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Auto body repair & detailing/95 Eclipse front fender backed into -red paint, i need to paint whole car

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Expert: Michael Kakuk - 5/30/2010


Question

95"GST Eclipse
My 95 GST was backed into on the street in front of my son's home. I have been holding my breath about the insurance he has to approve, with my Witness who came forward, and the damage matches is 89 camry bumper. The insurance co was so slow, but I been waiting with them to go thru 5 weeks now of review, it took 2 weeks to get the police report. I got a letter from them with an estimate attached for my recently filed claim based on history of similar..I had them come to my house on my day off and so the estimate is based on his visit. That if I have any further questions to contact this claims. It says $1075.00 to replace the fender, paint and Blend the hood and driver door.
Ok but its a GST that was in good condition, I have had it since 98 and it parks outside but no dents, bumps and on two trace door dings and no scratches. I do cover it as it is now waiting for the repair.
Its two tone sorano red with a grey strip all around the under part of the car, If they "blend" red on my hood I had repainted by the dealer I bought it from and it was done well.. the rest of the top, spoiler around sunroof have chalking due to lame manuf. paint from that time.
I was going to get the entire car painted sometime , but didn't think it would be now. I do not want to see my car with a paint patchy job, they are repainting the side mirror but not the passenger side of course.. I need to get the entire car painted now, it would be silly to just have the overspray done and with the bumper aged due to some fading on fiberglass parts on those models. Since I have not had any accidents in over 30 years I do not know what to expect next in the process. I want to get it done at the same time they do this repair and I want it done to last, I am keeping this car. so I will be paying for the difference. What should I expect? This is a classic car and mechanically its been kept up including the turbo timer  How much should I expect to pay to have a decent paint job with the damage and the full paint job added to the estimate?
I can't open the driver side door, i Have to climb over all the center console, stick, and you know its a tight area.So I don't' want to drive it all over town, to figure out who I want to fix it as its work for me everytime I think of crawling over to drive it. So I haven't since it came home the night it was hit.
Do you know if it will affect my claim total if they discover more damage inside that door? the skin is not bent. The door would be jacked up If I forced it open.
I never took it to any carwashes, only a few hand washes and so it has been washed at home with care and waxed.
Can I just take it to the place that does work on customs and is my choice from past work I have seen.? Sorry for the novel, but I feel like a victim still and just need advice on this.
Thanks

Answer
THE REPAIR SHOP WILL WORK OFF THE INSURANCE COMPANY ESTIMATE......NO PROBLEM..IF THEY OPEN UP THE DOOR AND FIND ADDITIONAL DAMAGES THEY WILL CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REQUEST A REVIEW OF
THE ADDITIONAL DAMAGES.

AS LONG AS THE REPAIR COST S DO NOT GET NEAR 75% OF THE ACTUAL CASH VALUE OF THE VEHICLE THE REPAIRS WILL COMMENCE. IF THE AMOUNT IS MORE THAN THAT THE REPAIRS WILL NOT BE DONE. IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE STATE WHERE YOU LIVE AND THE INSURANCE REGULATIONS OF THAT STATE.

MIKE
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you Michael. The process sounds like I can handle it easily then with the claim and I can get the entire car painted. I want to know the way it all works with my claim before I walk into the shop.


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Michael Kakuk

Expertise

I can answer any question that you may have about collision repairs and what to do after an accident. I can also answer basic mechanical problems but that is not my area of expertise.I can help you with repairing your own vehicle in your garage and also answer any paint related questions.

Experience

15 years experience with State Farm insurance as an auto inspector. 10 years of collision center management with 3 fortune 500 companies.

Organizations
Ezine expert author.

Publications
Ezine magazine Car advertisements Various car related web sites

Education/Credentials
Votech School Chief Frame School Hunter Alignment school I-CAR Certified Plastic Repairs Aluminum Repairs

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