2013 Prius rear ended-how to proceed?

welcome! sorry about your collision, glad you're okay. i don't know cali ins. laws, but i would think that you will have a choice of body shoppes to go to.let them begin an evaluation, and ask the insurance company the same questions. (except the collusion) all the best!

 

Don't know CA Insurance Laws either, but if they insist on you only going to their chosen repair facility, inform your insurance company that you would rather one of your choice and see what they say. When this situation happens In TX, your insurance company can handle the claim and let you choose a repair shop, then file "subrogation" against the other insurance company to pay it back...both sides all the while knowing it's happening. The only down side is you pay the deductible initially, and it takes a while to be reimbursed. Again...Call your insurance company during business hours Monday and confirm your rights in CA as it applies.

 

same exact way here, as well.

 

Here's a summary of the California insurance laws relating to collision damage repair:

Auto Body Repairs and Replacement Parts

"(1) You have the right to choose where you take your car for automobile repairs.
"(2) If an insurance company recommends a particular automobile body shop you have the option to either take it there or take it to another automobile body repair shop of your choice."

As the high voltage battery isn't far from the rear of the vehicle, I'd be more comfortable having a shop familiar with the Prius working on it.

 

Definitely one owned by and/or part of a Toyota Dealerships Group. Parts likely on shelf and with experienced Toyota Body Techs, Mechanics and Electricians. No farming out work that way.

 

Ouch! D'oh! Woman In BMW X3 Humps Toyota Prius

 

Yeah don't understand why you have to go to bodyshop dictated by other party's insurer.

 

If you choose to go with the body shop designated by the insurance company, the process will be much faster. I was quite happy when I got my car repaired by the shop chosen by "Progressive Insurance". I just had to request all parts to be OEM replacements, they take care of the rest. You get a rental car when you drop off the car and when your car is repaired, you drop off your rental at the same place you pick up your fixed car. I thought it was a very good experience and the work seems quite good.

You can also go with a body shop of your choice (if you know of a reputable shop), but if you don't know of a reputable shop, then going with who the insurance suggests wouldn't be a bad idea.

The shops the insurance suggests to you often will do work at less than market price. They get more work from the insurance companies and the insurance companies pay less for repairs.....win win situation for them

 

Hmm, well, in Alberta Canada with "Intact", MY insurance company, they handled the repair, and they handled transferring the cost to the insurance co. of the person who hit me. I was told of several body shops they frequently delt with, and was told I could also choose any one I liked. There are possible downsides to using a bodyshop the insurance company recommends, but there are also upsides. In my case I chose a nearby one they used, and the "paperwork" was all done in a minute online. I dropped the car off, declined the rental, walked home, and two days later, walked back in and picked up Pearl S, "good as new". I suspect the other persons insurance company asked no questions because they realized how cheaply they were getting off! There was also no police report in my case (under $2500 damage). In fact, it was so "seamless" I was left waiting for the other "shoe to fall". When I asked I was told the case was finished unless I was not satisfied.

BTW, at least in Alberta, and I suspect elsewhere as well, any rear-ender is the other persons fault totally. Your rates don't go up, you are not charged (unless perhaps there was a witness who swears you pulled out in front of the other person (cut them off), and the police agree.

 

I do not think it is likely that your car will be totaled. My guess is that the repair cost will be ~$5K given the hatch and doors are good. Structural integrity should not be a major concern since all that is required is to replace the rear bumper, repair the left rear fender, repair or replace the right rear fender and replace the right taillight assembly.

If the hatch does not freely open because it had been smashed in, then you would have some reason to be concerned about making sure the hatch floor was properly repaired.

I doubt that you will obtain a settlement regarding diminished value but you can try.

I would be more concerned about whether you have suffered soft tissue damage from the rear impact. Let a few days elapse before deciding whether your neck and back are OK, or not. If damage has occurred in those areas, it may be very difficult and time consuming to heal.

 

oh! my back!

 

At least get an estimate from the Toyota dealer's collision center. I've had good experiences with them and arranged for a Prius rental through the dealer. There is a "retail" price and an "insurance company" price. They will most likely accept the insurance company's payment.

 

I hate how the cash paying people get screwed. Same with health care, insurance people pay less

 

Maybe 20~25 years back, after a fender bender, I took it to our nearby Honda dealership. They immediately redirected me to this independent shop that handled all their bodywork repairs. They did a decent job, and improved over the years. Now we don't even deal with ICBC (pretty much THE insurer, mandatory for basic liability in BC, and the majority insurer for most comprehensive/collision): the shop handles all the paperwork, get's the authorization. They're walking distance from us, always get us in a loaner, we're on first name basis, they've kept improving over the years, so we just kept using them.

 

Wow, that is an amazing repair price given the photos you posted. The good news is that now there is another used 3G traction battery with low miles, that will become available for sale.

 

great outcome, congrats!

 

1. contact your insurance company.
2. Take it to your body shop first to get a estimate.
3. Contact a lawyer cause if they total your car your are out more then 11 or 13k the insurance companies will pay off your loan and wave by by to you smiling. I'm in NY when a S40 was totalled they pay off my loan I sued and got about 12k to replace it with.
4. And don't cash any check they send you till you car is fixed or replaced cashing the check is considered excepting a settlement and the end of the claim. They tried to give me 3k after they paid off my S40 loan. I questioned them about the money I now need to buy a new car and they said they get back to my two days later 3k check showed up in the mail my S40 was 2 years old and I paid almost 15k already and had 2 more years on the loan. They tried to walk away leavingme a lost o 15k my lawyer mail them a intent to sue letter (500 buck) and they cut me a check about 12k to put down on my new car.