Just damaged my truck... need guidance.

So I'm driving home from my mom and dad's house tonight in the rain (My wife is following me in her car), when all of a sudden I see a huge box is in the middle of the road. All I can think is don't swerve, and the pregnant wife is behind you. So I have to hit this thing. I'm thinking, "I hope this thing is empty..." At the last moment I see its an intact box with what looks like a john deer riding mower in it. My last words were, "This ain't gonna be good."
There was a huge smash and then a dragging sound. I pulled over into the Wagonwheel parking lot. When I got out and inspected what I had hit, I realized I had just utterly obliterated a brand new Power Wheel ! Sad day in toyland.
The guy who bought it turned around and came back to pick up the pieces. He had just bought it at Walmart. He's hoping Walmart will exchange it.
I didn't think I had any damage to my truck, but when I got home I found some damage to the bumper cover. Gonna be a few hundred bucks. But I mourn the loss of that brand new shiny Power Wheel.

Here's the question: I am missing the left empty fog light cone and the bumper grill has several broken teeth. Any ideas on what I should do since I'll be doing this myself and if its affordable take the opportunity to upgrade to actual fog lights and/or a possible after market bumper grill?

 

Time to upgrade.


There's plenty of aftermarket plate bumpers to choose from.



Excellent reaction though for the situation you were in!

 

why wouldnt you just swerve when you saw it, not in a fast motion and let the wife swerve behind you. or stop?

 

His wife might not have seen it, which could've been very bad.

 

ya thats true, i was just curious of why he ruled those out.

i'd go aftermarket bumper to answer your original question OP.
e/ plate ofc.

 

The part of this I'm most curious about:

Why does the guy who lost the power wheel on the highway feel Wal-Mart should take the hit for his inability to secure his cargo?

 

OP you did the right thing. Lets see some pics so we can offer some good advise.

 

I will definitely post some in the morning. Its dark and still pouring down out there. Thanks
for the interest and quick responses.

 

My thought too... but he might be in a state that doesn't have California lawyers and maybe a WM employee actually tied it down to his car?

 

I'd ask the guy who let the big wheel fall out of his vehicle to cover the damage or at least go halfsies. Unsecured cargo and all that.

 

True true... but some states are a lot more "traditional America" than SoCal and you'll find minimum wage employees that are truly happy to help you out with your bags and even help load them for you even if you aren't disabled.

Some people call that "backwards"
I call it "A damned fine place to live"

 

I left the scene without getting his info. Plus, I think he's got enough problems with his busted Big Wheel. I don't think he should have to pay for my damage (it was an honest mistake-I'm not mad at the guy), but that's water under the bridge at this point anyway. What I have now, is an excuse for a project...

Hindsight being what it is though, I remember throwing my fog light cone in the back of his truck thinking it was part of that power wheel... DOH!!

 

Fuck it. Aftermarket bumper time.

 

Shit fell out of his vehicle you hit it and you feel bad for his stupidity? And don't feel like he should pay for damage to your truck? If you get rear ended in your mind is it your fault because you stopped?

 

STOP!

Call his insurance and file a claim!

You shouldn't have to pay a dime for this!


I had someone claim some sprinkler parts fell out of my truck "even though I have a shell and nothing can fall out" and damaged their hood.

 

He doesn't necessarily have to file a claim if the other guy is willing to pay out of pocket.

 

Here are the pics. There isn't that much damage, but I do want to get it fixed... or upgraded.

The last pic doesn't show any damage. Just an overall shot.

 

AC condensor?

Not going to be cheap.

Just this one picture is over $600 in damage with parts, labor, and R134.
You can't fix that in your garage.

 

Is your A/C still cooling? It doesn't look like it got the actual tubes.

 

Agreed, it looks like cosmetic from what I can see in the pic, and no sign of refridgerant oil indicating a leak.