Just got rear ended

[4x4Punk]

Be careful about just taking the money and running. My new JL was 30 days old and I got rear-ended on the freeway going home from work. It was stop-and-go traffic and everyone stopped abruptly. The car behind me, a Honda Accord, was several car lengths back and wasn't paying attention. He ran into me, slid under my spare tire, and went under the Jeep. Everyone was ok, but his car looked like a squashed bug. It looked like my bumper and license plate took the brunt of it.

I immediately filed a claim with my insurance (my first one in 37 years of driving), and they scheduled an appointment at a collision place. They came back and said I needed a new bumper & tow hook - $878. But there was a slight squeaking I had never heard before. I had a lift put on it literally the day before, so I wasn't sure if it was normal or not, so I took it back to the lift place and paid them to check it out. They immediately noticed the frame was bent!

So back to my insurance company, who sent me to a better collision place (this place has a good reputation) who confirmed the damage. New estimate - $9000. They're going to replace the frame with a new one, which is on national backorder. They estimate between 3-6 months to get the part, then a month in the shop. Plus if this hits Carfax, the residual value will drop significantly.

So yes, I could have taken the money and bought myself a nice aftermarket bumper, but I would have seriously regretted it. Just be 100% sure there are no underlying issues that are missed when the damage is assessed. You may regret taking the fast cash.

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[Capricorn]

Does a rear end hit effect automatic transmission damage too? Since you would be in gear most likely when hit, does the sudden impact have any negative impact to the gears?

 

[JeepJLU402]

Be careful about just taking the money and running. My new JL was 30 days old and I got rear-ended on the freeway going home from work. It was stop-and-go traffic and everyone stopped abruptly. The car behind me, a Honda Accord, was several car lengths back and wasn't paying attention. He ran into me, slid under my spare tire, and went under the Jeep. Everyone was ok, but his car looked like a squashed bug. It looked like my bumper and license plate took the brunt of it.

I immediately filed a claim with my insurance (my first one in 37 years of driving), and they scheduled an appointment at a collision place. They came back and said I needed a new bumper & tow hook - $878. But there was a slight squeaking I had never heard before. I had a lift put on it literally the day before, so I wasn't sure if it was normal or not, so I took it back to the lift place and paid them to check it out. They immediately noticed the frame was bent!

So back to my insurance company, who sent me to a better collision place (this place has a good reputation) who confirmed the damage. New estimate - $9000. They're going to replace the frame with a new one, which is on national backorder. They estimate between 3-6 months to get the part, then a month in the shop. Plus if this hits Carfax, the residual value will drop significantly.

So yes, I could have taken the money and bought myself a nice aftermarket bumper, but I would have seriously regretted it. Just be 100% sure there are no underlying issues that are missed when the damage is assessed. You may regret taking the fast cash.

I just picked up a coworker yesterday and when he got in he said my Jeep was squeaky when I turned the corner. That has never been that way before. I’m 100% requiring it be put on a rack and fully inspect all the mounts and frame. Hopefully I hear back from the other drivers insurance today.

 

[JeepJLU402]

Does a rear end hit effect automatic transmission damage too? Since you would be in gear most likely when hit, does the sudden impact have any negative impact to the gears?

I was also wondering if the spare tire should be used after an impact or if it should be trashed. It’s brand new I just bought new tires at the beginning of winter and was about to do my first 5 tire rotation.
Along with the transmission could it mess with the rear diff?

 

[AcesandEights]

@JeepJLU402 Damage is linear, so you can follow it. If you look at the point of impact and then look up the panel or frame. If the damage is limited, or you cannot see damage further up the "line", you're good. The spare is fine to use if it holds air. You drive faster than the impact that hit the tire, and a lot of people hit curbs, rocks, ruts, etc. with no damage. If the tire holds air, run it.

 

[Capricorn]

I was also wondering if the spare tire should be used after an impact or if it should be trashed. It’s brand new I just bought new tires at the beginning of winter and was about to do my first 5 tire rotation.
Along with the transmission could it mess with the rear diff?

If only the rubber got it, and it still holds air without leaks you would be good. If there was no impact to the metal on the wheel, then there s no concern for wheel out of balance.

 

[JeepJLU402]

If only the rubber got it, and it still holds air without leaks you would be good. If there was no impact to the metal on the wheel, then there s no concern for wheel out of balance.

It’s still holding air. The wheel just has scratches on it from the accident no worse than rock rash.

 

[Heimkehr]

I was also wondering if the spare tire should be used after an impact or if it should be trashed.

It’s still holding air. The wheel just has scratches on it from the accident no worse than rock rash.

This is your decision, natch, but anything touched during an impact is something I'd want repaired or replaced. That's the very raison d'être of insurance policies: being made whole; i.e., restored to pre-collision condition. This is doubly true when one isn't the at-fault driver. The associated receipt(s) create a legitimate paper trail, in the event that the offending driver changes their story after the fact (something which I unfortunately have experience dealing with.)

 

[goonsquadron]

I was rear ended and it's now been 40 days without my 392. The estimate started at about $8k, its over $13k now, and still waiting. No frame damage thus far, but rear driver quarter panel, shock, the gas filler, exhaust, both bumpers, rear gate and rear passenger door and hardtop need replacing (was hit at approx 40mph and spun into a wall). Needless to say, I am pretty miserable without it. I feel like a little ant in a yard of squirrels driving a honda for the time being.

 

[Hogdreamer]

I was rear ended and it's now been 40 days without my 392.

Sorry to read this but if you had used your 392 to its full potential there is no way anything would have caught up to you and cause damage to your rear end.

 

[goonsquadron]

Sorry to read this but if you had used your 392 to its full potential there is no way anything would have caught up to you and cause damage to your rear end.

Ha! Funny enough, it was a Wednesday and I was headed to the race track for more of this! Sadly, similar to original poster, I was in traffic and had nowhere to go

 

[JeepJLU402]

I was rear ended and it's now been 40 days without my 392. The estimate started at about $8k, its over $13k now, and still waiting. No frame damage thus far, but rear driver quarter panel, shock, the gas filler, exhaust, both bumpers, rear gate and rear passenger door and hardtop need replacing (was hit at approx 40mph and spun into a wall). Needless to say, I am pretty miserable without it. I feel like a little ant in a yard of squirrels driving a honda for the time being.

Mine will go in soon. Being without a Jeep for 24 hours is to long so 40 days is horrible.

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