I think I killed my prius

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boulder Bum @ Aug 25 2007, 06:05 PM) [snapback]502166[/snapback]</div>

If you want to see a Prius crash in action click "IIHS Crash Test Videos", then enter the make model and year car you are looking for. In this case a Prius but defiantely watch the Cavelier and Aveo videos. :/

Sorry to "hear" about the accident but it looks like the car took the damage for you and all is well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MaxLegroom @ Aug 26 2007, 10:04 AM) [snapback]502330[/snapback]</div>

Ha. When I graduated from High School I got luggage.

Now, when I graduated from college, my parents offered to buy me a used car or a sewing machine. Not being a stupid child I chose....the sewing machine. A Bernina 830 open arm loaded with everything. Ran about $800 at the time.

I still have the sewing machine and it's held it's value very nicely. (You can get one for about $450 on eBay.)

The car would have been long gone. I was living at home and destined to remain so for a while so I had use of the two extra cars my parents had. I would be playing Chaffeur to my sister anyway so I passed on the car. That car would have been long gone by now, but the sewing machine sews on.

I eventually bought a new Ford Pinto Hatchback (after the redesign). Got a really good deal as they weren't selling very well. (And then moved out.) Ten years later replaced it with a Nissan 200SX hatchback. Next was a Saturn SC2 coupe. (I hated that trunk). And now I have my Prius. I'll never own a car without a hatchback again.

What "used car" would I have ended up with? They probably would have given my either the Ford Galaxee or the Dodge. I was driving both in college as those were the two extra cars. I don't expect either would have lasted more than a few years.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobN @ Aug 25 2007, 08:33 PM) [snapback]502153[/snapback]</div>

The airbags are designed to absorb an impact from an immobile object, say a utility pole or bridge support.

I think it's time to start looking for a new car. It's a shame both cars are lost. Happy to hear there aren't any injuries.

 

It looks like it took the accident like a champ. I'm about 95% sure that'll be totaled. But ya, the passenger side would decently be the cheaper side to get hit on. Good thing is nobody got seriously hurt.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobN @ Aug 25 2007, 08:33 PM) [snapback]502153[/snapback]</div>

Unless the adjuster is unfamiliar with hybrids, or there's some unusual damage underneath, I doubt the car will be totaled. It's a 2007, and you don't need airbags.

From the angle of the RF tire as seen on the flatbed, it looks like the upper suspension tower was pushed in. I'd expect to see the frame rail pushed up against the engine's crank pulley, as well. But the frame rail can be straightened, and the other structural material is available separately from Toyota. It can be welded in. And the impact didn't push anything into the windshield - another good sign.

As you got hit on the passenger side you almost certainly escaped damage to the inverter and coolant heat storage tank on the drivers' side. I know it doesn't look like it, but that's a light hit, as Prius front collisions go.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jk450 @ Aug 26 2007, 02:59 PM) [snapback]502473[/snapback]</div>

Don't let the insurance company take you for a ride. My sister got rear ended by a Pepsi truck at an ntersection. They were so cheap in the offers for the car, my sister and her husband got a lawyer. She has been in physical therapy for 6 months. Because the insurance company was so cheezeball about the car (Low book on a original owner Subaru with perfect maintenence history and $2000 worth of recepts in the previous month. This in a market where Sub's go for 125-150% of high book!

Now there going to have to pay all the medical, as well as fight with a lawyer. My sister might have been much more willing to settle on the whole.

Make them earn any settlement.

Icarus

PS. I was rear ended 35 years ago when I was about 18. I got paid for the car, signed away my rights. I have had serious neck problems ever since,,,all on my own nickle. Don't be in a hurry to make any settlement! (I'm no big fan of lawyers, but that is what they're for).

 

The first thing they're going to do is get an approximate value to work with internally on the car. A loaded '05 with 56K miles (somewhat above normal) has a trade-in value of around $17,500 if in good condition. You'd get that plus tax if they total it plus or minus a grand or so depending on how they generally work so if they total it you're probably looking at the $19,000 range minus your deductible. They're probably going to want to fix it for anything up to about 13,000 to $14,000. You might have less than that but make no mistake. It's a major accident and your car's damage info will show up on CarFax reducing its value down the road by thousands so any way you slice it, it sucks. If the damage looks a lot worse than it is, that's not necessarily a good thing. It just means you're going to be stuck with a car that's had major repairs and is worth a lot less than it should be. If the damage is bad and they total it, you're not getting retail price. You'll be lucky to get between trade-in and private sale price. If you hire an attorney, it will drag out and you'll pay for the privilege of doing so, so you better make sure you're going to win. If you're at war with your own insurance company, maybe your state has some form of arbitration available rather than resorting to a lawyer.


I don't know how much you still owe on it but if they fix it, pray your body shop's experienced dealing with hybrids and that they can convince your insurance company to avoid salvage parts and third party parts as well.

 

I'm surprised nobody mentioned this yet, but the airbag didn't go off because the car was hit on the right side, and there was no passenger in the seat.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobN @ Aug 26 2007, 09:56 PM) [snapback]502559[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I was looking at your signature that said "2007 Prius." So with it being a 2005, your chances of being totalled go up a bit.

Still, if I were looking for a crashed Prius to rebuild, yours would be a pretty good choice, judging from the pictures. And I wouldn't worry about Carfax too much. Even salvaged rebuilds of totalled Gen II Prius vehicles sell briskly for about $14K to $19K, depending on year, options, mileage, color. And there's nothing worse for a title than "salvage."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tampa_07_Prius @ Aug 28 2007, 11:49 AM) [snapback]502998[/snapback]</div>

That would stop the curtain airbag going off.
But at the end of the day, if no one was hurt the airbag wasn't needed which shows the sensors are not set up wrongly. The safety systems all worked well.

 

Wow. Those pictures just say so much. It looks totaled to me. I am glad that everyone is okay. I had a similar accident as well. My Nissan Altima got hit from the side when some dufus in a truck pulled out to make a left turn. Air bags went off not sure if it was needed but they totaled the car. The inside structure was damaged. But it was hit about like yours. It is scary to say the least.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobN @ Aug 25 2007, 08:33 PM) [snapback]502153[/snapback]</div>

Ouch!!! Poor Prius! I'm glad everyone is okay. Awhile back I got T-boned (I think that's the term!) by a Ford F350. I was trying to find a good driveway to turn around in and I was going slow trying to find one. Then I found one and went to turn and next thing I know *BANG* and the driver's side was all smashed. He got the middle post thing and everything. They had to replace both doors and the post. The insurance covered everything. Even though the guy hit me on the WRONG side of the rode I got the fault for it which is ridiculous. Anyway there was no damage at all to his massive truck. I still have pictures of the damage if anyone wants to see. The airbags didn't go off for me either.

Before the Prius I had an Oldsmobile. 1991 Custom Cruiser. I think it might have been the biggest car on the road. The thing was massive and we called it the boat. I got into two accidents with that one. Once during winter I was driving and slid and hit the side of a hill. Just the lights were smashed. The car made of that old steel didn't even scratch or dent. Another time I was on a narrow road and had pulled to the side for someone to pass by and they hit me anyway. Not even a dink on the Boat but boy was thier car damaged. I LOVVED that car. My friend has it now. The Prius is a nice compromise though. =)

 

Oh, that will buff right out.

 

Yeah thats $17k in repairs easy, definately totalled.

Be glad they totalled it too, I'd never trust the car again after a repair of that magnitude.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RobN @ Aug 30 2007, 09:42 PM) [snapback]504637[/snapback]</div>

See ya on the I Just Got My New Prius thread #4349

 

I was going to say I think the seatbelt height adjuster cover means there is a problem with the seatbelt mount but I need not do that now.
Happy car hunting.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Spoid @ Aug 29 2007, 08:38 PM) [snapback]504139[/snapback]</div>

ROFLMAO!! :lol: