Fell asleep... need advice.

[DKiesewetter]

Not a problem at all... I appreciate it.



I want all new parts and they have told me it is my right, but they also claim it will take three times as long to use all new parts... seems like they are trying to convince me to go the route THEY want.



I would prefer they total the truck... maybe my body shop can convince them it is hopeless to get the job done right for under the 36k they will cut my check for.



Doug

 

[Mr.Goat]

Doug



I could not resist chimming in here as I totalled a new 03 with 7500 kilometers on it two years ago. Or should I say I was driving it when the guy that hit me head on in my lane totalled it.

Reguardless I'am certainly glad to hear that only your pride and the truck were hurt. I learned a tremendous amount about the insurance folks from my mishap. The first thing you must get through your head is that your insurance company is not your friend, they are not the least little bit concerned about you, your health, or the health of your truck, or bank account. These people are heartless sharks that are only concerned about the cheapest way for them to solve the matter to there best advantage.

Only when the cost of repairing the vehicle equal's or exceeds what they can get for it will they write it off. This is what there decision is based on period. Plain dollars and cent's. Yes they should be basing they repair costs on the installation of new parts, not used. If they are trying to substitute used parts for new it thus lowers there repair cost figures. Ususally they try to quote new part prices then quietly substitute used to make extra profit. This ususally is a body shop scam however. The adjuster will determine what he can get for the truck by having wrecking yards bid on the vehicle. He will take an average of those bids to determine what they can get for salvage. Blue book, black book or whatever colour book has nothing to do with it. It is what they can get for the truck in the condition it is presently in based on who bids the highest price.

Alot of insurance companies will have preferred body shops that they like to deal with. This can work to your advantage because the work is usually guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle. You may gain leverage by appearing to be the fussy type that keeps coming back unsatisfied. This costs them money. Did you have frame or driveline damage?? Very expensive to start repairing and or replacing these components. And there is alot of unforseen damage that can occur here that may not show up for some time. And remember the new Dodges have hydraformed frames they cannot be heated to straighten them. The only areas allowed to be heated for staightening are the horns just back of the bumpers. If you do have frame damage the law in your state may brand your ownership. Which means if you go to sell the truck you must disclose it was in an accident and suffered frame damage. This is law here in Ontario. Also if the truck has been written off the same rules apply. Oh and if your still covered by warrenty from DC that is now gone on the areas damaged!

My best adivce is to be very persistant in what you want, but at the same time very polite in your dealings and converastions. Your insurance company has assigned an adjudicator to your case. There job is to handle your claim to the best advantage (cheaply) of the company. Try to get the name of there supervisor or higher. Try to establish a relationship at this level. Be polite!! It will be hard by this time but you can not afford to tick them off. These folks have way more experience, and authority to make decisions on your claim.

If you are not claiming any medical expense's you might want to mention that fact even though you have a stiff neck!! You are saving them money here. I found it also very very helpfull to have a good relationship with the body shop manager at the preffered bodyshop as the insurance folks will take what he say's seriously, keep in mind he is in an ackward position here.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck in getting your truck written off. It took me 41 days to convince my insurance company it was in there best interest to do so for mine. If I can be of any further assistance don't hesitate. Pete

 

[Mr.Goat]

Doug

I forgot to mention. I had alot of extras on mine as well. I showed them the receipts and they paid me to the penny what was on them. I also had paid extra in my policy for full replacement cost for what I had paid for the truck for two years. I don't no why I put it on in the first place but I was sure glad I had it. I read in one of the replying posts that it is to your advantage to have posession of the truck so the insurance company can't screw you. This I don't see the logic in as you legally own this truck. The ownership is still in your name. They cannot fix, it or do anything with it without your written consent. Thats why I say be polite and don't tick them off. If you do they can just ignore you for now and ask you to take your truck home as is. And then what. Dealing with these folks is a nightmare of a lifetime. Pete

 

[EBottema]

Keep your stand, demand it be totaled. Dodge does not sell a brand new cab but all the pieces to make one. maybe 1 out of 100 body shops are going to do as good of a job making a cab as the factory did. Don't allow it to be fixed

 

[JStraw]

Good suggestion Lotero I always packsnacks and soft drink that I consume throughout road trips. If anything... the soft drinks will make you stop to piddle after a while :-laf

 

[Udaloy]

I would highly recommend you get them to total the truck, if at all possible. My brother tore his truck up pretty good a few years back, and it was never the same after that. The doors didn't shut right, it pulled to one side all the time, it "dog tracked" (is that the right term). Your insurance company is trying to save any money possible, and will leave you feeling screwed, all said and done. It cannot feel good getting into a $35,000 POS every day. jmho.

 

[Tim]

I find this hrd to believe. IU got a call from my adjuster this morning. he wants to fix my truck... claims it won't be totalled unless the motor is bad... amazing. The turck is trashed. Trying to get me to agree to use another cab off a wrecked truck.



Doug

You have to destroy 80% of the value to total a truck. I'd say that's plenty fixable.

Not a problem at all... I appreciate it.



I want all new parts and they have told me it is my right, but they also claim it will take three times as long to use all new parts... seems like they are trying to convince me to go the route THEY want.



I would prefer they total the truck... maybe my body shop can convince them it is hopeless to get the job done right for under the 36k they will cut my check for.



Doug

You do realize that you can't get a new 6 speed CTD powered truck right now, right? And probably won't for the remainder of the 2005 model year. There are no more new ones for the time being, they're on restriction for parts and can't be ordered. Trust me you want them to fix your truck. A crushed cab is no big deal. Find a good shop and make them fix it. It'll be good as new and you won't give up that precious NV 5600 truck that you can't get another one!!

 

[Huskerman]

You must have a better insurance company than I do because they wouldn't let me mandate all new parts when I wrecked my 99' a couple of years ago. It wasn't any more serious than a new bumper and right front fender damage but I swear, after 3 (yes THREE) alignment attempts I finally gave up. That truck never did drive right again after that.



I hate Allstate (not trying to start a flame-war about Allstate). I have been with them since I started driving (18 years) and they want to charge me 2k for full coverage on my new truck and wife's van. I have done some research and I can get the exact same coverage PLUS roadside assistance for my wife's van for 1/2 the price at a couple of other companies. As soon as I get back from Malaysia, I am switching.



Don't mean to hi-jack this thread.



Huskerman

 

[2Gen3Gen]

This reminds me of my brand new 1985 Chevy Silverado 3/4 4x4 that was 10 days old when an 82 year old lady smoked the stop sign and took me 1/2 block in the other direction. This lame insurance co rebuilt my truck around the tailgate! That was just about the only usable part left! It was within something like $100 away from the "total" figure and the adjuster was trying to make an example to his boss at my expence. To this day, I walk with a limp due to that accident smashing my left hip. I wish I had pictures!

Within 6 months, I sold it as it was wearing out the rear tires and didnt track straight. No one was willing to make it right. I was young and stupid. Today, I would insist on a NEW truck. Nothing less! :-{}

 

[GEM]

Doug, Your insurance company charged you a premium based upon a vin number and cost new. They do not have to give you a dime for your expensive assessories UNLESS you informed your agent of the upgrades and allowed a premium increase. Would you pay me for my 15,000 truck camper that was crushed when I rolled if you only earned premium for the truck? Most insurance companies easily make provisions for added gear in increments of 1,000. A premium is charged for each 1,000 added. Having said all that... . The average driver has an at fault accident every 11 years ending in damage over a threshold of $1,000. If you are within that range and still are a profitable account then the adjuster may lean on the blue book value for you to take away some of your pain. If and only if you treat the adjuster like a close friend. If you demand, they will deduct every mosquito dent as wear and tear. BE NICE!!!BE HUMBLE!!! Act like you've lost your best dog! Its their call not yours!

 

[Saccowboy]

well i totaled my 93 dually about a year and a half ago. wasnt my fault guy pulled out and hit the side of my truck on a 2 lane highway i was doing 55. spun and rolled it 4 times and landed on the tires. funny thing was the engine was still running haha! i have AAA and they gave me premium to replace truck because there arent that many still around in that good of condition. but the point is they paid me for just about every upgrade that was done to the truck as long as there is reciepts. they will only give you money for what is considered a performance upgrade. they prorated the tires based on how many miles were on them. no stereo money or tool box money or aux fuel tank money. just performance stuff. just my . 02 cents

 

[hasselbach]

Doug, as I mentioned on PBB,

Im glad you are ok... For those insterested, here are some pics of the truck that I found on a site him and I are both on. .





Hope you don't mind me posting these Doug. . And Im glad you are ok! Ive dozed once or twice in other cars, but never in my truck. .



Scott

aka Po' Riggity

Hey, how many beer cans are in the bed of the truck? I counted 4

 

[EBottema]

Doug, Your insurance company charged you a premium based upon a vin number and cost new. They do not have to give you a dime for your expensive assessories UNLESS you informed your agent of the upgrades and allowed a premium increase. Would you pay me for my 15,000 truck camper that was crushed when I rolled if you only earned premium for the truck? Most insurance companies easily make provisions for added gear in increments of 1,000. A premium is charged for each 1,000 added. Having said all that... . The average driver has an at fault accident every 11 years ending in damage over a threshold of $1,000. If you are within that range and still are a profitable account then the adjuster may lean on the blue book value for you to take away some of your pain. If and only if you treat the adjuster like a close friend. If you demand, they will deduct every mosquito dent as wear and tear. BE NICE!!!BE HUMBLE!!! Act like you've lost your best dog! Its their call not yours!

But you got to remember, if they are willing to pay for only a certain number of items, you are still allowed to remove ANY aftermarket item from the truck before it becomes their property. You truck can be fixed with a whole new cab or slightly used one. However, if you did the work, it would be done correctly since you care and want it to last. Your typical body shop with hack things together since they dont care.

Force them to total the truck and elect to buy it back. Im sure your frame is not bent. Find a used cab and put it back together yourself. You will get paid and have a CTD you put together



By the way, AllState sucks. My cousins wife and child were hit on a dirt road at 50mph on the drivers side of a f150 supercrew. It cost 24k to fix and the truck was only worth about 27k. The trucks rattles, door rubber sags, paint sucks, welds are terrible. They pieced a whole new cab and floor together, brand new frame, new front fender and interfenders, new rims, new rear axle tubes, not bed side, new front door, reskined door and looks like hell... . All that work and time over a few thousand saved by the insurance company and a worthless truck back on the road. Allstate sucks. If you fight, the insurance company will give in ... .

 

[2Gen3Gen]

But you got to remember, if they are willing to pay for only a certain number of items, you are still allowed to remove ANY aftermarket item from the truck before it becomes their property. You truck can be fixed with a whole new cab or slightly used one. However, if you did the work, it would be done correctly since you care and want it to last. Your typical body shop with hack things together since they dont care.

Force them to total the truck and elect to buy it back. Im sure your frame is not bent. Find a used cab and put it back together yourself. You will get paid and have a CTD you put together



By the way, AllState sucks. My cousins wife and child were hit on a dirt road at 50mph on the drivers side of a f150 supercrew. It cost 24k to fix and the truck was only worth about 27k. The trucks rattles, door rubber sags, paint sucks, welds are terrible. They pieced a whole new cab and floor together, brand new frame, new front fender and interfenders, new rims, new rear axle tubes, not bed side, new front door, reskined door and looks like hell... . All that work and time over a few thousand saved by the insurance company and a worthless truck back on the road. Allstate sucks. If you fight, the insurance company will give in ... .

Ive had Allstate for many years and Im very happy with them. They have always treated me right. I just had a windshield claim in my Corvette. The shop that did the work, got black gooo on the paint of my car and didn't clean the glass shavings out of the car. Because of that, Allstate cut me a check for the $750 and back charged the shop for shotty work. Might I add, this shop replaced the glass twice as they chipped the windshield on the first attempt and then tried to hide the mess. Allstate is only the insurance company. As for your truck not being right, that is the problem with the shop and you. If you so choose to use an "Allstate Pro Shop" to do your work, you have a LIFETIME WARRANTY on any work or paint done. That is something no other company has ever offered me. I know that Allstate stands behind their work as my son still drives my 97 Lincoln Mark 8 that got hit in the front left side bumper. Now, about 7 years later, the paint is chipping. My son took it to the pro shop and they fixed it with NO CHARGE! It was NO PROBLEM. Might I add that my cousin owns a Allstate agency and he will back up everything I have stated as Allstate backs up all their work, just as long as you use one of the pro shops. Might I add that not every shop can qualify as a pro shop. My guess is that you chose to take your truck to some other shop. Otherwise, you have every right to have the truck fixed to your satisfaction until it is right! I just want to set things right regarding the Allstate statement. As for me, Im very loyal to Allstate and have my cars, trucks, boat, travel trailer, and home insured with them as no one could come close to their rates and discounts! My local agent is a great person and has become a friend of the family. Im in good hands!



Sorry for the long post.