Nice vehicle, Flamey. I would take it through the car wash if you can. It should look the way you normally keep it.

I hope this gets to you in time.

DO NOT WASH IT. Take pictures of the damage right now. Your adjuster might want to do the same. If you wash it you may destroy any evidence of accident. Like the rub marks through the dirt that may be on the bumper, showing angles the other driver was at when he hit you.

After the adjuster is there, then go and wash it, and take another picture of the car, with the damage to the front bumper.

You can send him a copy of it clean if you want. But should the insurance companies try and find fault with you, you at least have pictures to prove your side of the story.

I personally would probably wash it if the option was available. I think it would help see the area better if it's not all gunked up.

I wouldn't worry about it. Yours is probably not the only dirty car he'll see that day. If it's very caked with dirt and he can't see what parts may be needed for the fix, he'll hose it off himself.

Most claims adjusters just go through the motions- ask a few questions, follow a checklist, fill out a form, take a photo. He or she will confirm what happened, confirm the damage, and then tell you what options you have for repair.

No need to be concerned. Alternatively, just go get it washed if that would make you feel better.

authenticity's sake, leave it.

___________

I was sick of the flood and FEMA not getting to my house, so I cleaned up. Luckily, I missed a spot, and only becaause I missed a spot, was he able to determine the height of the water. Keep it true to what happened.

My opinion leave it alone. He wants to see what it looks like now. He can tell how much damage was done to your car. I would take a ton of pictures of it. Just to have for yourself.
Mary

I would leave it. I doubt it matters but I'd err on the side of caution. Even if it's just to keep stories consistent to match the description given by the other driver.

OK, I'm going to err on the side of caution and not wash it, even though it really needs it and presents itself so well when it's clean. I get a lot of people asking when I'm going to sell it because they all want it. LOL. The answer is never, I can't afford one of the new ones, either. :)

Thanks, everybody, for your advice and opinions. I'll try to get home and print out some car photos of it looking nice so I can show the guy what it normally looks like. I'm at my parents' house helping out, this is day 6.

Do not wash. If your concern is that the dirt covers damage, offer to take the adjuster with you to the car wash once he arrives.
I am not in the insurance biz but I am thinking that whether the part is replaced or repaired it should look new when done. For damage like this puncture, I'm thinking that it will cost them less to replace than to do a perfect body job.

If the inside of the vehicle is immaculate the adjuster will be aware of the time and care you spend to keep it that way. That alone should reflect on the true condition of said vehicle. You cannot help it if at that given time the outside was covered with weather related materials. Another vote for a no wash. OOOOPS a day late and a dollar short....should have read all of the messages including your decision.

Chances are, the front parts will all have to be replaced any way. The adjuster will use year, make, model, not if it is dirty or not. Depending on insurance company, you will probably need to take it for estimates anyway.

Oh, good! The inside is immaculate, late last fall I got a wild hair and detailed it, even cleaned the leather seats and shampooed the carpet where there was a little spilled coffee. It's only got 88K miles on it and lives most of the time in the garage. Most of those miles were from toodling around here in the Ozarks or driving to FL or CO, loaded to the gills. It's great in snow.
I'm still appreciating all advice, thanks!

The insurance authorized repair should be the same whether the car appears to have been washed once a week, once a year, or never. Some of you have wild imaginations.

This may vary regionally or by company, but "getting estimates" hasn't been required for the last few incidents we've had (over the last 5 or 6 years). Nor did we have to use a specific shop. The insurance company contact said "if you use Shop A or Shop B, you'll get a longer warranty for the repair, but you can go anywhere you want".

I would tell the adjuster that the car is normally clean--but you were reluctant to wash it, to avoid "tampering with a crime scene." (smile)

Nice vehicle, Flamey. I would take it through the car wash if you can. It should look the way you normally keep it.

I hope this gets to you in time.

I'll do that, Wanda!

Thanks, Beth! x2, LOL!

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and advice. I appreciate everyone's expertise.

In my experience, the insurance company can deem an aftermarket part as good as an original and only pay for it. I agree it's frustrating and irritating when your car was not aftermarket, but really, the damage to value was done when the vehicle was hit. It's not fair, but whoever said life is fair, right? Hope it goes easily, quickly, and you're happy when your vehicle is all better.

It probably won't make a difference with the adjuster. He sees plenty of dirty vehicles in winter. Its his job to verify the extent of the damage and 'guess' the repair cost. You have other concerns that are greater than a layer of street dirt.

It is unfortunate that you were hit on private property instead of a public road. Laws do vary from state to state, but in my case many years ago, the opposing insurance company tried to wiggle out of my claim. My wife was at a burger place when another vehicle caved in a door - exiting a parking space accident. The police were called, but no ticket was issued since it was on private property and not a city street. The other driver was apologetic. Since there was no ticket, the opposing insurance company issued a letter saying they had no responsibility. My insurance fixed the car and then took the other insurance company to small claims court and collected from them.

You may have the law on your side since you may have been damaged by an illegal hitch. Check you state statutes on this. In my state, In my state, it is illegal to have a trailer hitch sticking out beyond the bumper unless a tow load (trailer) is attached. When the hitch is not in use, the owner is supposed to remove the extension (the part holding the hitch ball) for the very reason that it can damage other vehicles and is a hazard to pedestrians. This little known provision is largely ignored, but its worth checking out.

After a year of leaving the extension in place, rust may jam the extension to such an extent to make it impossible to remove, however, this can not be used as a defense.

Talk with your insurance agent right away. You may need him. I presume the adjuster works for the opponent's insurance company, and as such, his job is to shave costs as much as possible.

We actually called our insurance agent before we even exchanged information. She advised that calling the police would be futile because of the private parking lot and to try going through the guy's insurance agent and to call her if we have problems.

The driver's hitch was not inserted in the tow thing, it was the square receptacle that pushed into my bumper, but that's good information to have about how far it can stick out, thank you. I did not know that. I did get a photo of the guy standing at the back of his Durango and of the front of my SUV.

Thanks for the info and advise. I've never had an accident in my 40+ years of driving, so this is all new to me.

Flamey, two times I have been backed into by old people. Once I was sitting in my car when it happened and the other time I was standing next to my car, watching in horror as this old lady backed right into my car!!

Both times they hit my bumper and both times there was no damage!! I have a Honda Civic and for whatever reason, nothing happened when these geezers hit me!! Lucky me.

Lucky, lucky you, Beth! Civics must have amazing bumpers!

I was just informed that the man who hit me hasn't been insured with the company since March of last year. Grrrrr. We need to call him tonight and I hope it's just a mistake. I need him to have insurance, you could tell he had little/no money, we saw his residence, it was modest and he had a 9 month old in the Durango. I hate to make a claim with our company for something that wasn't my fault. (Stupid guy, driving with no insurance, if that's true. Think of the baby if nothing else.)

I wouldn't touch it at all, let them take pictures or whatever they do as is. Many vehicles are so dirty at this time of year and so leave it.

Could look like you tried to do something to it, no, leave it as is.

They probably are used to looking at all kinds of vehicles in all shapes.

kathy

hope all went well at the adjusters!

I fear it is not a mistake that your opponent was not insured. This where the coverage for uninsured drivers comes into play if you have that option in your policy. Your insurance agent can be a great help is sorting this out.

In my state, it is illegal to operate a vehicle on public roads without the minimum required insurance. However, there exists a goodly number of uninsured motorists for a variety of reasons.

I would not wash the car. Actually, I hope that your car is not written off - it could happen.

As for the interior be grateful it is clean. We have a double-coated, white, major shedding fuzzbutt. Cars have been black with black interiors.