Had Accident need advice.

[lgibson]

First off I would like to say everyone was ok. The driver of the Suburban was taken to the hospital because she smacked into her door and window. She was ok just shaken up a little. I seem ok, but tomorrow I may be hurting.



A lady in a 1988 Suburban ran a red light and I struck the front left fender. She admitted to runing the red light to the Police and Medics. She was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device. Her Suburban was hit really good. My front bumper cleared the wheel and hit the tire, which blew out. I then hit soft sheet medal and smashed it to the frame. I had on a TJM front bumper/brushguard which bent and hit my right fender, grill, and hood. It was leaking antifreeze so it had to be towed, by a F-550. It was kinda cool to see the Dodge sqat the back of the Ford and raised the front end way up to where the front tires were kinda angled.



Anyway, I never had to deal with this kind of stuff before and not too sure what to do. Should I go talk to an attorney, or wait to see what the insurance is going to do. I have Country Companies Insurance, Full coverage of course. She has Alstate. How are these companies? How do I go about getting my truck repaired, do I take it to their choice of shop or do I have the right to take it to the one I want? Who is good in the Salem Oregon area? My front bumper is not shipped to America anymore, so what gets done with it, I really loved that bumper?



Any advice or warnings about what to watch out for? Four hours after and I am getting sore and stiff. With all my other previous boo-boos I think I will get checked out tonight.



Help me please, Thanks Larry

 

[Doc Tinker]

You don't need to find a lawyer yet. Usually the insurance companies will duke it out in the background and you don't need to do anything more than make your statement. I suggest that you go get a copy of the accident report though.



In Michigan, a no fault state, the insurance company for each party pays to repair the car that they insure. It might be that way in Oregon too. I think it's a bad law, but it does make it easy to get repairs done, since you are only dealing with one company. My insurance company allows me to choose my own repair shop, as long as they are on the list. I can take my business to a non-listed facility if I have three estimates and the estimate of my chosen facility is close to the other three.



I'm glad you and your family are OK. Soreness, the day after, is common.



Doc

 

[Sled Puller]

Never hurts to go see a Doctor after a hit like that.



Just make sure it gets fixed the way you you want it.

 

[sdalton]

See a Physician immediately, it there are any pains at all. No matter how small. Document Document Document. Take pictures of the intersection and both vehicles if possible, and get the police report. You would be surprised at how far they can be off from what actually happened.

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Sled Puller

Never hurts to go see a Doctor after a hit like that.



Just make sure it gets fixed the way you you want it.

Yea, what sled puller said. I was in several pretty bad accidents. One or two in cars, and two real biggies in tractor trailers.

It's not unusuial to start feeling pain a day or two later.



When you get the call on the phone from the insurance co's for your statement, I had mine written down. This way, you can go over it first, and see if you forgot something. Small detail means a lot here. I have a short memory, and didnt want to rely totally on it alone.

Insist on factory parts. They might want to cheap out on you with off brand stuff.



Pictures!! I had an acciddent where nobody was sure who was on who's side of the road. (Their word against yours)I went back the next day and took pictures of the skid marks, and where they were in the intersection. Viola!! no problem.



Eric

 

[M Barnett]

Insist on factory parts. They might want to cheap out on you with off brand stuff.

Eric said a mouthfull there. It is common practice for auto body repair shops to use inferior body panels when rebuilding your truck. These will be thinner, poor fitting and no rust protection. Most people never know the difference. Insist on OEM parts! I am insured with Allstate and the way it works here is I would get my auto repaired and Allstate would pay the bill, then they would collect from the other company.

Michael

 

[Hammer]

One other thing to be taken into consideration here is this,if your truck is in nice shape before the accident not only do you need to specify "Factory parts" you need to make it clear that you want NO USED parts installed,,One of Allstates game is that,they will run a search for the used parts first(depending on the year,milage,etc of your truck) and then try have them used first(unless the truck is newer),,I left them due to a deal like this and their high rates in our area,,Someone else has already stated this and I'll agree... . Demand it returned to the condition it was before the accident and accept NOTHING LESS,,Hope you make out all right and glad to see no one was injured,trucks can be repaired and replaced but people can not,,If you need anything drop me a note... ... ... Andy

 

[RottnDogue]

1. See a Doctor

2. have truck taken to your choice of repair shop

3. Insist on Factory parts, especially sheet metal. The Insurance company will probably balk at this, but you tell them she hit you and you want the truck repaired as close to original as possible.

4. glad everyone was OK.....



Darren

 

[JLinder]

I agree with everyone else.

I had my truck repaired late last year, and ended up spending some of my own money so it would be done correctly. Of course, it was a single car accident (mine) so MY insurance co. wanted to pay out as little as possible. Just make darn sure the shop that fixes it has a good reputation, and that any and everything be replaced to repaired to your satisfaction.



One more thing: If the insurance co. gives you any grief about replacing any aftermarket parts you might have on your truck, so them to shove it. The local body shop here replaces aftermarket bumpers and suspension parts all the time on the insurance co's dime.



Good Luck!

 

[TPCDrafting]

The auto body shop may be able to straighten the aftermarket bumper on your truck. Be sure to inspect all the old and new welds on it before taking delivery.



Glad everybody is ok

 

[Deezul1]

If possible check that the OEM parts were installed. I specified OEM on my truck and was told "thats all we use" when looking it over after it was done I found a made in china sticker under the wheel well on the fender. They did it over and it was custom paint too.

 

[Pit Bull]

One big thing to remember is that it can take a couple of months for your truck to get fixed. Make sure the insurance company pays for a rental vehicle or you will be walking for 2 months. If you were hurt you can normally take the costs of repairs,rental etc. and the cost of your injure (medical bills) and multiply that number by 3 and that is what the other insurance company will pay you without the help of a Lawyer.



Good luck.

 

[QRTRHRS]

This is after the fact for Larry but not for the rest of us. Always keep a throw away camera in the glove compartment and replace it every so often. If you are involved, gather your thoughts, and as soon as possible, start taking photos. Another thing; don't worry about how bad traffic is backed up. If it looks like anything serious, wait until the police come and tell you can move if your vehicle is able to do so.

 

[lgibson]

Well, everything is going good so far. I got a call her insurance and it looks like they are covering 100%. My truck should be going to Roberson Motors this week. Roberson is a Chrsy. dealer and I heard was pretty good. Her insurance complained some because I am renting a Chrsy. Town and Country van. They wanted me to just get a eco-box. I told them I am 6'6" and 170 and will not fit, and I transport kids and going to Vegas next week with seven people. They are going to pay, and were very nice to deal with.



I have some pictures and going to have a friend scan them and get them posted. I never posted pictures before so I may need some help. My truck don't look too bad, but that Suburban is totaled.



After all the talk about members getting rear-ended, I went and put the hitch back on. It did not help me at all. Now I have to get one up front. I just said a few days before in a post that if something happened to this bumper I would have to get a Ute. I should have never said that.



I am feeling fine, only my back hurting some. I am going to see my orthopedic this week just for a check up. I have too many war wounds that I should be checked up.



QRTRHRS

I did have a disposable camera, but it was in there for a few months so I used up the pictures a few days before. It is funny how things work out. I left my truck in the intersection till the police arrived. I moved it on there request because I was blocking traffic. I was only going about 30 mph and hit her hard enough to spin her around. It felt like a little bump, air bags did not even go off. The mighty Cummins was still running strong, but was leaking coolant so it was towed.



Thank you for your advise and wisdom, it really helped out. This is my first accident that I had to do anything myself. The last one was very bad and had deep pockets companies insurance, so I had an attorney handle it.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I had a similar accident in August of '01 - a young lady fell asleep in her Nissan and ran a red light. She addimitted to the Police officer what she had done - no citation was issued and all parties were unhurt. My insuranse company handled the whole thing - it didn't cost me a dime. I destroyed the Nissan and did over $6000. 00 damage to my truck. After prying the right front fender away from the tire I drove it home (4 blocks). Obrist & Cunningham in Portland did an excellant job. There's no way you can tell it was in an accident. The only thing they didn't do was to swiss cheese the air box.



With her being issued a citation you shouldn't have any problems. In Oregon you can choose your own repair facility but they will try to steer you to one they have an agreement with. It's your choise.



I wouldn't sign a release until I was certain I was out of the woods injury wise.



Good luck!

Bob