Archived accident

[bradyw]

On the way home from work wensday a guy ran a red light and hit me in the driverside front tire and bumper my sterring gear box is leaking big time havent driven it since i limped it home. The sterring wheel is spun 1/2 a turn more to the left and it pulled hard to the right. What should i watch for and what kind of body shop is best i love this truck had to wait a long time to get it. He was doing about 35 and i was almost stopped by impact time it moved me about 4ft could this affect my frame.

 

[HBarlow]

Your repairs will require a large fully equipped body shop capable of measuring and straightening your frame if bent. The fact that the truck is a big dually probably increases the requirement. A typical shop that does a lot of unibody car repair may not be capable.

Where is the other driver's insurance adjuster in this? You'll have to check local yellow pages and ask around in truck service centers and auto dealerships that sell lots of light trucks to find out who is capable.

 

[BGlidewell]

glad you were not hurt.

 

[Cummins12V98]

YOUR insuance agent/adjuster is the one to help you get to the right place for repairs if you are not sure.

Get a rebuilt 3 turn steering box from Red Head steering out of Seattle, WA they put out a great product. I have had one on my 98 for 7 years and it is still tight. The three turn boxes are great.

Good luck with your repairs.

 

[Wayne M.]

glad you were not hurt.

I agree big time! Just for perspective, my cousin is a NYPD cop on duty gets t bone blasted in the A pillar on his side while on patrol. He had to be cut out. He seems OK with a concussion. Supposedly an F550 landscaper hit him.
Back to your situation. The insurance company will steer you towards a preferable (for them) shop. I don't know CA, but NY you have to right to pick the shop. You MUST do your homework and find a competent place that can straighten the frame if needed, do the wheel alignment etc. Not all shops can do this- you may have to look to the actual heavy truck scene in your area. If I needed that work, this is the type of shop I'd call--http://www.carcrafttruckworks.com/services.html

Good luck.

 

[bradyw]

Thankx guys that helps i was going to ask the dealer are they ussaully good at lest telling where to go thankx again

 

[Bob4x4]

Good that you are ok,bad part is any insurance company will want to total your truck with any frame damage being that old.

 

[JR]

Generally they will only total your vehicle if the damage exceeds 80 percent of the value of the vehicle. if there is extensive frame damage and it is close to the limit sometimes you can talk to the body shop and they will work with you to push the estimate one way or the other, depending on whether you want to total it or not.

 

[Bob4x4]

It won't take much to total 5-7k kbb valued truck

 

[WalterRyan]

All Wheel in Redding should be able to fix that. They can do the frame and straighten axles. It has been a while but I also thought there was a heavy duty alignment and frame shop off of 273 near Anderson.

 

[bradyw]

Thankx for info should hear from adjuster soon then ill go from there

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thankx for info should hear from adjuster soon then ill go from there

Six days later and you have not heard from the adjuster? Seems like a long time.

 

[HBarlow]

The at-fault driver's insurance company adjuster should have inspected your truck days ago. I would not be that patient.

 

[bradyw]

I heard from the adjuster he said that my truck valued at 8300 but said that the other people would call and talk about there liability. When he was inspecting the truck he said if itsclose to totaling that he could search napa or orielys to cut some i told him that drops the value my truck was orignal why is this taking so long. I would like to do the work myself it sounds fun never changed front end parts. What do u think

 

[HBarlow]

I think you're saying you heard from your own policy adjuster. If that's true it means you have not heard from the other vehicle owner's insurance adjuster. You initially said the other driver caused the accident. If the other driver was at fault the other insurance company is avoiding you and avoiding their obligation. If all this is correct you need to go talk to a lawyer.

 

[Bob4x4]

In California the insured's vehicle can be repaired by your own carrier regardless of fault. Then your insurance carrier will go after the at fault carrier

 

[HBarlow]

That might be his best option but won't it be counted as an accident claim and increased premiums by his own insurance carrier?

 

[bradyw]

Unfortantly we had the same ins. company progressive

 

[HBarlow]

In that case the only thing remaining to be resolved is whether Progressive will total your truck or pay for repairs. Under the heading of paying for repairs it must be decided whether Progressive will pay as the other driver's insurer or pay as your collision insurer and if you'll pay a big deductible and expect a big premium increase next year.

The accident occurred what, ten days to two weeks ago and you have no clear response from Progressive yet?

You're a lot more patient than I am. I would have already filed a complaint against Progressive with the Texas Insurance Commission.

 

[Sticks]

Ahhh, the insurance ride. Been there, done that, took a month and a half.