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Rear Ended- hard hit!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by olcorral, Jan 30, 2006.

  1. olcorral

    olcorral New Member

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    Over the weekend someone hit me pretty hard on the rear end my new 2006 Prius baby. I just turned over 1000 miles on it.
    The impact was less than 10 mph when he hit me while I was stopped. When getting out of the check for damages, I see only scrapes and 1 small pucture in the right rear bumper. His license plate is etched into my bumper. Still, I got a real jolt when he hit. No airbags deployed in either his or my car. No visible damage to his VW Jetta.
    Here's my concern:
    Unseen damages from the impact beyond the cosmetic. Is there going to be damage from the impact to the underside of my car from the bumper forward? I looked breifly and saw nothing, but then I've never been underneath before.
    Thanks for any advice.
    olcorral
     
  2. clintd555

    clintd555 New Member

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    Most bumpers are designed to handle a 5 mph bump. If I were you, since you car is still brand new, I'll get the insurance company involved and have it checked for damage that you may not see. <_<
     
  3. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    I disagree about the "5 mph bumper" statement. Today, Federal does not require the bumper to comply with 5mph rule anymore. It was old days. My BMW 540iA's bumper can sustain 9mph (3X energy of 5mph, 81 vs 25x3=75) with superfacial damage. Most vehicles today have a piece of plastic (low grade plastics) over a steel pip and some foam on top of it. 5mph? I don't think so. IIHS has this test every year. Most vehicle sustain about $500 to $1000 damage over 5mph hit.
    I can't find the data on Prius, but I have taken it apart for Ultra Sound sensors installation. It wasn't any better than other vehicles I have seen.

    Here is a report on this, though not from IIHS.
    http://www.roadandtravel.com/crashratings/...ashratings.html
     
  4. olcorral

    olcorral New Member

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    Okay, thanks
    I'll have it checked but where? Dealer, since it is a Prius? I don't want to go to Joe Blow's body shop.
     
  5. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    go to your dealer and ask to speak to the service manager, not the dork writing service orders they don't know sheep s**t from dates, and ask him for his recommendations of a certified body shop that they deal with capable of dealing with a Prius. He should have an answer for you.
     
  6. olcorral

    olcorral New Member

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    Just got off the phone with his insurance company (Allstate) and they were very helpful.
    I am happy that he DID have insurance!!!
    I have an appt with the claims adjuster on Wed. Having not been in an accident before nor dealt with insurance this way, what to expect?
    Allstate has not heard from him as yet and will not pay out until they do. I know it's early but my lil red one is a hurtin out there.
    Jeesh, it only has 1000 miles on her. I'm just a little bummed.
     
  7. landstander

    landstander darling no baka

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    I'd suggest that you go ahead and take it to the dealer, and ask them them provide a repair estimate. This should save you a bit of time later, since Allstate will most likely have you do that anyway.
     
  8. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Sorry to hear about your (no longer) new car. What a bad start to what will otherwise be a beautiful friendship.

    Make sure you take pictures. Everyone has provided sound advice so far. Do what they suggest and I think you'll be fine. Oh and when the dealer service guy is checking it out, you might want to let it slip that there's another party involved and his insurance will pay for all repairs. Oops did I say that? Please disregard that when you're drawing up your (hefty) estimate.
     
  9. KathyY

    KathyY Member

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    I was rear ended just before Christmas. We were on an exit ramp and I know that I was barely moving and the girl who hit me couldn't have been going very fast. She hit the driver's side of the rear and did considerable bumper damage--a piece was flapping. The initial eval was new bumper and absorber but when they got the bumper off some piece had pushed into another so there was a little bit of hidden damage. Total was just under $2000 and the car looked as good as new. I told her adjuster that I had to go to my dealer for it. The repair itself only took a couple of days but they had the car for about a week. Most of the delay was her insurance adjuster--the parts came in a day.
     
  10. olcorral

    olcorral New Member

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    I knew it! There is some internal bumper cushion or whatever you might call it. I figured there would be something inside the bumper that would provide cushion and would sustain damage since it is supposed to absorb shock to some degree.
    Yep, my new baby ain't so new anymore. Helluva way to get broken in, don't cha think?
    My wife commented when looking at our bumper "what the hell... doesn't even look damaged from the hit we took!"
    A testament to Toyota, thank you very much.
     
  11. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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  12. SomervillePrius

    SomervillePrius New Member

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    It's also good to remember that light tractors (sorry I mean trucks) and heavier tractors don't need to follow this at all. So now most of them have their bumpers so high they will go over your bumper and damage your car instead making a bumper accident much more expensive. Man I'm so glad we're giving them more and more loop holes...
     
  13. Liam

    Liam New Member

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    Very similar to an accident I had last year. The at fault insurance was also Allstate. The claims adjuster made an estimate of about $300 dollars to fix the bumper. The seatbelt warning lights had stopped working and the buckle was jammed. He didn't know what to estimate to fix the seatbelt. Then he said he did not know much about the Prius and suggested I have the Toyota dealer check it out and do the work. He wrote a note on the claim that said if they (Toyota) found any other damage caused by the accident they just had to call Allstate and it would be paid.

    When I got hit, a cup of coffee in the cup holder sloshed into my lap and somehow jammed the seatbelt (the car thought the belt was latched so the warnings didn't beep and blink). The Toyota dealer told me the seatbelts are guaranteed for life of the car so it didn't matter if Allstate paid for it or Toyota.