Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Northeast got rear-ended today!! HELP!!!!

hey guys, some girl hit me today at school. Fricken scared the crap at of me. Anyway...the normal person can't even tell, but considering I know every square inch of my car, i could tell. There is a mini dent in the back bumper. No one at school could see it but me. My dad is an expert in dealing with accidents and what not....so that is good..but I"m sorta scared because I don't think they will want to fix much because the damamge looks minimal. She really rammed me, I was expecting the bumper to be in peices laying on the ground! That energy had to go somewhere....and the only other place to go is the chasy of my car....can they get a little dent out of my bumper? My dad says they probably can't becuase it is plastic...and a new bumper is like $650 from fordpartsonline. Anyway...what do you guys think about this?

she hit you...

you have control over whether or not you get a new bumper or not...

take it and get a estimate, see what they say...

dont settle for a job, get what you want done, thats what she gets for changing the radio station or talking to her friend instead of watching where she was going...

good luck...

Call her insurance, get an estimate or two. Your car needs to be repaired to the condition it was in the moment before she hit you. You'll most likely need to replace the energy absorbing inserts in the rear bumper at least (that's where the energy from the impact went, not your chassis). Insurance pays for that almost as a matter of course in a rear end accident. The estimate(s) you get will determine if the bumper needs to be replaced. They'll probably try to repair it as long as the cost is less than the price of a new one.

Thanks for telling me about the energy transfer Jason, as far as the insurance companies....they do what they want to....I can't really tell them if i want a new bumper or not....i will if I can....my dad has really good relationships with 2 of the best body shops in the area, so that will be a bonus....but insurance companies have really turned to dic&s since 9/11

Also, I was at a dead stop and my car slid at least one foot. I really want them to redo the whole bumper... and to align it the way it should have been from factory.....without any hang....how do I address that issue if they replace the bumper?

I took the car to 2 places today. The one place said the bumper would most likely have to be replaced....$1300-$2000, and the other place said they could fix it because it was a hard shell bumber...$400-also...there are no shock absorbers...its a one piece bumper. So anyway....I would really like the whole bumper replaced....but I don't know enough about bumpers to make a correct judgement....what do you guys think?

One piece bumper huh? You learn something new every day I guess. I don't know what is the best idea (but I'd want a new bumper if it was me). I guess you should take the "new bumper" estimate (and maybe another one just like it) to her insurance company and see if they play ball.

now wait, this was in a school parking lot correct. Not to bring anyone down (Jim) but I once heard that in public school parking lots that accidents are considered a no fault accident on either party which means that you have to pay for your damages yourself, correct me if Im wrong but that is what I heard and why I was always sooo careful in the parking lot, but since yesterday was my last day, no more....

lol....no it was on the street. A cop witnessed it....but decided it wasn't worthwhile citing her. I sorta agree with him....as long as they pay everything....

Sorry to hear about your accident. But glad that you're OK!

I'd get the bumper relaced if I were you.

You really only need one estimate to give to the insurance company. The law says that the insurance companies can't tell you where to get repairs done or that you need to get more than one estimate. One estimate is sufficient. So, if you get an estimate for a new bumper that is what you give to her insurance company.

Just went through the same thing with my daughter's Contour. She was in school when some punk (with no drivers license) decided to take daddy's car for a spin. He hit the back of the car behind hers and knocked it into her car. Broke her rear bumper and totaled the kid's car behind hers.

Estimate to replace the bumper, $776.36. Had a check from Daddy's insurance company within a week.

Plus, even if it were in the parking lot her insurance pays. But you can't be charged with an accident in a private lot.

Christine