Do You Think My Car Will Get Written-off? MAZDA 3 2014 NEO, Tree Vs CAR

Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 01:13
Last edited 08/02/2019 - 15:33

Had a mishap a few days ago but I luckily managed to get away without major injuries to myself, whiplash, concussion and a dislocated shoulder.

I swerved to avoid a front on collusion with a large kangaroo, but didn't see the tree next to the road. Not my brightest moment. I was only going 50km/h thankfully but crashed the car and some kind people helped me out.

I am a uni student so I have contact hours nearly 9-5, every week day for clinic and lectures.
I work 6 days of the week, so I rely on my car quiet heavily.

Car is a Mazda 3 Neo 2014 Automatic without the upgraded Audio system.
Front airbags went off, have nice bruising to my chest from it.

https://imgur.com/xbcfNTp

I am with Suncorp insurance and have made a claim. I'm in Cairns this changes things.
Car insured is around 15900. I think fixed value.

Only reason I hope it does is so I can move on quickly, I know with the crazy flooding, all parts and everything coming up this north has been delayed.

Do you think my car gets written off?

Poll Options

  • 4
    Repaired
  • 243
    Written-off
Automotive Car Mazda

Comments

  • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 01:16
    +1

    Also I'm sorry for the poor grammar and writing in general, on a good dose of pain meds and not in the most clear mental state. Thank you in advanced.

  • gomertose on 06/02/2019 - 01:19
    +65

    That'll buff right out

    • dasher86 on 06/02/2019 - 08:28
      +3

      A little bit of silicon and duct tape.

      • Kangal on 09/02/2019 - 23:48

        …plus a spray or two of WD40

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 01:26
    +10

    Did the front airbags deploy? Can't tell from picture. If they did then car will be written off.

    Glad you are OK. Rule of thumb where I live is never swerve around wildlife. The trees always win.

    • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 01:28

      thanks, yeah they did.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 01:30
        +4

        Collect your belongings and say your goodbyes then.

        • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 01:33

          Should start looking for a new car then?
          surely they would rather repair it then pay out nearly 14ishk after CTP and what not.
          granted I have little idea.

          • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 01:38
            +4

            @Allahazam: To replace the dashboard, front end repairs, possible engine or gearbox damage and potential structural damage you would be surprised what total cost is.

            What was your excess? They will deduct that from payout. Your policy will be terminated. Do you pay by the month? They will keep the car, claim remaining rego and flog it off to a wreckers.

            • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 01:42

              @[Deactivated]: Pay by the month, had 2 months left on the policy (200ish) but just renewed my CTP last week. (900) Excess was $1000. I have already paid the $1000 excess.

              • TRD on 06/02/2019 - 03:53

                @Allahazam: You can claim CTP later after it's officially written off

                • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 09:52
                  +1

                  @TRD: I thought with most written off claims the insurance companies claim the ctp and rego?

                  • HighAndDry on 06/02/2019 - 10:14
                    +2

                    @Allahazam: No, what they do do is give you a "payout figure" which includes the estimated CTP and Rego you can claim back, so the amount you get directly from them is lower. But that'll be part of the paperwork your insurance sends you - so read that carefully.

                  • jparga on 06/02/2019 - 12:53
                    +2

                    @Allahazam: insurance will write it off, they will send you a letter stating was written off, with that I went to vicroads (not sure where you live) , cancelled rego and got check on mail on refund. Start looking for a car…..good you are ok….

                    • pegaxs on 06/02/2019 - 23:26
                      +1

                      @jparga: Did you check to see if you got a cheque as well??

                      • Other on 08/02/2019 - 00:02

                        @pegaxs: I would care more about this than the rego refund….

                        But this is 0zBargain!

                        • salbee28 on 08/02/2019 - 11:49

                          @Other: My car (QLD registered) was recently written off in Victoria.

                          The insurance company sent me a letter to state this & I had to send a copy of that along with the paperwork from the link below. Your insurance company will also return the plates if your car is written off.

                          https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/cancel

                          • Allahazam on 12/02/2019 - 10:51

                            @salbee28: I spoke to the insurance company Suncorp, they are advising me that in the case the car gets written off Suncorp will get to claim the registration from Dep. of Transport.
                            I am wondering is this is the usual case? I registration expired on the 28.01 and the car accident was on the 04.02, 6 days of the registration was used.

    • boomramada on 06/02/2019 - 06:51
      +1

      Usually when air bag pops out, it's a written off. :)

      • ccrap on 08/02/2019 - 09:53
        +1

        Maybe usually, but not always true. On a low impact airbag deployed accident AAMI chose to repair the car rather than write off. The cost to repair was $7000 less than cost to write off and payout market value so really depends on how much damage there is as well as nature of that damage

    • bobbified on 06/02/2019 - 11:48

      From looking at the picture, I'd be a bit worried if the bags didn't deploy!

  • DemocracyManifest on 06/02/2019 - 01:27
    +10

    Yeah looks rooted sorry mate

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 02:37
    +28

    Here are my thoughts, in MS Paint form

    https://imgur.com/a/5Zr2Pd4

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 04:40
    -2

    Big crash for 50kmh. They'll check the onboard data/EDR. Are you sure it was 50?

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 05:57

      Wonder what happens if data shows it was greater than 50 in a 40 or 50 zone?

      • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 08:04
        +2

        nothing will happen, OP is already at fault (you're not supposed to swerve to avoid animals) that's what insurance is for, if it's your fault your insurance still covers it.

        • kyoba on 08/02/2019 - 14:42

          Hang on, im not sure i agree with the logic of not swerving to avoid a collision just to claim insurance. OP is at fault unless she can claim that kangaroo is owned by someone else who was negligent anyway.

          Otherwise itll just be treated as an unavoidable accident.

          I am curious to know how this affects at fault no claims discount policies though where its techinically not at fault?

          • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 18:29
            +1

            @kyoba: They teach you not to swerve to avoid an animal, (braking is OK) because you might lose control of the vehicle or hit something worse, like a tree, lamp post, another car.

            With larger animals like camels and cows (quite common up north) it's a bit different, but still it's better to a cow than a tree or another car. (A cow at speed will usually write a car off).

      • brad1-8tsi on 06/02/2019 - 09:36
        +6

        Nothing. Speeding is a police issue.

        About the only time insurance won't pay is if you are DUI/drugs or unlicenced.

        That crash doesn't look excessive for 50kph. Cars are designed to crumple like alfoil.

        To the OP. She's stuffed. Start shopping.

        • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 09:55

          Yeah was definitely my fault. Its a suburban area, very close to a large nature reserve/ parl.

        • HighAndDry on 06/02/2019 - 10:16

          About the only time insurance won't pay is if you are DUI/drugs or unlicenced.

          Yeah basically this. Or other illegal activity more than just garden variety speeding.

        • abuch47 on 08/02/2019 - 07:17

          or have a detectable vehicle in anyway. Balding tyres, illegal tint, bigger brakes, more power anything that isn't engineered and disclosed with the insurer.

  • whooah1979 on 06/02/2019 - 06:53
    +12

    I swerved to avoid a front on collusion with a large kangaroo, but didn't see the tree next to the road.

    Don't swerve next time. Hitting an animal is safer for the occupants of the vehicle than hitting trees.

    • dust on 06/02/2019 - 08:55
      +2

      This is true unless the animal you're about to hit is a moose.

      • Other on 08/02/2019 - 00:04
        +1

        Or a large Kangaroo that goes through the drivers side of the windshield at 80km/h.

    • djkelly69 on 06/02/2019 - 09:25

      Any consideration of the likelihood of avoiding the kangaroo by swerving vs the likelihood of hitting a tree after swerving?

      • HighAndDry on 06/02/2019 - 09:35
        +1

        Not if OP actually hits the tree because then the likelihood of that is 100%.

    • dcep on 06/02/2019 - 13:40
      -4

      but animal is a life form , tree is not

      • whooah1979 on 06/02/2019 - 14:02
        +16

        Both fauna and flora are living organisms, but only one of them are an immovable object.

    • nomoneynoproblems on 07/02/2019 - 22:32
      +3

      Easy to say that but when an animal suddenly appears out of no where, your natural instict is to swerve.

      • Herbse on 07/02/2019 - 23:09
        +1

        Or you know. Brake.

        • Bargain80 on 08/02/2019 - 09:23
          +6

          or close your eyes and hit the gas

          • Herbse on 08/02/2019 - 09:29
            +1

            @Bargain80: Essentially the same as swerving into unknown lanes in a haste

    • WhyAmICommenting on 09/02/2019 - 00:51

      Brake first, swerve if safe just before obstacle

      • bargdebarg on 09/02/2019 - 07:27

        Unlikely you'd get time to do both. You'll end up swerving while braking and that will end badly.

  • original15 on 06/02/2019 - 06:58
    +37

    Tree looks like it will be ok

    • ronnknee on 06/02/2019 - 09:22
      +17

      Tree: Thanks for asking.

      • dcep on 06/02/2019 - 13:38
        +18

        i am groot

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 10:24
      +1

      The tree is not a very large tree (slightly less than a torso thickness) and yet it looks almost undamaged.

  • pantsparty on 06/02/2019 - 06:59
    +13

    My god there are a lot of people crashing their cars on Ozbargain. No wonder my insurance premiums are so high.

  • voiletmay on 06/02/2019 - 07:23

    Suncorp are great. Do you have hire car with your policy? Whenenver we have had a claim, we always get a hirecar and it's easy.

    • Ozbargainite on 07/02/2019 - 05:33
      +4

      Suncorp are great?
      Hmmmm.
      3 words.
      Banking royal commission.

    • Briefcase Mong on 08/02/2019 - 10:42
      +4

      Suncorp are great lol

      said no one ever

  • altomic on 06/02/2019 - 07:49
    +31

    Probably cost you tree-fiddy

  • pegaxs on 06/02/2019 - 08:26
    +1

    Car is a write off. Even a quick gloss over of what is damaged will see that there is well over 50% replacement cost just in parts.

    Ok, so, got the story out of the way, go with that, insurance companies love it… but, what “really” happened? Urban area, raining, kangaroos are not really well known to just hang about in the pouring rain in residential areas in the middle of the road. No braking skid marks in the grass. Swerved to miss a kangaroo but didn’t bother to apply the brake? Looks like you just ran into the tree. Like you just weren’t looking and just drove into it.

    • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 10:02
      +6

      Damn, I live in North Queensland mate, near where I live is a nature reserve and a lot of free land. I saw the Kangaroo at the last moment and recall swerving, but don't recall anything after until I woke in the car, with some nice people helping me out. I was a bit distracted mentally just found out some sad news regarding my mothers hospitalisation. But 100% the accident was my fault, I just reacted instead of thinking.

      • Randxyz123 on 06/02/2019 - 14:54
        +4

        The most important thing is you are ok. It’s a bit lesson of why you have full insurance.

        Cars can be replaced, you can’t be…

        You’ll get a nice payout.

        Time to start looking for a new car. Also take a couple of sick days to recover properly.

        • CMH on 08/02/2019 - 00:08
          +26

          Cars can be replaced, you can’t be…

          Tell that to my ex.

      • CVonC on 08/02/2019 - 02:39

        but don't recall anything after until I woke in the car, with some nice people helping me out.

        Wow how long were you out for you reckon?

    • HighAndDry on 06/02/2019 - 10:17
      -3

      I was going to say something similar actually - it's also a surprisingly well-centered hit on the tree too, and seems much too major for the kind of small street/track the photo shows. But rainy + grass before the tree would explain lack of visible braking marks and not seeing the roo till the last second.

      • brad1-8tsi on 08/02/2019 - 08:08
        +5

        You usually hit dead in the middle. Target fixation.

        The firm I work for does a lot of regional work and we cover well over 1 million kilometres per year in the bush. Our driving safe policy says don't swerve. It also says don't drive at dawn and dusk and other suggestions to not get into a situation with wildlife. We have a rule for everything.

        • khomeini on 08/02/2019 - 09:14
          -3

          Without judging but I recall a time when my insurance valued my car at about 24k and I'd bought it for 13k.

          Guess what ran through my head after it has a few minor issues…. Mmm that tree looks good without causing too many injuries.

          Wisdom and hindsight, thank God I didn't bother. My pertinent comment though:

          You didn't miss. ;)

          • Allahazam on 08/02/2019 - 16:04
            +3

            @khomeini: Bought the car demo for 22k, after working most of my high school and first 2 years of uni. Needed a reliable car as I do placement in quite rural places, where if I got stranded could spell trouble.

            Last 6 month spent over 2.5k on the car, Rego Expired on the 28.01 just renewed it, spent 500 on a new start stop battery, 200 on having my wheels painted and a full major service in October last year, 400.

            I'm probably going to be left without a car and don't have hire car in my insurance, for 3-4wks, I have to hassle people for lifts to work and University everyday. Unfortunately Cairn's Public transport network is very unreliable, would be much different if I was in larger city. Uber and taxi's are expensive and it adds up quite quickly. I missed 4 days of work and university, so have to remediate that. Spent 2 days in hospital.

            After this accident, I am carless and injured. Overall a very horrendous experience and has definitely impacted my health. If I would have wanted to do this for the insurance could have driven south to Townsville to visit a friend and my car would have been written off from the floods. For me this whole experience just puts more financially and mental pressure on me.

            • khomeini on 08/02/2019 - 17:40

              @Allahazam: Upvoted for honesty.

              Best of luck in your recovery.

              It should be a write-off but inspectors and then reports could take at least a couple of weeks to compile - depending on how urgent they view it. I'd ask them to expedite it if possible.

              I understand being without a car, it sucks. Rent a bomb may be another option.

              All the best.

            • bargdebarg on 09/02/2019 - 07:32
              +1

              @Allahazam: Don't listen to the idiots on here. Glad you're not too injured and hope the insurance company are quick. Good luck

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 08:29
    +6

    MAZDA 3 2014 NEO Tree Vs CAR

    So what car is it?

    • Helldog on 07/02/2019 - 21:43
      +2

      Mazda makes a bloody good tree

  • ronnknee on 06/02/2019 - 09:23

    Looks like you can swap cars now?

    • Allahazam on 06/02/2019 - 10:04

      I decided to buy a used Mazda 3 for cheaper.

  • Bid Sniper on 06/02/2019 - 09:36
    +2

    Tree jumped out of nowhere

  • HighAndDry on 06/02/2019 - 09:36
    +3

    a front on collusion

    "NO COLLUSION! NO COLLUSION!"

    But seriously, glad you're okay, and yeah - if airbags deployed, generally that's a write off.

    • Caped Baldy on 06/02/2019 - 12:47
      +2

      I've made a huge mistake.

    • Bargain80 on 08/02/2019 - 09:29
      +2

      we need the Royal Tree Commission to investigate this collusion

  • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2019 - 10:30

    Poor tree

    • iDroid on 06/02/2019 - 11:17
      +1

      How did you evaluate the trees financial situation from that photo?

      Jest because it's not flaunting its wealth doesn't mean it's poor!!!

  • bobbified on 06/02/2019 - 12:01
    -4

    This car is gone.

    From the picture, there doesn't seem to be much that'd be obstucting your view so not sure how you wouldn't have seen the kangaroo from a further distance while only doing 50km/h.

    For future driving, learn to constantly scan the whole wide area ahead - not just stare at the piece of road directly in front of the car. If it's not kangaroos jumping out, it could be kids next time.

    Glad you didn't suffer any serious injuries!

    • cashews on 08/02/2019 - 19:01
      +2

      The kangaroo probably jumped into the road in the last minute like they do. I've hit one like this before, it literally jumped into the side of my car.

  • inherentchoice on 06/02/2019 - 12:18

    Nice car. My car is from the year 2000.

    • khomeini on 08/02/2019 - 09:09

      Beyond 2000?

      • CVonC on 08/02/2019 - 11:41
        +1

        He'll make it up to you in the year 2000.

  • rompastompa on 06/02/2019 - 13:45
    +1

    You may have won rounds one and two, but round tree was a knock out!

  • justhooked on 06/02/2019 - 14:59

    Definitely will be written off , my wife did much less damage to my Mazda 3 with a tree and was written off .

  • bargainhunter87 on 06/02/2019 - 15:07
    +5

    Tree will definitely be written off. Hopefully there is a branch nearby so it can walk in and make a claim.

  • the Unforgiven on 06/02/2019 - 22:35
    -1

    It should be OK unless the chassis is bent

    • brendanm on 07/02/2019 - 18:36

      Lol

    • macrocephalic on 08/02/2019 - 11:19
      +1

      What chassis? Almost all modern cars are monocoque.

      That car probably could be repaired, but it won't be. It's definitely an economic write off - even if it's not deemed a stat write off (probably will be).

  • adam on 06/02/2019 - 22:44
    +2

    Be aware that when they tell you the vehicle has been written off they will tell you the amount you are getting paid. If you have a market value policy then this amount is somewhat negotiable. Start doing some research now to try to determine what the vehicle is worth so that you can be informed when you discuss the value with them. If you feel what they are offering isn't a fair price you will need to be able to reference a few sales listing for similar cars that support your idea of what the price should be.

  • plasmoske on 07/02/2019 - 21:16
    -3

    50kph? lol yeah right

    • Other on 08/02/2019 - 00:08

      Ugh….

  • lostn on 07/02/2019 - 21:42

    The tree always wins. It will be a very expensive repair. Maybe written off but I'm not sure if getting another car is faster than having it repaired. Though I would rather have a write off personally.

    If it's a repair, you can take the car hire option if it's in your policy. But I doubt they will repair it. I had much lighter damage than you, and the repairer told me that to replace the grill and bumper in my car would have been 9000 plus labour. That's more than half the value of your car. Your damage will be way more than mine, so a very likely write off.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2019 - 21:52
    +4

    How's the tree ?
    Your vehicle is definitely rooted

  • bod311 on 07/02/2019 - 21:54
    +8

    To all the armchair experts claiming, they know what a 50km/h impact looks like (http://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/mazda/3/8c1df2/images…) have a look at the significantly greater deformation in a 64km/h collision, to give yourselves a rough idea of what impact damage looks like. This collision also involved a tree/pole, the mechanism of impact is again increased, with a smaller surface area absorbing the impact.

    I think a lot of people forget when rubber necking past accidents that in the vast majority of cases brakes are applied and the actual impact speed is substantially less than that the vehicle was traveling. This gives an unrealistic impression of what a high or moderate speed accident actually looks like.

    To answer your question though $15900 is probably in the vicinity of repair costs. If I had to bet I'd probably go with write off though.

  • Herbse on 07/02/2019 - 23:06

    Why do people swerve to avoid kangaroos. Just brake, if you hit it, too bad.
    Swerve and kill another driver, pedestrian or yourself seems like a bad idea just to save a kangaroo

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