Major Damage to Odyssey Tailgate - Best Practices?

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Don't use the insurance company's body shop.

They'll replace the whole tailgate and likely the inner plastic, all OEM parts. They might try and reuse it but make sure you bring it up that it's discolored and bent. They'll probably reuse the glass. I wouldn't worry about corrosion protection, it'll come from the factory spot welded together. Some paint blending is in order as well.

Make sure you file a claim for diminished value. That van has been in an accident now and isn't worth what it was before.


I was thinking about that, but how does one best make that determination?

 

[daves87rs]

Man, that sucks! Sorry!

You may have to fight Allstate a bit...they do tend to go cheap, but that depends on the other person's insurance. Friend had AAA when he got hit, and Allstate did whatever AAA asked....

 

[Brybo86]

police contacted?

My car just got hit but it is only worth $3000, not $30000 like your van....

Bring it to the Honda dealer for a quote?

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Don't use the insurance company's body shop.

They'll replace the whole tailgate and likely the inner plastic, all OEM parts. They might try and reuse it but make sure you bring it up that it's discolored and bent. They'll probably reuse the glass. I wouldn't worry about corrosion protection, it'll come from the factory spot welded together. Some paint blending is in order as well.

Make sure you file a claim for diminished value. That van has been in an accident now and isn't worth what it was before.


I was thinking about that, but how does one best make that determination?
An insurance adjuster should be able to do it. Forgot which job title specifically. My dad got licensed in every type of insurance a couple years ago and was licensed to do it. Forgot what they're called. I believe the adjusters can do it though.

 

[KrisZ]

From the pictures at least it looks like the PU truck missed the fragile and fairly expensive tail lights, the rear glass is intact and I presume the rear wiper also works.
I simply don't see why the repair should not involve a brand new OEM tail gate, painted with the factory matching paint and with all the intact hardware transferred over.

 

[dlayman]

I had a case where a drunk driver who had All State ran a stop sign and we collided, totaling my car, with plenty of witnesses. They were the absolute worst to deal with, rude, cheap, dirty tactics. If this were me I'd file with my insurance and let them go after his insurance for it. That way they can fight with All State, and you won't have to. And your insurance is likely to treat you better than his will (especially All State). As you (or your wife) clearly weren't at fault, it won't raise your rates. By the way, did the truck driver have proper marking on his extended cargo. Not that it played a part here, but if he didn't I would have gotten a picture, as that would be a moving infraction.

Diminished value, you can try, but I've NEVER heard of a person having success with that.

 

[chefwong]

JHZR2 -

Do you have ~already~ a bodyshop of your choice ?
IME, I always just bring it to ~my shop~ and let them haggle it out.
Crazy, but my shop on average squeezes out 2X to 2 1/2X what other shops may get...

They are the advocate for your car, and will know how much $$ to properly repair your car.

IME, but even as such *I'm OCD as [censored] when it comes to the cars*, if you're not paying out of pocket (aka, custom paint / paint job not being paid by any insc, party), the level of work is a bit better ---- even with my go to bodyshop. The level of OP, etc.

FWIW, on the glass, I'm a HUGE advocate of slow set adhesives on the glass. Most of them use the fast set though. I'm not familiar with with Honda OE specs are, but this is something I would bring up, if glass is being dealt with as well..

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: chefwong
JHZR2 -

Do you have ~already~ a bodyshop of your choice ?
IME, I always just bring it to ~my shop~ and let them haggle it out.
Crazy, but my shop on average squeezes out 2X to 2 1/2X what other shops may get...

They are the advocate for your car, and will know how much $$ to properly repair your car.

IME, but even as such *I'm OCD as [censored] when it comes to the cars*, if you're not paying out of pocket (aka, custom paint / paint job not being paid by any insc, party), the level of work is a bit better ---- even with my go to bodyshop. The level of OP, etc.

FWIW, on the glass, I'm a HUGE advocate of slow set adhesives on the glass. Most of them use the fast set though. I'm not familiar with with Honda OE specs are, but this is something I would bring up, if glass is being dealt with as well..


Thanks!

Ill ask about the adhesives. I don't have a go to body show, for better or worse, because we have not had any issues or damage like this, certainly not to this extent, ever.

Fortunately a Honda approved shop is like two miles from me, so that's my first stop, we will see.

 

[hattaresguy]

Just ask the Honda dealer who does their body work, if they have a good rep throw them the keys and let the insurance company deal with it.

Its a new vehicle so they will just replace the gate, that's probably a $3k repair...


The new van is now broken in!

 

[chefwong]

Personally, I could care less if if had the Honda stamp or not.

Ask friends, family, co-workers for shop recommendations.

C&D in Hackensack is known to do good work.
More North, Final Touch Collision are 2 in NJ off the top of my head.

Key advise I could suggest is drop the car off at your bodyshop and let them deal direct with your/their adjustor at the shop of your choice. How the shop treats you ~after~ they are done is important too. [censored] happens....and good ones will take care of you even once they cashed the check.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Well that didn't take long. Now it looks like every other minivan on the road. I always hate it when you get the first dent. Ours lasted until last summer, when my wife backed into an illegally parked landscape trailer.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Wow, that's horrible!

However, at least the idiot with [censored] hanging far past his P/U tail gate came in and did the HONORABLE thing, which is RARE today, most would just pull away and hope they don't get caught.

I wouldn't fixate on using the HondaPro shop, I would ask around and even visit some of the shops and ask questions and also ask for some of their references from customers. Visiting shops will often be the most telling...

I believe that in NJ the law requires that if the victim of the accident specifically asks for OEM only parts the insurance company paying MUST comply with that request, DO NOT accept
after market or salvage/used parts.

It should be a fairly straight forward job for a qualified and competent shop. Luckily it looks like only the gate is involved.

 

[Ethan1]

Originally Posted By: dlayman
Diminished value, you can try, but I've NEVER heard of a person having success with that.


Yeah, diminished value checks are right up there with unicorns and Nessie

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Just ask the Honda dealer who does their body work, if they have a good rep throw them the keys and let the insurance company deal with it.

Its a new vehicle so they will just replace the gate, that's probably a $3k repair...


The new van is now broken in!


They have their own shop that supports their Honda, Buick/GMC and Hyundai dealerships. They gave me a $2800-ish quote...

 

[hattaresguy]

Sounds about right, they see them all the time so they should do a good job.

 

[01rangerxl]

On a vehicle that new, they will replace the tailgate shell and whatever is damaged, like the interior panel. Things like tailgates and doors are not sold as complete units unless you buy used.

The insurance co will pay for what is needed to fix it, but not more, so your glass, lights, etc. will be reused.

On an older van, they might get a used LKQ tailgate, but not on this one.

 

[meep]

I am very impressed that the driver at fault came in and fessed up, on his own will. I can't tell you how many times my vehicles have been hit in a parking lots with no letter, note, or ownership from the guilty party. One full-metal-bumpered GM sedan I had saw the bumper knocked in a full 2 inches, forcing the frame to bend over the axle.

 

[hattaresguy]

Yep a number of years ago some idiot smashed in the entire side of my friends Dodge pickup. Right in the bedside in front of the rear wheel, hard hit.

No note, no nothing.