Had an accident and need help

[kooltechie]

a woman ran a red light while she was on the phone without using a hand-free set and hit my car this past Monday.
I am fortunate to be alive - if she hit me closer to the driver door, I could've been killed.
I'd like to get some help from anyone who could give me an estimate on the damages - if you're an auto accident appraiser or own/work at an auto repair shop, I'd appreciate if you could appraise the damages.
I have recently switched my insurance company and they won't have my info available for the claims system until sometime next week, but I'd like to see if my car will be totaled or repaired.
what I've heard from my lawyer is, unless the damages are more than 80% of the car's value, the insurance company will repair the car.
I would really hate to have my car repaired and I'm sure you all know why - it will not run/operate the same way ever again, especially after a major accident such as mine.
I'd much rather have my car totaled and be able to move on without going through all the headaches and inconveniences of driving a crippled car.
fyi, the edmunds.com indicates that my car's retail value is slightly more than $30k and the private party sell/buy value to be $29k, so if the damages are more than $23k or so, my car will be totaled.

here are the pics:

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_damage_1.JPG

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_damage_2.JPG

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_damage_3.JPG

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_damage_4.JPG

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_damage_5.JPG

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/a4_damage_6.JPG

please use, at least, a proper hand-free set while driving and race at the track, not on the street - too many people have died and suffered because of those ignorant and careless drivers.
peace [up]

[tomasmdiego]

i cant give you an estimate but im sorry about what happened to you. hopefully you get a new car!!! good luck

[jriddle11]

Glad to know you are ok. Good luck on this claim

[kooltechie]

i cant give you an estimate but im sorry about what happened to you. hopefully you get a new car!!! good luck

thanks, Tom.

[kooltechie]

Glad to know you are ok. Good luck on this claim

thanks, J.

[detroittechno]

Hello sorry to hear about your accident and good to hear u are ok. I can guarantee that your car is totalled. I am always looking at salvage cars that have been totaled with less damage. What ya want to replace it with?

[TWiST]

I am really sorry to see that man, full coverage insurnce is your friend! Your rental should be taken care of too depending on ur insurance plan. Sorry for your troubles.

Insurnace companies usualley part a car out when they total it to make there money back, and these parts are expensive, so u never know. Hopefully if your making payments you got gap as well, when I learned about GAP I was all about it.

[ahhfresh]

Not an expert but that sure looks totaled to me. Glad you made it out alive...

[kooltechie]

Hello sorry to hear about your accident and good to hear u are ok. I can guarantee that your car is totalled. I am always looking at salvage cars that have been totaled with less damage. What ya want to replace it with?

I really liked my A4, but, after the accident, I'm a bit scared and thinking of a SUV - I was completely unaware of the other car running a red light and badly shook up when we collided.
if I was driving a bigger car or a SUV, I wouldn't have been hurt as much (maybe not).
I'm not sure if I'll get another A4 or a SUV at this point.
thanks.

[kooltechie]

I am really sorry to see that man, full coverage insurnce is your friend! Your rental should be taken care of too depending on ur insurance plan. Sorry for your troubles.

Insurnace companies usualley part a car out when they total it to make there money back, and these parts are expensive, so u never know. Hopefully if your making payments you got gap as well, when I learned about GAP I was all about it.

could you provide more details on GAP, please?
thanks!

[kooltechie]

Not an expert but that sure looks totaled to me. Glad you made it out alive...

thank you, ahhfresh....I'm so fortunate to be alive with a few minor injuries.

[nwnerd]

The 80% rule varies from company to company, mine uses 75%. Add to that that depending on how the adjuster looks at it, he/she may or may not use it as a hard & fast rule. For instance, when I had a car that was totalled some years back, the cost of repairs was at around 70% of the value. The adjuster gave me the choice - it was so close he said he could easily go either way since often times when it's close like that on the estimate, many times when you actually do the repairs it goes over that threshold. So I would find out what the company's actual number is on that & then go from there. I would think that if you're within 10-15%, you could push to have it totalled. There are other things to think about beyond the cost to get it fixed, diminished value being the biggest IMO. In other words, if it is repaired & this shows up on Carfax, how big of a resale value hit are you going to take? The insurance company is responsible for that as well, although they won't tell you that. You have to push them for it.

Sorry this happened, but at least she was insured. And above all, nobody was seriously hurt. Good luck & keep us posted.

[kooltechie]

The 80% rule varies from company to company, mine uses 75%. Add to that that depending on how the adjuster looks at it, he/she may or may not use it as a hard & fast rule. For instance, when I had a car that was totalled some years back, the cost of repairs was at around 70% of the value. The adjuster gave me the choice - it was so close he said he could easily go either way since often times when it's close like that on the estimate, many times when you actually do the repairs it goes over that threshold. So I would find out what the company's actual number is on that & then go from there. I would think that if you're within 10-15%, you could push to have it totalled. There are other things to think about beyond the cost to get it fixed, diminished value being the biggest IMO. In other words, if it is repaired & this shows up on Carfax, how big of a resale value hit are you going to take? The insurance company is responsible for that as well, although they won't tell you that. You have to push them for it.

Sorry this happened, but at least she was insured. And above all, nobody was seriously hurt. Good luck & keep us posted.

thanks, Chica,
I'm trying to meet up with the appraiser next week so I can talk to him/her about all the things mentioned in your message.
hopefully the APR reflash will be the only thing uncovered by the insurance - I'll push the insurance company to cover all the other items I've added to my car - extended warranty, maintenance free program, tint, XM radio.

[nwnerd]

Keep APR on your list even so, you never know. Also, make sure to include your cost for licensing. Up here in Oregon it's very cheap, but Cali is much different & the state does a great job of bending you over when you go to get your car licensed. When my car was totalled we were living in Washington & the fees are similar up there. The insurance company included the cost for licensing in the settlement. :)

[kooltechie]

Keep APR on your list even so, you never know. Also, make sure to include your cost for licensing. Up here in Oregon it's very cheap, but Cali is much different & the state does a great job of bending you over when you go to get your car licensed. When my car was totalled we were living in Washington & the fees are similar up there. The insurance company included the cost for licensing in the settlement. :)

good to know....thanks, Chica [up]

[nwnerd]

Good luck!

[step02]

could you provide more details on GAP, please?
thanks!

GAP insurance is usually offered at the time of sale from the dealership to protect someone who owes more money that the car is actually worth in a case like this when it becomes totaled.

So, if you purchased a new car and it was worth $45,000 and made a down payment of $5,000, when you drove it off the lot you would owe $40,000 plus interest for the financing and all. Since the car depreciates very quickly, if it got into an accident, and you were only reimbursed $30,000 for the value of the car by the insurance company, you would still owe $10,000 to the finance company. GAP insurance would cover this.

This is a horrible example but I just used round numbers to make the point of GAP insurance.

[step02]

Oh yeah, and it's most likely totaled. The whole front end was pushed back into the car as you can tell from the radiator being uneven, with the driver side of the car pushed in worse. Probably bent the frame a bit. So replacing the entire front end, cracked windshield, deployed airbag, labor, etc, you should expect a check.

And as Chica has said, you can definitely negotiate on the numbers they come out with. If you feel that it's unfair, find some local sales (private or from dealerships) that have similar cars to prove that the market value of your car is higher than they're offering.

Good luck.

[Sanjman]

does the car start?

right SMIC, maybe even the turbo, body work, since the damage reached the front windshield glass their might be massive frame damage, front bumper, front hood, left and right fenders, headlights, hosings, intake... anything else i didn't mention

I think it's going to be close but hey I'm no appraiser... keep us updated.

[kooltechie]

Oh yeah, and it's most likely totaled. The whole front end was pushed back into the car as you can tell from the radiator being uneven, with the driver side of the car pushed in worse. Probably bent the frame a bit. So replacing the entire front end, cracked windshield, deployed airbag, labor, etc, you should expect a check.

And as Chica has said, you can definitely negotiate on the numbers they come out with. If you feel that it's unfair, find some local sales (private or from dealerships) that have similar cars to prove that the market value of your car is higher than they're offering.

Good luck.

thanks for the tips, step [up]

[kooltechie]

does the car start?

right SMIC, maybe even the turbo, body work, since the damage reached the front windshield glass their might be massive frame damage, front bumper, front hood, left and right fenders, headlights, hosings, intake... anything else i didn't mention

I think it's going to be close but hey I'm no appraiser... keep us updated.

no, the car doesn't start.
I kinda wish the car had been damaged more so the insurance company had to total the car without a quesiton.

[Sanjman]

no, the car doesn't start.
I kinda wish the car had been damaged more so the insurance company had to total the car without a quesiton.

Is the insurance company sending out an appraiser? Slip him 500 bucks... he'll say what you want him to say... haha just kidding... i've never tried that before. It's illegal. [:D]

[lowandslow]

I ran into a guy that had an accident in his 2007 A3 the other day with basically the same amount of damage and it was a write off. I hope you are alright and the process is smooth and fair for you.

Matt

[TSlice]

It will be totaled. There have been a few cars posted here with less damage that were totaled. You're looking at lots of body parts/body work, mechanical/engine damages, and by looking at the position of your passenger side wheel, suspension/structural damage and that's not even getting into airbags, windshield, etc. It sucks, but at least you won't be driving around in a fixed up car that may never drive the way it used to. Good luck, and once you get your check, take a look at the Q7 if you're thinking SUV, they're really nice.

[kooltechie]

I ran into a guy that had an accident in his 2007 A3 the other day with basically the same amount of damage and it was a write off. I hope you are alright and the process is smooth and fair for you.

Matt

thanks, Matt [up]

[kooltechie]

It will be totaled. There have been a few cars posted here with less damage that were totaled. You're looking at lots of body parts/body work, mechanical/engine damages, and by looking at the position of your passenger side wheel, suspension/structural damage and that's not even getting into airbags, windshield, etc. It sucks, but at least you won't be driving around in a fixed up car that may never drive the way it used to. Good luck, and once you get your check, take a look at the Q7 if you're thinking SUV, they're really nice.

I am considering a Q7 as a matter of fact....only thing not so great about it is the gas mileage....
thanks!

[Sharkfin]

wow good luck with the insurance claim....i am not an expert either but i think that it is totaled because the frame, engine, and all main mechanical and engine parts are screwed up not to mention the body and the windshield. let us know what happens and just be happy your not hurt

[kooltechie]

wow good luck with the insurance claim....i am not an expert either but i think that it is totaled because the frame, engine, and all main mechanical and engine parts are screwed up not to mention the body and the windshield. let us know what happens and just be happy your not hurt

thanks, smith [up]

[OH4NA4]

I really liked my A4, but, after the accident, I'm a bit scared and thinking of a SUV - I was completely unaware of the other car running a red light and badly shook up when we collided.
if I was driving a bigger car or a SUV, I wouldn't have been hurt as much (maybe not).
I'm not sure if I'll get another A4 or a SUV at this point.
thanks.

You couldn't have been in a safer sedan in its class than the A4. Audi makes some of the safest vehicles on the road today. Be glad you were in your A4! Any other sedan, the outcome could have been a lot worse!

[INTEGRATION]

please use, at least, a proper hand-free set while driving and race at the track, not on the street - too many people have died and suffered because of those ignorant and careless drivers.
peace [up]
[up]

Sorry to hear about the situation but it looks your car may be totaled.

[kooltechie]

[up]

Sorry to hear about the situation but it looks your car may be totaled.

thanks [:)]