Car Accident Damage Estimate
 

I'm hoping someone more experienced in these matters can help me out here.

I rear-ended an SUV a few days ago with my 92 Honda Civic; the insurance company hasn't looked at my car yet and I'm curious as to how much the damage estimate will actually be.

The SUV's bumper was higher than mine, so my car got smashed up pretty badly. I wish I had some photos to show. From what I could see, the following damage occured:

- front bumper destroyed
- front hood buckled
- radiator smashed (all the coolant leaked out)
- front lights smashed

I couldn't tell if there was any other engine damage but it was still running after the collision, just not smoothly because the whole car started vibrating at a low frequency.

So anybody have any guesses as to the extent of the damage? What's the likelihood the car will be a write-off?

The car will go total. You've lost the hood, headlight, radiator support, front fenders (?), and lots of the other stuff. Probably broke motor mounts. Get some pics...but 99.9% the car will total out.

Near same thing happened to me 2 years ago. I was driving a 96 Chrysler Sebring, got rear-ended, and smashed into a GMC in front of me. I slid under their tail end & wrapped a bit around their trailer hitch. I was still able to drive the car, even though the hood was buckled back... didn't have much for radiator damage -- no leaks anyway... still, the insurance company called it a total loss.

Since your car is older & has more damage, I'd have to agree with DE137 then. Start shopping.

you might try to fix it out of pocket. it will probably be several grand (maybe 5 or so)

i ran into a pole in my GTP a few months ago. i ended up paying $2500 for
-used hood
-new fender
-paint for both
-new full headlight assembly and lights
-a couple new braces behind the bumper

i figure you got about that much, plus the cost of the radiator.

but who knows if there is frame damage and such.

my suggestion... go to 2 or 3 body shops and get an estimate from them and don't tell your insurance company a thing. it might cost you $5k to fix it, but in the long run your upped insurance on hitting another car and having a "total loss" might be much much more

Tech, he's gonna have an "at-fault" payout regardless, because the other vehicle has to get fixed, too. I would recommend fixing THAT out of pocket, and saying to hell with his car.

Not nessacarily, If he ran into the back of my truck and slid under he might have scratched the paint on the bumper; that's about it. 'Course if he ran into one of those new yuppy money mobiles then he could be out a fair chunk of change :(

Thanks for the input, guys.

I live in British Columbia, Canada, and the insurance rates are somewhat different from in the USA I gather. Making this claim is gonna cost me money (ie premiums going up), but not so much to make paying this thing out of my pocket worthwhile.