Another ‘Murdered’ (Totaled) Rivian - a sad story with a good ending

[PhatDaddy]

(Edited… pictures added)
As I just posted to the ‘Would you buy your Rivian again?’ poll, not only would I buy again… I just did, earlier this week.
My 2024 G1 R1T, delivered 12/30/2023 after a LONG preorder wait, was rear-ended in late Feb. 25 by a Silverado going 45 mph while I was stopped in traffic. Luckily I was the only occupant in my truck and saw the impact coming, but only had time to push my head back against the headrest, stomp on the brake, and hope for the best. I was just a few feet from the vehicle in front of me, but my vey expensive 3.5 ton R1T brick barely moved. The impact knocked my sun glasses off and my watch reported “It looks like you have been involved in a crash”. My last images seen through the rearview mirror was of the suddenly panicked face of the pickup truck driver that hit me (also only vehicle occupant) just before his hood crumpled up to block my view.

My R1T was still running until I shut it down, but when the police arrived I was able to drive it to a parking lot next to the highway with only warning messages that my rear sensors and rear camera were not working. The Silverado driver, an older guy (about my age) was shook up but uninjured although all front airbags were deployed (and he was charged with responsibility for the crash). His truck was a mess, and I was told later it was a write-off. All the parts you see on the ground in the picture are from the Silverado - and a few were embedded in my truck.

When I got home I reviewed the damage to my R1T more completely. My tailgate could (barely) be opened - at least once - but no luck opening the spare tire compartment. Turn signals and brake lights worked fine although the rear light bar was broken but remained in place. The first accessory I had purchased for my Rivian after delivery was a “impact absorbing” trailer hitch bumper, theoretically to attenuate impacts up to about 25-30 mph. It was crushed (along with the emergency 12V battery access tools I kept inside the tubular bumper pipe). I bought that bumper when I read about all the small rear impacts to Rivians leading to expensive body work… but obviously this impact was well beyond it’s design specs. Did it help attenuate the impact I felt? No idea. Did it being connected directly to the trailer hitch transfer more energy to my truck frame and increase the damage there? Also no idea.

If you want to know more about the bumper, see this website: Spare Bumper. What I can say is I am still a believer in the product, and the vendor provided me a replacement unit immediately for shipping cost alone when I provided pictures and the police crash report!

After discussion with my insurance company (Nationwide thru Rivian) the next day I drove my truck to a certified Rivian body shop around 80 miles away. No noticeable issues driving (other than the rear sensors/camera message). After initial and then ‘tear-down’ reviews, repair costs on my R1T went north of $60K (bent frame included) and it was written off as a total loss by my insurance. Although the responsible driver carried insurance, it was limited to $50K, so I refused their payout offer and relied on my own Nationwide coverage. Another choice I made at initial delivery, based totally on stories had I read here in the forum (especially the story of Sgt. Beavis’ ‘Murdered’ R1T) was opting for ‘New Vehicle Replacement’ coverage on my Rivian, good for first 3 years after purchase (at an add-on cost of $39/year!).

Obviously that choice paid off! Coverage was limited to a maximum of 110% of my original purchase price, plus sales tax.. which came close but didn’t quite cover a new R1T with all the same features. That coverage will also cover up to $3K of customizations (like the partial PPF and window tinting I put on my truck), but only up to the 110%, so I missed out on getting those covered as well. But all in all I was (obviously!) thrilled to get a huge check instead of getting back my ‘retirement gift to myself’ as a badly damaged but ‘repaired’ R1T.

In short order I was able to find a pretty exact replacement in the Rivian Shop available for delivery in time to take advantage of the end-of-the-quarter Rivian discounts which helped bring my price in near the 110% from the insurance payout. AND I got a V2 tonneau cover! after having that pulled from my initial order in 2023 due to the V1 (AND V1.5) tonneau issues. For me that is a huge deal and a much desired feature. I also originally changed my color choice from El Cap Granite to Red Canyon - solely because I decided red would be more visible to others in traffic and might save me damage others on the forum have experienced. Well… obviously that didn’t help. So I went back to my original desired El Cap color on my new R1T. Took possession of my new 2025 G2 R1T this week. VERY happy with my first… and even more happy - so far - with my second. Drive well all.

Him…

Me…

During tear down…

the good ending…

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[Donald Stanfield]

Post the pictures in here as well. It was impressive how much damage the Silverado took compared to your R1. I'm glad you got out of that crash without injury.

 

[shimps1]

I also have new car replacement with Nationwide. I'm curious, did you have a G1 Quad, or Dual? If Quad, what did they replace it with? I'd be happy with a Tri as that's basically comparable, but wondering if they tried to put you into a Dual. I wouldn't accept that downgrade.

 

[PhatDaddy]

I also have new car replacement with Nationwide. I'm curious, did you have a G1 Quad, or Dual? If Quad, what did they replace it with? I'd be happy with a Tri as that's basically comparable, but wondering if they tried to put you into a Dual. I wouldn't accept that downgrade.

My specs on both vehicles are in my forum signature. My G1 was a Dual Motor Performance Max, so a comparable vehicle was readily available, which obviously would not have been an option if mine had been a quad. I considered a Tri, but really just don’t need that (or the reduced range), not that I really ‘need’ the Performance option either ;-). Nationwide was great to work with and the Nationwide Rivian people were great about communication throughout. Nationwide was completely fair did not try to downgrade me on anything… just tried to help me cover like for like, up to the 110% cap, which is clearly spelled out in my policy. I would definitely recommend Nationwide and the New Vehicle Replacement coverage for a new Rivian if it is available (not available in all locations, apparently).

 

[joelster]

So you declined the other guy's insurance payout and put the whole thing on your own insurance? Do they then go after his insurance company through subrogation or is this all on you now?

 

[PhatDaddy]

So you declined the other guy's insurance payout and put the whole thing on your own insurance? Do they then go after his insurance company through subrogation or is this all on you now?

Yes, they did go after the other drivers insurance. But like all other prices, including the costs of a new Rivian, I fully expect my insurance prices to go up every year… perhaps dramatically, regardless. Insurance costs just never seem to go down. :-( I guess the most I can hope for is that I can stay insured and that on net I am lifetime positive given the replacement R1T.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

My specs on both vehicles are in my forum signature. My G1 was a Dual Motor Performance Max, so a comparable vehicle was readily available, which obviously would not have been an option if mine had been a quad. I considered a Tri, but really just don’t need that (or the reduced range), not that I really ‘need’ the Performance option either ;-). Nationwide was great to work with and the Nationwide Rivian people were great about communication throughout. Nationwide was completely fair did not try to downgrade me on anything… just tried to help me cover like for like, up to the 110% cap, which is clearly spelled out in my policy. I would definitely recommend Nationwide and the New Vehicle Replacement coverage for a new Rivian if it is available (not available in all locations, apparently).

Just wanted to point out the range of the tri is basically the same as the dual max in conserve. I get very close to the advertised 400 miles if I keep it 75 or under.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Nationwide/Rivian get knocked on all the time for their high premiums. Like most things… you get what you pay.

 

[SolartoEV]

If you have any contact with spare bumper, let them know they just sold one to me because of this story. I'm very impressed actually on the low amount of damage. If he was going maybe 10mph slower it might have saved you completely.

 

[Rivianero]

The R1T that I saved from the scrap yard had similar rear end damage, except for the bent frame. With <$5k in parts, that "totalled" vehicle could be made fully road/off-road worthy.

One impact of the R2 going with cast aluminum frames is that it will make any kind of frame damage much less reparable than R1. It's a tradeoff.

 

[Rivianero]

Re spare bumper, it is notable that on the R1, the hitch receiver attaches to the frame rails independently from the rear frame end that supports the bumper. Impact to a hitch mounted spare bumper would probably be absorbed by the hitch receiver and bolts perpendicular to the frame, without damaging the frame.

The vehicle is probably not designed to absorb impact in this way, but I think it is likely preferable to the sacrificial crunch zone of the bumper which includes weak fascia, camera, lights, sonar and radar sensors, and an aluminum support structure.

I would much rather have a bent hitch receiver ($500 part) from a low energy rear impact than bumper and body damage ($5000-$40000).

As we can see in this case, the spare bumper seems to have greatly reduced the amount of damage received.

 

[bigsky]

Glad to hear that you are okay and that you also were made whole thanks to your insurance. That is one reason why I carry very high coverage limits on my auto policy; one never knows what kind of insurance coverage the person that hits you may have, or not.
That said. Sure, it is great to see that at least the exterior damage to your truck is nowhere nearly as bad as the damage to the other vehicle, but at the end of the day, so what!?
Your R1T still got totaled just the same. No difference.

 

[PhatDaddy]

Glad to hear that you are okay and that you also were made whole thanks to your insurance. That is one reason why I carry very high coverage limits on my auto policy; one never knows what kind of insurance coverage the person that hits you may have, or not.
That said. Sure, it is great to see that at least the exterior damage to your truck is nowhere nearly as bad as the damage to the other vehicle, but at the end of the day, so what!?
Your R1T still got totaled just the same. No difference.

Agreed. Ultimately we need EV repairs to become less expensive over time and EV repair-ability to be higher. These need to not become yet another expensive ‘disposable’ consumer product. That was certainly not my intention when I purchased… perhaps I was naive.

 

[bigsky]

It looks as if insurance companies have decided to declare them losses right away instead of repairing vehicles, and at the same time jack up rates for everybody. It is exactly the main reason my insurance co. gave me last November for the $500 increase in policy renewal: the very high cost of repairs.

I am pretty certain that both these two vehicles will be sallvaged and end up back on the road with new happless owners. Just keep your R1T VIN and look it up down the road- registered in another state.

 

[Rivianero]

It looks as if insurance companies have decided to declare them losses right away instead of repairing vehicles, and at the same time jack up rates for everybody. It is exactly the main reason my insurance co. gave me last November for the $500 increase in policy renewal: the very high cost of repairs.

Agree.

So sad that vehicles even in this price range are somehow considered "disposable".

Much of that can be blamed on insurers, who seem to justify higher and higher insurance costs.

Some of the blame has to come back to manufacturers like Rivian, who should engineer better durability (such as real bumpers) and repairability as part of environmental responsibility.

IMHO, you get no points for vegan leather if your EV gets sent to the trash heap for the slightest ding.

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