Rear Ended

[Scott3569]

Well guys, after my test run last week, I was headed back to moms, to make some adjustments and add some shelves to the kitchen... 

And wouldn't you know it, I got rear ended.. I have been trying to get a photo on the computer so that I can post it here.. 

Basically, I was stopped for traffic ahead of me, yes I was completely Stopped..

And a young 17 year old girl hit me on the drivers side.. big scratch down to the middle of the sliding door(06grand caravan).. 
rear tail light and the housing is crushed, and my bumper cover will eventually need to be replaced.. 

Insurance is going to total the vehicle. estimate for repairs is $7200, the vehicle is worth about half, and I should get about 70% of what is is worth.. 

I also ended up in the hospital with some back pain.. 

The GOOD: the van is still drivable, I am just going to get the tail light put back in.. and probably bando the dents myself.. 

With the vehicle being registered in florida, It will still be ok and legal 

as far as I can tell no damage to the frame.. mostly just cosmetic.. 

**if I can figure out why I can not get photo from my phone now, I will post pictures**

 

[highdesertranger]

Bummer. How is your back? I hope it all ends up well for you. Highdesertranger

 

[user 30781]

Oh no! I am sorry to hear this!

 

[bullfrog]

Be sure to have your back checked out thoroughly, many times it takes a few days for things to show up. Hope you recover soon! Did it knock any of your cabinets loose or damage them?

 

[user 423]

^^
x2. It can take years for back problems to show up! Don't be in a hurry to sign the insurance company release.

I suffered a back injury in a similar accident when I was 19 and was told it was just a bruised back. Several years after that I started experiencing back trouble. I now live with a degenerative disc.

The statute of limitations is 7 years, so you may be able to make a claim later if you have problems down the road.

Not necessarily to sue someone but you should consult a lawyer so you understand your options. The insurance companies have tons of heavy-hitting lawyers to shut you out of any claim.

 

[WanderingRose]

Bummer.

Hope you are back on the road soon.

 

[MrNoodly]

...no damage to the frame...

Minivans don't have a frame. They're built with what's called a unibody. The rigidity of the body shell serves as the mounting point for the engine, drivetrain and suspension. In collisions more dramatic than yours the body shell can deform enough to seriously compromise its strength and/or cause the font and rear ends to point in different directions.

 

[jimindenver]

Man, that sucks. I hope that things work out for you

 

[highdesertranger]

"Minivans don't have a frame."

This is correct. I would like to add, if the accident caused a bad misalignment problem there is really no way to fix it. Some people might say you can fix it but in truth all you can do is put a band aid on it. This is one of the many reasons I say front wheel drive unibody vehicles are throw away vehicles. Before you put any money into it take it and have a 4 wheel alignment done. If it can't be aligned in a normal matter IMO it is beyond repair. You will just be throwing good money after bad.

Highdesertranger

 

[Scott3569]

I appreciate all the responses, I will try to answer everyone in one response LMAO.. If I missed you, I am sorry, don't know what to say..

I did contact a lawyer especially since I went to he hospital.. And I do not want to say to much hear.. But let's just say I am familiar with this..

The other vehicle was a Nilsson small SUV
There vehicle was not drivable.. Not even to get it out of the road..
So this is why I say I think I am still good.. I have not noticed and drivablity issues as of yet.. and the actual bumper is not even off kilter.. So I actually got pretty lucky..

@ Highdesertranger

Well, I am not going to say I am 100%, I have a feeling I will be going to a specialist..
And yes I will go have a 4 wheel alignment done.. I am not going to worry to much about it at the moment. Due to the fact that the actual bumper is not even out of line.. But that does not 100% proof of no other damage.

@bullfrog
yes I am aware, Thank you

@MrNoodly
Now that is funny right there. after all the work I have done with it, and as many times as I have looked under that damn thing, I never realized there was no frame.. either way, I know things were not bent before, the tires have worn quite evenly.. And I do not foresee this being a big issue now.

@WanderingRose @jimindenver
Thank you

 

[RoamerRV428]

so sorry and hope your medical does not get worse and you are over the bad time of it......sending healing vibes to you


you can fight insurance. I did. My Sunbird car was hit by another and 100% on them and they wanted to total me and cost to buy another car no where came what they offered on the 'settlement' and we fought and insisted they pay the repairs and we got it............so never take that first offer ever!!!! My Sunbird car was put back perfect and we got what we truly deserved vs. being cheated out of less than. That was us, not sure on what you can do tho LOL ...wishing you the best

 

[mattvei]

I'm gonna piss some people off, but find your local bar association personal injury attorney section (no I'm not a lawyer), contact the president of that section and ask whom he would send a family member to. I speak from experience. Sure it's a game. But You have no idea the long term effects you may be looking at. The game is attorney fees and damages. Follow attorney instructions exactly on what medical services to get, documentation, etc. The insurance company only cares what they can settle for. Your attorney will enlighten them.

 

[maki2]

Every human has degenerative disc. It is 100% going to happen and it starts when you are in your teens. You are unlikely be able to prove a claim on that basis from a several years ago car accident. It would take visible damage showing up on MRIs shortly after the accident to get a later claim. Damage that has  nothing to do with normal disc and spinal wear and tear arthritis on the bones degeneration. Normal is a very wide range of criteria. The insurance claims get significantly reduced or even denied alltogether if there is contributary disc degeneration going on in your spine.

 

[jacqueg]

^^
x2. It can take years for back problems to show up!  Don't be in a hurry to sign the insurance company release.

I suffered a back injury in a similar accident when I was 19 and was told it was just a bruised back. Several years after that I started experiencing back trouble. I now live with a degenerative disc.

The statute of limitations is 7 years, so you may be able to make a claim later if you have problems down the road.

Not necessarily to sue someone but you should consult a lawyer so you understand your options. The insurance companies have tons of heavy-hitting lawyers to shut you out of any claim.

OP, you may already know this, but the standard advice from the docs I visited for a similar accident insisted that I should wait at least a year before signing a release.

Yeah, the insurance company drove me crazy for a year, pestering me. I have to admit, I kinda enjoyed all their begging...

 

[66788]

^^
x2. It can take years for back problems to show up!  Don't be in a hurry to sign the insurance company release.

I suffered a back injury in a similar accident when I was 19 and was told it was just a bruised back. Several years after that I started experiencing back trouble. I now live with a degenerative disc.

The statute of limitations is 7 years, so you may be able to make a claim later if you have problems down the road.

Not necessarily to sue someone but you should consult a lawyer so you understand your options. The insurance companies have tons of heavy-hitting lawyers to shut you out of any claim.

Please be advised that the statute of limitations for civil cases varies from state to state, and can be very short for UM claims, or from one year to several years depending on your jurisdiction.

To make a blanket statement that the statute of limitations is seven years wrong and misleading.

 

[user 423]

Every human has degenerative disc. It is 100% going to happen and it starts when you are in your teens. You are unlikely be able to prove a claim on that basis from a several years ago car accident. It would take visible damage showing up on MRIs shortly after the accident to get a later claim. Damage that has  nothing to do with normal disc and spinal wear and tear arthritis on the bones degeneration. Normal is a very wide range of criteria.  The insurance claims get significantly reduced or even denied alltogether if there is contributary disc degeneration going on in your spine.

Technically you're correct that it starts early and progresses throughout our lifetimes but trauma does accelerate the process. Similar to the fact that from birth we're all in the process of dying (which will 100% happen) but if you get certain diseases, you will die earlier. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had chronic back pain starting at 21 if I hadn't had that accident. Then again, I did work at some pretty strenuous construction jobs for a couple of years at that time, so a lawyer would have jumped on that. MRI's weren't available at that time, so a claim determination would come down to which expert witness was believed and/or who had the better lawyer.

 

[user 423]

To make a blanket statement that the statute of limitations is seven years wrong and misleading.

You are right and I meant to add a disclaimer that I wasn't giving out legal advice. I did mention that he should talk to a lawyer. I would hope that people know enough to not take what they read on a forum as gospel. It was an insurance adjuster who represented the insurance company at the time of my accident that told me of the 7 year thing. They wouldn't lie now would they?

 

[Scott3569]

Hey all

again thank you for all the responses.. and for the most part we are on the same page..

As I said in one of my responses, I am familiar with the process..

Which is why I do not want to talk to much about all the legal things in a public forum..

 

[RoamerRV428]

we get that Scott, it is personal injury and personal accident and now to be handled by your personal self for best outcome.............just hope ya feel OK!!!!!! health trumps a dollar all the time

 

[Scott3569]

Finally I got the Photo, Like I said before I do not believe the bumper has moved at all, if it has only a fraction of an inch.. The metal is already showing some surface rust.. I will probabally be making an appointment Tuesday to get the rear light area fixed enough to put the fiixure in so that I can do a patch up paint job..