Got into a little bit of an accident

[ac_]

It is fixable, but it depends on the insurance company on if they will fix it or not. They may get a price from the dealer to replace it it is even possible and probably decide to total it. Even though you and i both know your neighbor down the street can just weld it back on. There is no for sure answer. Just don't take the first offer from the insurance company they will most likely low ball you and try and cut you a check right there. if you take that check you are on your own with no leg to stand on. If you don't you can most likely get estimates from 3 different places to get it fixed. Even that said that is all grey area. Insurance companies are a pain, but don't let them bully you. There is nothing set in stone either way, meaning there is nothing you can't ask for and their is nothing they can't give you. It is all negotiation from here.

If they do put total on the table, you can most likely take a check right there and buy it back. Usually they will cut you a check for blue book or slightly higher minus your deductible, then give you a pretty sweet deal to buy it back. If yo do buy it back you can fix it then you will be required to have it inspected then you can put it back on the road. At least that is how it is where I was growing up. I cannot speak for all states.

Good luck sorry that happened. I wished people would realize how much of a hazard they are on the road. They are more dangerous than they even know. You got lucky in an unlucky way.

 

[John Wolf]

Be careful on buyback if totaled, it will be a salvaged title then and worthless on trade in or sell value going forward

 

[ac_]

Be careful on buyback if totaled, it will be a salvaged title then and worthless on trade in or sell value going forward

I wouldn't say worthless, but probably not worth as much, but don't buy it back to flip it, buy it back to make a swamp buggy or a garden planter maybe.

 

[Stockli]

$40!?!?!? Man that’s a deal. I got quoted $280 by a welding shop. Why can’t I find Jeepers in SoCal

Some guys will even do it for free out here.

I needed it done quickly and offered to pay him.

 

[Bill Clark]

I wouldn't say worthless, but probably not worth as much, but don't buy it back to flip it, buy it back to make a swamp buggy or a garden planter maybe.

I wish I had done it on the 99 TJ 6 years ago. I have a Grandson reaching 15in Montana [emoji22]


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[Joseph]

What front bumper is that?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2005 RHD TJ Sport
2010 BMW 528xi

Something like this, maybe mines an older model. I bought the front and back bumpers used $100 for both.
https://www.quadratec.com/products/12057_0102_07.htm

 

[Joseph]

It is fixable, but it depends on the insurance company on if they will fix it or not. They may get a price from the dealer to replace it it is even possible and probably decide to total it. Even though you and i both know your neighbor down the street can just weld it back on. There is no for sure answer. Just don't take the first offer from the insurance company they will most likely low ball you and try and cut you a check right there. if you take that check you are on your own with no leg to stand on. If you don't you can most likely get estimates from 3 different places to get it fixed. Even that said that is all grey area. Insurance companies are a pain, but don't let them bully you. There is nothing set in stone either way, meaning there is nothing you can't ask for and their is nothing they can't give you. It is all negotiation from here.

If they do put total on the table, you can most likely take a check right there and buy it back. Usually they will cut you a check for blue book or slightly higher minus your deductible, then give you a pretty sweet deal to buy it back. If yo do buy it back you can fix it then you will be required to have it inspected then you can put it back on the road. At least that is how it is where I was growing up. I cannot speak for all states.

Good luck sorry that happened. I wished people would realize how much of a hazard they are on the road. They are more dangerous than they even know. You got lucky in an unlucky way.

Well I bought it used at a dealer just 5-6 months ago. I still owe a little under 4k on it (I know, who buys old jeeps with the bank). So hopefully they don't total. I could see them totaling it if the mount on the frame ripped out, but that and the frame repair done were 100% safe.. I would hope they'd just replace the axle, or even the mount. If they try totaling it I'm gonna fight it somehow lol

 

[Damazzaro]

I wouldn't say worthless, but probably not worth as much, but don't buy it back to flip it, buy it back to make a swamp buggy or a garden planter maybe.

I'd definitely say buy it back to flip it. Bought back my 2000 sport 90k for $1800. Sold it for $5000. No gimmicks, nothing. I told the guy why it was totaled, everything that happened, etc. Wranglers are still worth a pretty penny even totaled.

Now my story may be rare but if the buyback is low enough I'd do it.

 

[ac_]

Well I bought it used at a dealer just 5-6 months ago. I still owe a little under 4k on it (I know, who buys old jeeps with the bank). So hopefully they don't total. I could see them totaling it if the mount on the frame ripped out, but that and the frame repair done were 100% safe.. I would hope they'd just replace the axle, or even the mount. If they try totaling it I'm gonna fight it somehow lol

Keep us posted. Curious to how this turns out. Good luck to you sorry this happened.

 

[Twowheelz]

Don’t be surprised if they total it due to the damage to the frame . Wrangler salvage values are high and the adjusters just want to close the file . I would look into your local laws on “rebuilding “ it chances are the title will reflect the rebuilt part which will kill your resale value. However if you are going to run it for a long time it may be a deal . Don’t be afraid to push the insurance company in the direction you want to go just be NICE but assertive. I used to do appraisals for a living and the adjuster just wants to be done with it .

 

[Joseph]

Don’t be surprised if they total it due to the damage to the frame . Wrangler salvage values are high and the adjusters just want to close the file . I would look into your local laws on “rebuilding “ it chances are the title will reflect the rebuilt part which will kill your resale value. However if you are going to run it for a long time it may be a deal . Don’t be afraid to push the insurance company in the direction you want to go just be NICE but assertive. I used to do appraisals for a living and the adjuster just wants to be done with it .

The frame wasn't damaged, just the axle mount for my lower control arm was. I did have the frame professionally repaired by my trans pan. That held up well in the accident. The mount on the axle just tore out. I will keep everyone posted though. If they do total I will 100% try and buy it back. I wouldn't mind the salvage title cause I intend to run this thing into the ground. Still waiting on police report although I spoke to insurance and they think it sounds like it will be her fault.

 

[B252]

Long story short. Got cut off by a girl on her probationary license trying to make an illegal u turn. Cut me off into my lane then stepped on her brakes (she admitted she was looking at the gps). My aftermarket bumper pushed into my passenger fender. So my bumper is all pushed in and my fender. To make matters worse, I thought everything was okay driving wise cause the cops had us pull into a lot 25' away and it drove alright, but it turns out the accident sheared the control arm mount off my axle. The cops hardly looked at my car and I wasn't able to take note of it while they were there.

Am I screwed with the whole axle thing since it wasn't noticed at the scene of the accident? Am I gonna need a whole new axle or is that fixable? Also, my bumper wasn't on the insurance, it doesn't look terrible but it is about half an inch from my fender while the other side that wasn't hit is about 5" away. Accident was her fault though and the Jeep even has collision. I've just never had to deal with something like this.

If the cost to repair is more than the value of the Jeep, they will most likely total it. Just buy it back and do the repair yourself.

 

[B252]

Good luck sorry that happened. I wished people would realize how much of a hazard they are on the road. They are more dangerous than they even know. You got lucky in an unlucky way.

Those people believe they have something more important to do while driving. Caution & consideration usually come second!

 

[Joseph]

If the cost to repair is more than the value of the Jeep, they will most likely total it. Just buy it back and do the repair yourself.

I don't know if my Jeep is considered "good" condition with the frame repair done (rest looks okay) but KBB puts it between $5500 and $7500. I'd probably be on the $5500 end, I overpaid. Hopefully insurance won't quote more than that then lol

 

[jeepndogs]

They won’t write it to replace or repair the brackets. It will have to be written for replacement of the axel. The OEM doesn’t allow for replacement of that part s the insurance and also the collision shop won’t assume the libality to repair that.

I’m not sayin that it hasn’t been and can’t be done but in the collision industry or insurance world they won’t write it that way. There have been too many lawsuits Ofer the years, the most recent one was a 42 million settlement on a Honda Fit. A shop in Texas didn’t follow procedures on a roof replacement and it ended in a fairly bad accident.

 

[ZEN357]

Take it to a reputable body shop and have them go over the vehicle with w fine tooth comb, get the estimate and then call her insurance company. Tell them you will fax them or email them a copy of the estimate and politely tell them they are going to fix everything in a timely manner otherwise it will ugly because their driver is at fault and a young driver should be paying attention to the road and not making illegal turns. You have them, there's nothing they can fight you on.

 

[cjaama]

Take it to a reputable body shop and have them go over the vehicle with w fine tooth comb, get the estimate and then call her insurance company. Tell them you will fax them or email them a copy of the estimate and politely tell them they are going to fix everything in a timely manner otherwise it will ugly because their driver is at fault and a young driver should be paying attention to the road and not making illegal turns. You have them, there's nothing they can fight you on.

As a former insurance adjuster I can't put into words how little I'd care about a threat like that.
An insurance company will pay what they owe and not a cent more and they will do it in the timeframe that benefits them while remaining within the law. Threats about the driver's age or what they were doing are completely meaningless to them.
The upside is, they want the claim resolved as quickly as possible too. They're just not going to do it because you're lecturing a low-level adjuster.
Also keep in mind, the insurance company is only required to return you to your pre-accident condition and are not liable for your vehicle’s deterioration (you had very rusty components, they don’t need to pay the full amount to replace them with new parts).

 

[Joseph]

As a former insurance adjuster I can't put into words how little I'd care about a threat like that.
An insurance company will pay what they owe and not a cent more and they will do it in the timeframe that benefits them while remaining within the law. Threats about the driver's age or what they were doing are completely meaningless to them.
The upside is, they want the claim resolved as quickly as possible too. They're just not going to do it because you're lecturing a low-level adjuster.
Also keep in mind, the insurance company is only required to return you to your pre-accident condition and are not liable for your vehicle’s deterioration (you had very rusty components, they don’t need to pay the full amount to replace them with new parts).

If they do say something I'm going to try and argue that though it was rusty, I'm sure it would not have torn for a very long time. Like I said this commutes 30 miles on the highway 4 days a week at about 75-80 mph no issues. All on shitty new jersey roads. I have a lot rustier stuff that held up fine haha
Finally got the police report after 6 business days, which was about 10 days total. Police report said she tried pulling the u turn from the right hand land, did not see me in the left lane and began to turn, I didn't have enough time to stop, and that's when our vehicles collided. I have to speak with my insurance lady today because she left me a voicemail before she left office saying they figured out the liability.
I spoke to the guy who did my frame repairs, or a guy who works there, and he said they'd have to check my frame for straightness. Or something along the lines of that. I didn't drive very far on the torn mount, around a mile or two.

 

[cjaama]

I didn’t mean that they will assume the only reason it broke was because it was rusted out.

What I meant was they could take depreciation off what they pay due to its age and condition. For instance, when I handled claims if someone ended up with a punctured tire in the crash and the tire had 10kmi on it, they wouldn’t pay to replace it with a new tire, they would deduct for depreciation.

I’m not saying they will, but they could. Hopefully not.

 

[Joseph]

I didn’t mean that they will assume the only reason it broke was because it was rusted out.

What I meant was they could take depreciation off what they pay due to its age and condition. For instance, when I handled claims if someone ended up with a punctured tire in the crash and the tire had 10kmi on it, they wouldn’t pay to replace it with a new tire, they would deduct for depreciation.

I’m not saying they will, but they could. Hopefully not.

I see what you mean now. Geico told me I can get an estimate for repairs by a Geico insurance adjuster and then take it to my preferred shop. I'll probably go to the guy that did my frame repair. He'll probably get a junkyard axle and swap it, straighten out my bumper and repaint it, and then install flat fenders, since it will be on the budget that Geico is giving me