[eatsleafsandshoots]

After getting rear-ended about a year ago in my Leaf, I just got rear-ended again in my 2013 Volt w/ 37k miles.

The rear hatch is misaligned, the area near the Chevy badge is crumpled, and the bumper has been completely shredded. I can feel bent metal if I reach through the hole in the bumper.

Besides being a belligerent ====, the driver at least had insurance and the cops were on scene nearly instantly to give a report. It should be pretty open-and-shut, there is moderate damage to the back end of my vehicle and to the front end of hers with no other damage involved.

Here are my thoughts:

-Knowing that this damage, even if fixed perfectly, will diminish the value of my vehicle as my CarFax report will now be branded, I will be pursuing a Diminished Value claim against the other driver's insurance after repairs are complete. I plan on going into a Chevy dealership or CarMax to get a trade-in value on my car with NO damage, and then a trade-in value on my FIXED car, submitting the difference as a DV claim. If her insurance doesn't cooperate, I can apparently take the driver to small claims court in CO. I hope to get somewhere between $1,000-2,000, but hard to say before I learn if there's frame damage.

-What can I do to make sure I'm not screwed here? I want to specify that only OEM parts are used to rebuild my Volt. Is there anything else I should do to make sure the vehicle isn't compromised in any way, or should I let the body shop (that I choose, will be GM Certified) find out?

-Can I submit the cost of the gas used in my loaner as a claim as well? It seems petty, but the driver was an === and gas is something I no longer pay for in my Volt!

Please let me know if you've had your Volt fixed, and how the claim went - and if I'm going about it the right way! Thanks fellow Volters!

 

[Fyodor]

It sounds like anything that got squashed is unique to the Volt, and, it being a limited production vehicle, I doubt that knock-off body parts are even available. Just be sure to take it to a body shop that can work on Volts. Not every shop can (as you no doubt learned from your Leaf experience.)

 

[turboguy327]

Submit everything you can. I would have smashed her phone too. I'm sure that's why the wreck happened.

 

[Dutch]

start a notebook or notepad on your computer.
Document every single detail of the event and everything that follows, who you talk to, when, the details of the conversation, work done, who did it... basically a detailed event diary.

include photos with annotations

It may seem like a pain, but the few times I've had to go to court for something like this I've showed up with multi-page print-outs of records and notes and the other person shows up with their "memory" and the court basically says "yeah we'll go with the guy with the notes and paperwork".

 

[Joe67]

You really need to be concerned about alignment of the rear half of the vehicle. Doors, hatch etc.

Regarding fuel reimbursement, that is up to your insurance policy/company.

Diminished value is something that a small percentage of people care about. Something else you'll need to take up with your insurance company.

Good Luck.

 

[jrecords]

I agree with Dutch. Document everything and take lots of pictures. I'd also let the insurance company know you were planning on selling the car in the next year or two. That should help your case for a diminished value claim. I'd also be ready for them to call your car a total loss and take it from you. It doesn't take that much damage to run a repair bill up pretty high. I know, for instance, that that rear hatch is a $1,000 ($1,400 retail) part without any paint, finish parts, install labor or straightening of the sub-frame.

 

[Raymondjram]

For your next car, get a huge airbag installed at the bumper.

 

[freshcut]

For your next car, get a huge airbag installed at the bumper.

From the sounds of it that's what started this whole thing. Some airbag hitting the bumper.

 

[VoltenRock]

I'm still dealing with a rear-end hit from a few months ago. Obviously, go over it with an extremely detailed eye. I would watch for any remaining compound or other paint materials in the taillights or inside the doors (not sure where all the damage is). I ended up with water in both my taillights even after they replaced them -- getting them replaced again now. Make sure all the panels and taillights are aligned properly (I had them adjust them to my standards).

I took my car to the dealer for the body work and also to do a round of battery testing, just to be safe.

Accidents just suck. Although I can't put my finger on it, there is something "different" about the car. It seems louder and just not as smooth over bumps. It could be my hyper-attention now paid to everything. Fortunately, no alignment issues.

Every state is a little different on DV. I have a claim pending with my insurance company now. If successful, I'll tell you what I did.