My Baby Has Been Rear Ended

[Lelly]

Hi, my poor girl was rear ended today whilst waiting at a junction (the other car decided to use her as a buffer!) Superficially there does not appear to be too much damage...but there is enough...most damage on the rear passanger side and rear wheel arch also the wheel covering has been ripped out from where the lock was.

My query is that my insurance company has booked her into a local Vauxhall garage, should I be asking them to look at anything specific (apart from the damage!) my hubby says they are a garage and should know what to look at, but I am not sure whether there may be any damage to the chasis or anything?

Any advice would be welcome....

Thanks

[Phoenix999]

I think being repaired in a Toyota dealership bodyshop would be best but saying that the repairer dealing with your car will have access to all measurements etc to make sure your 'baby' is back on the road in a safe and suitable condition :)

I hope it all gets sorted out to your satisfaction

[Lelly]

I think being repaired in a Toyota dealership bodyshop would be best but saying that the repairer dealing with your car will have access to all measurements etc to make sure your 'baby' is back on the road in a safe and suitable condition :)

I hope it all gets sorted out to your satisfaction

Hi

Thanks, that was my sentiment....will call the insurance company tomorrow and ask them to find one in our area

[anchorman]

If they are unfamiliar with the vehicle they should still be familiar with the processes. It might be worth reminding them that the complete details for the repair are available on the Toyota Publications Website - example;

[Lelly]

If they are unfamiliar with the vehicle they should still be familiar with the processes. It might be worth reminding them that the complete details for the repair are available on the Toyota Publications Website - example;

Hi Anchorman,

thanks for that, could you send me a link to the publications website please...or will I find it easily via a search??

They might think me cheeky, but I will take the web address in with me. They are just giving an estimate tomorrow, but wooly will be left with them until all is agreed with the insurance and another company are going to bring a courtesy car at the same time. I know they are a reputable garage so if I give them a bit of guidance, they won't go wrong.....I hope!!

[local hero]

Hi, my poor girl was rear ended today whilst waiting at a junction (the other car decided to use her as a buffer!) Superficially there does not appear to be too much damage...but there is enough...most damage on the rear passanger side and rear wheel arch also the wheel covering has been ripped out from where the lock was.

My query is that my insurance company has booked her into a local Vauxhall garage, should I be asking them to look at anything specific (apart from the damage!) my hubby says they are a garage and should know what to look at, but I am not sure whether there may be any damage to the chasis or anything?

Any advice would be welcome....

Thanks

Hi Lelly, not to sure i understand has your insurance booked it into a vauxhall garage for repair or for an estimate? most insurance require 2 estimates if thats the case take it to the vauxhall dealer first get a written estimate, then go to a Toyota dealer ask them for an estimate show them the estimate from the vauxhall garage, and in order to get the job they will give a slightly lower quote, you do not have to use the garage the insurer recommends especially as you appear to be the innocent party..

[Lelly]

Hi, my poor girl was rear ended today whilst waiting at a junction (the other car decided to use her as a buffer!) Superficially there does not appear to be too much damage...but there is enough...most damage on the rear passanger side and rear wheel arch also the wheel covering has been ripped out from where the lock was.

My query is that my insurance company has booked her into a local Vauxhall garage, should I be asking them to look at anything specific (apart from the damage!) my hubby says they are a garage and should know what to look at, but I am not sure whether there may be any damage to the chasis or anything?

Any advice would be welcome....

Thanks

Hi Lelly, not to sure i understand has your insurance booked it into a vauxhall garage for repair or for an estimate? most insurance require 2 estimates if thats the case take it to the vauxhall dealer first get a written estimate, then go to a Toyota dealer ask them for an estimate show them the estimate from the vauxhall garage, and in order to get the job they will give a slightly lower quote, you do not have to use the garage the insurer recommends especially as you appear to be the innocent party..

[Lelly]

Hi, my poor girl was rear ended today whilst waiting at a junction (the other car decided to use her as a buffer!) Superficially there does not appear to be too much damage...but there is enough...most damage on the rear passanger side and rear wheel arch also the wheel covering has been ripped out from where the lock was.

My query is that my insurance company has booked her into a local Vauxhall garage, should I be asking them to look at anything specific (apart from the damage!) my hubby says they are a garage and should know what to look at, but I am not sure whether there may be any damage to the chasis or anything?

Any advice would be welcome....

Thanks

Hi Lelly, not to sure i understand has your insurance booked it into a vauxhall garage for repair or for an estimate? most insurance require 2 estimates if thats the case take it to the vauxhall dealer first get a written estimate, then go to a Toyota dealer ask them for an estimate show them the estimate from the vauxhall garage, and in order to get the job they will give a slightly lower quote, you do not have to use the garage the insurer recommends especially as you appear to be the innocent party..

Think I just hit reply without adding text! My insurers have said that the Vauxhall garage will be doing the repairs also?? I believe that is why they will have a hire car waiting for me at the same time...not only that, but my insurance company are claiming everything off of the other party. I will speak to them tomorrow as although my servicing is not done at a Toyota Dealer, as I take it to the local garage I have used for years, I think that body work etc would be better dealt with by a Toyota garage, just think they might spot something I haven't??

You are correct in assuming that I was not responsible though! :)

[anchorman]

Lelly

As requested;

http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/

You can log on yourself. It costs €3 for at least an hour and pops up as about £3 on your credit card bill.

[bothwell_buyer]

Hi, my poor girl was rear ended today whilst waiting at a junction (the other car decided to use her as a buffer!) Superficially there does not appear to be too much damage...but there is enough...most damage on the rear passanger side and rear wheel arch also the wheel covering has been ripped out from where the lock was.

My query is that my insurance company has booked her into a local Vauxhall garage, should I be asking them to look at anything specific (apart from the damage!) my hubby says they are a garage and should know what to look at, but I am not sure whether there may be any damage to the chasis or anything?

Any advice would be welcome....

Thanks

These things are always a nuisance - and I've learnt that you MUST check the car thoroughly before accepting it back. Or get someone who is clued up to check the car.

If its a rear end shunt, as you describe - like anchorman says the measurements need to be checked etc

- rear wheel arch contains the petrol filler pipe and its breather pipe. These WILL be damaged so ensure they get replaced. They may 'look' ok but the metal will have suffered trauma and will corrode faster.

- similarly any trauma to the petrol filler tube, which is steel, might result in a trauma effect on the top of the petrol tank - difficult to check without taking the tank out.

- water sealing around back door and rear arch - needs checked once repaired and before acceptance - nothing worse than water pouring into the interior.,

- hinges - if you've read any of my recent posts, then you will know all about the importance of hinges

- rear bumper and more imprtantly the framework behind it. There are chassis type legs that the tow bar fixes to that will need checked

- rear shock absorbers and mounts - could be bent from trauma either top and/or bottom.

- wheel alignment front and more importantly back will need checked and measured properly

- rear lights - these things are plastic and you just have to look at them the wrong way for the wee bits to fracture. It might not fall off right away, but removal and inspection will be necessary to avoid any future prob

- were you wearing a seatbelt ? If so then as its been subjected to trauma, you need written confirmation that the mechanism for them is A1.

- don't ever accept anything verbally from the garage - it must must must must be in writing.

- any issues you have must must must be put to the garage in writing - never verbal as they deny any liability nor that you said anything to them (I've been there!)

- Copy any issues to the insurance company in writing too.

- keep receipts of any expenses incurred; postage, time and date and duration of phone calls.

Check the quality of any repaint in daylight.

Most repair shops are ok but some arnold not.

[Lelly]

Wow thank you Anchorman for the web address and Bothwell buyer for some great info, I would never have thought to ask for the seat belt to be checked, it's not something I would have thought of.

Going to start my list now and will ask the garage to confirm all I want checking in writting.

A big thanks to everyone who replied to me

[Bodgit-fixit-run]

Totally agree with the above.

Also do you have a towbar / Towball.

If so that nust also be replaced because they can suddenly fail following a shunt. If so it could fail when towing. Don't accept a visua check on this. The standard is to replace regardless.