Red Charge in Multi-Vehicle Accident

[RedStormREHS]

Well, sadly me and my 14-year old son were involved in a multi-vehicle bang-up last week. We are both fine! I made a quick stop behind a short line of fully stopped traffic waiting behind railroad tracks. The rail-crossing gates were not down or activated. Likely something or someone in roadway or a vehicle required to stop per CA law before tracks.

We were rear-ended by one small Kia, then an Accord hit the Kia, and finally a Nissan Sentra hit the Accord! (They were going fast since airbags fully deployed). I did not see anything in the rear before being struck. We felt three impacts total at the rear! Me and son walked out without a scratch or pain, thank gosh! Everyone stopped and a bunch of city civilian traffic report writers responded along with EMS for injured parties (not us!).

My upper & lower bumpers along with many other rear parts including the big steel impact bar are damaged. Ins approved estimate came out to $4,300+ to repair her up! My EV rental bill will be another $1,000+! Will be in shop about 3wks. Uggggg, I got a Tesla Mdl3 rental. Could be worse, huh? Fun stuff! The shop is EV certified.

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[CarsIMBwife]

Glad you’re both okay, hopefully you’ll get your MME back soon!

 

[Vgkfan]

You may want to ask about a diminished value claim.

 

[SigSauer]

Well, sadly me and my 14-year old son were involved in a multi-vehicle bang-up last week. We are both fine! I made a quick stop behind a short line of fully stopped traffic waiting behind railroad tracks. The rail-crossing gates were not down or activated. Likely something or someone in roadway or a vehicle required to stop per CA law before tracks.

We were rear-ended by one small Kia, then an Accord hit the Kia, and finally a Nissan Sentra hit the Accord! (They were going fast since airbags fully deployed). I did not see anything in the rear before being struck. We felt three impacts total at the rear! Me and son walked out without a scratch or pain, thank gosh! Everyone stopped and a bunch of city civilian traffic report writers responded along with EMS for injured parties (not us!).

My upper & lower bumpers along with many other rear parts including the big steel impact bar are damaged. Ins approved estimate came out to $4,300+ to repair her up! My EV rental bill will be another $1,000+! Will be in shop about 3wks. Uggggg, I got a Tesla Mdl3 rental. Could be worse, huh? Fun stuff! The shop is EV certified.

Our MME was also rear-ended. While in the shop the dealer replaced the HVBJB. When everything was fixed, I requested from the other party's insurance "diminished value" compensation. Their insurance company paid an additional $3,500!

 

[RedStormREHS]

Our MME was also rear-ended. While in the shop the dealer replaced the HVBJB. When everything was fixed, I requested from the other party's insurance "diminished value" compensation. Their insurance company paid an additional $3,500!

Wow. This would be my 4th rear-ender accident in about 7 years! The last one resulted in my Hybrid Camry being totalled-out after a hit & run! I had minor injuries in that one.

This accident everyone cooperated and did the right thing. But, three other parties are involved. My insurance carrier flat out refused to assist me on any dininished-value claim against other liable parties (3). I was deemed not liable in this accident!

Question: How do I start doing some work on filing a dimished-value claim? Bodyshop estimator/evaluator deemed my damage as "moderate."

 

[bbulkow]

I had a small ding about the size of a nickel from a valet park. And scratches through the paint near the license plate. Cost to repair was about 3800. Of course that is the 'insurance rate' and it did come out perfect. I didn't pay a dime but still.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Bummer. Damage doesn't look horrible, but I'd worry most about the rear vehicle harness getting damaged since it's in a vulnerable spot behind the bumper. If that's got damaged wires you're going to want a total since it's almost impossible to replace without removing the entire interior.

 

[Vgkfan]

https://tigerdv.com/. This site was listed in another thread. May give you an idea of what the dv would be.

 

[ack154]

My EV rental bill will be another $1,000+! Will be in shop about 3wks. Uggggg, I got a Tesla Mdl3 rental. Could be worse, huh? Fun stuff! The shop is EV certified.

No rental coverage on your insurance? Are there any weird things about that in CA?

After one incident years ago, I max out rental coverage on our policy. Even at that time I actually did have rental coverage but they were out of "cheap" options for the low coverage amount I had, so I still had to pay hundreds of $$ to make up the difference. Now I max it out.

 

[RedStormREHS]

Bummer. Damage doesn't look horrible, but I'd worry most about the rear vehicle harness getting damaged since it's in a vulnerable spot behind the bumper. If that's got damaged wires you're going to want a total since it's almost impossible to replace without removing the entire interior.

The lower black bumper was hanging an inch off the ground at accident scene. I had to push it up to drive a mile home! (And cut my hand in process.) Didn't realize both wheelhouse liners/brackets were rubbing up against wheels too! That's why folks gave me funny looks at a stoplight! Remember Planes, Trains, and Automobiles? @Mach-Lee You are correct. That thick bumper wire harness was deemed "stretched and damaged" by estimator. It controls all back sensors and back-up light (totally cracked).

The impact bar took three hits! It was bent. No fender or unibody damage I believe. Trunk opens & closes fine. They are subletting the rear sensor calibrations out to a company after everything is "done."

 

[RedStormREHS]

No rental coverage on your insurance? Are there any weird things about that in CA?

After one incident years ago, I max out rental coverage on our policy. Even at that time I actually did have rental coverage but they were out of "cheap" options for the low coverage amount I had, so I still had to pay hundreds of $$ to make up the difference. Now I max it out.

@ack154 My family's car ins bill is high (CA State) w/3 cars and a new teenage driver (who happens to be a student pilot too!) so I declined to add rental coverage on each vehicle. In all my collisions (wife has been lucky), I was not liable or at fault at all. Got reimbursed for rentals & a train ticket too! I think now is the time to finally add it on.... uggggg.

 

[ack154]

My family's car ins bill is high (CA State) w/3 cars and a new teenage driver (who happens to be a student pilot too!) so I declined to add rental coverage on each vehicle. In all my collisions (wife has been lucky), I was not liable or at fault at all. Got reimbursed for rentals & a train ticket too! I think now is the time to finally add it on.... uggggg.

Ew, ya. I get it. We are two adults with two safe cars and good driving history (and not in CA). So it's a bit easier on us.

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