why do these things happen? Blue Bandit is wrecked

[NICE59FORDF100]

whats I-CAR training? just curious

 

[Carl D.]

Sorry to hear about the accident.

The cop was wrong as far as giving you a speed. I'm a cop and have been for 24 years, 10 of which I was a traffic officer. Unless he has some new formula, that he's keeping secret, your right it takes lots of computations to figure out a vehicles speed.

You have to have drag factors, skid mark distance (tape measure-not paced off), vehicle weight, road condition plus all the math figures and a good calculator.

If the insurance challenges you and claim your partly at fault based on the officer statement of speed, fight it make the officer prove your speed and show how it was done. I never had a problem showing how I came up with my speed figures.

The methods used for these speed figures is a nation wide, court approve method and as far as I know the only system accepted by the courts.

Good luck and sorry for the bad experience with the officer. Were not all bad or inexperienced.

 

[MONMIX]

It is an accronym for International Collision some thing Repair.
I dunno.
It is classes covering just about every process in collison repair from estiamting to refinishing to detailing.
I have gotten my certificate in Damage analysis, electrical, supplimental restraints, and structural repair.
I-CAR doesn't really tell you how to do the repair but how to do it safely and properly.

I am pretty I-CAR in a google search will yeild the resulst you desire.
Perhaps I should do that my self and find out what it stands for.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

I wouldn't worry with it that much. That damage is FAR from a total.

The adjuster came out today and totaled it

he came while i was at work and did his little look over and took pics. told me anything over 60% of the value of the explorer is considered total. does this sound right? the insurence company is Blue Cross/Blue Shields, and the program or subsidary is GHS. he told me that he would go back to his office, put all the things in his computer, and punch out an estimate either tonight or the morning. well, that was 1:30. right now, 7:00 pm, i called, and he told me it was totaled, being $3764.52 to repair. so he is goin to hand all this over to the insurence and they will give me a call. im so pissed and confused and tired over this whole deal. what should i do now? and oh, they dont go off NADA, or Blue book. they go off Average survey of vehicles like mine. Translates=search ads of explorers like mine, and average the selling prices. what should i do now? thanks for help

 

[MONMIX]

You have GOT to be kidding !!!!!

Man, let me look at that picture again.

NO WAY is that $3,700.00 in damages.

Does it still drive?

That adjuster is on crack.

You need a hood, headlight, bumper, bumper pad, brackets, lower vallence, header panel, headlight door, turn signal, marker light, you pay out of pocket for the aftermarket grille, he pays up to the oem cost, and a few hours to repair the fender.

That is NOT $3,700.00

Unless there is something I can't see in your picture.
That is just nuts.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

well, the hood finally popped open (and im still able to close it..might install my K&N after all) and it needs a whole new radiator support, upper and lower, but i mean, that isnt welded in ar anything, it can be replaced like a fender can.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

here are some more pics:

ill try and get a pic of the engine compartment....if you want to see the rest of the damage pics, check out my gallery

 

[Soundguy01tx]

Well I guess it IS a little worse than I had thought it was, but sitll not toobad. Cant believe they totalled it tho... Sucks man, Im sorry... Good luck figuring out what the next step is.
--Bryan

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

i just hammered out my billet grille, and straighted it....its looks new, i mean, looking good and all, saved some money tonight, yay

 

[Deak]

Too bad.. I would try and fight it I am sure you have some recourse just because they offer you a check doesn't mean you have to take it. Worse comes to worse if there is anything you want out of your X Strip it! don't give them anything. Just keep in mind it still needs to look like it when they collect it- 4 wheels etc. I had an escort totalled with brand new tires worth 300 bucks so I had my brother drive around after the claims was out there and switch out the tires on his escort. I'll be dammed if I was going to give them a 300.00 set of tires.

Deak

 

[MONMIX]

Ah yes more details.
The over lap in the hood indacates a upper frame swing.
this jacks the cost significantly. I got an estimate at work today based on what I saw in the first photo.
Using all OEM parts it came to like $2,300.00
but seeing that there is more significant damage, $3,700.00 doesn't seem too far fetched.

You still could buy back the total, but that can be a hit or miss process and 75% of the time is not in the best intrests of the owner.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

ok. since it is totaled, im waiting for the insurence to contact me. (damn isuzu rodeo). this whole time, i have been building confidence to try and repair all this damage myself. and use the money for important things (performance, lowering, and duh, blue paint). well, ive been looking all over my explorer, and ive determeined that the following needs to be replaced:

new hood (wonder where i can find a fiberglass hood)
new passenger fender
new bumper (or have the one now redone)
new radiator support

these body peices look straight forward to replace,. any difficulties im looking at? im figuruing the radiator support to be the hardest. and remember how the hood was croocked? well, tonight, i straighted out the hinges, and its straight and flush again. but i still want a fiber glass hood....know where i can find one? and whats the best way to remove the damn front bumber....those 4 bolts are worse than a 59 f-100! anyway, thanks for input! cheers!

 

[udmsvt]

i have seen similar damage replaced at about 2700 on our 91 ex.

that sux to hear your story, but there is no way that thing should be totalled! that adjuster is on crack.

i feel your pain. i rented a u-haul trailer a few months ago and the jerkoff didnt connect it right. needless to say, it came disconnected while loading a car (it was an auto transport trailer) and damaged my liftgate. u-haul payed for that thing but their insurance kept telling me that it wasnt worth that much and gave me a long paper trail. i threatened to sue and ended up taking it to the body shop i wanted. even got a new lisc. plate frame and they paid for my rental!

my u-haul story

 

[MONMIX]

The main factor is the upper rails.
Some body shops will pull it square for you.

I walked some one through a core support replacement not too long ago. It was either in here ( general ) or it was in body work. Do a search on core support.

The best way to remove the front bumper is with an impact. I'll assume you don't have one. So a good hearty breakfast and a 19mm socket with a plenty long ratchet. ( watch your knuckles !!! )
Once you break them loose it is cake.

Keep me in the loop, I'll walk you through the process.

 

[hit_that]

Dude that sux! Just a comment though. I just removed my bumper while working on my body lift and it's acutally an 18mm socket. Just my $0.02

 

[jimbo74]

thats easily about 4-5k depending on the shop estimate, i can tell that from just looking at it.....

i know a little about damage, as i have had that done to my explorer.. i have done that rather, and fixed it myself.... the parts were about $1k and the labor including the frame being straightened and the front clip removed, and new one i sourced put on was another $1100 in labor, however, it was a friend of a friend who wowned the bodyshop and he gave me a really good deal... also, he didnt paint anything either...

 

[raginraj]

Didn't the cop sign off on the accident report saying the other guy was at fault? Seems to me that pretty ends any court discussion right there... When my X got sandwiched on the 405 the guy who I hit tried to pull the same ****, but since I was forced into his vehicle by the girl who smacked into the back of my X it wasn't my insurance that ended up paying for the minor damage to his POS CRV. I still feel kinda bad for the girl who hit me though... her insurance had to cover his rear, the front AND rear of my car, and the front of her Toyota which was by far the worst of the 3.

 

[MONMIX]

you realise this thread is a year old right ?

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

ya, it is a year old, but we need to really to open everyones eyes to the real terror in america....Isuzu. C'mon, if we all ban together, we can tackle this, and win! just like we did with u-hual. there is a conspiracy, and we can take Isuzu DOWN! :exporange

 

[Pheonixx77]

I know how this will sound but bull bars and brushguards can save your truck!
maybe not the other guy's ride but you'll incur less damage. MAYBE.... my buddy T-boned a dodge ram in his F-150 at 35mph, he had a brushguard and the ram got bent, actually cracked the frame on the ram. the f-150 suffered a bent brushguard. not even bent enough to bother fixing LOL

EDIT: Body comes off for a frame straighten? (body lift anyone LOL) year old thread? oops....