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Accident = opportunity?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:07 am
by joseph_hac
I got into an accident on Sunday morning on my way down to the Santa Clause parade. The other driver was not paying attention and ran through a red light causing us to collide. The damage appears to only be cosmetic for the most part. The front-left fender and headlight, plus the bumper and hood all need to be replaced.

Because the other driver was at fault, my car repairs will be paid for by the insurance company. My question is this: how likely would it be that the dealership would agree to put a SRT4 bumper cover on instead of a R/T cover if I agree to pay the difference? Is this something that would anger the insurance company? Insurance fraud?

If I can get the SRT4 bumper put on, will my 2003 R/T fog lights fit in it?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:35 am
by cgneon
i dont think its fruad, i would think they cut you a check for what they think/estimate the repairs will be and you do with as you want. i.e. shop around for a better price to save etc. could be wrong, maybe someone else can chime in. worst case just call and ask...

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:59 am
by Diablo0
Unless there is something stating in your contract about doing somethign like that you shouldn't have a problem as long as your body shop doesn't give you a hassle for it.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:26 am
by Paul56
I've done something similar to this.

Somebody rear-ended the vehicle, but there was already some pre-existing minor damage.

The insurance paid for the resulting accident damage and since the shop was going to have it all apart anyways... I paid for the other parts and repairs.

Nothing fraudulent about it at all.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:53 pm
by half_twisted
aquariuskid2001 wrote:i dont think its fruad, i would think they cut you a check for what they think/estimate the repairs will be and you do with as you want. i.e. shop around for a better price to save etc. could be wrong, maybe someone else can chime in. worst case just call and ask...
:withstupid: :thumbup:

I did the same, you better hope they have a good insurrance like AAA or StateFarm. they pay out much more than the other guys. thats why i changed from Infinity to AAA club.
Example mine quoted me $200 for a scratch bumper and the other guys insurrance/ AAA gave me $500, Ballin :rockon:

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:51 pm
by Hudson_Neon
i worked in a body shop for a year. trust me. it's just like any other business. they're not gonna turn away money.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:07 pm
by Canada
I believe he is CDN, as the Toronto Santa Claus Parade was on Sunday, so I would guess he is local to me.

Your Ins. co. will never need to know. If you are comfortable with the shop its going to, take it to them with the P/N for the SRT bumper cover and ask if they ould install that one instead.

As long as they are an okay shop, there shouldn't be any problems.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:09 pm
by KrackstaR
i with everyone above i did the same thing, i got rear ended the insurance company cut me a check for the damages cause i told them i do all the work on my car and i took that money bought a bodykit rims and springs and got the whole care repainted. $3000 check in hand goes along way...lol

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:31 pm
by Wenuden
just so you know, the srt bumpers are back-ordered from dodge quite often. you'd probably be better off buying replacement parts yourself on-line or locally, and having the body shop install them.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:08 pm
by half_twisted
your also going to need that srt washer bottle and head lights. maybe even the hood if your picky..

dang krackstar how bad were the damages on your car. any pics to get an idea of what $3k in body damages look like.

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:11 pm
by KrackstaR
half_twisted wrote:your also going to need that srt washer bottle and head lights. maybe even the hood if your picky..

dang krackstar how bad were the damages on your car. any pics to get an idea of what $3k in body damages look like.
naw no pics but i was blowed in the rear and the rear bumper, tailights, trunk, bumper support and the trunk compartment was all smashed up but i milked not being able to work for a few days as well. I always make accidents thats not my fault work for me.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:20 pm
by joseph_hac
Thanks for all of your replies, guys. I cleared the idea with my insurance company, but DCX wanted an extra $400+tax on top of what my insurance was paying out just for the bumper (no emblem, fog light bezels, grill inserts, etc.), so I passed.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:45 pm
by Hudson_Neon
that's crazy cause srt bumpers are only $450 from modern

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:04 am
by Wenuden
you could probably find a used one in need of repair for $150 somewhere and have the body shop fix and respray it for a total price less than a brand new primer one.

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:56 am
by joseph_hac
Wenuden wrote:you could probably find a used one in need of repair for $150 somewhere and have the body shop fix and respray it for a total price less than a brand new primer one.
Yeah. I've put in part requests at a couple of salvage yards in the area. I would like to have an SRT bumper cover and hood on by next spring.

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:11 pm
by SlvrACR
When someone damaged my hood I just cashed out and bought a SRT one of a member and made $50.

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:41 pm
by Wenuden
that chicks ass was so big it messed up your hood?!?!?! you really should stop getting drunk lol.

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:46 pm
by SlvrACR
No it was my stock hood and it was done in Meijer parking lot. Looked like someone elbow dropped it.

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:28 pm
by Wenuden
lol mine got punched at springfield mall. i went to the security office to see if they had it on tape, and the Lt on duty told me he watched the fucker do it, then go to the bus stop and wait for the bus for 5 minutes. i almost kiced his ass for not sending one of his people or one of the 7 cops that works out of an office there to hem that bitch up. i was pissed. i'm just glad it's a small dent. i should have looked into having the security company pay for it since their people didn't do their job.

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:17 pm
by supertrick_05
I got rearended a few years ago, and I took it to a body shop that I knew the owner of. He took GREAT care of me! I needed new taillights, he got me the black LED ones...I showed him a scuff on the front bumper that I did previously, be took care of it. I brought him my Mopar lip kit, and when they were shooting the new rear bumper, they sprayed the body kit for NOTHIN!

My point is, if you know someone that owns a body shop, go there and they will take very good care of you :)

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:48 pm
by joseph_hac
The repairs are all finished now. As previously mentioned, I didn't get an SRT bumper. Overall, I am happy with the repairs. The new headlight they installed has some condensation in it, but I showed them and they have ordered a new one for me.

Also, to ofset the disappointment of not getting the SRT bumper, I bought myself a mopar lip kit :D .