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[krobe]

For the record, it would be almost IMPOSSIBLE for a parking lot accident to cause frame damage. Be careful with what the body shop is telling you, or there may have been preexisting damage.

If it 'bent the tire' but no other damage, its not frame damage.

Don't let them do a tear down until the insurance adjuster says to do it. Make sure you have pictures. The damage claim and the accident do not add up.

Dan

Good to know. I was surprised myself when the shop said there was probably frame damage, since it didn't seem to have enough damage at the tire to warrant that. They said we don't have equipment to estimate this, you need to go here. Will the new shop call before doing a "tear down" to say that they need to do one?

 

[djs]

My assumption is they don't mean the frame, but the doo-hicky that the wheel is mounted to (A-frame I think). This would go along with a bent wheel.

Because its a suspension part, a lot of body shops will send the work out of house. The car will also have to have an alignment.

Dan

 

[experiencedautoadjuster]

Hey Dan let's think it doesn't matter what you feel could or couldn't happen in a parking lot yes you bend a tire in a parking lot accident depends on speed
Oh yeah and Dan the claimant carrier has made their liability decision. DONE COMPLETE
they can't arb or send to sub bc they don't have coverage and neither you or I are looking at that car and it's an old car not going to take a lot to total it
They need a tear down to figure out the extent of the damages or do you want those people in a rolling total?

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Yes it's your car they can't take it from you if you want to keep it it will get a salvage rebuilt title

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And I wouldn't be the adjuster who should have taken the car as a total

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Make sure that shop it's at isn't charging storage fees

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[djs]

As an experienced auto adjuster, what percentage of parking lot accidents lead to a total of a vehicle? In all of the claims I've dealt with, that percentage has to be in the very, very low single digits (like maybe 1%??, probably less). There are only 2 things that can cause a parking lot total, way excessive speed and a car that has no value.

Given that this car still has some value and based on the description it doesn't sound like excessive speed was involved, in fact, it was stated little damage was done, odds are, based on the story and my experience, something is not right.

Its possible its a total, its very likely the damage will costs more to repair, I have no problem with either of these, and the reality is, we are not talking a lot of money either way (in an insurance payment sense).

I'm not sure where the $450/$900 came from. I assume this was based on a phone call (or visit) to the body shop to assess the damage and what was thought to be existing vs new damage. I would ask the adjuster for clarity on why this was the amount.

I would not jump to a conclusion that the car was a total though.

Dan

 

[Guest]

Take it to a different shop and DJS, dont you know you should bow down to the almighty experiencedautoadjuster?
Dont argue with him man.

 

[experiencedautoadjuster]

I agree with you there Dan and I'm not saying I know it all. To be honest we are probably from 2 different companies who handle it 2 different ways.
I like to prepare a person by letting them know the entire process JUST IN CASE it's a total. Chances are it won't be. But by letting the customer know it establishes more confidence in the claim handling process.
My guess is they could have used estimating software CCC Pathways clicked on the parts the claimant said were damaged and boom sent the check. Nonetheless, it's an original and there can always be supplements.
Where I work "tear down and diagnosis" is out favorite phrase because the company always want to err on the side of caution.
So yes I think we are both ultimately saying the same thing just in different ways.
At least now they are aware of what happens should the damages exceed the threshold. I always prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

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Oh and I'm a her

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[djs]

I didn't disagree with what you were saying, just that the story as a whole doesn't jive with the 'norm' for parking lot accidents. I've done this long enough to catch the warning signs of something going wrong, though frequently on a forum, you can't tell what it is.

In this case, we went from 'not much damage' to having to send it out due to frame damage to having a total which doesn't add up in my mind. Process wise, yes, but part of the process is determining the right process.

Dan

 

[krobe]

I didn't disagree with what you were saying, just that the story as a whole doesn't jive with the 'norm' for parking lot accidents. I've done this long enough to catch the warning signs of something going wrong, though frequently on a forum, you can't tell what it is.

In this case, we went from 'not much damage' to having to send it out due to frame damage to having a total which doesn't add up in my mind. Process wise, yes, but part of the process is determining the right process.

Dan

I'm waiting to hear back from the shop about the damage. You could very well be right about them needing a special frame to check suspension. That would go along with the general damage I saw at the scene. Frame would be excessive, but I heard it and thought the worse.
Again, I appreciate all of the advice and expertise offered on this! Thank you!

 

[experiencedautoadjuster]

Let us know when you hear back from the shop. Did they say anything about storage fees?

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