Auto body repair & detailing: Unibody Repair, 2005 honda odyssey, ford f 350

Question
Bill:

My wife was in a three car pile-up on the freeway last Friday. She was in our 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L and was rear ended by a Ford F-350 pulling a travel trailer and was pushed into a Ford Explorer.

Both the hatch and the hood have extensive damage done to them and the angle at which she was pushed into the Explorer has made it so the passenger door can not open...though the right hand slider will open.

I have read that Unibody construction is designed to handle one significant impact and then it is difficult to repair it to original integrity. Is this true? Are there specific questions I should ask the body shop who does the repair? Is it important to get OEM parts over after market? At what point will this vehicle be considered totaled?

I know it is difficult to answer some of these questions without seeing the vehicle, but this is the transportation for my wife and three children. Part of the reason we purchased the Odyssey was due to its safety and I don't want a rebuilt vehicle that is not going to hold up to a second colission.

Thanks,

Eric

Answer
SORRY ABOUT YOUR MISFORTUNE. HONDA CARS AND TRUCKS ARE
SUPERIOR VEHICLES . UNIBODY IS JUST THAT, UNIBODY.THEY ARE PUT TOGETHER WITH SEVERAL SECTIONS, OR UNITS. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, ONE OR MORE OF THESE SECTIONS WILL NEED REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT.IF THE REPAIR BILL OR ESTIMATE EXCEEDS MORE THAN HALF THE RESALE VALUE OF YOUR CAR I WOULD NOT REPAIR, I WOULD BUY A NEW ONE.BUT THATS JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.
TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALER THAT HAS A REPUTABLE BODY SHOP AND INSIST ON GENUINE HONDA REPLACEMENT PARTS.
                      BEST I CAN DO WITHOUT A VIEW ERIC.
                                  GOOD LUCK,  BILL.