My baby got hurt yesterday (pics), insurance question

[Powhusku]

What happened:

So yesterday I went to Driftoberfest in Colorado (to spectate, not drift). After the event finished, my and a buddy headed home in my car on I-25. At this point it was night. So I see a cop pulled over ahead with it's lights on and move over from the left lane to the center lane. BAM, we hit a huge chunk of semi tire that was in the center lane. I pull over to check the damage, seen in the picture below. The officer who was already there was very friendly and complimented my car, and helped me out by considering the damage caused by a road hazard rather than an accident, and wrote up a report for me to give to my insurance after I gave him my license and registration/insurance. He also mentioned "Now, when you get back onto the interstate, you're gonna need to accelerate very quickly to get up to speed, so I'm just gonna sit on the hood of my car here with my speed gun, so I can make sure you accelerate good and fast." I made one of these faces, and proceeded to launch off the shoulder like a bat out of hell! 5 minutes later, I see flashing blue and red and pull over. A cop walks up to my window, points his light at my face to when I cant see and in a very serious voice says "What makes you think you can haul ass on my interstate son?". He then turns off his light and it's the same guy who helped me out earlier and he's laughing his ass off . He then hands me my registration and insurance and license, since I forgot to get those back from him, and sends me off a second time. Overall coolest LEO I've met so far!

TL;DR: Hit a semi tire tread on the interstate and damaged the bumper, met a really awesome cop

The insurance question:

So my question is, is there any way that I could use this opportunity to upgrade to a ZL1 bumper/skirts using the insurance money? How would I go about doing this? The damage is only on the passenger side of the front bumper ans well as the passenger side skirt, also took out one of my AAC plasma LED running lights.

All input is appreciated!

Note: Sidemarker wasn't damaged, but it was no longer held in place so I pulled it off so it wouldn't swing around in the wind as I drove home.

[jd10013]

well, depending of course on how your insurance company does thing, most likely they'll just give the body shop you go to a check for the cost to repair or replace the bumper. if you want something else you'll just have to pay the difference.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

^^^ yup, depends on if it is a replace or repair order, and looking a the damage I would bet they say repair.

I've had worse damage, to the point of the bumper actually having a tear in it, and they called it a repair and would not replace. I had to fight over it.. luckily the body shop I use, I've known for 20+ years so they just wrote it as a supplemental adjustment stating repair was not possible once the bumper was actually removed..


if you get to that point and the body shop is willing to order a non-specific part (part that isn't meant for your car) then you pay the difference between the specific and non-specific pricing.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by jd10013

well, depending of course on how your insurance company does thing, most likely they'll just give the body shop you go to a check for the cost to repair or replace the bumper. if you want something else you'll just have to pay the difference.

That^^^^Your insurance can give you a check or give it to the body shop. Tell the shop what you want and pay any difference.
Done deal.

[Austin45]

Pretty much what JD said. The insurance company will cut you a check (or the the shop, depending on how your insurance company works) for the replacement value of your bumper, and you would have to pay the gap between that and the ZL1 bumper... that's if it's not repairable.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by CWI

That^^^^Your insurance can give you a check or give it to the body shop. Tell the shop what you want and pay any difference.
Done deal.

depending on the company of course, if you don't own the vehicle (still making payments) often times the insurance company will give the check directly to the body shop. that allows them to be sure the car gets repaired.

[Powhusku]

Thanks for the input guys! I own the car, so I should just take the car to my shop of choice and tell them what I want to do then? I own the car entirely and have full coverage, so insurance will likely cut me a check. I'm just trying to clarify because I've never damaged one of my cars before and don't want to be breaking any rules/laws by doing this.

[babytiger]

Not sure how it is in WY with insurance, but if you go thru insurance it could read as an
'at fault' accident. Meaning, another one or two of those in a certain time span and your rates could increase.
Depending on the repair cost, you may want to cover it all out of pocket.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by babytiger

Not sure how it is in WY with insurance, but if you go thru insurance it could read as an
'at fault' accident. Meaning, another one or two of those in a certain time span and your rates could increase.
Depending on the repair cost, you may want to cover it all out of pocket.

if there's no other party involved, they'll just file it as a comprehensive claim.

[babytiger]

Originally Posted by jd10013

if there's no other party involved, they'll just file it as a comprehensive claim.

ok, in Texas though it counts as an 'at fault accident'. regardless of what section they file it under in your insurance.
wish the guy luck.

[Powhusku]

Originally Posted by babytiger

Not sure how it is in WY with insurance, but if you go thru insurance it could read as an
'at fault' accident. Meaning, another one or two of those in a certain time span and your rates could increase.
Depending on the repair cost, you may want to cover it all out of pocket.

The report the officer wrote for me marks it as a "road hazard" and not "accident". He did this intentionally because I was not at fault and this should help prevent my insurance from going up.

[CamaroJim56]

Great cop, we need more of that type....

Damage to your car...SUCKS, sorry.

[midnightz/28]

You gotta watch the alligators on the road...they will tear you up.

[Fnfalguy]

My silver SS was parked in a parking lot and the bumper got trashed when a guy hauling a antique car backed into it! I feel your pain!