Need Accident Advice :-(

[Oi-Punx]

Gotta love the Bay Area. I was turning right yesterday at a light around one of those concrete islands when a black SUV rear ends me pretty hard. He claims he never saw me. We drove to a parking lot and exchanged info.

Damage to his car: 2 scuffs that can probably be buffed out.

Damage to mine: Shattered and pushed in passenger side taillight cluster. The rear hatch release motor is probably toast, but I haven't checked it. Dented lower portion of bumper where the "porsche" decal is. Shattered center "Porsche" light plate. I was also hit hard enough so that the impact to the bumper caused paint to flake off the right rear quarter panel where the two are conjoined as well. It will have to be removed and completely repainted.

It is my understanding that the light plates are no longer available. My question is to those that have had to replace this light where did you go to get the part? It was put on by the original owner and I would like to replace it despite their negative sentiment on this board.

My Second question is should I have my mechanic (not body shop guy) do a diagnostic on the mechanical integrity of the car, i.e. frame, alignment, etc. etc.

Thank God I wasn't on my motorcycle or he would have really done a number on me with the "tank" he was driving. I'm a bit sore this morning and will probably see a doctor.
Drive carefully out there fellas.

Thanks

[javier]

Have you filled out an accident report yet, you have way over $500.00 in damage. Having a mechanic inspect the car is only limiting your ability to asses the damage. A GOOD body shop, will be able to inspect not only the frame and structural integrity but also the mechanicals. This is assuming that you have insurance and or that the other party also has insurance.

To replace the center light pannel, try ebay. On any day, three or four of the light units go up for sale.

Now, with this much damage at the tail and the rear body needing to get fixed, it would take only a little bit more effort to have the body guy weld up the holes from the center light and to restore the cars original look.

[Flight 951]

I've had some experience with this recently. A couple items to remember: Work with an honest shop from the beginning if you are at all uncertain as to the extent of the damage. Do not begin fixing your car until the financial arrangement with the insurance company has been finalized. Do not accept money from the insurance company to waive your future rights. They will begin to offer you $200-500 almost immediately. Some injuries take months or longer to surface. I had back surgery one year after my car was rear ended. Good luck.

[The Sign Guy]

Check the Pelican 944 classifieds. Someone is selling brand new reflectors for $89-$129.

Good luck
Kevin

[Lawrence Coppari]

Did you have a policeman come to the scene. You ALWAYS should do that that.

[Oi-Punx]

Thanks a lot Guys,

I was very shaken up and had no cell phone. Also there was not a payphone within view. I asked the perpetrator if he would like to contact the police and he declined. I figured it wouldn't be necessary given the fact that he rearended me. He is insured (thank God)and I am awaiting contact from his insurance. Perhaps this is a wakeup call to get that cell phone that I have long since despised.

When I was rearended in my 2nd Gen RX-7 I waived my rights to hold them accountable for future injuries and accepted a small sum of money in the process. This was justified as the impact was light. I will NOT be doing this in this case since my shoulder and neck are getting more sore as the day wears on.

As for the light panel. I may just have them weld the holes and restore the original look. I'll have to see what happens with the insurance company.

Thanks again, this board and the people on it are awesome.

[pearldrum]

look for your light panel on ebay, i've seen some for like $45

[ch944]

GET A POLICE REPORT! With that type of damage you need one. You should have never left till the cops showed up. Don't hold your breath while waiting for his insurance company to call. Call them and be very demanding in getting the damage appraised asap. They are in no hurry to hand out money to you. Hell, wake up tommorow and call for an ambulance, headake, backpain, numbness

[Blackfoot]

that's a tough break, oi. glad to hear you not seriously injured.

don't sign anything until you've spoken to an attorney.

it sounds as if your car may be a total loss (if the damage exceeds two-thirds or the car's value). so if it costs $3000 to repair a $4000 car, for instance, it's totaled.

when my rx-7 was rear ended and had only a skuff on the rear bumper cover, it cost $2950 to repair. so body damage can be very expensive, even if slight.

[Oi-Punx]

Thanks Blackfoot.

You know first hand how these crazy people drive in the Bay Area. With your advice from a previous topic that I posted regarding windshields (and from recommendations from two well known Bay Area Porsche shops) I have decided to take the car in to Carole at Bodystyles in San Jose.

I'm sure that it's not going to be cheap and supposedly they really take their time on their work. I never thought I'd say this but an attorney is looking mighty appealing right now.
Thanks for the advice.

[Blackfoot]

anytime oi. carol is good, but it's gonna cost bigtime. you received an estimate yet?

[Oi-Punx]

Finally got my '84 944 back yesterday from the shop. It sucks having to drive a rental Neon for a month let me tell you.

Blackfoot, you are correct. Cecil and Carol over at Bodystyle in San Jose took care of me (see 1st post for damage description). They came highly recommended by Partsheaven in Hayward and Devek in Belmont.

They ended up painting the whole rear of the car (incl. both quarter panels). They welded and painted in the area between the two light clusters where the aftermarket center reflector used to be and restored the factory look. They adjusted my hatch, got my remote hatch release working again and detailed the entire car. The color match is absolutely perfect and of the highest quality. They had several 911's in for restoration, not to mention several BMW's and Mercedes. Unfortunately my right rear quarter panel marker light was not working, but I opened up the Haynes manual and had it working again in about 10 minutes (bulb connection in the socket was shoddy).

Time for repair....

1 month

Total cost billed to the perpetrator's insurance company....

$3,792.60

Too bad the insurance company didn't cut me a check for that amount. I would have liked to have sold the car and spent the cash in it's entirety on a 951.

Thanks again for the great referral.



[This message has been edited by Oi-Punx (edited 10-17-2001).]

[ae1969]

In my years in in business, I have always had a lawyer close by.

Sadly enough......especially when dealing with insurance companies.

To me they are like Nuclear weapons, you don't like using them...... but you have to have them.