Archived Truck totaled by hail storm need advice

[Pit Bull]

Hail Storm Totaled Truck need advise

Hail storm hit around 10:00 this morning, with hail up to the size of between a hardball and a golfball. Looks like someone took a ballpeen hammer to my truck. dents in hood, roof, both front fenders, all of the doors. Only thing not dented are the flat sides of my truck. Dented every curved metal surface. I just filed a claim with my insurance company. Any advise on what I should demand from the insurance company. Anyone have any experence with this much hail damage? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

PS Truck is black so the dents show up big time





__________________

2000 - 3500 QC - 4x4 - CTD/ETC

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

You could get a take-off bed pretty cheap. Anew cowl indution hood can be had for under $400(stock is ~$670). Fenders shouldn't be a big deal. Then just worry about the doors and top.



did all the glass live through it???

 

[Pit Bull]

Didn't break the glass, guess the angle of the hail was not straight down. The hood is the most noticable, you can see the dents from 30 yards away. The top does not bother me since the truck is so tall no one will be looking down on me I just wondered if I should ask for the cost of a whole truck paint job? Truck is 2 years old and there is no way that the paint can be matched.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

At least it's driveable.



Put a flatbed, new hood, fenders and get the top and doors fixed.



Then paint it all.

 

[BCFAST]

I have been a paintless dent guy for 10 years. Repairing hail damage by this method is the cat's pajamas, but when you're talking about curved edges... that's tough, and only the best techs can do it right. If it were me, I'd demand all new parts from my insurance company (NO REPROS!!!), then consult a few dent guys on what they can fix and what they cannot. With the difference in money, you can buy new fenders or BOMB items... use the paintless method to fix the hood and roof at least.



Brian

 

[mikeg135]

I had a two vehicles that had hale damage after a storm. It does not sound like the extent to what you are talking about though. One that that did suprise me was the the amount I was given for the damage that was done.



The trick is to get what you can out of the insurance companies and try to cut costs on the repairs. After market parts etc. I seem to even think an old room mate of mine ordered parts from a company called "I love Trucks". They had great prices on body parts but they still need to be painted.



It would not hurt to get an estimate or two from some local body shops to make sure the insurance company gives you enough.



Mike

 

[Lurch]

I went through this with baseball sized hail. Insurance co. said new hood, new roof, 56 hrs labor to pull the rest of the dents, new paint. $4500.



Lurch

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks guys. I think I will go around today and get some est. 's so I will know what they should pay me.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

unhappy hail

Good old hail, a real blessing for the poor body shop workers.



Black is actually quite easy to match, but it will not hide any shoddy bodywork. Few people look at the roof, so you might be able to skip that fix. The body shops could bid a new roof, but that is expensive and means the glass and back window have to come out. If it is not done right, you will end up with water leaks. You might just want to take the money on that repair or have the dents fixed.



In the body shop, we always used . 3 hr per dent to make the basis of repair time. You will end up with a bid for a complete repaint on the repair bill. You also will want to consider the fact that you may have a damage disclosure if the damage is high enough. In Iowa, that is $5k of damage or more.



You can use aftermarket or performance parts if you want to, as long as it is estimated that way with the insurance company. I have heard lots of good things about the quality of aftermarket parts for the Rams.



Best of luck, and remember it is your truck.

 

[Pit Bull]

Damage est. $5,500. I'm sure that after my insurance companies indepent appraiser does his thing it will be less. Just wanted to get the damaged appraised so I can give it to the appraiser. That way we have a starting point and he does not miss anything.

 

[Randy J]

Just for the record, getting money for new parts and replacing with used or aftermarket parts, or repairing the parts can be considered insurance fraud. Some states have very tough laws regarding this. At the very least it is unethical, and is what keeps insurance premiums rising. You are owed to have your truck repaired back to the equivelent of pre-loss condition, and that's what your insurance company owes for. Often in a case like this that will involve some paintless dent repair, some conventional repair, and some replacement. I would personally suggest that you have paintless dent repair where ever possible. For instance, let the insurance appraiser know that you are willing to live with some evidence of the dents on the roof, in lieu of replacing the roof, if it needs to be replaced. You'll be better off than cutting it off and welding a new roof in place, and they should be able to make you an appearance allowance that will help cut your deductible for the remaining evidence of damage. I seriously doubt that they will pay for an all-over paint job, nor should you need one. As Nathanbush said, black is actually pretty easy to match. A common misunderstanding is that the insurance company owes for the paint to match. Read your contract, it simply states that they will pay to repair or replace the damaged components. It makes no mention of blending the paint for a good match. That's just something insurance companies do since it's become common practice.

More importantly than worrying about what the insurance company pays for is choosing a good repair shop. If it is a quality shop, and they need to do something the insurance didn't pay for, they will make sure to get it from the insurance.

Good luck.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Randy J

Just for the record, getting money for new parts and replacing with used or aftermarket parts, or repairing the parts can be considered insurance fraud.

Randy thanks for the information. The money they pay me for the damage is just that, for the damage. If I want to drive a dented truck and use the money for a vacation that is not fraud. My trucks value has been lowered from this damage, I have paid for insurance to cover this type of loss and to be compensated for it is what insurance is all about. I agree that if I want a good repair shop to fix my truck and they find damage that the insurance company has not calculated then the insurance company will have to come up with more money to make it right. Now if I took the money for the hail damage and did not have it fixed and then next year I was hit by another hail storm and tried to collect for previous damage then that would be fraud. I would never do that. I don't think I'm the problem with insurance rates. I've been with the same insurance company for 37 years and they have never had to pay for an accident in 37 years. They have paid for some comprehensive damage from flying objects and they just cut me a check for the damage and I handled the repair on my car. The problem with insurance rates is the low lifes that drive without insurance, fake injures, etc.

 

[Randy J]

Very good point Pit Bull, and I agree with you 100% that really wouldn't be insurance fraud. However, in states such as Massachusetts, they are very strict about not allowing someone to prosper from an insurance claim. So insisting on brand new Dodge parts and instead installing aftermarket would negate any further hidden damage the shop might find. Mass is the only state I know of that is that tough, but there will probably be more. I don't think you personally are the problem with insurance rates, but everyone that wants to make money off an insurance claim. People many times make the mistake that they have been paying into a savings account, and now that there's been an accident, it's time to make a withdrawal. That's why I suggest taking an "appearance allowance" for damage you can live with. The insurance company compensates you for the loss in appearance, but they don't have to pay as much as it would cost to fix it. Everybody wins.

As I said, good luck with the claim.