Recent accident question. Dealing with repairs.

sklater · Post by **sklater** » 28 Jun 2013, 15:40

2002 s60 AWD black

So, the other day my neighbor backed out of his driveway with a truck, and backed into the driver side rear door, denting it in and putting in a 3" long gash. First, there was no note or anything, which pissed me off, but within a half an hour his daughter came over and apologized saying her dad did it as he left for work, but was late, and called her to let her know. He has admitted fault to the accident. He then asked me if I had insurance to cover it. Of course I do have insurance, but of course I'm not gonna use it, it was his fault. Decided to leave the police out of it for now, and went to get some estimates.

First estimate was $2,100. Second was $1,600. Mainly was off on the labor times, but everything else was the identical. Decided, yes, the $1,600 place was good, reputable, etc. I'm only here temporally in AZ, and need to get it taken care of here. Told the neighbor, and he didn't like the cost. I told him because he has liability, it will cover it, and he won't have to pay a deductible. His son in law was there though, and said "no, get another estimate, using your insurance will raise your rates, he's got a buddy, check him out." I told them, okay, i'll get a 3rd estimate, but won't commit to anything.

Anyways, went to his buddy's shop, and not impressed. Just quoted a price out of thin air, $300, said he will pound it out, make it look like new, blah blah. I was not comfortable with this. The first two places I went said the door needed replacing. His buddy said, of course not, pound it out, bondo, etc. I really don't want to involve the police, but if I can't get them to use his insurance for my choice of body shop, I just might have to. I uploaded some pictures so you can see the damage. Do you think the door needs replacing?

castconcrete · Post by **castconcrete** » 28 Jun 2013, 16:14

I vote new door/door skin

sklater · Post by **sklater** » 28 Jun 2013, 16:31

Any compelling reason why? I've got the son-in-law saying "You don't need a door, those other companies just trying to rip us off, this guy is good". I need a good reason to show to them why I need a new door.

Post by **JRL** » 28 Jun 2013, 16:32

Pound it out, my rear end!!!

You need a NEW door skin and related work and PROPER paint.
The $1600 estimate is not out of line as long as the skin is being replaced and yes, there is a lot of labor time
It costs $300 to just paint ONE panel add that to the cost of a skin and labor.
You could try to find a excellent used door, it takes an hour to swap doors.

HE HIT YOU.
If he continues to give you crap, call the cops and TELL YOUR INSURANCE
You do not get anything placed against you in these cases

TacklaNHL · Post by **TacklaNHL** » 28 Jun 2013, 16:40

STOP!

You are the victim here. No need for police or anything. But you get your car fixed, plain and simple. You tell your insurance company, even put in a claim yourself. You have insurance so that you don't "have to go to a buddy's shop and get bondo". They'll go after his insurance company, especially if he's claimed liability. His rates, if he only has liability, won't be more than the $1600-2000 this repair will cost. It blows my mind that everyone is afraid of using the insurance they already pay for! A $1600-2000 claim is not bad, relative to what they normally see... and yes, it will effect his rates, but what do you care? You don't deserve a 'repaired' part, you deserve a replacement part. Your door didn't have bondo on it because you didn't want bondo on it. You don't want a door with bondo. That will effect resale.

My 2007 S60R had a teenager clip the door, looked like the "skin" could be replaced, as it was the main piece that was torn-up, but it ended up being the whole door had to be replaced.

The auto body shop that worked on mine, said that "skins" aren't available for the S60. It's the whole door. Used I found that that they ranged from $500-$600 and you still had to have them painted to match (which also means you need to blend the other door and rear quarter panel. Yes, you need to do that, it'll raise the cost of the repair, but once it's in the hands of insurance, get it all done, and get it done at your favorite place (go to the dealer even.) You're the victim here, get your insurance company to go to bat for you, and get your car fixed right.

It's awkward. But you have to make sure you take care of yourself here. If you don't, it will cost you down the road for sure.

Good luck.

TacklaNHL · Post by **TacklaNHL** » 28 Jun 2013, 16:51

The door is completely torn all the way through. That's a door replacement, no doubt about it. You cannot "bang that out".

sklater · Post by **sklater** » 28 Jun 2013, 16:58

Thanks guys. I feel like the son-in-law is worried that either I or a shop is trying to rip him off. No, I just want my car repaired correctly. I'm waiting for my father-in-law to get off work, and we will go over together to get the ball rolling. AZ has it that if you collect information, you can no longer call the cops, as it is considered a civil, not a legal matter. So I need him to call his insurance, make the claim, give me the phone, and I complete it, right then and there. I got screwed over once in Utah on a similar matter, and took two weeks of me harassing the guy to finally get him to call hi insurance.

draser · Post by **draser** » 28 Jun 2013, 17:00

Look at the options:
1 - have the insurance co do it. Most states require a police report, and I'd do that just to be covered. Most people will go this way, it's the easiest. The shop gives you some repair warranty. Use Volvo parts, etc.
2 - have the indi fix it. Of course it's fixable, I had fixed worse. But you need to know the guy. You don't know what kind of work they do, how long it lasts - quality. You're taking a risk and you don't have to.
3 - compromise - have indi get a Volvo door same color from junk-yard and swap. May be a lot of hassle.
I'd get the police report and go from there.

TacklaNHL · Post by **TacklaNHL** » 28 Jun 2013, 17:22

You might not need a police report. Getting the police involved is only necessary if he's not being civil about it. Which he has, by following-up, admitting fault, and working with you on the estimates. Call your insurance, and put in a claim. That way you know, one way or another it's getting fixed. They'll work it all out, the liability and fault, and waive your deductible. You pay them to take care of your asset upon events like this.

Or... you call his insurance and start a claim. They'll follow-up with him.

Insurance companies ensure that auto bodies won't rip anyone off. Plus, then there's no cost, nothing at all, to him (later he may pay higher rates, but not $1600-2000 worth.)

benrk · Post by **benrk** » 03 Jul 2013, 07:17

That door certainly is fixable, cars used to come from factory as rolling chassis & the bodywork was done all by hand in a bodyshop, but can this door economically be restored to it's original beauty & safety standard? NO!

I think you should talk to your father in law how much he likes his neighbours & how important a good relationship with them is to him.
Many bodyshops here in North America are doing pretty shoddy work, some are really great in producing a great surface, but you don't want to know what's underneath.
The most important thing right now is where you typically use this car, is it ever going to see salt?
If whatever bodyshop uses a new aftermarket or even oem door & does not properly rustproof it on the inside & the seams, you will see rust blisters in 2 years the latest if you are going over the passes to Cali or north into UT in the winter. The other thing is, how long do you want to keep the car? Most shops here do not use oem paint but have their own paint system from one of the few large paint suppliers & mix the needed colour for an individual car, some are really good in paint matching, but this paint may chemicaly be different from the other paint on the car & will age differently, especially in AZ sun quite visible differences can occur within 2 years. To avoid this, you have to fudge it with a blend into the adjacent panels, that is expensive extra work.

The best solution for an older car like this is to find a good used door the same colour, this can be done without insurance by your neighbours buddy, you'd have oem quality in parts & paint.

If they don't agree with that, tell your insurance & make a claim & have the work done by the dealership & insist on oem paint, it's not going to cost you a thing since it's not your fault & the other party is known, your insurance will recover their money from your neighbours liability insurance, just if he drags his feet the whole process may take a while, but there's nothing he can really do.

Greetz, Ben