 

 

As long as your check is more than that - which it will be - you're making money off this deal. 

[ThosL]

I would have posted a picture but my FujiFilm digital camera got damaged in the recharge port.  

 

Thanks the advice here, much better than the agents.

 

I would describe it as a serious dent in the joint where the driver's door opens but it does not affect performance much, I don't know if the frame was bent because the lady's van did back in with force, the damage caused was just to force in the joint section less than a foot.

 

Last night I was with a group where the head had just come back after giving his friend a ride home after having his car towed.  In that accident in Bridgeport, the other person was at fault but the cop did not do a police report just telling them to work it out on their own.

[idosubaru]

A police report and a citation given are instrumental and ideal.

 

I would presume there are situations where an officer doesn't assign fault, simply because they can't know how/what happened or who is at fault. I think parking lots are common examples and two people backing out at the same time that collide into each other are both deemed at fault/no fault/liability assumed. That's the simplest example, it's obviously usually more complicatd than that.

Edited December 1, 2016 by grossgary

[ThosL]

In some jurisdictions I understand the cops don't do a report but you can go to a collision center.

 

It must depend on the town or state. For years I have seen the weird spectacle of
vehicles flash frozen in place after the accident on a highway, log jamming up traffic
for over an hour even when they could just move totally off, and they are usually able to
do so, but refuse to move until the cops can do a report. If blame is established and
clear insurance companies take over; either way insurance determines how much is covered.
God help those hit by an uninsured motorist, probably one in eight: http://www.iii.org/f
act-statistic/uninsured-motorists

 

I heard this from someone on what happens when you get hit by a cop:  

\

Cops don't come to collisions any more. Participants must travel to Collision Reporting

Centres.

A cop I know of was in an at fault accident and got to the center first. He flashed his
badge, lied about being at fault, and the other guy was charged. It was the cop who told
the story to someone I know. What a system.

Years ago some guy changed lanes without signalling and whacked into my car, causing
damage. Cops arrived and decided to let insurance companies work it out. I took the other
driver's name. Later while reading the local paper (I did type that it was years ago) I
noticed the police spokesman was a sergeant with the same last name as the other driver.
Hmm... 

[ThosL]

I had the police do a report, then followed up with the insurance company "Pure Insurance", had never heard of them. Then the adjuster came by on Tuesday and the insurance company offered me under $650, less than I was expecting. He said he could get a used fender have a local place paint it and install it. The driver door wasn't noticeably damaged though. A friend checked out the damage and thought it would be $800-$1200. Expensive area, I was a little surprised by this chiseler style business operation and low offer. Has anyone else had this happen and how have they handled it?