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 Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:55 pm Post subject: Is This Car Totaled? And How Fast Was the Other Car Going? |
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I realize accident reconstruction is usually a law enforcement question, but I'm hoping some of you have experience with claims adjustment or appraisals and can help me out. I have 2 questions:
1) Based on the photos, and knowing the indicated traffic pattern and wet conditions, approximately how fast (in MPH) would you estimate the gray Chevy Blazer was traveling when it struck the red Audi wagon?
2) Do you think the red Audi is totaled? It's a 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T with 50,000 miles, and was previously in excellent condition. The car is currently not drivable (engine does not turn on, perhaps due to some kind of safety kill switch).
Thanks in advance for your input!
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rogue360
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:38 am Post subject: |
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The car certainly looks totaled, but you're going to need an adjuster or shop take a look at it to be sure. Also, I don't think anyone will be able to tell you how fast any of the cars were going. Things like skid marks and placement of broken glass, etc. should have been examined by the investigating officers. They typically match that information with statements made by witnesses to come up with a rough estimate.
Good luck to you.
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dave18
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:06 am Post subject: |
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The car does look like totaled. Consult NADA guides and your insurer to know about it's value.
Depending on the police records they are going to decide who was at fault and who's liable for the damages.
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B
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks to both of you for your replies! I think NADA puts the car value around $30k, but I don't know which one they use:
Rough Trade-In
$27,275
Average Trade-In
$29,000
Clean Trade-In
$30,425
Clean Retail
$34,800 |
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rogue360
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Depending on the police records |
Don't bet on this. If the driver says something else that would protect his insurance company, they will go with that statement.
How fast was the SUV traveling? No way to be certain from the photos. Need skid mark measurements to be able to factor against coefficient of friction for road surface. An adjuster familiar with the make and model of the SUV might have experience with similar damage at known speeds. Offhand, I might guess 35-40 mph or a little more. This does not appear to be a high speed collision.
The SUV is definitely totaled. But the Audi does not appear to have frame or unibody damage in the photos. Needs new passenger side doors front and rear, a new front fender and underlying structural/support parts, and a cosmetic repair to the windshield post (exterior metal damage, but I doubt anything structural). 3 (model) years old with only 50,000 miles . . . but, no, I don't think it's a total, but it's close. Mind you, I'm not an adjuster like tcope is.
NADA puts the value of the vehicle at about $25,000-$28,000. To be a total loss, the damage would have to exceed about $18,000-$20,000. The damage shown, I'm guessing, might be around $15,000-$18,000, parts and labor to repair (again, I could be way off). There could be a diminished value loss on top of the collision damage, too. Going to have to rely on the expertise of a local repair shop as to repairability and cost.
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MaxHerr
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the detailed response (and speed/cost estimates too) MaxHerr. Does the diminished value factor into the totaled vs. not-totaled decision by the insurance company (which says the repair cost must exceed 75% of value to be totaled)? Or is that just something that happens after the fact? I know that my state does have a diminished value program. |
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rogue360
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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The vehicle does not have to be totaled to be subject to a diminished value claim. The fact that there was extensive collision damage/repair work performed is the basis for a DV claim. You can judge this for yourself . . . after the vehicle is repaired, when it looks showroom fresh, as a stranger what they think it's worth, then tell them about the damage and ask how much they would offer given the prior claim.
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MaxHerr
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