Rear ended insurance question

Hello All,

I was rear ended today at a stop light. Had my wife and my two kids under three with me, thank goodness it was minor and everyone was alright!
The other driver admitted fault and filed a claim on his insurance. The question I have for yall is: My bumper will need to be replaced. Will an insurance company allow you to pay the difference for an aftermarket bumper? Has anyone ever done this before? I was going to be replacing the bumper this year anyways and would like to see if I could just pay the difference. I live in Texas just in case that plays a factor.

 

Question, do you have the tow package, and if you do, did you have a tow ball in it? Many that have been rear ended, ended up with bent hitches and frames caused by the leverage of the ball on the hitch. Have the frame checked

 

They should absolutely allow this. I suspect they will have you get estimates for the damage and include an aftermarket bumper of your choice (-) the cost of the OEM bumper on at the time of accident and issue a check for the total repair.
It has been done many times. Depending on your choice there may not be much of a difference in price.
The best of luck

 

There have been guys who get an appraisal done and then have the insurance co cut them a check. Depends on the insurance co.
Definately have your frame checked. You may think that just the bumper is damaged, but there may be damage to the frame as well.

 

If you own the truck (it is paid off) the insurance company will cut you a check for the estimate of the repair if you want. If it is not paid for it is my understanding the check goes to the repair shop. Either way you can get with the shop and make arrangements for a different bumper. The changed bumper is none of the insurance companies business.


Also in Texas you have the legal right to use any repair shop you choose and you do not have to accept the insurance company estimate so don't let the insurance company push you to any one shop.

Lastly in Texas there is Diminished Value if the accident is not your fault. Check it out as that can get you extra dollars.
http://www.statesman.com/news/classifieds/cars/why-you-should-care-about-diminished-value/ngZ3c/

 

I do have the tow package but I didn't have the ball in it. It all looks pretty good under the truck.

 

It depends on your/the insurance company.

Did you get information from the other person? Did you contact YOUR insurance company?

Some insurance companies will cut you a check and you're responsible for making repairs. Other insurance companies require you get repairs done at their 'required' shop. You never see any funds, only a repair.

Look where the bumper lines up with the sides of the bed. If you're closer on one side than the other.... there are posts behind the bumper that can get crushed (can't remember what they're called). It's a crumple thing...lol.

 

Excellent information guys! Thanks! It was a ford ranger that hit me. It didn't look like the truck had much damage but it dumped all of its oil had to push it off the road.

 

Yes, you can do that. Your insurance company fixes your car. If the at fault is the other guy, his insurance cuts you a check and you fix the car. You can add all the money you want to the fix on top of the check they cut you.