Got rearended

[AcesandEights]

I hate insurance companies.

Why? If they totaled everything that had frame damage your rates would be double what they are now. Why total something that is easily repairable. I hate people that hate.

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[BlackGenesis]

Hard to say if its total, I bought salvadge Sahara with a rear damage (quoterpanel, gate, a bit of a floor in the trunk) and a kink in the frame (precovid).

Frame cost $2000 labor $3,000- $5,000 depending on where and who.

Your final appraisal will be around $20k...not shure what type of noob would estimate only at 6k with frame.

I spent $4k to repair mine.

 

[AcesandEights]

You can only estimate based on what you can see, so the "estimate" (remember what that word means) is only an estimate of what it would cost to repair the visible damage. A "supplement" will be needed, and everyone, except the ignorant, understand that going in.

As an example, a vehicle with frame damage will often have floor damage, but you can't always see that until the vehicle is "torn down", and even then there is likely more damage as the vehicle continues through the tear-down and repair process. You think a body shop rolls the vehicle in, over some kind of car MRI/X-ray machine, and it magically calculates the exact cost of repair? No, insurance estimators and body shop estimators (and often repair techs) have the same training.

Edited to add: insurance companies have very small/tight profit margins, pennies on the dollar. Typically insurance companies make their money on investments, not on premiums. Premiums account for about 3% of the companies profit. Insurance companies can stay in business because they take that $0.03 on your dollar of premium paid and they invest it. Because they have 100s of thousands of customers, they can use that money to generate more money. They are typically paying, after expenses, $0.97 out of every dollar for claims and business expenses. What other business would survive on a 3% profit margin?

 

[Yogi]

Because they have 100s of thousands of customers, they can use that money to generate more money.

It must work ... That's how Warren Buffet made his billions.

 

[Dan M.]

You can only estimate based on what you can see, so the "estimate" (remember what that word means) is only an estimate of what it would cost to repair the visible damage. A "supplement" will be needed, and everyone, except the ignorant, understand that going in.

As an example, a vehicle with frame damage will often have floor damage, but you can't always see that until the vehicle is "torn down", and even then there is likely more damage as the vehicle continues through the tear-down and repair process. You think a body shop rolls the vehicle in, over some kind of car MRI/X-ray machine, and it magically calculates the exact cost of repair? No, insurance estimators and body shop estimators (and often repair techs) have the same training.

Edited to add: insurance companies have very small/tight profit margins, pennies on the dollar. Typically insurance companies make their money on investments, not on premiums. Premiums account for about 3% of the companies profit. Insurance companies can stay in business because they take that $0.03 on your dollar of premium paid and they invest it. Because they have 100s of thousands of customers, they can use that money to generate more money. They are typically paying, after expenses, $0.97 out of every dollar for claims and business expenses. What other business would survive on a 3% profit margin?

I work for an insurance company and you are spot on. I'm guessing you work for one too.

 

[adamgrimm]

Not JL, but it took them like 3 weeks to tell me this was totalled... play hard ball with insurance and make sure to get compensated for resale value loss depreciation too.

 

[Frank R.]

Aw shit, that'll buff out.

 

[Heimkehr]

About two weeks ago I got rear ended at a dead stop. Frame in the back is bent,...

I began composing my reply in my head as soon as I read the first clause of the second sentence.

Personally, and in the same circumstance, I'd want to initiate a vehicle replacement claim in as advantageous (and expeditious) a manner as possible. I know you mentioned that the frame is being replaced, but my own experience in similar matters, to say nothing of my OCD, would compel me to lobby for a new Wrangler.

 

[GrayHawk20]

Aw shit, that'll buff out.

Slightly used, 1 owner never seen dirt.

 

[Terminex]

You can only estimate based on what you can see, so the "estimate" (remember what that word means) is only an estimate of what it would cost to repair the visible damage. A "supplement" will be needed, and everyone, except the ignorant, understand that going in.

As an example, a vehicle with frame damage will often have floor damage, but you can't always see that until the vehicle is "torn down", and even then there is likely more damage as the vehicle continues through the tear-down and repair process. You think a body shop rolls the vehicle in, over some kind of car MRI/X-ray machine, and it magically calculates the exact cost of repair? No, insurance estimators and body shop estimators (and often repair techs) have the same training.

Edited to add: insurance companies have very small/tight profit margins, pennies on the dollar. Typically insurance companies make their money on investments, not on premiums. Premiums account for about 3% of the companies profit. Insurance companies can stay in business because they take that $0.03 on your dollar of premium paid and they invest it. Because they have 100s of thousands of customers, they can use that money to generate more money. They are typically paying, after expenses, $0.97 out of every dollar for claims and business expenses. What other business would survive on a 3% profit margin?

Grocery stores

 

[Av8Chuck]

Insurance is a bit of a game. It's the adjusters job to pay as little as possible for repairs, the body shop will charge as much as they can and it's up to you to make sure you get what you need.

Anything can be repaired if your willing to spend enough time and money. So find a body shop you know, that you can trust, that will work with you. If you can get references from friend you know, that's the best, but get references. Don't pick them because they're nice to you. Keep in mind that most of the body shops work repeatedly with the adjusters whereas you will only ever (hopefully) meet them once or twice. Body shops (or repair centers) will usually give you an estimate thats about 30% higher than the adjusters but once they dismantle your vehicle they start issuing change orders and drive the cost up significantly.

Depending on where you are located new Jeeps are selling (in CA) with a $5K premium (or more), which means it might take more to total your jeep than you think. Right now with the overinflated prices on trucks and Jeeps insurance companies are reluctant to pay for the replacement costs.

Sorry to hear about this. Good luck.

 

[mchastings]

Nope, Jeeps have a type of frame which can be more easily replaced than a typical car. Only costs $5k for a new frame and $10k of labor. Insurance won't total the vehicle unless its like 75% of the value to repair it. My brand new jeep had $30k plus of damage and a needed new frame and they still wern't going to total it because it was worth $63k

Most cars today are uni-body construction, jeeps and trucks are body on frame. The main difference is that the uni-body design supports its self and a body on frame is supported by the frame. Uni-body vehicles will more then likely be totaled then body on frame. I shudder at the man hour cost to replace a Frame, that is a lot of work.

 

[BackToWrangler]

About two weeks ago I got rear ended at a dead stop. Frame in the back is bent, the appraiser finally came out and said $9800 is his estimate. Anybody want to chime in what this will probably be at. I know there will probably be other issues. Just wanted to know you guys or girls think...im trying to post pics but I'm not to good at this technology thing...lol

Sorry to hear you got hit. I feel your pain...I was there recently. My 2021 JLU 80th Anniversary with 5,600 miles got hit in the left rear while parked outside my house.

You'll find details on my situation here and a lot of good input from others in the forum:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...stions-on-getting-it-repaired-properly.79566/

The bumper damage seemed minor but the left frame rail behind the rear axle was buckled. This is where the crumple zone is located. There are dimples in the rail that are designed to have it collapse there on an impact.

The other party accepted 100% liability, so their insurance company paid. I decided to go with a collision shop in the insurance company's network. The reasons I went that route I think were sound...but next time I would use a collision shop NOT in the insurance companies network. On the plus side this shop is a certified Jeep collision shop, they have state of the art frame equipment and they used all new OEM parts.

The shop straightened the frame. A lot of people suggested pushing to have the frame replaced. There were merits to doing that, but some people commented (and I agree) that getting the frame replaced could lead to other problems in the future. If things were not torqued properly, or simple steps missed, you could end up with rattles and etc. down the road. Since my frame didn't NEED to be replaced, I'm OK with what they did. Although sometimes I wonder if I should have insisted on a new frame...of course it might have been a big fight with the insurance company.

I actually took my repaired Jeep to a Jeep specialist who does lots of custom Jeep builds, set ups for very serious off-roading, etc, and he said they did a good job on the frame. The only thing he did was adjust one of the body bolts that they didn't set properly.

Total repair bill was about $1650. The dealer that I factory ordered this Jeep thru said the trade-in he would give me is only $1500 less because of the damage and repair.

So far all seems OK. I sometimes wonder if I should sell it, because a hit hard enough to buckle the frame rail maybe could have caused other damage (transmission, etc) that hasn't shown up yet. But then I have to go thru the hassle of selling it, ordering a new one, waiting, etc. So the trade-off is sell it and replace it, or cross my fingers and hope all is OK and that any future problems get covered under warranty with no arguments from Jeep.

Also, lots of people suggested pursuing a diminished value claim. It sounded great until I researched it, talked to appraisers and lawyers and found out that the chances of collecting with this insurance company in NY are slim to none. 99% of the time you have to take the other party (not the insurance company) to small claims court, meet with a highly skilled and experienced insurance company lawyer and hope the judge buys your case. In the end I decided it just wasn't worth the aggravation. Also I was told because the total repair bill was only $1650, this is not considered major damage and so the amount of diminished value that might be awarded would be small.

I have no specific advice for you, but hopefully the info about my own situation helps you out.

By the way, I was quoted $5000-$6000 (parts and labor) to replace the frame by the Jeep expert (NY).

Photos below.

At first it just looked like bumper damage.

You can see the tow hook is bent down...which meant something got bent.

Buckled rail. You can see a dimple right of the buckle that was formed when the rail was made.

On frame machine.

Frame buckle before repair.

Frame rail after being pulled.

 

[dshark1]

Nope, Jeeps have a type of frame which can be more easily replaced than a typical car. Only costs $5k for a new frame and $10k of labor. Insurance won't total the vehicle unless its like 75% of the value to repair it. My brand new jeep had $30k plus of damage and a needed new frame and they still wern't going to total it because it was worth $63k

Do they go off the msrp new or used value of the vehicle?

 

[needajeep]

About two weeks ago I got rear ended at a dead stop. Frame in the back is bent, the appraiser finally came out and said $9800 is his estimate. Anybody want to chime in what this will probably be at. I know there will probably be other issues. Just wanted to know you guys or girls think...im trying to post pics but I'm not to good at this technology thing...lol

Hey, I hope this process goes very well for you. Please learn from my experience. The full story is here: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/sob-story-21-jlud-rubicon.82201/. The bottom line is make sure the repair shop does a full tear down and orders all necessary partners now or you may be waiting months and you may never know if they've found all of the issues. Evidently, Jeep Wranglers are very fragile, and somewhat poorly constructed (I think we all can agree).

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