NHTSA Complaint #735396 — 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

I WAS INVOLED IN A 3 CAR CRASH. ONE OF THE CARS HIT A VEHICLE BROADSIDE AND THEN BOUNCED OFF HER AND HIT THE REAR LEFT PANEL AND BUMPER OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE AFTER THE ACCIDENT I EXPERIENCED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK AND VIBRATIONS WHEN I TRAVEL MORE THAN 50 MPH. THE DEALER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD FIXED THE BODY DAMAGE BUT NOTICED MY REAR AXLE WAS BENT. HE WAS WAITING ON AAA TO CALL TO OK IT GETTING FIXED. WELL, THEY NEVER STOPPED BY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT BECUASE LOOKING AT THE BODY DAMAGE THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD HAVE CASUED A BENT REAR AXLE. HE SAID THEY ONLY WAY I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A BENT AXLE WAS FROM A DIRECT HIT TO THE TIRE OR GONE OFF THE ROAD. THE MAN DRIVING HIT ME AT LEAST 35 MPH RIGHT THERE AT MY TIRE BUT FROM THE LOOKS OF IT I CAN'T TELL IF HE HIT THE TIRE. THE INS GUY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY THERE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND I JUST DIDN'T NOTICE IT. WHAT EVER! MY ALIGNMENT WAS JUST FINE AND THE WEAR ON MY TIRES WAS FROM NORMAL WEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE WAY IT VIBRATES DOESN'T "JUST HAPPEN". I AM SURE HE IS TRYING TO INSINUATE THAT I HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH REAR, SIDE CRASHES. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY CAVALIERS DON'T WITHSTAND WELL COLLISIONS FROM THE REAR AND SIDE. THE INSURANCE CO IS DECLINING TO PAY THIS PROBLEM AND IS TELLING ME TO MAKE OUT ANOTHER CLAIM FOR THE BENT REAR AXLE. THAT IS STUPID. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM TILL AFTER THE ACCIDENT.