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About a month ago a deer bolted out into the road from my left. I slammed on the brakes and slid right smack into her.Ended up with a very bent hood, smashed front bumper and headlights, not to mention some leaking fluids, so there was a bit of internal damage. The car was still running quite smoothly as I moved it to the side of the road.My 2003 w/ 115k miles was still running strong until the bitter end! I was really surprised, but it was totaled. After a few weeks of negotiation with the insurance company, I was able to get their initial $7600, settlement offer up to $8100 after telling them I had the Moon/Tunes and keyless entry. I guess it's not a bad offer since I paid $12k (used) for it 3.5 years ago and only had to do regular maintence (oil, brakes, tires, alignment, tires, alignment, tires, alignment).The only regret I have is that I didn't buy it back from the insurance company for the $275 salvage price they offered it for. I really think that I could have sold it on eBay as a parts car. I'm going to keep checking on the salvage yard's website to see what they do with it.After researching different cars for the last month, I just bought a 2005 Vibe, same color (Satellite). It had one owner, 65k miles and is in excellent condition. I paid $10k at a local dealership that had it priced at a reasonable $11k, but were eager to deal.There's a little rattle coming from the right front, more noticable when I lean into the passenger seat, so I'm having that checked out on Monday. I think that my 2003 had better acceleration than this one, but this one is a hell of a lot quieter to ride in! Of course, the new tires the dealership put on may be because of something I'm not going to realize for another 12k miles!BTW - The deer lay on the side of the road in agony until I decided 10 minutes later to get my camera and snap a pic of it to prove to the insurance company that I really did hit a deer. At that point, it got up and walked away. Freakin' deer. At least it left behind a fair amount of fur as evidence.

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thats a bummer you could have parted out that car for a nice chunk of change... don't those deer know that you have the right of way?

That's pretty wrecked. It looks like it could have been fixed with a few new body parts but there is always more damage underneath the skin. I had a deer jump into the side of my truck a few months ago and made a few dents and broke the mirror. The insurance company actually asked the estimator at the body shop if it looked like deer damage. I had saved the smashed mirror full of deer hair just for that reason and he took pictures of it.

I hate deer with a passion....it's a wonder why I don't hunt. I hate hunting though too sooooo lol...unless it involves me sitting on the side of the freeway with a mini-gun protecting innocent motorists from stupid deer crossing the road without looking or listening. You are about to hit a deer and instead of an inevitable crash with airbags in your face, you gently glide through a mist of red rain and fur glistening in the moonlight....My friend hit one in his Contour going ~ 90mph a month ago. Totaled the car. The deer got it good though,. After getting ripped in half by my friend's car, half of it got run over by a Civic.I'm sorry about the news At least you are still in the Vibe family though I'm assuming you didn't get injured?

Ouch is right. Looks like a pretty good hit. Shame the vibe was a total but looks like you did good on the settlement. I see your from the Dirty Jerz as well. What road where you traveling on? I'll need to stay away from there.

I hope the deer doesn't decide to sue. ha

I thought about getting it back from the insurance company to possibly repair, but they insisted that they needed to replace my "clean" title with a "salvage" title. After researching what needed to be done to get it repaired and providing the original damage estimate and subsequent repair documentation I needed to have it pass state inspection for a "clean" title again was more than I wanted to deal with for a car with 115k miles.I should have at least removed the roof rack crossbars before they took it away!

Quote, originally posted by mjbsb69 »I hope the deer doesn't decide to sue. haI gaurentee that the deer is very dead now. Even though it got up, it could not have caused that amount of damage without massive internal injuries. I guess the deers family could sue though...

ouch that sucks, glad to hear that you're ok are you gonna get another vibe since it's a write off?

Merzbow - We didn't feel a thing, only heard a "thump". No airbag deployment was probably a good thing...June - We were up on Rt. 94 in Vernon (Sussex County). A Funny Note - Nobody stopped to help us (didn't even slow down) except one guy in a dark van who told us to snap the deer's neck to kill it. "Okay, thank you sir, but the police are on their way". People are odd.

That was probably his way of telling you to put the deer out of its misery. I would not be to keen on wrestling with a dying deer to try to snap its neck. Its one thing to shoot it, its another thing to wrap your hands around its throat.

I think what freaked me out was the casual tone of his voice... as if I would say "Oh, ok, let me just put my purse down and get on that snapping the neck thing...."

Wow, glad you are ok.

lol..sorry..couldnt help laugh about what the guy said..i can just picture in my head..i woulda said " be my guest"

That's funny. I can't believe somebody pulled over to tell you that. Although according to protocol you're supposed to kill them if they're injured. Back home we used to use a tire iron. Mildly safer than trying to wrestle it to break a neck. Sorry to hear about the wreck. Glad you're okay!

Quote, originally posted by Linda »A Funny Note - Nobody stopped to help us (didn't even slow down)...People are odd.Same thing happened to my dad after his wreck, and he was in the middle of the road. Sorry to hear about the Vibe, but congrats on the new one... poor dear.

yeah "ouch" is right. but we're glad you guys are ok btw, your new vibe is "platinum". they lightened the color a shade or two and changed the name from

Wow, crazy story... Glad to hear you are back in a Vibe though... It could have been worse, much worse... Note: pic below is not for the squemish.. http://img.photobucket.com/alb...1.jpg

Sorry about the car (glad everyone's ok).When I was in college, some of my roommates took a road trip on spring break, and hit a deer on the interstate. It was still alive (broken pelvis from how they described it), and the Hi Po on the scene was squeamish about shooting it with his shotgun (guess he was never a hunter). One of my friends actually asked the officer if he could shoot the deer with the officer's shotgun. He didn't let him, of course, but boy, what a brave Patrolman.

what a wreck. its a good thing it didn't go through the windshield like i've heard in other situations like this. the most dangerous part is when the deer tries to extricate itself from there. it starts thrashing around, antlers flying all over the place...that alone can really injure the passengersglad the vibe kept you guys safe, and congrats on the 'new' vibe.

I've seen worse deer wrecks and would say you got off very lucky indeed.

Quote, originally posted by AZViking »Sorry about the car (glad everyone's ok).When I was in college, some of my roommates took a road trip on spring break, and hit a deer on the interstate. It was still alive (broken pelvis from how they described it), and the Hi Po on the scene was squeamish about shooting it with his shotgun (guess he was never a hunter). One of my friends actually asked the officer if he could shoot the deer with the officer's shotgun. He didn't let him, of course, but boy, what a brave Patrolman. I did the same to one once, in my Subie... It ended up in the other lane (2 lane) I wasn't dead until the OTHER 3 CARS hit it..

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind » I wasn't dead until the OTHER 3 CARS hit it.. I KNEW IT!!! lol you really are a ghost.

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I KNEW IT!!! lol you really are a ghost.Ha, you finally figured me out...

Took 3 cars to kill you though, your one tough dude.

Must be a jersey thing. I've had deer collisions with my G6 and previously with my Vibe.