Advice wanted: Hit from behind, want to repair myself, low budget student.

[masonwader]

Hi, this seemed like the best forum to ask for advice on this.
My driver side rear bumper, diffuser, and space in front of rear wheel just before after the ribs were damaged when a guy in a honda civic hit me. -His entire front end is gone-

Anyway, I may be doing the repairs myself if his insurance doesn't accept blame. I didn't call the cops because he was clearly high (reeked of weed and I smelled it in his car as I put his front bumper in his trunk), and his friends ran after the accident. Didn't want him (out of towner) to flee.

What I don't know how to do, is order a new rear bumper and diffuser for the price I was quoted in the insurer's quote, which was about 450.

Then, although the rear bumper and diffuser I could probably figure out how to change, I don't know if I can repair the spot in front of the wheel. I would appreciate any advice.

[motorhead]

Why didn't you get his plate number and call the cops right away. He should be in jail if he was driving while high.

Anyway back to the car. If you want it fixed right take it to a pro. If you don't know what you're doing why not just drive it that way. You probably won't make it look much better if you don't know what you're doing.

[masonwader]

Replacing entire bumper won't be to hard, I've done automotive work before on my '97 Ford Ranger. I have his information, but the dude was pretty irate. I believe if I had tried to call the cops he'd have just run. He told me straight up "I'm on probation, I just finished a sentence." But now I have to show his insurance that it was his fault. Anyway, yea I ****ed up, was my first wreck.

[ron10]

you are seriously going to pay for a repair that should be paid for by the person that hit you because he was wasted and you didn't want to get him in trouble? SERIOUSLY !

[SummoneR]

Originally Posted by ron10

you are seriously going to pay for a repair that should be paid for by the person that hit you because he was wasted and you didn't want to get him in trouble? SERIOUSLY !

You should have a uninsured motorist on your policy too that covers hit and runs and people who don't have insurance. They allow so many before you end up paying the deductible, it all depend on your company.

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by ron10

you are seriously going to pay for a repair that should be paid for by the person that hit you because he was wasted and you didn't want to get him in trouble? SERIOUSLY !

Talked to cops, it was on private property (a parking lot), they couldn't have put blame on him anyway, and I didn't want him to flee. I believe the insurance companies are going to rule it duel fault because I might not be able to prove otherwise.

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by SummoneR

You should have a uninsured motorist on your policy too that covers hit and runs and people who don't have insurance. They allow so many before you end up paying the deductible, it all depend on your company.

Not sure what my uninsured motorist policy entails, this is my first insurance dealing. I do know I have a 1,000 deductable and the repair quote was 1,780, and should the accident be ruled duel fault, I would have to pay deductible.
Over 1,000 of that estimate is labor. Plus replacing that rim (because its scratched) is in the estimate. I think I could do the work myself cheaper than deductible and not make a claim on my own insurance (so that my premium doesn't go up). But I don't know how to get replacement parts...

[Biscuitpie]

Who cares if he runs? You have his plate number...

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by Biscuitpie

Who cares if he runs? You have his plate number...

Didn't have the license number at first, I was pretty shaken up that my car which I saved up for through all of high school and 3 years of college was damaged. Not asking for judgement on how I reacted, I've gotten a lot of shit from my parents who didn't want me to buy the car in the first place. As a cop told me, I may have learned an expensive lesson.

I just want to repair it myself to prevent filing a claim and ending about $100 a month in savings I make on my premium (in the event that his insurance doesn't take blame).

[SummoneR]

WOW Well best of luck.

Each case is different but my deductible is $250 it only cost me $40 more a year from the $500. Worth a look into it too.

[Grimlock]

You're getting the car fixed regardless, but them insurance rates may go up. I see a Havoc diffuser in the near future.

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by Grimlock

You're getting the car fixed regardless, but them insurance rates may go up. I see a Havoc diffuser in the near future.

My rates don't go up if I do the work myself, buying parts on my own dollar (not making a claim), because I am not at fault.

By preventing my rate increase, even if I had the work done professionally totally out of pocket, it would pay itself off after 17 months by keeping my discounts.

I do like the Havoc diffuser , but they quoted buying a new GM original for about $115. The plastic bumper would need replacing not only because it's scratched up, but the diffuser screw on locations are broken off. The diffuser is only not "just hanging off" because it's a tight fit.

[kenkartasasmita]

oh shoot. sorry to hear that. btw i have a cheap oem rear diffuser if u want to buy it.

[zkdreads]

Just go through your insurance! That looks like more than a $500 deductible

[Kwarren]

If you want to repair it yourself try to find a wrecked car hit somewhere else an try to buy parts from it. Wrecked camaros are pretty hard to find but it being the rear bumper no matter what model 2010+ or trim level ls,lt,SS it's all going to fit the same. And for the people giving you a hard time it happens and you always go back to think well I should've done this or that..You live and you learn

[bowtie628]

if you have never done body work then you will never get that quarter where the gills are damaged to look good.. take it from me, i do body work and paint for a living.

[Jeffm]

Rear bumper Costs 402 bucks delivered i had mine replaced after some one put a 24 inch long key mark into it.

[scythezo6]

Isn't this why we get insurance? I know for a fact with my policy with GEICO if I get hit and ran, my rates wont go up and they sure as hell won't go up if I get hit and get the a$$hole's info and claim it. I know you're on a budget, I'm a student too but I'll be damned if I'm going to repair my own damage every time some ass hits me. OP stop being cheap and get it fixed through your insurance so you can have warranty on the work. That looks like more than $500 of damage anyway. You should have called the cops right as he hit you before you talked to him. Having the police come and seeing that he ran, they would have had no problem pitting the blame on him then. You live and learn unfortunately mistakes like this make cost you money you shouldn't have to spend in the 1st place.

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by Jeffm

Rear bumper Costs 402 bucks delivered i had mine replaced after some one put a 24 inch long key mark into it.

What company can I get one through?

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by scythezo6

Isn't this why we get insurance? I know for a fact with my policy with GEICO if I get hit and ran, my rates wont go up and they sure as hell won't go up if I get hit and get the a$$hole's info and claim it. I know you're on a budget, I'm a student too but I'll be damned if I'm going to repair my own damage every time some ass hits me. OP stop being cheap and get it fixed through your insurance so you can have warranty on the work. That looks like more than $500 of damage anyway. You should have called the cops right as he hit you before you talked to him. Having the police come and seeing that he ran, they would have had no problem pitting the blame on him then. You live and learn unfortunately mistakes like this make cost you money you shouldn't have to spend in the 1st place.

It's not that I'm being cheap, I'm being reasonable. None of the mounts for the bumper are bent, just the plastic parts. My deductible is $1000. But parts are only listed at being around $500. Plus if I pay my deductible of $1000, my insurance might go up in which case I'd be paying even more each month. And since with maximum repair costs being only 1780. I'd put myself through all the trouble of paying $1000 and then increased premium just to get $780 from my insurance.

I have some body repair tools, similar to http://www.matcotools.com/ProductImages/ALBFTK7.jpg
So if I can just bend out that small spot near the ribs and do an at home paint repair (I have stuff laying around to do an actual paint job) I'd get off much cheaper.

[kylenewman]

Not a chance you'd make it look decent. I took 6 months of auto body repair classes a few years back and I could probably make it look decent but not perfect. I also have a stud welder and slide hammer for pulling those kind of dents. Then you have to use body filler and feather the entire repair after which you need to blend the paint which could mean repainting a lot more then just the damaged area....

That's definitely not a good repair for a first timer. I do body work on my 03 Denali but wouldn't on my camaro. The most I do is airbrush chips.

[STYLE66]

wow dude you really show your age on this. the guy is high and you smell weed and you dont call the cops really. when i seen this i felt really bad for you but after reading the post i just dont know what do think.

[scythezo6]

Originally Posted by masonwader

It's not that I'm being cheap, I'm being reasonable. None of the mounts for the bumper are bent, just the plastic parts. My deductible is $1000. But parts are only listed at being around $500. Plus if I pay my deductible of $1000, my insurance might go up in which case I'd be paying even more each month. And since with maximum repair costs being only 1780. I'd put myself through all the trouble of paying $1000 and then increased premium just to get $780 from my insurance.

I have some body repair tools, similar to http://www.matcotools.com/ProductImages/ALBFTK7.jpg
So if I can just bend out that small spot near the ribs and do an at home paint repair (I have stuff laying around to do an actual paint job) I'd get off much cheaper.

Why is your deductable so high? It looks like its time to start shopping for insurance.

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by scythezo6

Why is your deductable so high? It looks like its time to start shopping for insurance.

I'm told $128 a month with 100/300/100 liability is very good in Louisiana. I have friends paying much more, but I carry a high deductible because I'm confident in my driving and didn't expect to be screwed by insurance when i'm not at fault.

[masonwader]

Originally Posted by STYLE66

wow dude you really show your age on this. the guy is high and you smell weed and you dont call the cops really. when i seen this i felt really bad for you but after reading the post i just dont know what do think.

I'm not a very confrontational type of person. The dude was bigger than me, and yelling. I didn't feel like getting into a shouting match and I wanted to calm the dude down, so I didn't call the police. We moved our cars into parking spaces nearby to unblock the parking lot, he wrote down his information, took mine down on paper and left.

I never had the mindset to get his license plate, but maybe if he had tried to flee I would have got it. My girlfriend who was with me had an iphone... I should have taken pictures too...

I've never had to deal with anything like this, and had no one to help me. I just want the car I've worked my ass off for to be back to normal. I pride myself in being my age and not having any parental help in buying my car/ paying insurance/ gas or anything.