2009 Prius Body Damage - Another Deer

I went ahead and picked up the parts. They are that really dark grey, not black. Bunch of chips in the front of the hood unfortunately. Headlight looks really nice though. Cost $220 with taxes.

Hopefully using rattle cans, I can do a good job. Have six cans waiting for me at O'Reilly auto parts. Worked two doubles in a row so not been able to pick up anything except the parts.

I used the Progressive App to take pictures and there was a remote estimate made by the insurance company that is around 2650 or I would get back around 2300. The company then moved agents from the person who initially appraised to have the case to someone who is theoretically "local" if you consider northwest Virginia (based on the phone number) local.

They want to send it to a repair shop. The one nearby that they use could not get to it until February 12th or later. I figure that shop will then scratch their butt for a week. Means I would not have the car for a month or so. I was actually hoping to repair the car this weekend but does not look that way.

She did say that the cost is close to the cost for totaling out the car but still just below it. Hidden issues might push it over that amount. Of course bending the upper area which supports the fender a few millimeters is likely considered "Frame Work" and likely add $1000 even though I did it with my hand on the 2003 I recently repaired.

She also talked about getting the shop to repair it. I stated that I would prefer to make my own arrangements. She wanted to know the shop that I planned to take it in case there are additional repairs. Need to tread carefully with my wording because I do plan to do the repair myself. Get to it faster once I can start working on it and even with the rattle cans, I think less that $400 out of pocket. Maybe slightly more.

 

I honestly don't know if I want the car totaled out or not.
Leaning against it because the car can still be fully insured.

 

Actually there is some irony here. . . . .I pulled into a church parking lot after hitting the deer
One car comes by and the driver asked me what happened. Said I hit a deer which he just nodded. I asked if the deer was dead and he said it was in the middle of the road.
A truck then pulled next to me and the driver says something like "Want to say hello to your friend" and he had the deer in the back of his truck.

Having some issues with the dance with the insurance company. She wanted to send it to a repair shop where they would begin repair as soon as they did an estimate. Trying to tell her that I have my own plans and that I just want the payout in any case. I believe she is now just going to send an appraiser to me house.

Should I just say that I plan to repair it myself? I assume no but not real sure. Assuming that I should not, what kind of wording usually works on insurance companies? Also I assume I should not, should hide the parts and paint in the shed and/or house when the appraiser comes to my house?

 

Wonder how best to protect the emblems. I don't believe at least the Toyota logo on the hood is easy to detach based on the 2003. I have not looked as far as the Hybrid logo. I do have painters tape but might be issues fitting it. I was thinking maybe to coat the emblems with Vaseline?

 

Places want $500 to $600 to paint them. They always give the tale of using premium paints.
Nearest Maaco is 50 miles from home and they are not willing to give me a price over the phone.
Willing to be less than perfect and do it myself. Have 6 cans of the Duplicolor paint, 1 can of primer, and 2 cans of clear coat to do the job. I am off work tomorrow so plan to work on the hood tomorrow at least. I want to at least sand down the chips in the hood and prime it. Have a can of black primer to match better.

 

I know it may not be perfect but I think I will simply go with the Duplicolor paints.
Have them already on hand.

 

I have the hood hanging from a tree right now, priming it. Says 10 minutes between coats but it is about 50 degrees, not 60 degrees recommended, so giving extra time and waiting about 20 mines between coats. Hopefully I paint the hood and fender tomorrow.

 

And I am still waiting on the insurance company

 

Finally had Progressive finish the new inspection. Totaled the car out. Gave me a choice of around 5900 if they took the car or 4400 if I kept the car. Hard choice because might have been able to find a third generation for $5900 but in the end went with taking the smaller amount. Have the new hood on, the fender off, and the destroyed headlight off.

I don't know if the picture is good enough but does this bracket look like it is bent?


Hope to get the fender and headlight replaced tomorrow. I had previously replaced the bulbs with LED bubs and the bulb was not destroyed by the impact and still works.