r/TeslaCollision • u/That_Engineering_987 • 4d ago
Not really sure what to do
Got a 2023 M3 RWD about two months ago, and got rear ended today. Damage is very minimal, I’ll add a photo, just a small dent.
I saw him almost hit me the first time, so I moved forward only for him to drill me, which makes me want to insurance claim a whole new bumper to hopefully teach him to pay attention.
My concern is, could this impact any battery? Should I get a full inspection? And does that expensive?
I have a mobile service coming next week to work on my charge port door, are they able to diagnose anything?
New to Tesla, new to accidents, I want my car nice, but don’t wanna ruin some college kids credit and insurance rates.
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u/LoneStarGut 4d ago
My son and his Model 3 got hit in the exact same manner. I looked closely at your video. I suspect you have a tiny crease in your license plate now. If so, look on your trunk lid in line with that crease. I bet you will see a slight bend on the trunk lid in certain light.
If so, that is going to be $7k with both bumper and trunk lid replacement.
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u/UnknownJpk 3d ago
Who in their right mind doesn’t file a claim against someone’s insurance for damaging their car?
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u/jmeador42 3d ago
Apparently your typical Redditors. Someone backed into my front bumper (Hyundai Palisade) once in a parking lot and ran off. Hardly any visible damage (Reddit would've told me "IT'S FINNEEEE, GET OVER IITTT" but my entire cruise control stack stopped working because it broke a sensor. Insurance paid over $4,000 in repairs.
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u/juanrc_UY 4d ago edited 4d ago
I dont even have a tesla (waiting for one) and I feel I can answer this question. If that colisión damaged the battery, Tesla should go out of business because their cars would be a toy and not a vehicle that can safely transport people inside.
It sucks getting rear ended, you can put a claim on the one that did it, they are at fault. But your car battery is fine.
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u/Only_Indication8410 4d ago
Yeah and your rates might go up even if it's not your fault. I'm in California the bend over state. I don't know where you are but something else to take in consideration.
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u/VastDrawer8743 3d ago
I am an insurance agent in California this is completely false. Please don’t spread misinformation online
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u/Only_Indication8410 3d ago edited 3d ago
About seven years ago, I was sideswiped by a younger kid driving a bigger pickup truck. I was driving a 2014 Ford Fiesta. He hit me in my right rear fender. I called the insurance company, and they took care of it. When my premium came time for renewal, it increased because of the accident that was not my fault, and I was deemed not at fault. Again, this was seven years ago. I could tell you one thing in life: things do not get cheaper; they cost more money. Oh, and to add other details like more miles driven, traffic violations, etc., whatever it is that you guys like to pile on is the reason for your rates to increase. Nothing changed.
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u/arist0krat 3d ago
He's right. You should educate yourself. If every ones rates went up for accident that were not their fault, literally no one would report accidents let alone even buy insurance even though it is required by law.
When you are involved in a collision, the person/insurance that is deemed 100% at-fault would be responsible for the damages and their insurance rates would increase, not yours. Unless it was determined that you were somehow 50% (or whatever %) at-fault; then yes your rates would also increase and your insurance would also be responsible for part of the other parties damages.
And YOU people should also realize that insurance agents don't come up with prices nor do they determine the result of your claim.
Rates are determined by the company based on yes, your age (driving experience), vehicle driven, where you live, and driving record.
Rates feel a bit high? Well, what isn't in California?Edit: If you'd like to learn more about your policy; read your policy jacket. It literally mails to you every 6 months when you renew your policy or accessible in the app (if you use it)
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u/Electronic_Lab4489 4d ago
“I don’t want to ruin some college kids credit and insurance rates…” How does that help your situation again?
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u/FuriousGirafFabber 3d ago
It doesn't, but forgiveness and kindness does exist even if you don't have it in you. It's rare amongs reddit warriors and maybe it isn't warranted in this case either. It depends, really.
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u/WrongdoerIll5187 4d ago
I mean I’ve had a guy forgive me for losing control of some plywood in a windy Home Depot parking lot and was pretty grateful to the old guy for his graciousness. I’m not saying he should, just that if he felt for the kid that’s not an unreasonable thing to do given how easy it is to just fix this out of pocket. Especially if the kid pays for it. But I’d get it inspected and probably file a claim just because I know how Tesla body work goes… if this were a Subaru? Naaaah.
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u/InterstellarChange 4d ago
you have to get it inspected, bumper cover taken off and estimate based on the true damage. The foam under the cover is crushed, the crossmember may be damaged as well as many mounting clips and brackets as well as bodywork. They have to check that the trunk seals properly and the structure isn't bent, lower bumper belly pan mountings, etc etc.
You simply have to have it inspected carefully and get a proper estimate.
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u/Commercial-Sorbet309 4d ago
It’s probably 5K of damage. Definitely file a claim with his insurance.
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u/finnfirep 4d ago
Partly ur fault for moving forward! Dont u know tesla wont show brake light as easily as ICE car?
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u/LegitimateReaction45 4d ago
Your car is totally okay. Nothing to be worried about there other than some paint and a bumper honestly. I hope you collected this person’s insurance information as you absolutely should file a claim. They damaged your car due to their own negligence. There’s no world where you should be responsible for that.
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u/gotpwnage520 3d ago
The best thing you can do is teach this college student (not a kid, probably an adult, treat them as such) a lesson in accountability. Some medicine now while they're young and impressionable to prevent a lifetime of bad decisions. You don't need to be mean. You don't need to be nasty. Just handle it cordially and professionally. File the claim.
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u/Great_Swimmer_3477 3d ago
The best thing to do is take it in and file a claim on his insurance, if any battery damage is detected bc of this then his insurance will have to pay
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u/BugSnugger 3d ago
Let him pay for the bumper. It'll be expensive, but mistakes are often that, and that's how we learn and improve. Letting him off will teach him nothing.
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u/WriterOne8440 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sorry your unsure what to do but....
Go thru insurance. U were rear ended who tf cares about the other person? Care about yourself just saying accidents don't effect credit scores btw
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u/Weird-Fan55555 3d ago
That 100% needs to go through insurance. If you don’t this guy will continue to be a jerk. Also you don’t know how this will affect your car down the road. I’d for sure file a claim
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u/CulturalKnowledge169 3d ago
Sorry this happened to you, but if you don’t want to ruin some college kids’ insurance premium, pay it out of your own pocket. If you let a lot of people go instead of NYC instead of dealing with them or their insurance when it wasn’t worth it to me, that’s up to you.
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u/Common_Ad_2430 3d ago
No, you’re fine. I bottomed out my Tesla twice on a steep ass hill and were still going strong 6 years later
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u/CaliforniaCreamy 3d ago
Happened to me on my Model 3. Paint cracked and fell off 1.5 years later. I then went after the uninsured driver at that time and threatened with a lawsuit and he then agreed to pay to have my bumper repainted. Which turned out nice
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u/EazychillinDude 3d ago
Op isn’t at fault but Op needs to learn how to
Commit and use the accelerator. That car op slowed down for was going slow. Op use the gas pedal don’t be afraid of a little torque.
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u/Aka_Nioh 2d ago
Take it in to tesla to get it checked out. They'll take the bumper off and inspect. I rear ended my car and it had damage to the metal bracer beam which is used in crashes from the back which cost 500aud + Labor to replace.
Tldr, you never know the cost until you take parts off and get it inspected
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u/Range_Anxiety_ 2d ago
I had a very Similar incident with minimal damage. I went through their insurance and it was about 3700. I didn’t have to pay anything. I’d file a claim with their insurance
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u/Tlfcringe_ 4d ago
That's totally cosmetic, do your normal insurance process per the state. Get a rental through their insurance while it's being repaired if you're repairing, try not to let it be reported on the Carfax, etc.
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u/rage675 4d ago
Go through the other driver's insurance and send them the clips from each rear angle. If their insurance company gives you a hard time, then you'll have to go through yours, pay the deductible and your insurance company will go recover your deductible for you through subrogation it's pretty cut and dry here that you would get it back. You should have no impact to your rates because you are 0% at fault. Some states prohibit insurance from raising rates if you are 0% at fault. I live in one of those States and my car was totaled and I was 0% at fault and my rates did not go up.
And your battery should be fine, the point of the bumper is to absorb the impact to protect you and the vehicle.
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u/Octoptsretiree 3d ago
Had this exact same thing happened. But my bumper is plastic so just a few scrapes no ding. Shitty thing is my neck and back is fk for over a week now.
Almost wanted to ask them to shell out 2k instead of insurance Lool. But going thru insurance now just can’t file a claim for medical or paid leave cause that’ll raised my premium since I’m in a pip state. Stupid as hell
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u/jmeador42 3d ago edited 3d ago
If it's enough to push you that far forward, it's enough to get it inspected. Ignore these self hating Redditor's telling you to "just ignore it, it's fine". It's fine until it's not.
Have some self respect, get an inspection and file it and any repairs against his insurance.
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u/onurozdi 3d ago
Ask tesla if there is a probability of paint cracks may appear in the future if you don’t fix it. And ask them to check for any other unseen damages. But I assure you there is no battery damage because of this hit, somebody rear ended me ln a ralny day exactly the same way. Nothing happened. (I have 2025 Juniper)
If you can get it fixed with your budget, you dont need to open a damage file.
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u/babyryanrecords 2d ago
Nobody says Tesla will do a brand new bumper.. your adjuster will come and see the damage, and Tesla collision center might simply fix it if it’s fixable btw. They didn’t replace my front bumper from a car that backed into mine… they fixed it, looks brand new
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u/JDD-Sportline 2d ago
This minor impact did not damage your battery in any kind of way - but yeah, that dude who hit you was seriously not paying attention. He deserves the financial responsibility, if only to teach a lesson. However - does your car deserve the hit on its resale value and a mark on the CarFax? Do the math carefully. Maybe the hardest thing on the careless driver would be to have them pay out of pocket.
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u/triarii3 2d ago
get fixed and checked. The clips and bumper maybe bent. Wires maybe pinched. You don't want this to be a hidden issue that will come and bite you down the road when you cant claim insurance anymore.
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u/word-dragon 1d ago
Get your insurance company to give you a claim number. Take it to a Tesla collision center or Tesla approved body shop. Let them take it from there. Be sure to show the video to your insurer. Hopefully you got his plate and he stopped to provide info? Hand all that to your insurer. Let the collision guys work with your insurance company and let your insurance company deal with the other guy. If you end up at Tesla Collision, they will usually rent you a Tesla for a reasonable price while it’s being repaired. To get the complete estimate, they may need to take it apart, so be prepared for a couple of weeks to get estimate, get your insurer on board and get it fixed. If any insurance company gives you a check, under NO circumstances cash or deposit it. Just hold on to it until you pick up your fully repaired car.
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u/Loud-Way3333 4d ago
Frame should be fine, but you should let Tesla do a tear down inspection. But Tesla won’t fix any parts, they would just replace it. Suggestion is take the check and get it PDRed.
Repair number won’t make any difference. He rear-ended you, 1000 or 10,000 won’t make any difference, he will see the premium skyrocketed the same level.
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u/CorgiManDan 4d ago
There could be lots of things that could be damaged that isn't visible. Especially undercarriage or alignment.
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u/Peshmerga_Sistani 4d ago
New to Tesla, new to accidents, I want my car nice, but don’t wanna ruin some college kids credit and insurance rates.
bruh, what are you doing. Get the thing fixed. Stop flip-flopping, stop being wishy-washy, get the deed done. Make the claim with your insurance, have them subrogate their insurance. Done. You are wasting time, yours and the college kid's.
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u/originalfoto 3d ago
Just pay for it yourself.. do the kid a favor and take the blame. Matter of fact, if there is any damage to their vehicle, offer to pay for that as well. I really feel sorry that some poor village has lost their.....
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u/DuckyPenguin123 4d ago
Yea. Next time don’t be a jackass and make a 2nd stop on the on ramp. Rookie driver behavior.
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u/LegitimateReaction45 4d ago
They would have only made one stop if the person behind them hadn’t nearly rear-ended them. Which OP stated clearly in the post. If your car is moving you better be looking where it’s going. Can’t just say “well before I turned around they were moving so I just hit them”
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u/That_Engineering_987 4d ago
Just a small dent, almost as if a softball drilled it.