Truck Severly Wounded, Could be Fatal

[Neal Cassady]

Here the latest on the truck situation. The GEICO damage estimator and the body shop manager went over the truck very thoroughly on Thursday PM. Estimated damage is currently in the 16K range, up from the initial field estimate of approx. 8K which was based on visible damage at the impound yard.

Damage includes but is not limited to the drivers door, drivers quad door, Westin CPS tube step, rear drivers cab, bed is trash, drivers rear wheel and tire, entire axle assembly, rear bumper, factory tow hitch, passenger rear wheel and tire, thrashed ARE K series cap, and rear passenger corner of cab. The bed was hit so hard it rotated CCW and put a major crease where it contacted the rear passenger corner of the cab. And last but not least the frame rearward of the fuel tank has a couple of bends. It was pushed over, up and down.

Hoping for a total on the truck. At this point it appears to depend on the salvage value of the truck. I hope to collect the damage amount and have the truck sold as salvage. I am sure the truck could be fixed but it won't ever be the same. If the frame wasn't tweaked they would be fixing it right now. I don't think they can cold pull the frame back into place and have it stay there.

The girl that ran into me was issued 3 citations good for around $600. 00. Officer who wrote the report told me he could have easily doubled the amount, said he took it easy on her, thought she had enough problems, almost killing two kids and all. Don't know what the tickets were for, they are not included in the police report. Guess I will find out if there is a trial involved.

I will update the thread when I get this mess sorted out, there are lots of unresolved insurance and legal issues at this point. My attorney told me not to say anything to anybody.

Appreciate all the kind words and private emails from the TDR community, nice to feel some support when the chips are down.

Dave

 

[rickhans]

It sounds like the insurance rules are different in some of your states. In Texas the owner of the car has to carry insurance on the car regardless of who drives it. If I loan the car out and the borrower wrecks it , and he is at fault, my liability pays. Drivers who don't own cars don't have to have insurance.

Personally, I would never turn a claim into my insurance company if the accident is the other persons fault and they have insurance. I don't want any mention of a claim on my insurance record because the insurance companies track even those that are not your fault, althouth generally there is no penalty unless you are in several no-fault of your own accidents.

I had to collect diminished value when the other drivers insurance refused to total one of our cars. We fought a lot, but the state ins. board is very helpful in situations like this and give out good advice. We finally got the diminished value.


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98. 5 24V QC 4x4 SB 3:54 5sp

 

[KWIKKURT]

Sorry to hear about the Wreck. It brought tears to my eyes. . I've been through the insurance mill a few times. .

Demand a new truck, Yours back for free or very low salvage and three times the loss of work, loss of use, pain and suffering etc.

They will pay much more if you get a lawyer involved... Be sure first that you and your kid are ok. Sometimes problems don't show up for weeks or months. The hardest part is not rushing the settlement.

Good Luck ... ... ... ... ... ... Kurt

 

[hammong]

It p's me off to no end to see stupid people on the road with no regard for their own, or other people's safety. 19 years old, no license, driving her kids around to "settle them down" by driving TOO fast in a vehicle that isn't even hers, with kids that aren't even in car seats. The kids would have been luckier to have their momma pass on and be left with somebody more responsible for their safety.

I'm sorry - I have no tolerance for those that will take others' lives in their own hands, with not so much as a passing thought for the outcome of their actions.

Good luck with the insurance. Since she was unlicensed, she most certainly doesn't have insurance of her own. Your uninsured motorist coverage will likely pick up the tab, as the owner of the car probably is going to say, "I don't know anything about it. She didn't have my permission. "

If your company wants to FIX your truck, you have the right to accept the cash for the estimate and do what you want to with the vehicle. If it's worth 35K, has a salvage value of 6K, and it takes 16K to fix it -- they're most likely not going to "total" the truck with a 13K difference between repaired+salvage and replacement value.

Greg


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Y2K Dodge Cummins QC 2500 SLT Laramie 4x4 Long Bed, 4. 10/Auto, Forest Green/Driftwood, 265x75R16 Michelin LTX, 6 speaker CD, Camper/Tow/Plow Packages, Westin Black Nerfs, Mopar bedliner, Ultra bright diamondplate toolbox, K&N Filtercharger. Autometer EGT and Boost gauges with 2-gauge full pillar w/tweeter.
http://www.rints.com/hammond for photos!