So, I pull into the right lane and 2 seconds later...

[Bill]

SMACK!!!

Well, the official score: Rubicon 1, Oldmobile Alero 0.

It all started this morning on my way to work. I normally take the Lumina to work, but when the roads or the weather are going to be questionable I take the Jeep. This morning I took the Jeep, and at just a hair over 8300 miles it got slammed into on Rt. 51 near the West End Bridge.

I had merged from the West End Circle into the middle lane of Rt.51 heading inbound. I then merged from the middle lane into the right-hand lane. A few seconds later I am hear a loud bang and I am thrown forward (Wearing my seatbelt, of course.) I was stunned. I didn't know what hit me. I had checked the passenger side mirror and even turned to check the blind spots, I knew nothing was there. The other vehicle was coming from Rt. 51 and heading towards the circle. I have no idea of his exact speed, but he was going too fast to safely stop his vehicle, that is obvious.

I pulled over out of traffic into the lot located there at the side of the road. I got out to make sure whoever hit me was okay. The other driver was a bit more shaken than I was, but he seemed okay as well. His Oldsmobile Alero didn't fare too well though. It needs a hood, bumper, fender, bumper support, radiator support, both headlight pods, and I am sure a few other items. I am amazed the airbags didn't deploy, but then again his bumper ended up right under the Jeep and his hood and headlights took the majority of the damage. I guess the airbag sensors never really got triggered during the impact.

The Rubi held up very well. It has a few scuffs on the rear bumper, and you can tell where the Alero hit it dead smack in the middle of the bumper. The exhaust hanger located behind the passenger's side rear tire is broken (It actually looks like it may just pop right back into the rubber bushing, but the bracket is tweaked a bit.) The exhaust pipe may be a little out of round at the opening. The passenger's side bumper end cap is beat up a bit. All in all I cannot complain at all about how well it held up. No body damage at all from what I can see.

The other driver and I exchanged insurance information and both drove our vehicles from the scene of the accident. I have already reported it to my insurance company and I need to get an estimate done. I am hoping that this is not going to be something that raises my insurance, I am concerned about it. I would hate to have my rates raised because someone hit me.

I will try to get some pictures of the damage to my Jeep up on the site within the next few days.

[Happycamper]

DAMN!!! That truly sucks Bill. They hit YOU, that is their fault. Your insurance shouldn't go up. Did the other guy claim it was your fault? Did he at least apologize to you? I wouldv'e locked em up and drove right over that f'er if that was my Rubi. :smt023 Hey, i know it sucks when someone says this but.......it REALLY could have been worse. That damage sounds like what i do to mine on the trail in a day. Hope your day get better Bill.

-Jeff

[mrpistol]

sorry to hear that, at least no one was hurt and no body damage to your jeep

[Bill]

Of course he claimed it was my fault... He said "You pulled out in front of me and I had no time to stop." He hit my vehicle in the dead center of the rear bumper. I just let him go on about it. I figure the insurance company can figure out the truth from the damage to both vehicles.

IMO He was driving too fast. He could not control his vehicle considering the intersection he was approaching and the speed he was traveling at.

Time will tell with the insurance company and my rates. I will be happy when it is all over and I do not have to worry anymore.

I do know it could have been worse, I am feeling more safe than ever in the Jeep. I am just in awe of how well it held up in comparison to the Oldsmobile.

[TimMichaels]

That's terrible. Glad the Rubi held up and all is well though.

[Bill]

I just got off the phone with the dealer, the new bumper runs $150 and the end caps run $28 each. I guess that is going to be $178.00 to put towards a new bumper/tire carrier.

Something tells me I am going to be taking the WJ to 4WD Hardware this weekend...

[LordAthens]

[Bill]

Well, I got stuck at work on Mandatory overtime until 8PM. I am not too thrilled about it either... The pictures are going to have to wait. I know I am going to have to crawl under it tonight and fix the exhaust regardless, so I will try to snap a few pictures then.

On top of that. I am getting stiff as hell! My back is stiff and sore. I am loaded up on Ibuprofin(sp?) and it still is not helping, or if it is I am not noticing it.

[Happycamper]

VICODIN!!!!!!

J/K I think you should be all good Bill. The driver has to be in complete control of there vehicle at ALL times. He wasn't in control of his and going to fast. I've been in a few wrecks in my life and this is coming from first hand experience. Don't fret my firearm carrying friend, it will be aight :smt023

[Jpdst29]

if he hit you in the rear...hence he "rear ended" you...entirely his fault...
i had a friend one time who "braked checked" some guy who was tailing us too closely on the ramp leading onto 279 from bridgeville. guy was tailing so closely he didnt have time to stop and smashed into us. it was our fault for brake checking him but since he didnt have control of his car he suffered in the end 8O

i think you will be fine bill!!!

[dygaar]

Glad to hear you're OK. I hope everything goes well with the insurance and as was stated before, if he rear-ended you, it should be his fault. I was rear-ended in my Jeep this summer and it did about the same amount of damage as yours sounds like. Check the rear cross member, mine was twisted. Also, my exhaust hit the rear passenger shock and bent it good.

[RUBICONN]

Bill, that sucks... glad to hear you are ok...

Michael

[Bill]

Well, I got under the Jeep for a second last night. I tried to re-hang the exhaust only to find that it is bent a little more than I first thought it was. I took some pictures and will post them as soon as I get a chance to get them from the camera and hosted on Photobucket.

My back is still a little stiff today, but it seems better than it did yesterday. I consider that a good thing.

I don't know if I should take it to a body shop for repairs, or to the dealer. 100% of the damage appears to be mechanical (Exhast / bracket / bumper / and my Warn gas tank skid has a few scuffs, thats grounds for a new one right??? ) I do want to get it in and throw it on a frame machine somewhere so that someone can take some accurate readings and assure me there is no frame damage. I am planning on looking into it today and I am sure as I find out more I will post it up.

[JeepGeneral]

Bill, if I were you I would go to the dealer (no bias), especially if you want to get an estimate that the other guy may possibly pay for! I can't necessarily speak for other places, but I know we do very thorough estimates, as well as adjustments if anything else is wrong once the vehicle is apart. Included usually is things like alignment and any other mechanical parts. Try your local dealer, the estimate should be free.

Dave just got rear ended a few months ago, and it looked like just the rear bumper was bent in. Come inspection time, he had 2 or 3 small cracks in the exhaust that had to be fixed, which I don't think the other guy paid for.

Tom

[PK]

When I got rearended, in pretty much the same way, with pretty much the same results -- a totalled minivan, and my Jeep looking just fine -- I called 911 to get a police report filed on the scene, so have an unbiased 3rd party record the events.

Bill -- you're a cop right, why didn't you get a police report done up?

PK

[Bill]

When I got rearended, in pretty much the same way, with pretty much the same results -- a totalled minivan, and my Jeep looking just fine -- I called 911 to get a police report filed on the scene, so have an unbiased 3rd party record the events.

Bill -- you're a cop right, why didn't you get a police report done up?

PK

PA law requires a police report in vehicle accidents only if:

1. Someone is physically injured in the accident and it requires medical attention.

or

2. On of the vehicles that are involved in the accident need to be towed from the scene.

This accident did not fit the criteria for a report to be filed or I would have.

I did talk to a representative form the insurance company today and I got an estimate on the damages to me Jeep (Slightly over $815.00.) Needless to say the other driver's story is TOTALLY different from mine as per the lady at State Farm. He really must not have been paying any attention to what he was doing at all. He claims I was pulling out from the right-hand lane and into the left. His story is way off... I told the insurance rep that the evidence speaks for itself. Let the battle begin!

[Bill]

Looks like I am getting a few things replaced.

Rear bumper / end cap ($149.00 / $22.35)

Warn Gas Tank Skid ($189.50) (It is just scuffed, and in perfect shape other than that, no dents or dings.)

Muffler w/ Tailpipe ($169.00 +$2.50 for a muffler clamp.)

So now the dilema. I already talked to the owner of the repair facility. As he puts it, I am entitled to the money for the items listed above. If I wish to upgrade I can put the money towards the items listed and go from there. He told me I can even go out and get the parts myself and he will cut me a check for the money listed.

So, I am thinking...

Exhaust... Going to have to go with some sort of aftermarket cat-back system. I am leaning towards the Banks right now. Any input guys?

Warn gas tank skid is obviously going to get replaced with another Warn gas tank skid. 1. It saved my Jeep from even more damage, and 2. I can probably scuff down and paint the damaged one and sell it.

I figure the money for the rear bumper is going to go towards an aftermarket bumper / tire carrier. I will probably go with the Warn bumper /carrier combo just because 4WD Hardware has them in stock and I am less than an hour away from them so I can run up and get everything all at once.

I am all about input here though. Anyone agree/disagree with my ideas here? Any constructive thoughts here will surely be appreciated.

TIA

Bill

[OverkillZJ]

Can't reuse the old skid?

It's just a scratch

[coverinearth]

as far as tire carriers go i love my bestop on my YJ bill, you cant go wrong. the ease of being able to pull one handle and have the tailgate and tire swing away is great. and i have a 35 on mine with no problems.

[Bill]

I considered it... I just like the Warn a little better. If time was not an objecy, I would be going with a Jeeperman rear bumper / carrier combo or maybe even waiting for the new ARB bumper / carrier.

However, since I am pressed for time and I am heading to 4WD Hardware tomorrow afternoon it looks like I am going with the Warn.

[karstman]

Sorry to hear of the wreck....but glad no one was hurt.

You know how I feel about heavy bumpers/tire carriers....so I'll refrain from comment.

[OverkillZJ]

Sorry to hear of the wreck....but glad no one was hurt.

You know how I feel about heavy bumpers/tire carriers....so I'll refrain from comment.

....But some of the REALLY over done ones make such great noises when they're slammed down on cliffhanger...

[LordAthens]

Mark, have you had any issues with your OR-FAB?

[karstman]

I should have gotten the non-jerry can version. The jerry can setup sticks out too far and I drag the rear tire some times. I just don't like all that weight back there. Now that the heep has been retired from DD duties, I might remove the OR-Fab and put the tire in the bed. Takes up a lot of room, but sooooooo much better on the trail. Might look into the non-jerry can version too. I have a little flexing of the sheetmetal, but I really dont care.

[Bill]

I know the thoughts on the heavy tire carrier in the rear... I am not sure I have many other options at this point. I have to keep the tire out back, because I utilize the rear seat from time to time. The other option was to just get a rear bumper without the tire carrier. I think that way until I remember how damn hard it was to close the rear tailgate on the old Sahara after the buchings went bad. Taking that into consideration with the fact that I have a 33" TrXus sitting on a steel wheel mounted to the OEM tire carrier... I think I am just concerned that I am going to repeat the past here. Oh, and I have the cheap-ass 04' tailgaite hinges to boot!