Accident on 1st Day :(

[TexasMYLR]

This is my first ever brand new car. I purchased it on December 31 in the afternoon. 20 minutes after midnight what seemed like a drugged driver rammed into my stationery vehicle while waiting to get out of a parking lot after taking the family to watch fireworks. The car had 45 miles on it!

The other person’s insurance are handling it. I have an appointment at a Tesla Collision Center on Friday.

The car makes a loud groaning noise and I don’t feel safe driving it on highways. The wheel took a direct hit. Also I can barely open my door.

The experience is traumatizing for my family. We waited years to buy a new car.

I am extremely turned off driving a brand new car that undergoes heavy repair. I don’t think it will ever feel new. I bought it with 3 miles on it 2 days ago.

I’m guessing it will end up costing $20-$30k to repair. Maybe I’ll get $5k of DV as well.

The loan from Tesla isn’t even in effect nor do I have registration. Any logic in going back to Tesla and negotiating anything? I won’t even know if this car has any issues because I won’t be driving it for a while during warranty!!

Thanks

 

[jjrandorin]

Any logic in going back to Tesla and negotiating anything?

I feel for you, because this type of thing sucks, but there is nothing that Tesla is going to (or should be) doing for you related to a car accident, so there isnt anything you should be negotiating with them or even trying to.

I dont really get into the "How much is this going to cost to repair" discussions, but that certainly doesnt look anywhere near 20k of damage to me, even on a Tesla.

Hopefully the repair doesnt take super long. Sucks, for sure.

 

[fholbert]

This is my first ever brand new car. I purchased it on December 31 in the afternoon. 20 minutes after midnight what seemed like a drugged driver rammed into my stationery vehicle while waiting to get out of a parking lot after taking the family to watch fireworks. The car had 45 miles on it!

The other person’s insurance are handling it. I have an appointment at a Tesla Collision Center on Friday.

The car makes a loud groaning noise and I don’t feel safe driving it on highways. The wheel took a direct hit. Also I can barely open my door.

The experience is traumatizing for my family. We waited years to buy a new car.

I am extremely turned off driving a brand new car that undergoes heavy repair. I don’t think it will ever feel new. I bought it with 3 miles on it 2 days ago.

I’m guessing it will end up costing $20-$30k to repair. Maybe I’ll get $5k of DV as well.

The loan from Tesla isn’t even in effect nor do I have registration. Any logic in going back to Tesla and negotiating anything? I won’t even know if this car has any issues because I won’t be driving it for a while during warranty!!

Thanks


View attachment 1005290

Really sorry this happened to you.

Insurance is going to try to have it repaired at a cheaper shop. Hold fast for the shop you want.

Also make sure you get an equal rental car.

 

[TexasMYLR]

Ok thanks.

So you think CarFax would not mention this?

With my sensors out of whack now and my wheels making this big noise I’m assuming some suspension work needs to take place.

When I had mostly a bumper and side panel replaced on an older X5 BMW 12 years ago replaced after an accident the insurance paid $18k then gave me $5k diminished value. Hence I was assuming that a brand new Tesla would cost more.

 

[TexasMYLR]

Really sorry this happened to you.

Insurance is going to try to have it repaired at a cheaper shop. Hold fast for the shop you want.

Also make sure you get an equal rental car.

Ok good advice.

What’s the best place to rent a newer Model Y normally?

 

[fholbert]

Ok good advice.

What’s the best place to rent a newer Model Y normally?

Not saying you’ll get an EV, but they will try to put you in the cheapest compact on the lot. You’ll need to hold out for a full sized rental car and you’ll need that car until yours is fixed.

 

[B_Dizzle]

Nightmare fuel right here. Condolences. It's a crap shoot because it being totalled might mean you'll need to cover the initial depreciation (unless you have gap). If it's not totalled, likely never to be exactly like new. Geeze this sucks.

 

[johnnycnote]

Yeah, it sucks, but this has nothing to do with the manufacturer (Tesla in this case). This is an insurance issue

 

[TexasMYLR]

Yeah, it sucks, but this has nothing to do with the manufacturer (Tesla in this case). This is an insurance issue

I know. But a friend was suggesting that I may be able to pay up a bit and get a new vehicle. Maybe makes no sense.

 

[TexasMYLR]

Not saying you’ll get an EV, but they will try to put you in the cheapest compact on the lot. You’ll need to hold out for a full sized rental car and you’ll need that car until yours is fixed.

But I don’t want to pay for gas for a couple of months. That’s why I invested in an EV in the first place!

My car was stationery. The lady was fed up with the wait and lost it for a second and rammed into my car. Would she or her insurance not be on the hook to cover for my losses, including my expenses?

 

[buckets0fun]

This is my first ever brand new car. I purchased it on December 31 in the afternoon. 20 minutes after midnight what seemed like a drugged driver rammed into my stationery vehicle while waiting to get out of a parking lot after taking the family to watch fireworks. The car had 45 miles on it!

The other person’s insurance are handling it. I have an appointment at a Tesla Collision Center on Friday.

The car makes a loud groaning noise and I don’t feel safe driving it on highways. The wheel took a direct hit. Also I can barely open my door.

The experience is traumatizing for my family. We waited years to buy a new car.

I am extremely turned off driving a brand new car that undergoes heavy repair. I don’t think it will ever feel new. I bought it with 3 miles on it 2 days ago.

I’m guessing it will end up costing $20-$30k to repair. Maybe I’ll get $5k of DV as well.

The loan from Tesla isn’t even in effect nor do I have registration. Any logic in going back to Tesla and negotiating anything? I won’t even know if this car has any issues because I won’t be driving it for a while during warranty!!

Thanks


View attachment 1005290

Fender, side camera, some suspension components(maybe 1 arm), maaaybe a wheel and tire.
If your bill is over 4k, I’d be surprised.

It’ll drive the same as it drove before. They’re not cutting the car apart and replacing half the chassis, which… even then wouldn’t be an issue if done correctly.

 

[TexasMYLR]

Fender, side camera, some suspension components(maybe 1 arm), maaaybe a wheel and tire.
If your bill is over 4k, I’d be surprised.

It’ll drive the same as it drove before. They’re not cutting the car apart and replacing half the chassis, which… even then wouldn’t be an issue if done correctly.

This sounds promising then. I really hope so and not discover issues in the future.

In that case then would that keep the CarFax clean then?

 

[buckets0fun]

This sounds promising then. I really hope so and not discover issues in the future.

In that case then would that keep the CarFax clean then?

Ask your repair shop/insurance if they report to carfax.

 

[TexasMYLR]

OK I will. They are the Tesla Collision Center. I hope they don’t.

 

[buckets0fun]

OK I will. They are the Tesla Collision Center. I hope they don’t.

Why?

Think of it another way, how pissy would you be if you bought a car with a hidden collision repair?

It’s a car, it will depreciate like a rock dropped from an airplane. Drive it and enjoy it, sell it when you’re done, chalk the difference up to experiences you made while driving it.

 

[Mike728]

This will be reported to Carfax, unless you have a shady repair. You should definitely look into a diminished value claim. I do feel for you. I would be upset and probably have a restraining order against me from the at fault party.

 

[buckets0fun]

I would be upset and probably have a restraining order against me from the at fault party.

Life altering (forrrrrever) event due to the smallest of (literal) fender benders, wild.

 

[Mike728]

Life altering (forrrrrever) event due to the smallest of (literal) fender benders, wild.

LOL, lighten up...

 

[fholbert]

But I don’t want to pay for gas for a couple of months. That’s why I invested in an EV in the first place!

My car was stationery. The lady was fed up with the wait and lost it for a second and rammed into my car. Would she or her insurance not be on the hook to cover for my losses, including my expenses?

I don’t know Texas laws, but in California yes, the other parties insurance is responsible for everything. However, they will try to tell you otherwise and you’ll need to stick to your guns. They will send to a cheaper rental car company. They will try and send you to a discount body shop; “That body shop isn’t on our approved list”, funny how good body shops are not on their list. Stand in front of the mirror and practice saying ”NO”. If you want a Tesla tell them your going to one of the big two to get a Tesla.

Two cars ago I had a Chevy Tahoe. It was a magnet for distracted drivers, the body shop owner told me I was one of his best customers.

I learned quickly how some insurance will lie to you about your rights after an accident. Mercury told me the other party didn’t have rental car on their policy. Yea, that has nothing to do with me. Later she told me I had to return the car after 7 days. I simply kept the rental until my car was repaired.

 

[mborkow]

That sucks; I feel for you. As others have said, don’t let their insurance company push you around. You have a right to pick the shop to repair the damage *their* customer did to your car. Assuming there isn’t frame damage, it’s just parts and the car will be good as new.