Accident = opportunity?

joseph_hac · Post by **joseph_hac** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:07 am

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?

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:35 am

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...

Post by **Diablo0** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:59 am

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.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:26 am

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.

half_twisted · Post by **half_twisted** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:53 pm

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...

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

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:51 pm

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.

Post by **Canada** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:07 pm

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.

KrackstaR · Post by **KrackstaR** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:09 pm

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

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:31 pm

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.

half_twisted · Post by **half_twisted** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:08 pm

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.

KrackstaR · Post by **KrackstaR** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:11 pm

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.

joseph_hac · Post by **joseph_hac** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:20 pm

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.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:45 pm

that's crazy cause srt bumpers are only $450 from modern

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:04 am

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.

joseph_hac · Post by **joseph_hac** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:56 am

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.

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:11 pm

When someone damaged my hood I just cashed out and bought a SRT one of a member and made $50.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:41 pm

that chicks ass was so big it messed up your hood?!?!?! you really should stop getting drunk lol.

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:46 pm

No it was my stock hood and it was done in Meijer parking lot. Looked like someone elbow dropped it.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:28 pm

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.

supertrick_05 · Post by **supertrick_05** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:17 pm

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

joseph_hac · Post by **joseph_hac** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:48 pm

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

.