Snow Crash driving in unexpected slushy ice

Glad to hear you're OK.

It's looks to be totaled especially considering the multiple air-bag deployments but it will depend if it got any of the expensive electronics. I hope for your sake it is because the VIN history will be forever tagged with "major accident, airbag deployed" and you'll get nothing for it when trying to sell or trade in.

If it fits your finances and driving, AWD Tesla's are really, really good in the snow and ice.

 

Ouch.
Was another car involved? Or did you hit a barrier? My guess is insurance will want to repair it. But I’m no adjuster. Good luck.

 

It looks like there's damage to the radar emblem, front headlight, front turn signal (probably), etc. The headlight assembly can't be cheap.

 

Were you by yourself? Upset I understand.

 

$1000/side

 

Yup! Nothing is cheap on this car...just like all cars now. Glad you are okay because the car can be fixed unlike humans driving them.

 

looks totalled to me.

 

Welcome to PriusChat! Sorry to learn of your experience, but curiosity got the better of me and I feel I must ask "What were the tyres on the car?"
The road looks like a skating rink, and I think in such circumstances studded snows (…or chains (…a PITA to set up, noisy, and dangerous if they break at speed (think shrapnel)) might be about the safest solution!
Glad you're OK, talk to you insurance broker! Good luck!

 

When bought my 2009 Prius (83,000) back in 2014, it was shod with Michelin Energy Savers (all seasons ) and I kept them on until the following winter (2015, remember that one! ) when I discovered the shortcomings of "All Seasons" (IMNSHO "All Seasons" are a compromise, Jack of All Trades, Master of None) so I vowed that by the next winter I would buy dedicated snow tyres on a set of steel rims (…which only need to be fitted and balanced ONCE instead of taken off/on twice per year!). There are many threads here on PriusChat about snow-tyres, and lots of good recommendations. I got a set of Blizzak WS80s mounted on a set of steel rims, for the winter three winters ago, and love the WS80s, although I got a really great deal on a set of Antares Ice 60s (studded) back in October, and have found them to be perfect for here in the frozen NorthEast.

Again (IMNSHO) dedicated snow tyres beat all-season tyres HANDS DOWN! Read up and learn all you can about why snow tyres are necessary! (lots of articles on-line, and especially here on PriusChat!)

 

Glad to hear everyone is OK.

Having already totaled one Prime (2017 Premium, ran over something that damaged my oil pan and underside of the vehicle), I can tell you that costs go up astronomically for accidents with the Prime.

My understanding is if all of the air bags deploy, that is over $10k in damage and replacement costs right there (someone can correct me on this). Front end has to be at least another $5k minimum. Wouldn't be surprised if the damage starts out at $15k and goes up from there.

Just an FYI - no airbags deployed on my accident. I had just the under-carriage damage which included the oil pan plus sub-oil pan assembly, A/C condenser units and hood (no other body panels damaged) and the total started up around $16k, assuming no engine damage. If the engine is totaled, then you are looking at another $10k right there in addition to everything else.

 

Were they on the toyo nanos?

 

That's totaled.

I have a friend* who totals Prii for a living. I swear he can't hang on to them to save his life. He's totaled 4 in the last 6 or 7 years (actually 2 of them were in the last 2 months - not kidding). Point is that I've seen them be totaled with a lot less damage than what your photos show.

*Now when he gets them we ask what color the next one is going to be and there's also an over/under on when the next one will go.

That is a very good reason to hope your car is toast. Not having to deal with that problem is your silver lining here. I hope that you have full coverage and that your insurer is prompt about taking care of this.

I'm glad that you're okay. That storm passed over us before it got to you, and I don't envy anyone that got stuck driving in it.

 

Best to get 4. Some places I believe it's even illegal, to send you on your way with just 2. Extra rims for the snows is good if you can manage it.

 

Take a deep breath and don't let your mind run off in too many directions just yet... no one was injured and, although this sucks, it's not the end of the world and you'll get through it.

Find a competent repair shop (one familiar with Prius nuances) to assesses the damage and work with the adjuster to crunch the numbers before determining your next move.

Hang in there!

 

Other than wet glare ice, what form of snow is worse than greasy slush topped with freezing rain? (I'm not including heavy stuff that high-centers or physical stops the car before it can careen into barriers or other vehicles.)

Cold hard packed (but unglazed) snow is far easier to negotiate, as are most unpacked powders not deep enough to high center.

55k on OEM All-Season tires? Half way through their life cycle?

Sorry, those were completely done for winter use quite some time back, and are now at best 3-season tires. For any OEM tires I've had, they'd even be just dry season tires. (I live in a wet climate zone.)

As Mendel said, get 4, not 2. (Like him, I also prefer a separate set of wheel rims, but that does require more money up front. Longer term, it saves.) While I'm not aware of anyplace south of the border forbidding just 2, it is not a good idea.

Just 'a pair' of snow tires is really useless in real winter. If you put them on just the front, emergency braking will try to spin the back end around to the front. Very few non-expert drivers handle this well. Modern ABS and VSC reduce the tendency, but can't perform miracles.

If you put them on just the rear of a 2WD, then you can't go very well. At least you can safely brake with control, not having the tail spin around, but braking distances will still much worse than with 4 snow tires.