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A 1-2mph collision causes $5,000+ damage


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Our C-Max, moving at 1-2mph, rolled into a trailer hitch (battering ram) on the back of a large pick-up truck.  The upper grille, lower grille, grille shutters, front bumper cover, energy absorber, impact bar, ornament, A/C condenser and radiator all need to be replaced, and the leading edge of the hood needs to be repaired and repainted.  Total for repairs $5414.95.

 

See attached photos (sorry, can't figure out how to keep them from rotating).  Note aluminum pan underneath to catch the dripping coolant.

 

We hope to have our C-Max back by the middle of next week.

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Edited by DaveofDurham
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And that's why you have insurance... (hopefully it was the other person's fault although it doesn't sound like it).

No, not the other person's fault and zero damage to his vehicle.  

 

First time we have ever had to use our collision coverage.  Looking forward to a 60% increase in premiums for the next 3 years :(

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I've had hitches on most of my cars... not the prius or cmax.  and yeah  i've busted my share of shins while loading and unloading makes it nice to carry a bike rack or rent a trailer to haul something...

 

but also  have saved damage being done to my car by folks who l are following to close and can't stop in time or doing the bump method of parallel parking...

 

sorry to hear about your loss.

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I rear ended a mini cooper at ~ 20MPH last year - air bags and seat belt pretensioners went off - nobody was hurt, but our 2013 SEL was totalled - they gave us ~17K for our 2013 - we replaced it with a 2015 exactly the same, even the color.  The car was not that damaged - sure, it needed a new hood, grill, headlights, one fender.  The amazing thing was that we drove the car away - nothing leaked and everything worked, even the AC.  The car drove straight and was quiet.  The insurance adjuster said the reason it was totaled was the cost to replace all the airbags and dash cover and seat belts, etc

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Yes, I've heard of a lot of people installing hitches on vehicles as extra "protection" in parking lots, etc.  Thankfully I don't have that much experience but I think a minimum replacement at body shop, other than maybe those pops-a-dent things easily costs around $2K these days.

 

I've recently taken a hard look at the front of the C-MAX since I had to wash/scrub it after a bug swarm.  After 60Kmi it definitely has some chips in the front fascia (luckily most in the plastic portion) and one on the passenger door handle, a few in the hood, probably one in the windshield that luckily isn't spreading - probably from road debris.  I had some chips in the back lower door too where it creates a bit of vacuum.

 

Used to have an HHR that had no stone shield at all in front of the radiator - lucky for me no stones ever caused a problem there.

Edited by jestevens
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I backed into the bumper on a large pickup. No damage to the pickup. Didnt even shine his bumper. New quarter panel for CMAX. $5000. Insurance covered it. Reported to insurance industry Raised my premium 70%. 40 years and never a chargeable accident on my record. Never a ticket of any kind. Credit rating 835. Contacted other insurance companys and prices off the chart. Found a company through my credit union that would give an accident free rate if I would use a tracking device for four months. Tracks when you drive, if you exceed speed limit and how hard you break. The way I drive it fit me fine. Got 100%. It does step on you privacy I guess and not for everyone. For me it was interesting. You can look at your driving at the end of each day. Might help you. Saved me a bundle.

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I backed into the bumper on a large pickup. No damage to the pickup. Didnt even shine his bumper. New quarter panel for CMAX. $5000. Insurance covered it. Reported to insurance industry Raised my premium 70%. 40 years and never a chargeable accident on my record. Never a ticket of any kind. Credit rating 835. Contacted other insurance companys and prices off the chart. Found a company through my credit union that would give an accident free rate if I would use a tracking device for four months. Tracks when you drive, if you exceed speed limit and how hard you break. The way I drive it fit me fine. Got 100%. It does step on you privacy I guess and not for everyone. For me it was interesting. You can look at your driving at the end of each day. Might help you. Saved me a bundle.

 

Insurance seems like such a scam anymore. If you have no accidents you pay in and they make a bundle of money. If you have one accident (at least for most plans) you pay through the nose and they still make a bundle. It is a reminder to look for a plan that offers some type of "forgiveness," that still offers good service and comparable rate plans.

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As well as change your companies periodically.  While it seems counter-intuitive, it actually pays to shop around even if you have a great record and a history with a particular company, as there is (generally) no "loyalty" benefit from staying with them.

 

I had my home and car insured with Allstate for a couple of decades, with never even a single claim (and my agent was a tennis buddy).  Filed one claim for theft (my car was stolen, although eventually recovered) and they cancelled me.  My "buddy" eventually told me it was because I had insured all my expensive camera equipment (also in the car).  He basically told me "you should NEVER file an insurance claim.  Never.  The only exception is catastrophe coverage, like your car or house being totalled.  Other than that, just eat it".

 

He's no longer my friend and I'm no longer with Allstate.  But, unfortunately, his advice holds for any company.

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