Bumper damaged....

[kalte]

Sorry if it's the wrong place...just needed to rant and get some advice.

Was driving in I-95s when 2 stray tires just flipped out of nowhere...hit the car infront of me hard (his front, a Lincoln LS, was cracked pretty bad) and came underneath his car to hit mine....
Cars were swerving to avoid the tires, and i couldn't swerve too much as i'm in the middle lane with cars beside me swerving as well....i didn't have a choice (reaction wasn't quick enough)... (owned)
Hope nobody was hurt...

Avoided 1 tire, but hit the other.....didn't sound so bad (a *thud* and that was it)...until i got to work and whoaa....the passenger side took the worse hit..it's mis-aligned and cracked everywhere, the wheel fender cover is gone, my fog light housing is gone (thankfully fogs are still working..the wire's dangling though..had to zip tie it temporarily).....

went to a body shop and they asked me to get an appraisal from my insurance agent and the bodyshop estimated about 700 - 800 bucks...first time going through this...oh well..

I'm still considering whether i should bring it to my mazda dealer's bodyshop (assuming they have the right parts in stock) or use the referral bodyshop from my insurance agent's list (since the referral bodyshops guarantee the work)....

 

[buit9110]

either way its covered by your insurance company, I would prefer to go to the mazda for the same reason you stated.

 

[Igve2shtz]

Well, here is my 2 cents:

If the damage is 800 bucks, I would recommend going to the Mazda Body Shop and not even involving the insurance company. Here's why:

Undoubtably, your deductible is $500, so the insurance company will pay 300 whereas you pay 500. Where the problem lies, is that your insurance will go up (the exact amount is unknown, depending on insurance companies and their fancy equations), so over the next three years, you could possibly be spending an extra 300-500 dollars a year because your insurance went up.

I would check with your insurance company before you agree to have them pay for it, and make sure that this does not count as an "accident", and cause your insurance to go up.

Case in point: My brother hit a dear, damage was like 2500-3000 i think. So he had the insurance company pay for it after his 500 dollar deductible, and since the insurance had to pay out money, his rates went up. The exact amount is not known because he will have to wait until the plan is up for renewal, but he was assured he would be paying more, but he didnt have 3000 to shell out at that point in time.

 

[kalte]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm attempting to contact my insurance agent to see how this will affect my rates. Can't get to her since this morning (bang)

Cause, like you said, i wanna make sure they know it's not my fault that a tire is floating on the highway hitting other cars as well...

Need to get something to cover my fog lights and the wheel fender area later..prob gonna get some plastic or some cover to replace the cover for now...don't want water/other objects splashing in...if it rains i'm gonna be sooooooooo screwed...

 

[Igve2shtz]

Oh yeah, Im sorry to hear about your misfortune. Someone hit my MS6 two weeks ago, causing 2500 bucks in damage. So I know how you must feel. My car is still at the body shop even though it is drivable, I just cannot stand to look at the damage. She is now ugly.

 

[Regs120]

That's the one thing I don't get about insurance. You pay just in case you get into an accident, but as soon as you do it's like taking out a loan at a bank for 3 years.

 

[kalte]

Oh yeah, Im sorry to hear about your misfortune. Someone hit my MS6 two weeks ago, causing 2500 bucks in damage. So I know how you must feel. My car is still at the body shop even though it is drivable, I just cannot stand to look at the damage. She is now ugly.

sorry to hear bout that
Really sucks....


I agree with the insurance thingy.....something you pay for and hope not to use it (until crap happens...).

 

[Igve2shtz]

What I love about insurance is that you pay in, you pay in, and you pay in and for years you never take a dime from them. Then the instant you get into an accident, or someone keys your car, and you file a claim, its like "ok, give us your first born". I wonder where all that money I paid in goes to. I think if they can charge us more for an accident, then I deserve a refund for all the other years I didnt get into one.

And before you people jump all over me, I understand its a business. That was mearly a joke, not something I actually know could ever happen.

 

[kalte]

well, insurance agents have to make a living too

finally got hold of my insurance agent...at least my insurance rate won't go up...*phew*
My rates juuuust went down by alot this year...gonna hit my head if it were to go up..

Thanks everyone for your help and replies

 

[Igve2shtz]

Thats awesome. Who is your insurance company? I may have to switch

 

[wannabe]

i actually work for an insurance company, and was in underwriting for a couple years. thats not how the rates work. if you cause an accident, then yes, your rates will go up. but not because "you took money from them" its on your driving record that you were in an at fault accident. it doesnt matter if that happened while with a different company, its still on your driving record.
now, if you hit a deer, thats a comprehensive claim, and should not cause your rates to go up. same as if you are in a not at fault accident. you may have to pay a deductible (shouldn't ever for a not at fault, thats the other persons insurance) but, it may cause your rate to go up for other factors, it may change your market, a combination of your credit score, past insurance, and other factors. this could cause an increase.

 

[kalte]

Thats awesome. Who is your insurance company? I may have to switch

I'm with Arbella insurance company (in MA)....chose that cause when i first came to MA, my housemate was using it and the office is close to my house..

Like wannabe mentioned, my rates didn't go up cause it wasn't my fault, but i have to pay deductible because i could not find the owner of the stray tire..

at least i can claim for car rental when my car's in the bodyshop...got a number from an Enterprise correspondant who will be able to bill directly to my insurance agent....save me the hassle of paying then reimbursing it...hehe

 

[kalte]

dang it...car have been in for a week.....called today, and i have to wait for another week and a half....to change a bumper (chair)

argh.....gosh i miss my car...