Minor accident - Looking for repair advice

[Briguy]

Got 4000 miles before someone picked me out and ran into the Mav. Steel wheel took most of the hit, but it looks like 3-4 clips on the lower front bumper cover were broken. is this a repair that can be done by me (Relatively handy) or do i need to go to a shop. Lower cover looks to be about 1/4" to 1/2" out of place. Looks like the clips were just broken. Really don't want to have to replace the lower cover because, you guessed it, the young driver that hit me doesn't have insurance.

Any repair suggestions appreciated.

I know it's minor and could have been worse, but it just bugs me.

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[Oscarcat]

There is part of insurance coverage that is common in CA called "uninsured motorist". Do you have that?

Also, I would report the accident and the uninsured motorist. You don't know if this is his/her first or 10th accident and being uninsured is against the law. Being young is no excuse. Next time the damage could involve injury. Could also be they have insurance but don't want parents to know so they played you.

 

[Old Fart]

No insurance is no excuse, they need to be spanked, and their tags (License plate) confiscated, insurance is required in all 50 states or financial responsibility for their actions. Did they even have a driver's license?

 

[Briguy]

Insurance and police reports have already been addressed. Just looking to see if I can repair easily or I need to go to the shop. Thanks

 

[Shawn]

Insurance and police reports have already been addressed. Just looking to see if I can repair easily or I need to go to the shop. Thanks

That really sucks, but have had similar experiences in other vehicles, got lucky once that the bumper cover popped back into place for me. If you only had 1 or 2 broken clips that may have worked but sounds like you have more so nothing really to retain it. Other than getting the new parts, which is not terrible to replace yourself, without the clips, you have to use adhesive or something to hold in place. I wouldn't reccomend this on such a new vehicle but similar damage I had on a 10 year old Ranger for the plastic bumper cover was easily fixed with clear adhesive caulk, just held in place with duct tape until it cured and pretty much could not tell. The Ranger had 280k miles so wasn't worth fixing it right, ended up getting 5,500 for it in the cash for clunker government deal a year later, those were the days!

 

[Bwicka]

Literally look s like 2 hours to r&r inner fender cover s . Bottom engine cover , snap in lower plastic and /or repair ( plastic weld) that horizontal snap in tab ( can’t quite see in pic if it’s still intact) .
If lower cover needs replacing figure an additional $450 for your cost on the black plastic cover.
But 2-3 hours labor for a shop.
Current rates are 80-140 depending on city for cheaper body shops.

have the kid work it off with yard labor!
If your trying to be nice , or approach their parents.

 

[Briguy]

Literally look s like 2 hours to r&r inner fender cover s . Bottom engine cover , snap in lower plastic and /or repair ( plastic weld) that horizontal snap in tab ( can’t quite see in pic if it’s still intact) .
If lower cover needs replacing figure an additional $450 for your cost on the black plastic cover.
But 2-3 hours labor for a shop.
Current rates are 80-140 depending on city for cheaper body shops.

have the kid work it off with yard labor!
If your trying to be nice , or approach their parents.

Thanks for the response. hadn't thought of plastic weld, but that could work also. Like I said minor problems. Could have been a lot worse.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

There is part of insurance coverage that is common in CA called "uninsured motorist". Do you have that?

Also, I would report the accident and the uninsured motorist. You don't know if this is his/her first or 10th accident and being uninsured is against the law. Being young is no excuse. Next time the damage could involve injury. Could also be they have insurance but don't want parents to know so they played you.

In Florida we also have uninsured motorist insurance, but it only pays for medical costs, not to fix your truck. If you have your own coverage for medical insurance, you can drop the uninsured motorist coverage, and save money on your policy. Check with your company and ask questions.

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