[dr3wski]

Had my first accident in my new ATS this afternoon. Was in the left lane of two right-turn lanes when an older woman who was in the right-most turn lane veered over, striking my ATS in the passenger rear door.
Damage: Paint scraped off passenger rear door (minor paint off front door)
Small dents in front and rear of rear quarter panel.
Question: I notice this rear quarter panel is an entire piece of steel that runs up to the length of the roof and then down the A-pillar of the vehicle.
Do you think I should push for the body shop to replace this entire piece of metal or just try to compound out the two small dents?

This occurred in Nassau County, NY. The older woman did not realize that she struck my vehicle and kept driving; I happened to be driving behind her and when we stopped at a red light I walked up to her car and advised her that she had struck mine, all the while using the SOS button to get the police to respond and complete a report.
My insurance agent and the police advised that the insurance companies will likely regard this as an accident where I am 50% at fault, however my premiums will not increase...I may lose half or all of my deductible.

Question2: Is there anything I can do to try to impress upon her insurance company (Traveler's) that I am not at fault for this accident? Perhaps a tersely worded fact pattern (with 2 pics--one of her car, one of mine) and including the fact that she left the scene of an accident where she bent the steel of my car, but "did not realize" that she hit me?


Thanks.

 

[Mr645]

It's unlikely that the 1/4 panel will get cut out and a new piece welded in. They will just sand, fill and paint the required areas. I would insist to your insurance company that the other driver changed lanes into your car, it' 100% their fault. If the insurance companies can't resolve that, then your option is to take her to small claims court to recover the deductible.

 

[Hibar]

Good luck with that Insurance Cos love to minimize payouts, has to be absolutely clear cut otherwise "he said she said" situation, just saying.

 

[rsingl]

It is getting to the point that it would be wise to put a dash cam in the vehicle whenever you drive, it won't cover every situation but at least in this case it would show you stayed in your lane. My Corvette has the performance data recorder option which combines HD video with vehicle operating data and I activate it routinely every time I drive the Z06, the downside is you will have data of anything bad that you do.

 

[Sergio526]

I did a mini write-up and posted a youtube video of me installing a dashcam in my ATS. I ordered one from Aliexpress that replaces that cap on the base of the mirror stalk with a camera, so it blends in nicely. Quality kind of sucks and it's not the most reliable, trouble-free thing in the world, but seamless integration was high on my priority list.

 

[sadpanda]

There is an image running around of where the high strength steel and aluminum is on these cars... If any of the HSS gets dinged up car is typically totalled. Unlike days of old, many of the panels/skins are 'stressed members' and are considered part of the crash protection system. German manufactures wont even allow an attempted repair. Domestic manufacturers seem to allow it by qualified shops. HSS is more difficult to deal with but as they use more and more adhesive bonding for mixed metals (aluminum to steel) repairs quickly exceed cost of replacement.

 

[sadpanda]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3fbDFm362ByF8jkXT-sqfo

Yeh Google search for 'ats high strength steel'

 

[sadpanda]

Oh super cool... Collision repair manuals online for free

https://www.genuinegmparts.com/for-professionals/collision-repair-manuals

Now you can see the CORRECT way a repair should be made

 

[ccclarke]

This is another reason I installed a dash cam. It would show you were in the proper lane and began movement with a green light, then the car shuddered when hit, with the subsequent following of the driver to get their attention. Case closed as to whom was at fault.

On my commute home, there's an intersection where a week doesn't go by that drivers go straight in a left turn-only lane rather than wait in line like the rest of us, cutting off any of us who happen to be adjacent to them going straight. --And there's a police station 100 yards ahead! Dash cams were made for situations like this. Like insurance, I hope I never need it, but if I do. . .

 

[Thandel]

Ok so some bad info here.. former body man now insurance writer.. here are the things I would insist need to be done.. depending on where the dents are.. 1st things 1st our uniside body is not aluminum at all HSS is one hundred percent repairable it just should be done without heat the heat will make it lose strength.
1. So have the body shop request as much of the interior on that side removed that is needed. You want them to be able to access the dents from inside and push them out vs welding pins and pulling, this will require less bondo and finishing in the end. Same on the doors.
2. New clips for all that are removed, yes they are reusable however things will squeake because they really are not meant to be reused.
3. Unfortunately due to our body and no roof moldings they need to re-clear the entire body, technically they can “burn in” the clear however it will peel with time. The can however break the clear inside at the door seals this will stop any peeling.
4 I am unsure if the windshield and rear glass moldings can be rope taped depends on how tight they are. They may need to be removed. If they cannot be roped the need to be removed and reinstalled with new seals if they just mask it you will end up with the clear coat peeling. The clear coat needs to end under a seal.
5. You are allowed to pick your own body shop no matter what the insurance company tells you. I do recommend staying away from “dealerships for this” they usually outsource to the cheapest bidder. I do recommend finding a resto shop they are the most expensive they will also produce the best work.. be prepared to pay a bit more usually the insurance company has a set rate for labor.. the shop may require higher and then you do not have an agreed price between the 2 and you may need to pay the difference but the few hundred extra is worth it.
6. the insurance company has to bring your car to pre-loss condition, they are going to fight you on all of this.. combat it with the knowledge.. as they say it’s ok to clear coat just up to the roof line.. you say no my clear coat did not drop at the roof line it went all the way over so it does not peel. Etc etc

Hope this helps

 

[dr3wski]

Thanks, everyone.
I am bringing it in to the autobody shop that I regularly use on Monday. I will let you know how it goes.
Definitely going to be looking into getting a dashcam!

 

[CaptSoloNJ]

If there were no personal injuries, most insurance companies will try to just clear the books, rather than try to prolong the matter and delay. Which is why they will accept a 50/50 fault. They are willing to NOT raise premiums as a way to make everyone happy.

Hoping the deductible was not very high.

 

[Debsk8]

a good investigation should be able to determine the direction of the paint scrape. Who was moving in which direction. Is NY a No Fault Ins state? If they do give you 50% I would appeal. Unless you both veered a little ???
paint

 

[eric15178]

Wow, that sucks. How does someone not notice when they hit a car? Bet they were just trying to get out of it. I sure wouldn't want an accident on my record even if they say they won't raise your rates. Sure if you ever switch insurance companies they will jack up your rate for it. My dad got hit while attempting to make a left turn in the middle section between lanes of direction- the turn lane. Some kid tried to pass him in it. Can't remember off hand which of the two but he was either goona switch insurance or got a new car and found out "he had an at fault accident for the 50%"

Good luck with that. All this talk about dash cams makes me think I should get one but I don't want that spy tracker stuff on my car, hearing everything you say and what not but would come in handy in situation like this. Maybe 5 years ago I was exiting the highway in the far right lane. Woman was 2 lanes away, and was merging to the right, I'm thinking wow she's cutting hard. She cut 2 lanes, I got on the breaks, she ran me into the gravel, had half the truck off the road