Collision with Deer - 20k in repairs

[BourbonRunner]

Anybody buying a new car, if they ask for my advice, I give several... but one I always give is....

Gap insurance. Gap insurance. Gap insurance.

100%.

Anyone that is buying a new car and doesn't get it is asking for a bad experience.

FoMoCo charged me $950 for the gap back in July, and I got a 2.9% rate for 60 months. Well worth the peace of mind even if I hopefully never need it.

Also: Check with credit unions on gap coverage, too. Ours had a much higher interest rate at 5.99 but the gap was $200 less. And they'll do it on used vehicles in some cases, too.

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[sholescurtis]

I had an unavoidable collision with deer on 08 Dec 2023 in my 2023 Big Bend with 7k miles. We are living in an age where a collision with a deer can cost 20k in repairs !! I'm still waiting for preliminary work at paint and body shop - measuring frame to make sure it isn't bent before any work begins per insurance company. Doesn't look like a total loss unless frame is bent badly.

That bites. Sorry. Personally, I wouldn’t want it back. I’d have to go with a replacement.

 

[Bucko]

At least in New York, diminished value is basically asking the at-fault party to pony up money for the reduced value of the car.

So yeah, the deer (if it survived) is uninsured and without assets... good luck on that one.

Unless you live in Georgia (which both yourself and the OP appear to do)... Apparently a DV claim against your own policy is a thing that exists in that state.

It doesn't hurt to ask your insurance company about the possibility, but in most of the US it isn't an option.

If my insurance company wishes to repair the vehicle rather then total it, darn right I'm insisting on diminished value. This is why I carry full coverage including gap coverage.

 

[MoFoCo]

Ope! Obligatory Charlie Berens PSA:

 

[wjtank]

So sorry to hear that. Deer are so fast. My collision was at night and I had zero chance to avoid it.

 

[Chiefthepup]

Depending on how it's mounted, a collision with a deer on a vehicle with a nudge bar can actually result in more damage. Without an engineering study there is no way to know how impact forces will be imparted to the unibody.

My exact thoughts. I look at my rough country nudge bar and just can’t fathom how it would actually help at all if “nudged” lol. Like yeah the brackets are mounted on the frame, but the nudge bar is than mounted onto the brackets that are mounted on the frame, which is just 4 bolts that I assume aren’t insanely strong not to mention the strength of the actual nudge bar itself, I’ve just assumed it has no real benefit other than aesthetically

 

[Kraken1]

My exact thoughts. I look at my rough country nudge bar and just can’t fathom how it would actually help at all if “nudged” lol. Like yeah the brackets are mounted on the frame, but the nudge bar is than mounted onto the brackets that are mounted on the frame, which is just 4 bolts that I assume aren’t insanely strong not to mention the strength of the actual nudge bar itself, I’ve just assumed it has no real benefit other than aesthetically

You are probably right especially if you hit a 2,000 lb. deer.

 

[69cuda340s]

A lot of deer where I live so cauld happen to me. My daughter was going 5 mph years back turning onto my road and deer rammed into her front fender crunch it up. And it was a two year old OEM fender I put on and had a body shop paint it cause some moron rammed into her on snowy road. So had to go ahead put on another fender and new lights get that one painted too.

 

[Mwittke5857]

I had an unavoidable collision with deer on 08 Dec 2023 in my 2023 Big Bend with 7k miles. We are living in an age where a collision with a deer can cost 20k in repairs !! I'm still waiting for preliminary work at paint and body shop - measuring frame to make sure it isn't bent before any work begins per insurance company. Doesn't look like a total loss unless frame is bent badly.

I cant bring myself to "like" this post, only say I'm sorry you're going through this mess

 

[SnoopyBroncoSport]

You are probably right especially if you hit a 2,000 lb. deer.

Did you mean to type 200 and accidently hit an extra 0?

 

[Kraken1]

Did you mean to type 200 and accidently hit an extra 0?

No, I was being facetious.

 

[SnoopyBroncoSport]

No, I was being facetious.

Lol. It's too early on a Monday for me to think that.

 

[wjtank]

I cant bring myself to "like" this post, only say I'm sorry you're going through this mess

Thank you.

 

[Greynoodle]

I had an unavoidable collision with deer on 08 Dec 2023 in my 2023 Big Bend with 7k miles. We are living in an age where a collision with a deer can cost 20k in repairs !! I'm still waiting for preliminary work at paint and body shop - measuring frame to make sure it isn't bent before any work begins per insurance company. Doesn't look like a total loss unless frame is bent badly.

Sorry to hear about your collision. On November 11, 2023, I and an 8 point buck collided. 16,000.00 later and 6 weeks in the body shop I got back on the road. New grill, driver's side fender and headlight, driver's door, front and rear.

 

[wjtank]

4 months and 17 days later, I got my vehicle back yesterday. There were several delays with getting Ford OEM parts, especially some of the electrical items. It runs and drives perfectly, and looks great.

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