Scotty,
My new 2019 Nissan Pathfinder was rear ended on Sunday by someone doing about 65-70 MPH. It was so violent it lift the rear wheels off the ground while propelling us forward about 40 feet before the wheels slammed back down on the ground. Currently my vehicle is at the body shop. If they tell me "nope frame's not bent" I want to verify it so I know they're not lying. Is there a way to tell if that frame is bent, and if so what signs should I be looking for when I inspect it?
The 2019 Pathfinder doesn't have a frame. It uses unibody construction which doesn't hold up in a crash. I guarantee the insurance company will deem the SUV a total loss.
I agree, I was gonna ask if the Pathfinder is a body on frame or unibody vehicle. Crushing a unibody is like crushing a can, you can never get the shape right again.
Thanks MountainManJoe.... You were right on the insurance company. Seems the person who hit me did more damage than the vehicle was worth. Insurance company told me it was totaled.
Wow, If you got rear ended at that speed you are very fortunate that you were not hurt! It must of had major damage. I would think insurance would total the vehicle.
Unfortunately they did total the vehicle. Time to go get another pathfinder.
Very lucky that you got through that OK, never mind the vehicle! A laser frame alignment jig would be able to tell whether the frame is bent. A good body shop should have one.
The Insurance company did total the vehicle... and they were able to see the under portion (not sure what you call it on a unibody). As for us being ok, my passenger was ok (save his PTSD from deployment being triggered by the impact) as his seat airbag and airbag curtain over the windows on that side, coupled with the seatbelt tensioner, kept him in his seat. As for me I have injury to my spine, and they are needing to do an MRI to see how bad it is (i.e. if it's something that will heal, or that will require some form of intervention to repair). But I always view it as any day you're not dead is an OK kinda day.... Thank goodness for good construction, who knows how much worse we could've been injured if it had been some poorly constructed vehicle.
@turkeySlayer Glad to hear y'all came out as good as you did. Keep in mind that accidents like that could have problems hit you weeks after. I got rear ended in my 98' 4Runner and the got hit me with a jeep cherokee doing at least 40, he never slowed. I thought I was fine at first, but then my lower back would start to hurt after sitting any amount of time, and I got whiplash that I didn't know I have. I still use a special cushion and pillow for my neck 11 years later. MRI's are good devices, but they miss some things too. I had a tumor all my life that numerous MRI's missed, Only the human eye saw it. Not to mention I had trouble with my ankle, two MRI's missed a piece of bone I wasn't supposed to have, still annoyed that so many doctors missed that.
Make sure that you are fully well before the insurance company settles anything, or it can come back to bite you.