JUST got rear ended by a big Buick (depressed)

[sandiegoway]

- slowing down at an intersection here in San Diego, CA for an ambulance with their sirens and lights blasting - I got smashed from behind from a Buick Regal, who in turn got hit by a Honda Accord which got hit by a Jeep Liberty who's driver started the whole chain reaction. (poor girl in Honda was taken to the hospital)

I got jolted and pushed pretty hard and the damage to my rear bumper was strangely minimal but enough to feel bad about since my Smart is brand new.

a)Does anyone know if I can demand a new bumper since my car is brand new or will the insurance company from the Jeep driver (State Farm) try to get away with trying to repair it vs. replacing it?

b)Is their a possibilty of damage down the road to the transmission due to the huge impact?

[2smartArizona]

I would not think getting a new bumper is going to be problem, as they usually don't repair them, cheaper to replace, but I would be more concerned about damage to the vehicle under the bumper.
Transmission question is a good one, make sure you have the car thoroughly checked when you go to the body shop and then mechanically at the dealer. I am going to bet that there is nothing going to be wrong with the tranny, but gettting checked should give you some piece of mind.
I got hit last year on a brand new BMW, and the other driver had no insurance, no license, and lived on a reservation which meant I was on my own. Good luck with it, it is never fun. I ended up just being thankful I was alive and eating the costs, so, if you walked away uninjured, I would just be thankful that it wasn't worse and suck it up.

[Wdhitch]

Make sure you take it to your dealer for the repairs and not State Farm's chop shop... they won't know how to fix your car.



Edit... feel for you on the accident... if someone or something hit Serendipity I'd be livid

[Smart Enuf]

Aw man, I feel your pain. Insist on a new bumper if they give you flak, but the point about internal damage is well taken. You should have your smart dealer check it over carefully (at the insurance company's cost). Good luck with that.

By the way, do you have pics of the damage and an estimate of how fast the Buick was going when it hit you? It might be interesting to see what sort of damage to expect in that type of rear-ending.

[Dunerunner]

I believe the dealer is the only place authorized to work on your smart anyway. It will be interesting to see what happens...Glad you are OK...Keep us posted!!

[skyzdlimit59]

Originally Posted by sandiegoway

- slowing down at an intersection here in San Diego, CA for an ambulance with their sirens and lights blasting - I got smashed from behind from a Buick Regal, who in turn got hit by a Honda Accord which got hit by a Jeep Liberty who's driver started the whole chain reaction. (poor girl in Honda was taken to the hospital)

I got jolted and pushed pretty hard and the damage to my rear bumper was strangely minimal but enough to feel bad about since my Smart is brand new.

a)Does anyone know if I can demand a new bumper since my car is brand new or will the insurance company from the Jeep driver (State Farm) try to get away with trying to repair it vs. replacing it?

b)Is their a possibilty of damage down the road to the transmission due to the huge impact?

I don't know about transmission damage (you should have it checked thoroughly by your mechanic) but I can tell you State Farm treated me very well in my fender bender. My rear panel was repainted (the blue paint was scraped off-no other damage) and looks like new. They paid for the rental car and for all the anxiety the accident began with; the end of story is I was happy with the insurance company and the repair.
Good luck, remember you are unhurt, and that is most important.

[CruzinSusan]

Originally Posted by skyzdlimit59

I don't know about transmission damage (you should have it checked thoroughly by your mechanic) but I can tell you State Farm treated me very well in my fender bender. My rear panel was repainted (the blue paint was scraped off-no other damage) and looks like new. They paid for the rental car and for all the anxiety the accident began with; the end of story is I was happy with the insurance company and the repair.
Good luck, remember you are unhurt, and that is most important.

smart center repair only, crumple zone performed splendidly, replace/repair cost nominally comparative. Excellent outcome.

[2smartArizona]

At least you didn't end up on a sidewalk having your pants cut off of you in public like I did.....LOL....be thankful....



But seriously, don't rush to get it fixed just anywhere either. Have it checked out mechanically at your dealer, but for body work or paint color matching, you dealer may not be the place to go. Most dealerships are production body shop places where you end up with a two tone car when they get done "matching" the color. Do some research and find a shop with a good reputation for proper body work. Some places make it look right on the outside, and do crap work underneath and if you don't know what to look for, you get shoddy work.
Remember that the insurance company can recommend a shop, and they may be of some help, but explain to them your concerns about the work and remember that YOU have final say in who repairs the car. Our local Nissan dealership, Thoroghbred, has an excellent shop, but I would not go to any of the other dealers in the city.
I would research the situation.
Choose a shop carefully.
Get a second opinion if necessary.
When the work is done, have a knowlegeable person with you to maked sure it is right. If the bumper is repainted, there should be no sand marks or dirt in the paint. Panels should line up perfectly. Be a good consumer and ask questions, get second opinions and remember what the shop teacher at my first school job always said...."if it's not your wife, and it's not your life, don't worry about it." Be thankful it was not a semi tractor full of lead get on with your life as soon as possible. Things like this can be upsetting, but better to just be thankful for the good parts of the situation and move on from there.

[Old smart]

The Outback was rear-ended a few years ago in an "at fault" accident. USAA told us to take it to the repair shop of our choice and have it repaired with OEM parts, where they paid for the repair less our deductable. Then they went to the offender's insurance company and recovered the full amount of the repair (that USAA paid for) plus our deductable, which was returned to us. Had they not recovered from the other insurance company they would have sued the offender in-personem to recover. In either case, our deductable was the first to be paid.

[DFWehman]

I've nothing to add to all the good points folks here have made about your car, I do think YOU should be double checked for any possible injury to your neck or back. Often these are overlooked as you feel OK at the time. Just a thought.