christmas accident dilemma

[danlaroe]

after taking an unexpected off road excursion in my accord ive seemed to suffer some serious cosmetic damage to the front of the vehicle. BUT all the lights are fine and there is no fluid loss although the radiator seems to have moved just a bit. the car drives fine..no pulling but it looks like hell. the whole bottom fascia? is in the backseat. thats a good place for it right?? so the question is.. do i bother getting this thing fixed through my insurance company. i have full coverage and the damage is well over my deductible. do i get the company to cut a check and drive it like it is ....torch it and try to get them cover the whole thing or just drive it as it is?

[Foster]

get it fixed if you can, you can't tell you'll enjoy driving around in a car with that much frontend damge

[sr71blackbird]

How old is the car and are you a handy person?

Its probably not as safe as it would be if there was no damage and a light tap into another car will probably cause more harm than good. Since there was no mention of airbags being deployed, I imagine its an older car?

I have seen people drive cars with that type of damage for years though. I have even seen people rig up an I beam or a railroad tie as a bumper too.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2299626160_66a128c4ea.jpg?v=0

http://www.xerxy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/plastic_substitute.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

Or you get some heavy square stock and drill through it and attach it to whatever hard points are left where the old bumper was. Then paint it up like this.

http://www.jeepz.com/forum/attachments/cj-yj-tj-jk/3570d1253094800-home-made-mods-front-bumper-1.jpg

[Spagett]

I think posting about insurance fraud is a great start, maybe put your picture up as you avatar so noone can id you

[OGC]

You may not mind driving it like it is, but if there is an annual inspection in your state, I doubt it will pass.

Was the accident your fault ? Anyone else involved who might have insurance that will cover it ? Will there be surcharges on your insurance ?

[danlaroe]

yeah my insurance guy is a huge ron and fez fan. his big ass card number is blah blah blah blah blah the car is a 2005 accord..loaded. the bumper portion is still on. its all damage below that..all plastic bullshit..

[Foster]

yeah my insurance guy is a huge ron and fez fan. his big ass card number is blah blah blah blah blah the car is a 2005 accord..loaded. the bumper portion is still on. its all damage below that..all plastic bullshit..

its not that old, think of the re-sale value

[GregoryJoseph]

At least get a few estimates.

There may be some structural damage you're unaware of and continuing to drive it will only make it worse.

[danlaroe]

hows this for a new avatar? who is the shit???? danlaroe is the shit..im still better than lleeder

[GregoryJoseph]

One of the best things about popular cars like the Accord and Camry is that parts are cheap and plentiful.

That bumper cover is ridiculously inexpensive, and if that's truly the only damage to the vehicle, the only additional expense you'll have to pay is paint and labor.

[danlaroe]

gregjoe youve made a good point. looking at it now it seems like aportion of the radiator is now exposed...i dont think thats a good thing

[FUNKMAN]

if you see a big dead deer on the road, run it over. then call the Insurance company. hitting deer is an "act of god" is how I heard it explained and falls under comprehensive

in the past 7 hyears I've hit 3 deer and had at least 3 deer run into my car doing little to a fair amount of damage.

last year slid on black ice, hit a guardrail, did not report. had autobody do some cosmetic work for 300. a month later a deer ran into my passenger side door, about 1200 in damage, i reported to insurance. a month after that hit a deer that was in a full sprint out of the dark, did not report it.

it's a 04 Camry with 110k. i'll drive it into the ground and not worried about little dinks now

i have 150 deductible on comprehensive. i'm hoping i hit a big deer soon so I can get all the little damage from the guardrail and deer hit from last year fixed...

[GregoryJoseph]

FUNKMAN?!?!?!

It's a Christmas miracle!!!

How ya been, buddy?

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[Sinestro]

if you see a big dead deer on the road, run it over. then call the Insurance company. hitting deer is an "act of god" is how I heard it explained and falls under comprehensive

in the past 7 hyears I've hit 3 deer and had at least 3 deer run into my car doing little to a fair amount of damage.

last year slid on black ice, hit a guardrail, did not report. had autobody do some cosmetic work for 300. a month later a deer ran into my passenger side door, about 1200 in damage, i reported to insurance. a month after that hit a deer that was in a full sprint out of the dark, did not report it.

it's a 04 Camry with 110k. i'll drive it into the ground and not worried about little dinks now

i have 150 deductible on comprehensive. i'm hoping i hit a big deer soon so I can get all the little damage from the guardrail and deer hit from last year fixed...


Stop killing Bambi's relatives!!!!

[danlaroe]

i got a shop near my house where ill have someone check it out. ill google up some bumper covers and see what i can find. i got all the tools i could need here if i did want to go ahead and make the repairs. the car has 100000 on it already and other than this minor wrinkle it has been top notch

[FUNKMAN]

FUNKMAN?!?!?!

It's a Christmas miracle!!!

How ya been, buddy?

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

i'm good, thank you... I've been well. went through a little dark period but have come out on the other side...

Merry Christmas budday and a Healthy Happy New Year!

[GregoryJoseph]

i'm good, thank you... I've been well. went through a little dark period but have come out on the other side...

Merry Christmas budday and a Healthy Happy New Year!

Glad to hear you're doing well these days and have weathered the storm.

All the best to you for 2010, brother. Hope to see you soon.

[GregoryJoseph]

i got a shop near my house where ill have someone check it out. ill google up some bumper covers and see what i can find. i got all the tools i could need here if i did want to go ahead and make the repairs. the car has 100000 on it already and other than this minor wrinkle it has been top notch

An aftermarket bumper cover for that car should be no more than $100 LIST PRICE.

That's for a CAPA certified one, which is better quality. A cheap one will be about 80 bucks list.

[FUNKMAN]

Stop killing Bambi's relatives!!!!

tell e'm to stop kissing my bumper,,,and my doors, and my sidepanels :-) didn't kill them all. I know some went home with a bad headache... one ran full speed face first into my drivers side door when I was doing around 50...

[boosterp]

and not worried about little dinks now



Racist!

[cougarjake13]

i got a shop near my house where ill have someone check it out. ill google up some bumper covers and see what i can find. i got all the tools i could need here if i did want to go ahead and make the repairs. the car has 100000 on it already and other than this minor wrinkle it has been top notch



100000
in only 4 plus years ??


damn you do a lot of driving

[Kris10]

Junk yard hunting for a new to you bumper and duct tape. Works every time!

[JerseyRich]

I FUNKMAN sighting is all I needed this year.

I can die now.

[FUNKMAN]

I FUNKMAN sighting is all I needed this year.

I can die now.

NOOOOOOOOO! first I have to hear you play a couple Grand Funk tunes...

after that, okay :-)

hope all is well, Rich!

[Furtherman]

tell e'm to stop kissing my bumper,,,and my doors, and my sidepanels :-) didn't kill them all. I know some went home with a bad headache... one ran full speed face first into my drivers side door when I was doing around 50...



Great to see you too budday!

Did you move to one of Fez's deer reservations?! You seem to attract them.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

[FUNKMAN]

Great to see you too budday!

Did you move to one of Fez's deer reservations?! You seem to attract them.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

Thanks Furtherman!
very nice to see you too!