Got into a rear collision

[1995E]

I was on a weird on ramp in DC and right after the turn, people had stopped. I stopped, then I heard a boom in the back and the car moved like 2 feet.

I've been hit 2 other times in the rear but none of them resulted in damage. A Honda Accord hit the back. Her car looked worse than mine. However, after removing the hitch, one of the hitch pieces looked bent. How concerned should I be about further damage to the hitch? I want to remove the bumper and inspect the hitch myself and possibly replace if it's damaged but can't find any instructions on how to remove it or find the right part number for the stock class 3 hitch.

There didn't seem to be any other visible deformaties and I am guessing it's not worth it to report to insurance for this, based on the rumor that if you report an incidence, even if it's not your fault, your rates still raise, and my car would be flagged with an accident.

My question is, what should I do? Go through insurance? Or just ask the person to buy me a new hitch?

How do I remove the rear bumper and hitch? How concerned should I be about further damage?

edit: I just saw that my right side exhaust is offset :/ Do you think there is frame damage?

 

[thefranchise713]

See a collision estimator and tell them it's customer pay. Estimates are generally free.

As a matter of course, you should report the incident to your insurance company. On the off chance the other driver tries to come after you, your carrier could deny the claim/legal defense provided for in your policy for failure to timely notify them of the incident.

I have reported the occasional not-my-fault accident to the insurance company, it has never been a problem with my rates. They've kept consistent/dropped occasionally. Any rises I did experience between periods were just the result of statistical increases.

Source: Driving in NY for over a decade, and have studied a fair number of policies in my life. Your jursdiction/situation may vary.

 

[Jon M]

I was hit in my old Grand Cherokee, and it was directly on the hitch. Minimal damage, but my attorney told me that, from a future liability standpoint, I should replace it. If I were ever towing something, and encountered a problem that caused damage, I could end up personally responsible with no help from insurance.

Between two rear collisions, and multiple parking lot hit and runs, my insurance rates have never gone up because of my not at fault accidents.

 

[peterk9]

I agree that it is best to have it checked out since there could be 'hidden' damage. Are your rear sensors still working? I had an 'at fault' accident in 2009 but my insurance didn't go up because of the accident forgiveness feature (1 free one). I pay for the next one. If I am accident free for the next 2 years (10 years total) it goes back to the 1 free one again. According to the link here, the hitch is BB5Z-19D520-AA.
http://www.explorerforum.com/xenfor...itch-kit-for-gen-5-explorer-c-w-video.386861/
Good luck.

Peter

 

[1995E]

Thank you for the quick replies everyone.

I have spoken with an agent who I bought my insurance from and because of my father's 2 incidents within the past 3 years, he recommends I try to go customer pay or else my insurance will rise some more and I am on his policy. The lady has agreed to pay me for damages without going to insurance. I don't know if she will change her mind though. Apparently I have a 48 hour window to report it so I guess I'll try to get a free estimate. The only issue right now is everything is closed on Sunday and tomorrow is MLK day.

I guess I'll just try and take off the rear bumper and see if the actual body is damaged. If not, I can easily replace the hitch and possibly the exhaust myself and have her pay for the parts. My rear bumper sensors are completely fine.
Thank you so much Peter for the hitch part number!

 

[shucker1]

Before I took anything apart I would let an estimator look at it first.

If you do take it apart they can always say you broke it during disassembly.

As for your 48 hour window, I would assume that Sundays and Holidays would be excluded given the time frame.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Thank you for the quick replies everyone.

I have spoken with an agent who I bought my insurance from and because of my father's 2 incidents within the past 3 years, he recommends I try to go customer pay or else my insurance will rise some more and I am on his policy. The lady has agreed to pay me for damages without going to insurance. I don't know if she will change her mind though. Apparently I have a 48 hour window to report it so I guess I'll try to get a free estimate. The only issue right now is everything is closed on Sunday and tomorrow is MLK day.

I guess I'll just try and take off the rear bumper and see if the actual body is damaged. If not, I can easily replace the hitch and possibly the exhaust myself and have her pay for the parts. My rear bumper sensors are completely fine.
Thank you so much Peter for the hitch part number!

I don't know one state that doesn't have a rear end collision being the responsibility of the person who was the one behind the other. There should be ZERO rate increase as this was her fault regardless of whether you claim through your insurance or not. Always go through your insurance and notify them when it is a rear end hit. They in turn will go after her and their insurance for reimbursement.

 

[thefranchise713]

I don't know one state that doesn't have a rear end collision being the responsibility of the person who was the one behind the other. There should be ZERO rate increase as this was her fault regardless of whether you claim through your insurance or not. Always go through your insurance and notify them when it is a rear end hit. They in turn will go after her and their insurance for reimbursement.

Subrogation is a BEAUTIFUL thing.

 

[1995E]

I don't know one state that doesn't have a rear end collision being the responsibility of the person who was the one behind the other. There should be ZERO rate increase as this was her fault regardless of whether you claim through your insurance or not. Always go through your insurance and notify them when it is a rear end hit. They in turn will go after her and their insurance for reimbursement.

I wish this was the case, but after reading these two articles and speaking with the agent I buy insurance from, I think I'll try the alternative first. I was going to call insurance but then I called my agent and he told me all that.
Also, I called my uncle and he said his friend had this happen to him as well where it wasn't his fault, but his premiums raised 300 annually. Maybe it's just the state of MD where this happens.
If my dad hadn't had 2 incidents within the past 3 years, I would just call in but I'm really afraid of that hike, and I would not want to pay government insurance if the policy decides to not sell to me.
I'll definitely report it if the lady won't give me a check for the repairs tonight though.

I'll take it to the appraiser and not touch the car. Thanks for the advice!

http://www.360financialliteracy.org...surance-Premiums-Go-Up-after-an-Auto-Accident

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/will-a-claim-raise-my-rates-if-the-accident-is-not-my-fault-cm137903

 

[shucker1]

Did you get a police report or an item number?

Did she receive a citation?

If not you may be up the creek without a paddle...

 

[1995E]

Did you get a police report or an item number?

Did she receive a citation?

If not you may be up the creek without a paddle...

I called her and she said to just make the claim. I made the claim with her insurance and they already stated that they found her at fault/ she admitted fault when she called. She was a nice lady, that's why I didn't want to go through insurance initially.

 

[reserved50]

I usually have it estimated instead of guessing what damage has been done especially from posted pictures. Now you know what to do in the future if you ever get in an accident and anyone else reading this, good luck

 

[shucker1]

She was a nice lady, that's why I didn't want to go through insurance initially.

I can understand that.

Have you ever heard of "CYA".

If you don't no one else will.

I'm not trying to be a vindictive prick but, if the tables would have been turned you can bet you would be fixing her stuff and fast.

 

[Josh P]

Most insurance companies won't raise rates if the claim is under a certain $$$ amount. I was hit twice in under a year and my rates never went up. The first one was bad, car pulled out in front of me at sunset with no headlights on. The impact sent their car spinning in the air knocking people over on the sidewalk. Sad thing is I was the only other car on the road. I wish you luck with your repair.

 

[champco]

Looks like the exhaust may have taken some of the hit. Is it bent a bit on yr right side?

 

[1995E]

Looks like the exhaust may have taken some of the hit. Is it bent a bit on yr right side?

Yeah, the exhaust is bent on the right, but the left also has some offset now. Their insurance company has given me the opportunity to either get it done at their repair shop, or I can get a check of the amount appraised (parts and labor) and do it at a place I'm comfortable with. I haven't gotten it appraised yet but I did inform the person I have damage on my hitch, bumper, and exhaust. Albeit mostly cosmetic except for the hitch.

I am not sure whether to get the check or just get it done at their shop. However, with a previous incident I had with the Explorer, a body shop totally forget screws and pieces were not aligned, making me not so so sure if I want to trust a random body shop again. What would be the better option?

 

[champco]

Yeah, the exhaust is bent on the right, but the left also has some offset now. Their insurance company has given me the opportunity to either get it done at their repair shop, or I can get a check of the amount appraised (parts and labor) and do it at a place I'm comfortable with. I haven't gotten it appraised yet but I did inform the person I have damage on my hitch, bumper, and exhaust. Albeit mostly cosmetic except for the hitch.

I am not sure whether to get the check or just get it done at their shop. However, with a previous incident I had with the Explorer, a body shop totally forget screws and pieces were not aligned, making me not so so sure if I want to trust a random body shop again. What would be the better option?

Body work is not cheap and having the work done right is a hit or miss gamble sometimes. if it were me in your shoes being how this a expensive relatively costly, important part of your life I would......

1. Consult my insurance agent and have them advice the best course of action. That's what you are paying them for.

2. Have it looked at by a Ford representative in a dealership you trust.

I would not be surprised to find you have $2000+ in damage done from a light tap on the rear. Believe me these insurance companies are not worried about fixing cars. Their concern is your health and are you needing medical. That's where their costs are. The Exhaust is bent, the hitch is bent, the sub frame is bent as well. Beneath the bumper cover there are broken parts that no body shop should complete a estimate till disassembly. Look out for yourself. Being a nice guy is secondary.

 

[kmarnes]

It's weird that your rates could go up from being in a non-fault accident. I know the US has some crazy cheap policies, but none of the mainstream places would do this. If you get rear ended a red light, how can it be your fault at all?

And yeah, an estimate doesn't mean there is further underlying damage that won't be found until they tear it apart. Also just looking at the pics, easily looking at 4-5k in damage, if not more -- once you factor in hitch replacement, paint and body work.

 

[Odrapnew]

It's weird that your rates could go up from being in a non-fault accident. I know the US has some crazy cheap policies, but none of the mainstream places would do this. If you get rear ended a red light, how can it be your fault at all?

And yeah, an estimate doesn't mean there is further underlying damage that won't be found until they tear it apart. Also just looking at the pics, easily looking at 4-5k in damage, if not more -- once you factor in hitch replacement, paint and body work.

Sometimes they'll say if you weren't there, you wouldn't have been hit, so you are partially at fault(I don't agree with this). I agree that the person who got rear-ended should not have any impact to their rates and the other person(or their insurance) should pay to properly fix the vehicle regardless of which insurance company the "rear endee"(person who got rear ended) has.

As for estimates, they usually come in low and they typically find other things wrong when they tear into it. I know I whacked a tree with my old truck many years ago and they found, after they tore it apart, that the taillight mounting was all messed up. They couldn't see that until it was taken apart so the final bill was a couple hundred more than the estimate.

With the damage here, I wouldn't want to settle based on an estimate. Like said, there could be hidden damage that won't show up until after it's taken apart.
I would guess the hitch, rear bumper(I cant tell if there's any paint damage), and some mounting to be messed up at a minimum. The exhaust might be able to be "massaged" back in place.

 

[Napalm]

OP please take this moment to also go out and shop for new insurance. you should probably shop around every 2-3 years anyway. That's what I do. Granted state laws are different but even so - shopping around is always a good idea.


Meanwhile your rate shouldn't go up because of a no-fault accident unless there are other factors - get your insurnace agent to spell them out for you. Also who is your current insurance? Just curious.


On the other hand yes take that to a body shop - while the bumper cover bounced back - it's made to. There are supports under there and a foam pad that need looking over and probably replacement. The hitch if bent anywhere - needs to be replaced all the way to the body bolt up. IE the whole thing

It's probably minimal but as mentioned before it's all about that liability. If you were to be towing something next month and things got awry and you hit someone your insurance might not want to cover it at all - and they might have the grounds to stand on if they can prove previous unreported damage. State laws vary greatly.