Rear Ended!

So I was sitting at a stop light... and the light turned green... and the huge F150 behind me decided it was GO-TIME! And destroyed the rear end of my precious Miata. After he backed up... and let the rear tires fall to the ground..... as I was riding on his bumper.... I called the police... and him and I parked outside a bank... To which he gets out of his car... comes over to me... and says "THE LIGHT WAS GREEN DIDNT YA KNOW?!?" I about died laughing. He truly thinks that he isn't in the wrong. He told the police exactly what happened.... just as I told them... I didn't go when the light turned green... so I'm pretty confident this will be a straight forward insurance claim that I won't be charged against... But I was just absolutely astounded that this man thinks he didn't do anything wrong. Anyways... this thread will be the collection of all the repairs and what not I will be going through. Figured I'd start it now while I wait 1-4 days for a claims adjuster to come give an estimate on repairs. This is my first accident so I'm not 100 percent sure how it works.

Car still drives, it feels like the alignment is off... the car gently turns left and right, easily corrected, but possibly a major problem? Rear bumper has an inch gap on the left side, I'll post pictures soon. Both tail lights lens' broken, lights still work. Trunk is bent taco style, side panels are caved in, and my birthday present license plate holder from my little brother that says "Roadster" is broken. His heart will be broken over this!


The good news:

I am completely okay. The man is completely okay. His truck has no scratches or dents or any marks whatsoever! And we both have USAA so it should be a very easy first claim for me.



Update:

The guy took full responsibility for the accident and I will be getting a service call from a USAA rep who will assess the cost of damage on Monday.

Additionally, I was at a red light, the light turned green, and the guy who rear-ended me floored it.

Rule #1 when dealing with insurance companies: never accept their first offer.

Check underneath to see if one of the diff mounts is broken. Pretty common to see that on a rear-ended Miata.

...and +1 for what Rob said.

He will probably tell the insurance company that you rolled backward or had the car in reverse.

If it's as bad as he's making it sound, his insurance will probably try to total it. If he bent both quarters in and folded the trunk, I could definitely see them trying to call it a loss, unless the car is immaculate. If he opens the trunk and sees some major wrinkling going on, he should all but officially kiss that car goodbye.

Hope everything works out with insurance.

If the light was green, why were you not moving ?

So, your experiment in driving stick lasted about 2-weeks? Might be a cosmic message in there...

Please consider a blog for your detailed restoration thread...

I too dealt with my first serious accident back in December. Since you both have the same insurance company, it should be easier to deal with, but don't be surprised if you have to spend hours justifying the value of your car with documentation and similar cars.

The fact that the guy in the truck is dumbass and ran into you while you were stopped at the green light should, in no way, be seen as your fault, but why were you stopped at the green light?

Am I the only one that actually understands why he was "stopped" at a green light? From what I read, it was red. He was stopped. Guy in the truck was stopped behind him too. Light turned green. The guy behind him hit the gas before he did, apparently pretty hard. It's actually happened to me a few times, oddly enough (not in the Miata).

One time someone beeped at me the very instant the light turned green. I mean literally at the same exact time. I don't think I could have even pulled a reaction time drag racing nearly as fast as the guy expected. So I pulled my parking brake, got out, walked around and looked at all the tires, circled back to the driver's door, looked back at the ass that beeped and scratched my head. Then got back in the car and drove off just before the light turned red for him again. Some people are just too impatient for things like not jack-rabbit starts from a stop sign/streetlight.

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Originally Posted by MiataProtege

So I was sitting at a stop light... and the light turned green... and the huge F150 behind me decided it was GO-TIME! And destroyed the rear end of my precious Miata.

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I'm with Rob® on this on seems like a case of clueless pickup truck driver.

Sorry for your troubles MiataProtege.

Once upon a time, while making a left hand turn... when the green arrow appeared, I stalled on the turn. Just as I restarted and proceeded with the turn, a truckload of what I suspect may have been undocumented "guests" blasted through what had to have been a red light for at least the past 5 - 10 seconds. Had I not choked on the clutch for some unknown reason that particular day at that particular light, I most certainly would have been T boned. Doesn't matter if the light is green or if you had the right of way or whatever.

I'd call USAA and tell them you need a rental car since yours is screwed up.

Also if it is as bad as you say it is that car will be more than likely be totaled by the insurance company. Get yourself ready for that possibility.

Just make sure you get a fair settlement on this deal. Don't sign anything until you are happy with the deal.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Also if it is as bad as you say it is that car will be more than likely be totaled by the insurance company. Get yourself ready for that possibility.

Just make sure you get a fair settlement on this deal. Don't sign anything until you are happy with the deal.

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Repost? :)

PS: I'm dedicating the first start this weekend to you ::BaHump::

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Originally Posted by Rob®

Repost? :)

PS: I'm dedicating the first start this weekend to you ::BaHump::

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Sorry I added you to my ignore list a while back. ;)

Say hi to black roadster for me will ya! ::Grouphug

I see how it is :( I'd ignore me if I was you too.

A HUGE F-150?::Paul::

Here are the pictures.

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo455.jpg
Starting with his truck.... absolutely perfect condition after he hoisted me off the ground with the chrome part of his bumper. Incredible he has no scratches dents or paint chips.

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo457.jpg

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo459.jpg
My taco trunk.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo460.jpg
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo461.jpg
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo466.jpg
Bumper falling off.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo465.jpg
Bumper falling off even more so on the opposite side.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo462.jpg
You can't see it well... but the bottom of this picture is a massive dent aswell as a single straight line scratch/dent. The grooves that look sort of like the patterns of finger prints were already there. Though anything that doesn't look like finger print patterns wasn't there before. Like the scrapes on the lip that go all the way down the length of the car.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...d/Photo458.jpg
And in my opinion the most upsetting of the pictures... the Mazda Icon obliterated.


After looking at it without being furious, it's not too overly bad. I'm hoping it will look brand new in a week or two. Currently, I plan on taking the car directly to Mazda to have it professionally fixed by the makers. Assuming USAA doesn't argue they are charging more then a USAA sponsor would charge.

Another thing... I was told if I have the trunk / rear bumper (clip?) replaced, the colors will always be slightly different. Is this true? Will it be noticeable? Should I try and get it mended and not replaced?

I hope this doesn't bother anyone; me recounting the events of my crash to insurance claims through forum posts.

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Originally Posted by cam76034

A HUGE F-150?::Paul::

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Huge in comparison. That thing is a monster truck compared to my Miata :burnrubr:

Need pics of the quarter panels and inside the trunk - that is what will basically determine if they total it or not. Those pics make it look like nothing.

Good luck on getting it back from a shop in two weeks. From my experience (including working at/with a body shop), "two weeks" is a month.

Body panels will be painted if/when they are replaced. Ordered in the correct color or not, they will need to be paint matched. I can't imagine any but the most ghetto shops not doing that. I don't even think the insurance adjuster will assume it won't be painted/blended to match. I don't remember where you said you keep "hearing" things about vehicles, but at this point you should probably tell that source to stop: they are 0-2 from just what I can think of off the top of my head.

The "fingerprint lines" on the rear bumper are from a previous impact. Backing into something, someone tapping your car while they were parking, etc.
http://www.dfwmiata.com/image/png;ba...AAAElFTkSuQmCC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob®

I see how it is :( I'd ignore me if I was you too.

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Did you just post something??? ;-)



The description of the carnage doesn't seem to exactly line up with the pictures. Or have they dramatically changed the design of a Taco since I last had one?? ::hal::

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

The description of the carnage doesn't seem to exactly line up with the pictures. Or have they dramatically changed the design of a Taco since I last had one??

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Not to keep quoting you, but that is exactly what I thought when I saw those pics. "Man...Texas tacos sure are different than east coast tacos."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob®

Need pics of the quarter panels and inside the trunk - that is what will basically determine if they total it or not. Those pics make it look like nothing.

Good luck on getting it back from a shop in two weeks. From my experience (including working at/with a body shop), "two weeks" is a month.

Body panels will be painted if/when they are replaced. Ordered in the correct color or not, they will need to be paint matched. I can't imagine any but the most ghetto shops not doing that. I don't even think the insurance adjuster will assume it won't be painted/blended to match.

The "fingerprint lines" on the rear bumper are from a previous impact. Backing into something, someone tapping your car while they were parking, etc.

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The quarter panels (sides of the car behind the rear wheels I assume) are just fine. I looked around in the trunk behind the carpet and from my inexperienced view they looked straight. This USAA rep will find out what's wrong with it and make an initial guess and then I'll have Mazda do a more thorough look.

I'm glad to see that the paint will match, that would kill me seeing that every day.

I guess it's rental car for a month then. On F150 guys' dime.


And yeah, I looked at the damage once, and kept my eyes away from it until just now. I believe I overstated the damage. It is still fairly bad. And the alignment probablem worries me.... I didn't think rear wheels on a RWD car could come out of alignment. And if they can... let's hope it's not something else more expensive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob®

Not to keep quoting you, but that is exactly what I thought when I saw those pics. "Man...Texas tacos sure are different than east coast tacos."

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Okay, it looks like a distance boomerang. ;)

So what "side panels" are caved in? I thought you were talking about the quarter panels there. My bad.

Why do you think the rear wheels on a RWD vehicle can't get misaligned?? Even if it's a solid axle, a few different things could happen. But the Miata is not a solid axle, and is fully adjustable back there, so there's even more ways the rear wheels can be out of alignment. Just FYI. Didn't you just get a set of jackstands? You should probably put the car on them and spend like an hour underneath the car - you might learn a few things (not meant to come across dicky...I actually mean it's a good idea).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob®

So what "side panels" are caved in? I thought you were talking about the quarter panels there. My bad.

Why do you think the rear wheels on a RWD vehicle can't get misaligned?? Even if it's a solid axle, a few different things could happen. But the Miata is not a solid axle, and is fully adjustable back there, so there's even more ways the rear wheels can be out of alignment. Just FYI. Didn't you just get a set of jackstands? You should probably put the car on them and spend like an hour underneath the car - you might learn a few things.

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Learning is good. I was surprised how many little plastic "doors" were hiding all over the place for easy access to locations. And no it's my bad for calling them the wrong name.

As far as driving while it's like this is concerned... the rental car I'm getting only covers days that my car is in the shop. So I must drive it until then.

A USAA customer service rep called me and gave me his phone number to call if I had any problems or any questions. I'm a big fan of that customer service! This guys' job is to make sure claims go through with me happy.

Please, PLEASE, have someone that knows what they are looking at check the car over before you continue driving it like that. I highly recommend it not be where you keep "hearing" things from. Seriously, if something you can't see/don't know what you're looking at is broken, or damn near about to be broken, you could be much worse off than a higher rental car bill (read: not really talking about having to spend more money).

To a mechanic it is! Most likely tomorrow, I'm beat. Don't have to drive anywhere until Friday so that's good news.


Thanks for your advice Rob.

USAA will treat you fine. Don't worry. I'm betting he just forgot you were there and took off in to you.

That is not bad at all, I was expecting carnage. :clap:

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Originally Posted by Rogue

That is not bad at all, I was expecting carnage. :clap:

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I suppose it just looks worse to me. It's my first nice thing I've ever owned.

Look at the mazda icon! Talk about symbolism, ford crushing mazda.

It will be nice to see before and after pictures. A usaa agent is coming to assess the damages and quote a price tomorrow morning. I'm thinking after that my best bet is to bring it to a big Mazda dealership for the best possible work. And I wonder what rental car I will get.... a mustang?.... corvette? Porsche??? :drive:

No. If I had to take a real guess.... I'm betting I get an Impala. Wager some kudos points at what rental car I will be given? I bet 50 kudos on impala. :rolleyes:

Dealership body shops suck. IMHO

Ask your usaa guy for a list of recommended shops.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Dealership body shops suck. IMHO

Ask your usaa guy for a list of recommended shops.

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You think so? The only reason this guy is coming out is because I chose to go with an outside USAA repair. I assumed USAA's mechanics wouldn't be the best.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MiataProtege

You think so?

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Yes - that would be why I typed the words as I did on my above post otherwise I would have used different words.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Yes - that would be why I typed the words as I did on my above post otherwise I would have used different words.

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Emphasizing is rather difficult via keyboard. Phonetically spelled I suppose it would be "Ya think so?" I tend to type how I speak, try not to take offense.

My trunk has me in the mood for tacos.

No offense taken.

I was trying to simplify and clarify my reply to make sure you understood my feelings on Dealership Body shops.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

No offense taken.

I was trying to simplify and clarify my reply to make sure you understood my feelings on Dealership Body shops.

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That bad huh? I'll shop around then. Probably just call USAA and take one of theirs tomorrow. Sure they would be delighted. Any pointers on me not walking away unsatisfied with the fix?

I'd bet that if you get a rental car (you're under 25 right? good luck with a rental) is that you'll end up in a high quality ford fuckus or some other tampon shaped shitbox.

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Originally Posted by goofygrin

I'd bet that if you get a rental car (you're under 25 right? good luck with a rental) is that you'll end up in a high quality ford fuckus or some other tampon shaped shitbox.

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Oh yeah... I remember that rule. My brother was in an accident not long ago and hes slightly older and got a rental. Perhaps it works differently when it's to do with insurance? I hope I can get a rental... would suck if I can't.

And wow, someone really hates focus's!

Oh and I turned 21 yesterday by the way :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MiataProtege

That bad huh? I'll shop around then. Probably just call USAA and take one of theirs tomorrow. Sure they would be delighted. Any pointers on me not walking away unsatisfied with the fix?

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Shop around, get recommendations, compare warranties, & visit the shops. It is your choice make it an educated decision.

Also don't accept the car (or return the rental) until you are happy with the work performed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Shop around, get recommendations, compare warranties, & visit the shops. It is your choice make it an educated decision.

Also don't accept the car (or return the rental) until you are happy with the work performed.

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That's what I wanted to hear. I was hoping they wouldn't have me between a rock and a hard place in that situation. I should be able to have my car look exactly how it was previously, no matter what they say.

And work the same too, can't forget that part.:D