Sunday, August 23rd, 2009 AT 7:38 PM
I have a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. My wife was hit by another vehicle in a parking lot broadside on the front passenger side fender. The body damage extends from the passenger side door to the front bumper. I am worried about the damage to the drivetrain and unibody frame. The impact was focused on the wheel which resulted in the top of the wheel being pushed into the wheel well. Obviously there is some amount of damage done to the drivetrain as it is undriveable. I am going to look at the damage this week and expect to hear from the repair shop regarding the extent of the repairs. I have heard that in some cases insurance compainies will "total" a vehicle with damage to the drivetrain in front wheel drive vehicles. Can anyone tell me what to look for to make sure they don't try to fix something that is not fixable?