First car accident- need some advice

So yesterday evening I fucked up, completely my fault, and hit another vehicle. I thought I could go straight in my lane, and apparently I was wrong. The other driver and myself are fine, we weren't moving fast and both vehicles drivable but I have what looks like (to me atleast) a lot of damage on the front. Never been so pissed off at myself.

Filed my claim with insurance this morning and got that ball rolling, was told I can use any shop of my choice, but if I use one of their partnered shops there is less paperwork. Problem is they don't have a Toyota dealership listed. There's a chevy and ford dealership listed, and then 2 or so other collision shops. I just want to make sure the truck gets fixed using genuine Toyota parts- am I better off sending to a Yota dealership and dealing with the paperwork?

Appreciate the advise. Pics of the "carnage" to follow.

 

If it is going on your insurance, I would use a Toyota dealership, as long as they are also a body collision shop. Otherwise I would go to a reputable body shop for repairs.

 

I'm not sure if they do, I have 3 Toyota dealerships that aren't too far from me. I just reached out to my sales guy I bought the truck from as I'm sure the Auto Nation chain of dealerships probably has somewhere they'd recommend. I'll call the other 2 dealerships today though. Thanks for the advice

 

sorry to hear that bud...

i think in tx you can pick the shop of your choice. a few years back i got hail damage and just took it to the dealership.

 

As promised, witness my stupid fuck up

 

And my hillbilly repair job to get it home

 

That is not terrible, but it still sucks.

 

Try not to be so hard on yourself OP

As far as accidents go, yours looks to be about as cosmetic as they get. You'll get fixed up and it will be old news in no time.

 

Still pissed off about it, but I hear ya. I'm sure in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal but I messed up my truck after finally getting back into one, and damaged some 20 year old kid's car too.

 

Sorry for your accident but it looks worse than it really is. Glad everyone is okay, get it fixed and keep on trucking

 

Another thing to ask about.... generally when you use a shop recommended by the insurance company, the shop may guarantee their own work same as they do for any customer, But the insurance company usually will guarantee the work for as long as your own the veh. Where as if you use your own shop, you get only the guarantee provided by the shop.

 

I get it. If I was in your shoes I'd be beating myself up too. Being empathetic and hating making mistakes are sometimes tough personality traits to have, but you'll get past it. And those qualities help way more than they hurt.

Take care.

 

I think that's a feature, not a bug. Looks to me like a perfect excuse to get a high clearance front bumper. Once you slap one of them babies on there with a new grille you'll be lovin it more than stock.

 

You drove it home, its not all that bad. Get a front end alignment added in the repair estimate, check for vibrations when you get it back.

 

I’d love a high clearance front bumper but planning to leave it stock right now as the wife is daily driving it

 

Sucks, but yeah, not too bad

 

Ya, it still drives fine, stays in a straight line, no noises or vibrations noticed last night but I will definitely be getting the alignment and everything checked. Thanks.

 

Yeah, insurance companies do that a lot. They cannot legally tell you where to go, but they often "encourage" where to go. A lot of times it is cost saving measures for them. Some are also not above finding the cheapest parts possible, even if it is out of a salvage yard. Not necessarily bad, but just some things they do. Progressive is one that's known for that and I'm sure they aren't the only ones.

 

this might be closer to you bud

https://www.keatingtoyota.com/toyota-service-center/

 

Ya, they aren't too far. I'm in East Pearland, almost Friendswood so the closest Toyota Dealership is probably Toyota of Alvin, but there's also Keating, Auto Nation, and Mac Haik all within 20-30 minutes. I actually bought the truck used from Auto Nation Acura, really liked the sales guy there so I reached out to him and he recommended their collision center and said it's partnered with most insurance companies. It's at their chevy dealership, across from their Toyota dealership. Said I'd get Toyota parts for sure.