Helios

Hello All,

I was having a blast with my first and treasured corvette yesterday, cruising on the mountains, perfect day and pefect setting to take a corvette out, I take a sweeping corner and to my horror found rocks from a land slide strewn all over the road and there was oncoming traffic on the blindcorner! I had no choice except to center the rocks and one big one tore the underbody apart! the chevy showroom said that I would need to replace the right side floor as well as the fuel tank sheild and front fender assembly housing and under body braces, the qoute was an astronomical 3K figure. PLease advise me on what to do! I am new to the insurance and geting cars fixed scene. FYI this is my first car in this country! Thanks. I will post the pics ASAP.

shopdog

Sorry for your misfortune. $3k is very reasonable for the amount of damage you describe. Your insurance should cover all of it except your deductable.

This accident offers an opportunity to remind people not to over-drive their sight lines. You shouldn't drive at a speed that won't allow you come to a complete stop in the distance you can see is clear ahead.

cthusker

on both counts. Many people that haven't taken defensive driving techniques don't understand sight lines. Something that should be taught in drivers ed as opposed to parallel parking. Most (not all) accidents are preventable. 3k seems almost to cheap to properly fix the car with that amount of damage. Just make sure that everything is in fact being repaired.

4CEE

Some insurers push shortcuts on repair facilities.

Miaugi

100%

vettesmith02

This will probably be covered under the comprehensive portion of the policy.

double eagle

Ditto - always be in control - hope the fix goes well and you're back on the road soon

rdm1465

Helios, Sorry to hear about that. Just remember one thing. and this is very important. Your insurance company for obvious reasons will want to repair the car at the cheapest possible prices. They may even recommend that you take it to a shop of thier liking. But, they cannot force you to use any shops. You should take it to the shop that you want to use, and insist on OEM parts. Don't settle for any less. Good Luck!

Cobra4B

I used to be an adjuster... since you hit the rocks it's a collision claim, sorry no way around that even given the circumstances.

Had the rocks rolled down and hit you it'd be comprehensive. File a claim w/ you insurance company... you pay the deductible and they pay all the rest.

Their adjuster will write an estimate and give you a check made to you and the body shop of your choice. Then you take the car there to get it fixed. If they find additional damage or costs beyone the initial insurance co. estimate they contact the adjuster directly for a supplement.

You pick up the car done and ready to do... if you have rental car coverage you get a car to drive.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

dollarbill

Helios,
All will be well with your car. Have the repair done at a Chevy Dealership that has experience with new vettes. Make sure OE parts are used in the repair. Inspect the repair work personally and be requiring as any Vette owner would be. If they have a new vet make them put it on the rack and insure your looks exactly the same after the repair. Have them make sure the alignment is correct. After you drive the car for about 500 miles, bring it back in for a thorough inspection to insure everything is tight and no unusual tire wear is taking place. Good luck.

LTC Z06

$3K for parts and labor sounds very reasonable. Where are you from?

legalgus

Probably not. Not a falling object, deer, fire, etc.. More likely classified as roadbed/debris collision subject to collision deductible.

Catchindirtbags

I know a few years back some groups were warning that insurance companies were having repair shops use non OEM stuff to fix car so they said you should insist on only OEM replacement parts to help keep value. Anyone know if this is still an issue across the board or was this just a few companies trying to save money?

Cobra4B

^ Yes insurance companies will use aftermarket body panels in repairs. For the most part they're just as good as oem. If they come in crappy the repair tech could call me, we'd inspect, and approve oem.

C-INRED

And take the car to 2 or 3 different (good) shops and get written estimates from each as well has discussing with them...this will help make sure you understand what repairs are needed and how much they will cost. One shop may see damage that another does not. Present the estimate you want to go with to the insurance company.

Helios

Thank you all for your good advice! I am from Portland, Oregon. I was having a dilemma whether to try fix it on my own but have decided against it. I want to get it done at an authorised chevy dealer! I am still surprised that how the front end of the car survived because the rocks were bigger than bricks! lucky me they dint put a scratch on my paint. I could not risk braking because I was in the middle of the turn and there was oncoming traffic and cars behind me. Guess the best defensive driving course would be not to drive corvettes. HA HA HA. I will talk to my insurance company today and see what the say. Thank you all again.

Crush2

Google shows 2 Corvette shops in Portland. I would suggest, in addition to talking with the dealer, you also make a call to them or the local Corvette club to see who they would recommend for the type repairs you need:

Local results for Corvette near Portland, OR

Corvette Shoppe/GM Toys - 6.3 miles NE - 10431 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, 97220 - (503) 252-9028
Pacific Corvette of Oregon - 1.4 miles SE - 2104 SE 9th Ave, Portland, 97214 - (503) 239-0210

Helios

Thank you crush2 for the addresses. I will have to wait till the tuesday to get the vehicle inspected by the insurance guy. Like you guys told me, I am going to get estimates from all the chevy dealers in town. and am planning to get the repair done at an authorised chevy dealer.

MYellow3

Helios, you said this was your first car in the U.S. but you said you are from Portland??

Are you a very young driver??