Reply to Got hit head on while waiting in turn lane, what can I expect?

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[quote=Anonymous]Very odd that the other car was totaled and your front airbags didn’t deploy. If your doors won’t open then there’s likely damage to the unibody structure which may or may not be able to be straightened on a rack. Hard to know the extent of the damage without putting the car on a lift and even then you most likely don’t know the full extent of the repair until disassembly starts. Replacing a front clip adds up quickly with parking and airbag sensors, led headlight assemblies, etc. lots of labor involved.

I would not want to repair a car with a bent frame and would push to have it totaled. Talk to the shop before they start the estimate and let them know this. Discuss how they will color match the paint and blend the sprayed panels. Your car has been exposed to UV for seven years and some colors — whites in particular — can be hard to match. Try to pin them down on long the repairs I’ll take.

You have the right have the vehicle repaired at the shop of your own choosing. The other insurer may pressure you to use one of the ships in their network with assurances about guaranteeing their work. They will also try to use either reconditioned body panels or non-OEM parts. This is where your insurer can be helpful. Same for a rental. Your vehicle isn’t safe to drive. The other insurer will need to provide for a rental ASAP. It sounds like underinsured coverage under your policy  won’t be an issue.

You should itemize any upgrades to the vehicle as well as recent expenditures for a new battery, tires, suspension components, etc. you should also create a spreadsheet with the vehicle options. down to the minutest detail — e.g., engine (V6 or V8), satellite radio, side airbags, parking sensors, HUD, collision avoidance, nav system, backup camera, etc. Theybsll add to market value.

You also should go to the Carmax and competitor websites and input the vehicle information to see what they are offering had your vehicle not been in an accident. Save those results for negotiation purposes.

When your done with the repair process, make sure you’re satisfied. Do the body panels align and are the gaps consistent? Is there orange peel in the paint job or other defects? Is there overspray which needs to be corrected? 
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