Rear ended, She's Back!! What a fantastic job!

And i'm lucky as it could have been a lot worst!

I'd been on the A1 for pretty much 30 seconds and pulled into the fast lane accelerating to 70 when the traffic stopped suddenly!

I jammed on the breaks and must have come down to about 30-40mph when a van tried to serve around it to the left missing but clipped my left hand side rear end.

Damage is minor but could potenially be bad depending what the insurance think.

The bumper is completely scuffed but not bent and by the rear lights the metal has crumpeled and gone in and is in a bit of a mess. I'll post pictures later.

Insurance are giving me a like for like hire car (which i look forward to seeing what it is)

I hope something so minor doesnt write it off.... any ideas?

Gutted and i was going to avoid the A1 and go the country way this morning!!

Ah gutted although at least you're ok

Thanks Theresa, just a bit shaken. The van drive was absouletly gutted, i felt really bad and asking me if i were okay.

Bloody hell, the important thing is that you are OK.

Without seeing the photos it's hard to say what they will do, but if you persevere you should find they will repair it.

Good luck and keep us informed.

I'm sorry to say that a rear quarter impact will almost always end up as a write-off on a Coupe due to the expense in repairing it properly.

You'll have several choices...

1) Let them write it off and pay out the value - you then buy the salvage and have it repaired (by someone like Joe) - the car will be straight, but it will be a Cat-D - you should end up with some cash in your pocket

2) Let them write it off and spend the money on another Coupe - the problem is that they'll try to pay you "market value" - their first offer will be derisory, make sure you refuse it - find plenty of comparable cars on the forum and the general market to persuade them the real value of the car. Don't forget, the purpose of the insurance is to put you back into the same position as you were pre-accident. If they offer peanuts, challenge them to find you an identical car (make sure you quote all your car's good points, such as full history, low mileage, leather, aircon etc etc)

3) Persuade them that it can be repaired without resort to hugely expensive bodyshops - tell them there's a Coupe specialist that can do it for £xxx - they may decide not to write it off

Quite. Been there, done that, twice. The important thing is that you - and the van driver - are OK. The rest is just bent metal.

Joe was able to persuade Marco's insurance company not to do a write-off for similar damage; might be worth a word.

Just been down to the car and all the paint is peeling off by the left of the light and there's a very sharpe metal point sticking out where it's crumpled in.

The pictures i've taken look okay but in real it looks worst. I'll post later when home but its right down to the original metal of the car

Sorry Matty I know how much love you had for the car and what it was like for you to get it back

Thanks Sam, i'll email you the photos from my phone.

Scrap that idea, i cant get a good enough signal!

Sorry to hear that mate. :-(

Fingers crossed no matter what happens you end up in a sweet looking coupe again.

Ross

Sad news Matty, but as others have said, everyone is ok, thats the important thing.

Bent metal can be fixed, bent people are a different story...

(no pun intended)

Ah sorry to hear that Matty indeed, such a downer, but as you are well enough after it to tell the tale, keep positive and weigh up the suggestions

All you got to think is it could have been worse.

and the offending van, still with yellow on it...






Paint is peeling away easily and the edges are very sharp

No reason why that can't be easily repaired by a good bodywork expert.
if i remember correctly there is good access to this part of the panel so it will straighten, a 2mm skim of filler and then prime the quarter and bumper and do a smart repair spray job on the base coat and lacquer. simples.

Yep, doesn't look as if it hit hard enough to bend the boot floor - that's the killer. Can you get the spare out without any trouble?

Damage is easily repairable, but nerves ....... I'm sorry for what happened to you

I have to agree with Bridges. A decent panel beater (and they can still be found) will be able to straighten the panel. I would just be concerned that in the process the panel needs proper protection on the inside to prevent rust in the future.
If your broomy is still on it's original paint with lacquer, I'm not convinced that it's "simples" to blend this in to your original paint, as the rear 3 quarter panel obviously continues on to the roof with no natural shut lines or breaks.
Based on the pics though, it certainly could be repaired.
Hope all goes well for you. It's also nice when the other driver is genuinely gutted.

Bad luck mate; should be repairable though provided there is no damage underneath.

Good luck,

Tim

definitely repairable,anyone remember my damaged sprinty very similar damage and was repaired to an immaculate standard...see if i can dig a photo out..

Sure it cost approx £300 though..

hope you get it fixed mate.
hope your ok!

surely if its his fault you can insist on repair within reason? i'd be getting onto Joe at CC and get a quality quote

Should be okay. I dont want them to write it off as i wanted the car back so badly and i've only had back for 2 months!

The damage is worse in the metal and its down to bear metal. The bumper needs a respray as its been rubbed off also.

Although to be honest if they do write if off it maybe doing me a favour as moving out shortly and i'll just get something economical.

I'm getting a call tomorrow and i look forward to my "like for like" hire car. Any ideas what this is going to be? Cause I'm not expecting anything flash.....

Thats my understanding. You can demand to be in the same position before the accident as it's his insurance that's paying and his fault.

Get a quote for repair and tell them where you want it sent to be repaired.

Don't let them tell you otherwise.

Ross

that will repair, you are lucky that it was a modern van, with a soft front bumper, if you look, his van has significantly took most of the battering, as your panel line to the bumper still looks true.

I'd say, remove the bumper, panel beat the light cup area & she'll be ok ( here's wishing ).

Chin up, at least you both walked away, and the fact he glanced off you, saved all that energy being transferred to your bodyshell.

Here's hoping aye. Neck does hurt though. But personal injury claim is already being dealt with!

I dont think, coupes are for me. They either break down or get crashed into!

Sorry to hear the bad news Matty

Hope the insurance sort you out nice and decent and you get the highly conspicuous broomy back on Mr Mcaddam's surface.

ahh matt thats gutting
Im not sure when it comes to body work but im sure if you message some of the specialists they may be able to help?
Fingers crossed you can keep it...

Keep us posted

When I had a bang in mine they gave me a bravo to run around in, that was their equivalent car

I had a Ford Mondeo 2L TDCI with Titanium trim as my 'like for like'

Not really the same as a petrol engined Coupe, but was good enough and came with lovely, working air con, which was great, as it was a hot summer

snap, what a boring car to drive!!

Tbh, they won't match the power output. It will be like for like on practical aspect.

So a small boot, 4 seats minimum and 2 doors.

They could give you a fiat 500 or aygo or something.

Lol.

Ross

My insurance does a real like for like, when someone drove into my ST I had the choice of a Clio 197, Mini CooperS and a BM 1 series.

When someone drove into my wifes Tigra, she was offered a Mini, Beetle or 207 Convertible.

We haven't been crashed into since so can make no further comments!

Indeed Although going cross eyed looking at the heated screen was a bit distracting and made the driving more fun

I've had a call from my insurance company and enterprise car hire.
The car is being picked up tomorrow from my work (I dont want to be snobby but i'm a bit on edge about some chavy mecanic coming and thrashing it)

And then Enterprise are coming to pick me up with my hire car. They rang me and i asked what i was getting and they said either a Ford Mondeo or a Vauxhall Insigina.

After thinking for a minute or two i rang back and requested i'd rather the Vauxhall as i have a vendetta against Ford and would never live it down if i had a Ford. The bloke on the phone said he'd do his best!

I wouldnt worry too much Matty, your car will be picked up and put on a flat bed, I'm sure there is some insurance clause against vehicles being driven after they've been in an accident until they have been signed off as ok etc - pm Porkypaul for info he does this sort of thing I think.

It will also be returned to you on a flatbed, or possibly in person, depending on the garage/facilities.

And... it will be immaculate, inside and out

Just state that you don't want anyone else to drive it and you'll come and pick it up, that should do!

dont know if this helps at all - the matter of damage to less mainstream vehicles crops up a lot and this is advice that i've posted previously on other forums.

The key consideration here is that of liability as defined in civil law. If someone inflicts damages on you and they are fully responsible, they have a legal duty under civil law to set those damages straight. What the market value of the vehicle is that has been damaged is therefore neither here nor there, the legal duty is to rectify the situation whatever the actual cost.

If claiming from your own insurance for the cost of a repair, the situation is quite different in that you claim on the basis of your contract with your insurance company, which likely has a clause in it that limits their payout to the value of your vehicle.

As I see it, in claiming for your damages from another party's insurance (with whom you obviously have no contract), the other party's insurance is effectively carrying the liability obligations (as per civil law) of their client. As such, I don't see why their payout to you would in any way be restricted to the market value of the car.

The major point of law here is the issue of liability though and my reasoning assumes that there is no ambiguity about that, i.e. that the other party is entirely liable from a legal point of view... As you were "rear ended", i believe that there can be no question in law in this respect. There is a minor minefield in respect of restitution/restoration as the concept of "betterment" raises its ugly little head.

You have no contract with the other party's insurance company (as I said before, it would be a completely different matter if you were to claim on your insurance, where there is a contract in place that restricts the maximum payment). Their insurance cannot in law limit your legal rights in the context of civil liability.

Get proper legal advice, deal with the 3rd party insurers only, (inform your insurers this is what you are doing) and really push them for the repairs

regards
paul

Thanks for the above Paul. Already got some info on this as i'm an insurance underwriter.

Car has just been picked up (On a flat bed) and looking at complete respray to bumper, bootlid, passenger door and rear quater of the car. Though dont know how they're going to blend this in?

I'll get esitmates later on today..

Seat Leon is my replacement, due to my age i cant have over a 1.6!!

AND I had to pay £20 to have it on my insurance... be claiming that back.

Car isnt going to be written of but has £1300 worth of damages to it. They're going to fix it and i've asked for a quote to have the front bumper sprayed at the same time (as a bit faded) but YAY no write off!

Cant wait to have her back shiny and better!

It was either that or give me £2500 for her

Good to hear. I bet if they give you £ 1300 and select your own workshop, you'll be left with some cash to spare. So they will be happy that you tell them you can send some of it back.

huh ? cant have over a 1.6, yet you own a 2.0 20v coupe..makes no sense ..
and im glad shes gonna get better

Glad you are ok Matt.

That is an excellent outcome!

Had an unexpected phone call today to say she's complete. Delivered to my work all shiny and new! (although needs front bumper respray and manifold sounds awful) other then that looks pristine!

Walked out to meet the bloke (same who collected it) to say "I have your banana order here :D"

Said it caused quite a stir of excitement in the garage and they let someone fix it who used to own one so i know she got treated well

Now for MOT, Service and fix the awful manifold!!

That's looking great! Good to see it's fixed. And yes, now for the front bumper and the manifold.

Great to see the car fixed, so glad it was repaired rather than scrapped.

Ah that looks good, what a relief, she lives again. It's a heartache driving it around with her lines all spoiled. And having it parked in full view. Smile again lad - just keep it away from seagulls!

Lovely looking rear end you've got there matty

So, i've been told

LOL!