rear ended someone and need some help...

So i rear ended some dumb b today...we were both in the right hand turn lane stopped and waiting and she finally decided to go so she starts to go and i look to my right to see if there was any upcoming traffic and there isnt so i start to go as i turn back and she slams on her brakes for no reason!!!

Anyways i messed up my front bumper and drivers side quarter panel and my grill (and probably other stuff too) and i have full coverage but i need to know of a body shop that either has one of you guys working at or one that you guys have been to and is really cool so that i can do one of 2 things:
1) Just get an estimate and a check cut from my insurance and not fix my truck and use that money for other things like bills (i want to do this the most but dont know how to do it...has anyone on here done that that can help me out or give me some tips? i have State Farm)

or

2) Get an estimate and instead of getting a stock bumper get an offroad bumper (like ARB) and pay the extra (if there is any...i know factory replacements are expensive) in which case i would need a cool shop that'll let me do that

Thanks for the help!

 

use that money for a defensive driving course.

And that sounds like borderline insurance fraud.

 

You shouldn't really need any help for it- Just go to any body shop they tell you to and they should give you the estimate. Tell the company you want the check to set it up yourself.
If you don't fix the truck you may be required to sign a form saying you are accepting the diminished value. The point of insurance is to get your truck back to the condition it was in...Not pay for upgrades or pay off other bills. It's your choice to accept that or not.

 

Heh, I've had the exact same thing happen to me, although I was driving my wifes honda pilot, and I rear ended a chevy truck. Barely scraped the pilot (buffed out in seconds) and fucked up the rear end of that chevy. Lesson learned, always always always check whats in front before creeping up. Can't bank on anyone doing what you think they should.

 

That's kind of harsh. When people start to go and then stop for no reason, it is easy for anyone to rear end the car ahead. He was being defensive by keeping an eye out for where he thought the biggest hazard was coming from.

He is not asking for any extra money from the insurance company. He just wants to use the money from the insurance company in the way he wants to use it. The insurance company and the rest of us who are paying insurance are not going to be any the worse off by what he is trying to do.

 

Shore I am glad you ar not my neighbor.
Take care
vbibi

 

Thanks for a straight answer..

and to everyone that doesnt have a valid answer that could help me, please get the F out.

I didnt ask for help to receive a lecture or smart ass comments like take defensive driving...i asked because i dont know how to go about it in a way that ISN"T fraud...like the dude a couple posts above this said...im not trying to screw the system...i just dont want to fix everything right now, i only want to fix what i need to fix...say get a new quarter panel but i dont care about the bumper so i dont want the 1000 bucks or whatever that it would cost to fix the bumper to go towards that...id rather use that towards paying the truck off...

 

Thanks for understanding and not being a dick that dude...im sure you know also living in Houston how bad the drivers here are

 

Likewise, I'm sure. My congressman is Ron Paul. Yours is Nancy.

 

hate to put it to you this way, BUT:

a. your 100% at fault unless you can prove otherwise
b. your insurance company will end up paying for the other parties damage
c. you better hope she doesn't claim injuries
d. for any of your damage, most insurance companies will only make the check out
to you AND the repair shop.
e. They then have to document the repairs so you cant claim the same damages
later. So most collision repairs shops wont risk accepting money for repairs not
actually performed, they also have to sign off on the repairs.

I used to be a claims service rep, your best bet is seeing your at fault, just let the insurance company handle everything for the other parties damage, and just get your truck repaired. This accident is going to count against you anyways, so get your truck back to the way it was. Thats what insurance is for anyways.

 

Yes, Houston drivers are real bad. After getting used to driving in Houston, I have had no problems driving in Paris and Italy. The motto for driving in Houston is the same as that given by Santa Ana to the folks in the Alamo. No quarter was asked for and none offered.

 

Thanks for the info...that really helps, and it makes a lot of sense.

 

I know...born and raised in England and driving over there is a pleasure...everyone has so much more discipline.

 

ask the adjuster, i got into a wreck that fubarred my ifs and talking to the ins dude they said they will pay off most of a solid axle swap, im still trying to gather up my part for it and need to get a check from the co. but they said long as the problem is fixed and a shop does it it is fine

 

Dont feel bad, it happens to everyone.
last year i ended up hitting my neighbors PARKED car by accident
they had to tow my car to the dealer, screwed up the a-arm
both vehicles got repaired and my insurance didnt go up to much

 

Every State has different laws...I'm in ohio, so I really can't say what laws you have.

Having said that, why not straight up ask you insurance agent. Sounds a little bold, but if your straight with him and explain to him the situation (that you want to fix the truck but you need the money else where right now especially since you have a deductible to come up with); and ask him if they will cut the check directly to you.

Seriously, can't hurt to just ask.

 

I would go for the bumper if you like the look of an after-market bumper but most important ... KEEP MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN YOU AND THE NEXT GUY - THESE AFTER-MARKET BUMPERS CAN CAUSE REAL DAMAGE!!!!

 

Not sure if all insurance companies are different in this respect but...

If you're truck is not paid off (ie, the bank owns it and you are still paying them), the insurance company will write the check out directly to certified shop. If you own it, they will write the check out to you and you can get it fixed anywhere you want (or not and keep the cash) - which is perfectly legal and is your right.

If they write the check out to the shop for the cost of the repairs, you could simply ask the shop to install an aftermarket bumper instead and you will foot the difference. They may not be able to do this because of the involvement with the insurance company. For example, repairs are typically covered under warranty. But they won't warranty your aftermarket bumper.

 

for what it's worth, i was rear-ended on my motorcycle last year (low-speed, no injuries, just cracked tail plastics). anyways, i dropped it off at the suzuki shop and had the adjustor come out and appraise it. state farm wrote me the check for amount of the damage. i cashed it and only fixed what i needed to. basically, whatever was left over, i counted as payment for "diminished value."

a few things are different, i.e. i was rear-ended so it was covered under uninsured motorist (she wasn't insured!), but i didn't own the bike outright (was still making payments). i dunno if this helps or not, but getting a check is definitely possible.

 

i rear ended a russian dude the exact same way. i was pissed for about 5 seconds, until i realized how bad of a habit it was to drive that way, and labeled myself the idiot. stopping for no reason? how do you know there was no reason she stopped?

anyways, good luck with the bumper. be honest with the body shop, ask if it is possible.