question for autobody experts

[nineball 10+ year member]

i was involved in an accident last night and part of the damage was on the driver's side a-pillar. while it isn't seriously bent in any place it did sustain some damage and is slightly bowed in now. the hit was hard enough to jar the inside trim piece off and hit me in the face. the tow truck driver said that based on the damage there is a good chance that the car will be totaled as the a-pillar is an integral part of the body/structure and the insurance company will probably label it as unsafe/unable to be repaired. is this true? the rest of the damage includes the fender, hood, door and suspension. the hit was hard enough to slightly bend/move the shock mount as well. i know the rest of it could be easily fixed but i have never had an a-pillar hit like that before.

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[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

It'll buff out

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

wow, you are so helpful. i bet you would suggest giving a massage to the man who died in the accident to revive him too huh?

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

wow, you are so helpful. i bet you would suggest giving a massage to the man who died in the accident to revive him too huh?

i am so good.....I could sell rubbers to a monk!

 

[audioatg 10+ year member]

i was involved in an accident last night and part of the damage was on the driver's side a-pillar. while it isn't seriously bent in any place it did sustain some damage and is slightly bowed in now. the hit was hard enough to jar the inside trim piece off and hit me in the face. the tow truck driver said that based on the damage there is a good chance that the car will be totaled as the a-pillar is an integral part of the body/structure and the insurance company will probably label it as unsafe/unable to be repaired. is this true? the rest of the damage includes the fender, hood, door and suspension. the hit was hard enough to slightly bend/move the shock mount as well. i know the rest of it could be easily fixed but i have never had an a-pillar hit like that before.

They will say its frame damage and will say it cant be repair to factroy specs. So get ready to find a new car or buy it back with all that info on the title.

 

[Ken448 10+ year member]

if it is totaled, do your homework, and make the insurance company pay you what its worth!!!!

 

[DB-Audio 10+ year member]

I was in an accident a little while back as well(lost my brakes) they said they would either have to mark it totaled or i'd have to spend 10g's to fix it... lucky for me my best friend is a mechanic so I had the guy tow it up his driveway and my friend fixed it for 700$

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

i don't think i will be that lucky. the damage is pretty severe. this is a pic my friend snapped with his phone but the quality of it is pretty bad. it really does not show the extent of the damage.

 

[DB-Audio 10+ year member]

from what you tell me unless you have a frame straightener/know someone who does your cars gonna be marked totaled

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

it's a neon, it needs to be scrapped....broken or not

jp

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

it's a work car and serves it purpose perfectly. 4cyl, 30+mpg. i drive 35-40k a year. thing only had 36k on it too.

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

and someone died in that accident? looks like a fender bender?

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

yes. can't get into the specifics of it but yes.