My first accident

[spiderbit]

Gal on her phone wasn't looking up. Took off rubber corner part of my front bumper, dented fender next to headlight and knocked out headlight and gasket.

My question is do I take this to a regular body shop? Will they work on it?

I'm guessing I'll need to repaint which might put me over what I insured the car for.

Would appreciate some advice from those that have had body work done before.

[lglade]

Post a photo so people can see what it looks like.

[spiderbit]

https://www.flickr.com/gp/145793273@N07/5u1yhQ

[spiderbit]

[lglade]

That doesn't look too bad. Did the other driver admit fault, and did you get her insurance information? From what you described, this repair should be covered by her insurance anyway.

But even if the money is coming from your wallet, you can buy the headlight ring from one of our trusty vendors for about $40, and the bumper rubber pieces can also be had on eBay fairly cheaply. Shop around for a nice one, but here's one that I just found for $40: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fiat-Front-Bump ... a4&vxp=mtr

The repair itself should not be too difficult or expensive, but the paint will be a little difficult to match. They'll probably have to paint the entire fender to get the color to blend, but if you shop it around and ask for a cash price, you might keep the dent repair to under $400. This kind of bodywork is pretty generic, and I'd expect most of the shops out there will be happy to do the work for you. But do shop it around; you'll be amazed by the variation in quotes that you get.

Your car looks nice...too nice to let a little dent like this knock her out of commission.

[spiderbit]

Thank you.

I'm concerned about how well a body shop can match color on 36 year old paint.

[lglade]

A good technician should be able to get really close. If you don't know your paint code (look on the underside of the trunk lid), you might look at the color pallets here. Safari Yellow 285?

http://www.paintscratch.com/touch_up_paint/Fiat/

[scrapironchef]

Thank you.

I'm concerned about how well a body shop can match color on 36 year old paint.

If she was at fault you get to have it fixed until you're happy, I'm sure your back is starting to twinge...

Larry

[spiderbit]

So I got my first estimate this morning. I need a new bumper and mounts new headlight new gaskets around the headlight dent repair turn signals paint work and most of all my frame needs to be realigned. Total repairs come out to $4000. This puts it right at my insurable value. I'm essentially totaled for something that appears very cosmetic.

I have some tough decisions to make. I love absolutely everything about this car but I know it's going to need another $5000 worth of engine work and other repairs in the near future. I'm at 162k on the engine so it's probably due for a rebuild.

It seems like if I'm going to do this I need to go all in and just decide that this car will be in the family for a long long time. I guess you can't be financially rational about everything.

[spiderbit]

Also, I won't be driving in heavy traffic next to giant trucks and suvs again. If I fix this it will be a pure weekender from now on. Btw, something really needs to be done about people on phones while driving. I've had multiple instances where I hear brakes squealing behind me because a phone was in hand. Maybe if everyone drove fiats and stick shifts, the streets would be a lot safer.

[DieselSpider]

If she hit you then she and her insurer have to pay for the repair not your insurance. Every driver must carry insurance for damage to other peoples property even if they do not have collision or theft insurance on their own car. She should have given you her insurance companies name, her policy number and her drivers license information. The police would have included it in the accident report which is mandatory with damage in those dollar amounts. If she left without waiting for the police and filing an accident report that in itself is a crime with a penalty in many locations. You generally have 24 to 48 hours to file an accident report if the other driver left the scene without calling the police however I would have called them at the scene before the other driver left and gotten an immediate write up at the scene. If the other driver left before the police arrived then they would have her for leaving the scene of an accident with over $X000 property damage.

Go after the other drivers insurance and if need be lawyer up to insure they pay up for what they have done. And if your thinking No-Fault that is usually only for personal injury which you can still take the at-fault driver to court for. I pay for my mistakes as obviously you also do so don't let this distracted driver (here she could pay a separate fine and potentially loose her drivers license for that act alone) get away without making you whole again.

[scrapironchef]

I'm beginning to understand the Russian penchant for installing dash cams. Having a video of someone talking/texting as they run into you would make going to court a lot simpler.

Larry

[Jimb]

Actually, that's called a crash, not an accident.
Jim

[nelsonj]

That sounds like a very high estimate. I'd try another shop, on that was more willing to work on the car, if the estimate becomes and insurance deal killer. Good luck, and the important things is everyone is okay.

Peace.
Out.

[DieselSpider]

I'm beginning to understand the Russian penchant for installing dash cams. Having a video of someone talking/texting as they run into you would make going to court a lot simpler.

Larry

Unfortunately that is getting to be the case. I run a dashcam on a loop now just to protect myself. If I do hit someone making it my fault it will hopefully show it was truly an accident and not because of driving under the impairment of drugs, alcohol, cell phone usage or any other type of electronic gadget. Way too may cell phone or Pokémon impaired drivers around where I live to put it mildly.