There's One Less Deer in the World.

[FriboRage]

Just nailed it on the way home from work, half of my front end is wrecked. I feel lucky the air bag didnt go off. The hood is curled in, the fender caved a little, the entire front fascia is wrecked. My driver side retrofit is smashed to bits. I dont think the radiator or anything internal got touched though, thankfully.









So, this only happened once before and I was much younger, my dad kind of handled it for me and the car was totally stock. Im wondering how I should handle the insurance... I was going to grab an inferno hood, and my deductible is way less than what one would cost. I was thinking maybe this would be a good excuse. Is there any way I could take the money they give me for a new hood and put it towards that? It seems like a shame to pay the deductible and get a new stock hood, then pay again for a full price inferno hood. Besides all this I've been working my ass off because we're short handed at work, so it'll be another ordeal working around my schedule to get it all fixed... I'll probably call them to report tonight.

[SubwayGuy]

Gives the car character lol. No airbags though?

[FriboRage]

No air bags, thankfully.

[FordMan77]

If you have to keep driving it, be damn sure the hood will stay closed. The prev. owner of my 00 GT smacked the rear of a truck with a receiver hitch and curled the lip of the hood similar to that. He didn't think anything of it since the hood "looked" tight still, which it was, until the hood popped up while driving and took out the windsheild and dented the roof a bit. Come to find out the hood was moved around on the latch enough to let it pop and the wind did the rest.

[REDCRAPGP]

Before even reading anything I already typed out time to get a Inferno lol.

You could just keep whatever insurance money you get and go fix it yourself and get the Inferno with that. Just make sure when you get a quote it's for a oem hood and not some replacement so you'll get more to hopeful offset the cost.


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[Booba5185]

Ya know, I've lived in the country for a few years now and almost everyone I know has hit a deer. I have never seen one on the road at all. I don't know if they made the difference or not, but I have deer whistles on my truck and car. I didn't put them there, I just haven't taken them off. I don't know if I'm lucky or the things work...

[TexasTanker19kilo20]

Glad your ok. Yup, x2 on the inferno hood.

[stealthee]

My deer damage is why I eventually got an Inferno hood.

Different insurance companies handle claims differently, but with State Farm I told then I was going to have my own shop do the repair work and they sent out an adjuster to do the estimate. If there was anything I didn't agree with or if additional damage was found I could file an appeal/addendum to the claim.

Your damage is very similar to mine, other than you got fender damage where I did not. I am guessing your header panel is busted like mine was as well.

[J57ltr]

Did you at least get to keep the deer?

Jeff

[koRnhead]

Don't wait. Report it immediately. Get it in their system. Some will require a police report. Also no way you'd ever get your airbags to go off. I've hit at least 6 deer. And most were way worse then that. And no bags.
If you have a junkyard near by. Grab the facia you need there. Sadly your retro will be a sacraficr with the insurance they will just quote a stock housing for you. All in all you should come out quite well

[REDCRAPGP]

Hood, bumper, then redo your retro with a new set of lights.. Hell you should be able to just get the check from insurance.. Buy your own good (inferno) grab a new oem bumper off eBay (they should still be on there) redo your retro and still shouldn't have to come out of pocket. Just make sure when you have insurance look at it they quote you for oem parts and not just what a $100 replacement bumper cost.

Oh and a fender.


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[SubwayGuy]

No air bags, thankfully.

Good thing!

[Uno99]

Wait to tell them your going to have your own shop do the work until the insurance adjuster checks the damage and tells you what it will be for the repairs. Chances are if they find out your not gonna take to a place they use, you'll get less. Once they give you a hard figure for the repair cost then tell them. "OK then if that's what it gonna cost make the check out to me and ill deal with it on my own when I have time." If they tell you they cant or you cant take it to a place of your choosing (not likely but can happen) tell them you need to see that in writing. What ever they say they cant do for you. Ask them to prove it in writing. Adjusters are paid to save the insurance companies money so you know what that means. the hard working people get.......you know the rest. Ive been dealing with insurance adjusters for 17 years since I lost my leg in a motorcycle accident and not once have I ever got an ounce of compassion out of one.

[FriboRage]

So, the guy came and appraised it at $2800, my deductible is $500 so they're sending me a check for $2300.

Im thinkin I still have my stock headlights so I'll tell them I took care of that... They have that listed at $107

I found http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fender-F...2b7427&vxp=mtr for a driver fender at $125, quote on insurance is $200

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331517141107...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT for the front bumper at $254, quote on insurance is $426

Plus they have the OEM hood listed at $362, so between all those I'll have $716 to play with.

I see they jacked up the price on the hood to 850 with their "boxing fee".. I guess paint will be covered, but shipping could be almost another $150 so all in all I might end up paying 300 or so out of pocket for the Inferno.. I just spent a good chunk on an amp and sub, plus my deductible, so I'll have to see. Do those partsI found on eBay look legit? Im a little wary about that.

[Sven the Sexman]

So, the guy came and appraised it at $2800, my deductible is $500 so they're sending me a check for $2300.

Im thinkin I still have my stock headlights so I'll tell them I took care of that... They have that listed at $107

I found http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fender-F...2b7427&vxp=mtr for a driver fender at $125, quote on insurance is $200

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331517141107...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT for the front bumper at $254, quote on insurance is $426

Plus they have the OEM hood listed at $362, so between all those I'll have $716 to play with.

I see they jacked up the price on the hood to 850 with their "boxing fee".. I guess paint will be covered, but shipping could be almost another $150 so all in all I might end up paying 300 or so out of pocket for the Inferno.. I just spent a good chunk on an amp and sub, plus my deductible, so I'll have to see. Do those partsI found on eBay look legit? Im a little wary about that.

I've hit my fair share of deer up there...gutted one with my 88 Bonneville...broke the headlight and the corner of the fender just ripped it open...easiest field dress EVER. Hit one with my 86 Fiero...no vehicle damage, but it broke all four of the deer's legs...watching it flail was hilarious and sad all at the same time. The one I hit with my 77 Regal at 70+mph was still my favorite. Zero vehicle damage but the deer was knocked into pieces...not bad for a 5000lb tank.

Main thing is, glad you're ok. Car can be fixed.

[hockeybawler]

Check your local junk yards. If you can find a good bumper or fender then that will save you even more money. Never hurts to check

[Timing]

I wouldnt be looking on ebay all can be had much cheaper. Use http://www.car-part.com/

[REDCRAPGP]

Depends if you want new or not.. You'll be making a lot of calls on carparts.. Remember these cars are rather old and there's a good chance that anything you'll find in the yard will already have damaged panels that need more then a simple base and clear. Like the bumper for example.. I would get it new. Remember carparts just lists what's available you don't have any idea on the condition unless you can find it local or the company's nice enough to photo the actual part.


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