2000 Buick Century Hit and Run Accident

SEANRBRADY55

MEMBER
2000 BUICK CENTURY
2WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

On Saturday my vehicle was parked on a street corner. A suv was turning the corner and bashed into my car and damaged the front left side of the vehicle. The bottom left side of the bumper is damaged, My headight is broke, and the hood of the car is slightly damaged. What do you think I should do? The car currently drives just fine. I think the main concern is replacing the front light.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

First you contact the police before moving the vehicle. Next, you contact your insurance company. They will require a copy of the police report. Next, the insurance company will ask you to visit a body shop to get a repair estimate. Most companies only require one estimate. They used to require two but I think that has changed, at least in most states.

You would be surprised at how little apparent damage it takes to consider a car "totaled". The cost of paint is so extremely high thanks to your politicians and the EPA that the cost of repairing a 14-year-old car is likely to be more than its value. In that case the insurance company will pay you the value of your car, and most of the time you can arrange to buy it back at a fairly low cost. Then you can decide if you want to have it repaired, do it yourself, have just some of the work done, use used parts, etc.