Forester Accident Damage

- A
- Al
  
  Contact options for registered users
posted
16 years ago

Sat, Dec 22, 2007 8:53 PM

Today I was driving my '07 Forester and had an accident. Someone pulled out of a side street and I ran into them. I jammed on the brakes and slid into the front right fender of the VW Jetta. Bang!

I got out of the car. I saw a lot of debris in the roadway and expected the worst. It turned out, all of the debris in the roadway was from the Jetta. The left headlight was toast. The end of the left front fender was pushed in. The front bumper come off the Jetta.

I turned and looked a the front end of the Forester. Yipes! NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. I got on my knees and looked around. Could not find anything out of place. The only thing wrong was that the plastic grill in the front was loose at the bottom.

The other car could not be drive as the left front wheel was dragging against the fender well.

The adjuster will be coming to look at my car on Thursday. What should I expect and how should I handle it?

Al

- F
- Frank
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
16 years ago

Sat, Dec 22, 2007 8:56 PM

Could be hidden damage under bumper and if air bag went off, they are expensive to replace.

- Q
- QX
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
16 years ago

Sat, Dec 22, 2007 11:29 PM

Make sure they check to be sure there is no buckling in the chassis/unibody/suspension arms whatever they call it. If it is even the slightest bit out, the AWD will eventually suffer.

Subies need an absolutely square platform. No skewing.

AWD is also why it's so important that all tire diameters be within tolerances.

- C
- Carl 1 Lucky Texan
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
16 years ago

Sun, Dec 23, 2007 12:39 AM

Get busy with a sledgehammer tonight!

;^)

I think , even if the airbag did not deploy, you're 'supposed' to get new seat belt retarctors or something if you're ever in a wreck in which they 'lock up'.

maybe contact your dealership and see what they feel like is reasonable to inspect.

glad you're OK, hope the other person is as well.

Carl

- F
- Frank
  
  Contact options for registered users
Vote on answer
posted
16 years ago

Sun, Dec 23, 2007 2:27 PM

Some additional comments: Just get their permission to get repairs done and then have them done by someone you trust. Don't sign off on anything until you are satisfied and take full advantage of your inconvenience and get a loaner if needed.

My '98 Forester was totaled 5 years ago and damage did not look that bad. Insurance companies will pronounce a car totaled when estimate is above about 70% of book value because there may be hidden damage and cost of repair could exceed book value. I had to hang tough with insurance companies. Mine was a PITA and did not look at car for over a week during which published book value dropped $100. I was using my insurance company because other driver denied fault even though she was the one that was ticketed by the police. Her insurance company wanted to wait 2 weeks for police report and I needed car for long trip the following month. Fortunately lawyer son dealt with her company and I got my deductible, medical bills plus settled fast. I was not hurt but concerned about existing conditions and being on blood thinner wanted to be checked out.

Another family incident where family member rear ended car and neither car had any damage resulted in rear ended car driver collecting $225,000 for supposed injuries to spine.