Front-end Collision, Conflicting Accounts of Accident

"IF" the red light camera's were working and you can get a copy of the video, then take her to small claims court if after the fact on insurance

 

At that same age, my sister started a left turn, momentarily thinking she had a turn arrow. Realizing her error, she stopped part way through, and was stationary when the oncoming car, with the solid green light, hit her. (Both entered from a standing start).

Because she stopped before the collision, and because the other party had sufficient opportunity to avoid the collision, but failed to do so, the officer called it a wash and issued no citations. Could the officer in this case be thinking something similar?

Years later, a coworker's daughter just learning to drive, at that same age, thought she had enough room to complete a turn in front of an oncoming car. She struck it on the left rear door.

Only later did medical research demonstrate that brains of that age have not yet reached adult maturity.

 

My brother used to drive a semi, and this actually happened to him. Some 80-ish year-old guy pulled into his lane (his trainee was driving at the time), and wrecked his steering, causing him to crash into the concrete barrier a few times, and then across the median, three lanes of oncoming traffic (narrowly missing a fuel tanker), down an embankment, through a few trees, and into a creek.

So it seems hard, but it can in fact happen where somebody completely misses the fact that there's a 60-foot-long, 13-foot-tall vehicle next to them.

Say, you aren't 80 years old, and you weren't driving in Milwaukee, were you?

 

Agreed...it is so important not to discuss details with the other party. Nice call!

 

I think New Jersey is a "no fault" state, so regardless of fault, each party's insurance picks up a piece of the tab, except for points on the license, if any.

For your sake, I'm glad to see that Prius safety restraint systems worked as expected. Looks like multi-bags went off. Were you bruised or burned from the bags?

 

I don't see any reason why that car would be totaled.

 

Given the airbag deployment, it would be unusual for it to not be totaled.

 

Here in CA, all alcohol must ride in the trunk.

Since it's a lease w/o gap insurance, the logic would then be to get it repaired, and forget about purchase option when lease is done. I guess the lease company takes the hit on the depreciation then?

If repair cost > reimbursement value less salvage value, then total loss is what the insurance will do.

2 air bags, hood replacement, head light assembly, turn signal light assembly, bumper assembly (skin & foam), grill x2, radiator x2, right quarter panel, fluid reservoir, full powertrain diagnostic, paint job, frame adjustment, alignment, odds & ends, paint job, labor

If the frame is damaged, it will be tough to fix. This could cause totaling. I've had a car totaled with far less damage. The frame was screwed up, but you couldn't tell from the outside.

Don't forget the time it takes to repair, the body shop charges a storage fee, and you get a rental vehicle, this is summed into the repair costs.

 

Don't worry. Go to KBB and spec your car to see what it would be worth before the collision. This is the money the insurance will give to the lease company if it is a total loss. Then see if you still have a gap. Since the resale value of Priuses (Prii) has gone up, you may be ok.

 

That's odd....I was under the impression that Gap insurance was mandatory in the state of NJ when either financing or leasing a car.
I'd have done it anyway, as it was such a tiny percentage of the payment and I didn't want to end up on the short side of things if the circumstances arose.

Good Luck!

 

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean, but I think you need to be prepared. When airbags deploy, there is usually significant frame damage, in addition to the cosmetics. All replacements must be Toyota parts, and paint is hideously expensive as well. Returning the car to like-new condition is very costly, and these cars have a low total loss threshold anyway. Go to copart.com and search for 2010 Prius to see pictures of what is often the appearance of very little damage on total loss Prii.

 

Sometimes they sell supplemental gap insurance, and there is default gap insurance implied, or in the contract.

From wikipedia.