Got hit today

Glad you are ok and like you said, this is not the end of the world. Stuff can be fixed, and I hope your Prius can be fixed and not be totaled. Sorry this happened to you, it sucks.

 

I'm reminded of a defensive driving seminar I attended years ago. One suggestion from the seminar was to leave at least a car length while stopped at an intersection. The reason being that a car length may provide a possible escape route in the event of an accident like Bretaz just experienced. I'm always aware of who is in my right/left lanes while stopped; not that I can do anything about them. By the way, I'm not at all saying Bretaz could have avoided this. Like I said, I'm only thinking about my own intersection driving experiences as I read about Bretaz's unfortunate accident.

The other suggestion I remember is that if I'm the lead car stopped at a red light, I count to three before accelerating on the green.

Actually, when slowing for a red light or even stopped, I drive as much through my rearview mirror as I do through the windshield. Even with all that, I still find most cars will stop right on my bumper at an intersection, even if it's on a hill.

My regrets to Bretaz and the other drivers who are victim to someone's inattentive, reckless driving.

 

Not too far though, as a car can just maneuvers around you and sit in front of you, thinking you're a weirdo.

People like that piss me off, and here in L.A. you'd be blasted to death with horns. Better to keep moving slowly once the light turns green then accelerate full on on the count to three.

They're not actually on your bumper. The split rear windows give the illusion that they're riding your bumper. In reality, if you were in a regular non-hatchback sedan, you'd not think they're on your bumper when they're just as close.

 

Understand all of that, don't understand why you don't just trade it in for another Prius? Are you afraid of the salesmen making fun or something, trading a Prius for a Prius?

The inventory situation may get better, the petrol situation won't.

 

I sympathize totally. My wife got hit from behind and sandwiched with the one in front while stopped at a red this last winter. Only minor damage to front and rear bumpers, but frustrating nonetheless. This is the first new car I've owned in 20 years and do you think any of the used ones in between ever got hit? Not.

I too subscribe to the "leave a car length in front" tactic (at least in the winter) and (carefully) mentioned it to my wife. Had she done that, it might have saved the day since she saw it all coming in the rear-view mirror and that extra 10 feet could have made all the difference...

 

Wth! man that blows. i hope you take legal action on her. it's b/c of ppl like her dumb nice person that i need to pay insurance.

 

Well, you got your microseconds, nanoseconds, femtoseconds, and attoseconds, but the shortest time interval known to man remains that between the traffic light turning to green and the guy behind you mashing his horn.

 

I like your outlook on life!
I'm not a cancer survivor, but 10 submarine patrols (and some other deployments) have taught me not to sweat the small stuff.
A dinged car is small stuff.
I was going to fire off a recommendation to eschew das Volkswagens but since you've already pulled the trigger on a Jetta TDI (a car I briefly considered) this would be swinging after the bell.
Good luck with the car!
Stop by and see us every now and then!

 

Have you discussed trade-in amount with a dealership, since the accident? If not: Do keep in mind that they are very aware of the perceptions of a car that's been in an accident. Their potential customers for your traded-in car will not pay nearly as much for your car, with it having been in an accident. The dealer will de-value your trade-in accordingly.

I'd suggest:

1. Press your insurance company for compensation for that diminished trade-in value. If you've been a relatively accident free customer, they may be able to do something for you.

2. Keep the car, for the medium term, see how it goes. Get the best body shop you can find, make sure it's fixed right, try to insist on new, genuine parts, etc.

In a few years, the differences between accident vs non-accident trade-in value will diminish.

I know it sucks. We were in a similar situation, about 18 months back. The car, a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid, was restored to near-new conditions, but there were issues with door alignment, and the front suspension. Still, it's pretty good.

Going to trade-in for our current Prius, as soon as the salesman heard "accident", the trade-in offer dropped to slap-in-the-face territory. We knew the condition of the car, that it had been restored as best it could, but to them it was just an unknown factor, an extra hassle when trying to make a sale.

What we ended up doing, and this was maybe a year post-accident, was selling privately, to a family member, getting a decent bare-bones wholesale amount, still much more than the dealer was offering, with assurance if they every had accident related problems we would make it right.

 

If Geico determines their driver is at fault they'll send a check for $100 & reimburse your insurance company.

 

Good advice there.

If a dealer knows a potential trade-in was in an accident, they will not give you squat for it because they're just going to send it to auction or sell it to a local wholesaler.

Trying to get something for diminished value will be an uphill battle that you will likely not win. Just make sure they will pay for "proper" repairs at a "good" shop. A body shop that is part of a local Toyota dealer might be best, they should know the Prius better and will only use genuine parts. That is a battle worth fighting...and it will be a fight.

Regarding the Jetta, the TDI is a very good engine. But it's still a VW, get an extended warranty. My sister-in-law had a Jetta, she finally got so fed up with all the problems, she drove it to CarMax and told them to give her a check and call her a cab. She borrowed our Jeep Grand Cherokee for a while, I helped her research good possible cars for her and she settled on the Honda CRV that she loves and it's been problem free.

 

There's probably going to be a limits issue, so going through your own insurer was the right course of action.