guess what, fellas... SHE'S BACK. It's been over 6 months since making this thread. 6 long months since the accident.
I just want to share my experience... I hope none of you have to go through something like this or any accident for that matter!
(Due to the ongoing nature of the case, I won't be sharing too many specifics just yet. I'll write up the whole experience eventually, but just wanted to give you some updates.)
Just to recap:
I ordered my Model S in Aug 2016. I took delivery on September 17, 2016 at 5pm. Great pick-up experience, couldn't be happier. What a wonderful drive back home! 80 miles on the car as I plug her in for the first time.
The next morning, Sep 18, at 11am, I was fully stopped at a red light when I was rear-ended by an SUV. The back of the car had damage to the bumper, quarter panels, and trunk (which didn't latch anymore). I had it for less than 19 hrs. Drove it for less than 2.
Called a few Tesla certified body shops around me. Closest one was about an hour away, but they had so many cars on their lot in the queue that they couldn't even let me bring the car in. The second one I called was more accomodating and very friendly on the phone, so I arranged a tow there. Car went there on 9/22. Took several days for them to get to it and for insurance to do the estimate, and it was pricey. But they didn't total it. No replacement car for me. They got the approved repair estimate and ordered parts in October.
Parts did not arrive until end of December.
Finally the parts arrived, and I thought "whew, ok now we got the parts, shouldn't be too long now!" I was wrong.
The friendly and polite manager kept regular updates, almost weekly, but everything just seemed sooooooo slow. They actually basically stripped the whole car down to check the frame and for the duration of the repairs.
I got the car back a little more than a week ago. There a few repair related issues that I can't go into right now. But I'm glad she's finally home. (Is it weird that I kind of miss the Lincoln rental I had for 6 months? Must be Stockholm Syndrome.)
I'll update more later once legal issues are resolved.
Be safe out there.