STINGER REAR ENDED IN HIT AND RUN

[Kraken82]

Well our 3 month old Stinger got rear ended by a ute with a bullbar in a hit and run on the weekend absolutely loved this car. Took me forever to convince the wife to even take a look at one because its a KIA and having owned a few Chrysler SRTs and a E63 she thought it would be nothing compared to them but here mind changed on the first drive. Both cars off the road at the moment as a tree fell on our Jeep 2 weeks ago. So I've now had to put 2 claims in after having a perfect driving history the last 20yr to making 2 claims in a month that I wasn't at fault for yet I need to pay the excess on both and also will have premiums go up. Oh well I wonder what the outcome will be with this being repaired.

 

[GT Elite]

That sucks big time. Are the police looking for the hit & run driver? Do you have dash cam pictures/video?

Hope the repairs go well!

 

[Kraken82]

That sucks big time. Are the police looking for the hit & run driver? Do you have dash cam pictures/video?

Hope the repairs go well!

Police have been absolutely usless. Chased after the pick-up and caught up even though she was driving through traffic like a manic and the Stinger was driving like a crab. I got the Registration number and was pretty much prepared to run them off the road but then remembered my toddler and wife were sitting in the back. She was on the phone to police they said they would get units out to intercept them and for me to stop following and they would also send a unit to our house for a statement as we lived close. 4hrs later I'm ringing police and they say they don't know anything about it. So I speak with a officer who didn't seem interested at all and said they would call the owner of the pick-up and ask them if they consent to having their details shared with me for insurance claim. I said why the hell are you not going to the house straight away. Anyway been chasing it up the last 3 days 3 different police stations trying to get them to do something they hadn't even written a report. They said it's in the system now and would investigate. I said great idea to investigate a hit and run almost 4 days after it happened so they can make sure they get rid of any evidence on their vehicle and get any substance out of their system.

 

[Snicklefritz]

If that were in the States, the cost would run under ten grand, maybe barely. That should be well under half what the undamaged car is worth, in other words, covered by insurance. The crash bar will require straightening. The hatch lid can be straightened too is my guess. Keep us posted.

 

[Kraken82]

If that were in the States, the cost would run under ten grand, maybe barely. That should be well under half what the undamaged car is worth, in other words, covered by insurance. The crash bar will require straightening. The hatch lid can be straightened too is my guess. Keep us posted.

The hatch seems to be all plastic. There is a bar that is snapped behind the bumper seams to be carbon fibre or some similar material. Left hand rear 1/4 panel is kinked, not sure about the right. And exhust sounds different and it's idling differently also something wrong with suspension as the rear end wobbles when driving.

 

[Snicklefritz]

The hatch seems to be all plastic. There is a bar that is snapped behind the bumper seams to be carbon fibre or some similar material. Left hand rear 1/4 panel is kinked, not sure about the right. And exhust sounds different and it's idling differently also something wrong with suspension as the rear end wobbles when driving.

"Exhaust sounds different", certainly not a surprise. The "wobble" observation is more potentially serious. I know the crash bar can be straightened, unless Aus got different construction than Stingers in the States. The main frame of the hatch lid is steel. Apply a magnet if you doubt. Your lid doesn't look that bent. I've seen worse that got straightened.

 

[BIG-D]

Part out ??

 

[BIG-D]

That will be a $20k repair easily ... good luck and sucks to see.

 

[Kraken82]

That will be a $20k repair easily ... good luck and sucks to see.

Yeah man it sucks big time I've got full comp insurance but I'm pretty pissed that I've had to fit the bill for it especially when I've also got my wrangler getting assessed also at the moment because a damn tree broke in half next to the driveway and landed across the bonnet 3 weeks ago. We are renting at the moment so it should fall on the landlords insurance but apparently not so I had to fit the bill for 2 claims in the span of a month that were not my fault yet I get shafted and my insurance will go through the roof. Also to top it off cops still haven't done anything what so ever.

 

[Volfy]

Make sure to check your policy. If you have a uninsured motorist clause, it should cover this sort of hit & run as well. Your insurance company might want to process the claim under your collision coverage, which will cause your premium to go up most likely. Covering it under "Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist" means you are inherently not at fault. Your UM deductible might be different as well.

This happened to me years ago when my motorcycle was knocked over when it was parked outside a big chain store, while I was inside. Caused damage to both sides of the bike. My insurance company at the time wanted to cover it under my collision policy, but I told them I reviewed my policy in fine print and believed it should be more appropriately processed under "Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist". They agreed.

Also, this is yet another reason you should always have front and rear dash cameras in every car you own/operate, and make sure you set them up to record on impact sensing. It is then indisputable that it was a hit & run.

 

[Kraken82]

I have a update just received a call finally from the police apparently the car that rear ended our Stinger and drove off apparently also rear ended another car about 10 suburbs away maybe 15mins drive from where we were hit however they don't know yet if it was before or after they hit us but they were going in the direction of the suburbs the second accident occurred so I'm pretty sure it was after. I still don't have their details as yet they won't give them to me. So I have to wait.

 

[Ah GetFd]

As you are in Australia and I would even guess Melbourne by the type of house in the photograph. Still, Insurance here is very good. IF you provide the Registration number of the offending vehicle to your Insurance Company you are EXEMPT from paying the Excess as it is deemed a not at fault claim. Your Insurance company will chase the offending owner of the vehicle at no cost to you but you have to make the claim. It does not affect your insurance premium in the following year. Paying insurance isn't just for if its your fault.

Insurance companies now pursue the claim against the other driver at no cost to you when it is not your fault.

If you are with RACV (the best), GIO, AAMI you will not have a problem.

Still, you can try and get the money from the other party directly, or stay with your insurer.

You have the registration number..................

Go To "Vicroads" if you are in Melbourne.

You will be directed to the queue where you can do this.

You will be able to obtain the other owner's name and address by giving a few details. Your details, why you need the other driver (as result of accident etc).

Yes unfortunately its at least a $20,000 repair. Hopefully you ticked the "preferred repairer" option because there is a back log of cars at Insurance Preferred Repairers at the moment.

I am assuming this is a My23 Stinger, "last one built in March 2023", I assume you bought it second hand owning it only 3 months but its agreed value with RACV is still well over $70,000.

 

[Kraken82]

As you are in Australia and I would even guess Melbourne by the type of house in the photograph. Still, Insurance here is very good. IF you provide the Registration number of the offending vehicle to your Insurance Company you are EXEMPT from paying the Excess as it is deemed a not at fault claim. Your Insurance company will chase the offending owner of the vehicle at no cost to you but you have to make the claim. It does not affect your insurance premium in the following year. Paying insurance isn't just for if its your fault.

Insurance companies now pursue the claim against the other driver at no cost to you when it is not your fault.

If you are with RACV (the best), GIO, AAMI you will not have a problem.

Still, you can try and get the money from the other party directly, or stay with your insurer.

You have the registration number..................

Go To "Vicroads" if you are in Melbourne.

You will be directed to the queue where you can do this.

You will be able to obtain the other owner's name and address by giving a few details. Your details, why you need the other driver (as result of accident etc).

Yes unfortunately its at least a $20,000 repair. Hopefully you ticked the "preferred repairer" option because there is a back log of cars at Insurance Preferred Repairers at the moment.

I am assuming this is a My23 Stinger, "last one built in March 2023", I assume you bought it second hand owning it only 3 months but its agreed value with RACV is still well over $70,000.

Yes in Melbourne I wish it was that easy to get the claim sorted. Insurance won't pursue the driver even if you have the registration of the other vehicle they want Name, address, contact number otherwise you pay excess and are listed as at fault driver. If you can provide those details later on they will refund excess and change it to not at fault. Insurance wouldn't even give us a hire car until they have all those details had to hire one for a month yesterday.

Vicroads will not release any information we have tried absolutely everything because the 2 claims within a few weeks both not at fault have so far cost use around $5k already something I'd preferred not to have to pay especially around Christmas.

Vicpol won't even give you the details when we reported it at 3 separate station over the weekend to try get something they all said best they can do is try ring the registered owner of the hit run vehicle and ask if they will share their details otherwise they can't release them unless they give consent. Only reason they may be able to provide them later after they called is because it hit another car the same and I'm guessing police were called and they have a driver at the wheel and the car wasn't stolen. I assumed i just needed the rego when I chased them if I'd know what I know now i would have just run them off the road and forced them to give me the details.
Thing don't work as we assume criminals have more rights than the victims its ridiculous.

It's a My21 so around $51k-$58k I'm with AAMI. I use to be with RACV when I had my E63 amg and never again they charge the most and anything extra that other insurers include for free they charge even more for that. I had choice of repairer with RACV which had to be a Mercedes-Benz approved centre using only genuine parts due to warranty being void if it wasn't and RACV kept arguing the cost dragging it out for months because the other guy had no insurance and international student were worried they weren't going to recoup their money.

 

[jdmvette]

Heartbreaking...sorry man

 

[Kraken82]

Heartbreaking...sorry man

All good in the end they are just material items happy my toddler and wife are safe as they were in the back and she is in quite a bit of pain still. Accidents happen I'm just more pissed off at the whole situation how its been handled and how it's going to cost me a fortune to get future insurance because I'll be listed as the at fault for both claims unless I get the detail. I've keep my driving record squeaky clean for over 15yrs now not even 1 speeding ticket. I got a letter congratulating me 2 months ago when I needed to renew my licence and they gave me a 10% discount. Never thought I'd see my name on a letter like that but it also would have helped getting a discount on my insurance next year. Apparently reporting a crime to emergency operators as its happening catching up to the car to give them as much details as possible live doesn't mean anything to police here. I remember growing up if you did anything wrong even a burnout and someone called the police there would be two police units waiting in your driveway before you made it home and you were screwed and that was the days before camera phones and social media etc now we have everything and it doesn't mean anything unless it's new worthy.

 

[Ah GetFd]

Need name and address. Yes all insurers asking for that now
Vicroads had a counter for this very task. I used it to obtain the owner of a taxi.
If there is a reference number the police will give you this. They will not give other details
RACV charges a high amount because they are the best. Have not had a problem with them. Highest agreed value. Choice of Repairer. In my last claim as a Gold member they instantly deemed not at fault and waived excess.
Cheaper than others when I had my last car.
They have always allowed me any repairer. I guess if they deem it outrageously above industry cost labour and parts they will refuse it.
Good luck with your Insurance. At the end of the day that's why you have it to cover a $51,000 car...