Truck was rear ended the other day...

So on Black Friday, Nov. 27 (also my birthday), some idiot smashed into the back end of my truck around 7 am while I was in bed asleep. It was legally parked on the street in front of my Dads house when it was hit. Luckily the guy fessed up to it and didn't pull a hit and run. Contacted my insurance but I've decided to just deal directly with his insurance company. Have an appointment with a collision center for an "estimate" tomorrow at 2.

Was wondering what anyone thinks about the potential costs of these repairs and how to get the most out of this situation so I don't get stuck with a truck that kills tires or just doesn't feel right. In other words, Will it likely be totalled if my trucks value is $8500? His insurance company says repairs totalling more than 75% of value is considered totalled.
Things to consider: bed was pushed forward and dented cab on both sides, drive shaft pushed in and out/possibly bent, front passenger side tire noticeably wearing quicker than others. So bent/tweaked Frame? Thoughts?

 

That sucks man! I would push for that to be totaled.. The frame is probably (almost definately) bent and that much damage to the cab would be very expensive to fix right.

Good luck, sorry about your truck!

 

Thanks man, I was afraid of that. I'm pretty devastated. On my birthday of all days. I love my truck, even though it's a prerunner, 4x2. It is was a solid dependable truck. But honestly, if I had a choice between $8500, or even $8000, and living with a "never the same again" truck, I'll take the money and find another one. Sucks to have to deal with. I just don't want to somehow get screwed on this deal

 

Damn that sucks man. I would say it is totaled too, but that is for the adjuster to decide.
Lots of work to do there.
The hell did the guy do, want to use your truck as a launch ramp?

 

Thats Sucks Dude

 

I would agree that's totaled. And to the poster who suggested you "push" for it to be totaled, the vehicle either meets the criteria for being totaled or it doesn't. However, if it's REALLY close, the insurance company would be wary of more damages being found during repairs, then making it a total. They don't want to get in a position of paying for both repairs and then paying you for your vehicle. However, it's not your call so all the pushing in the world won't help you. Save your energy for debating the value.

OP, sorry that happened to you. Sounds like you weren't hurt badly but I'll bet were a bit sore and achy.

Ps. I'm a bodily injury claim adjuster so I handle both injury and property damage claims. However, I do not handle total losses.

 

Definitely totaled

 

Bummer. No payments.
What's you plan if totaled? Another Tacoma?

 

Yikes, I guess if all votes are in then it's totalled. I wasn't in the car when it was hit, his insurance has flat out claimed liability so they're covering everything including a rental. If that ends up being the case, and decide to total it, I'm definitely looking to get another tacoma. I won't drive anything else. NADA rated my trucks value at around $8500 and any truck I find on craigslist or anywhere online, with the same mileage and maintenance, is usually in that ballpark. If the insurance company agrees with that value, which I think is fair, then 75% would be $6375. So repairs exceeding that amount would technically total the truck. Sounds like I'll be in a rental car for some time.
It'll be tough to find what I want close to where I live with that mileage. Hopefully I can turn this thing around and end up with a better truck in the end. I will post what I find out later today.

 

Most people upgrade when their vehicle is totaled then bitch because they had to spend money or take on a payment. As long as you understand the principle of indemnification then you shouldn't be frustrated. And as far as the rental goes... most insurance companies will pay for a rental for 7 days AFTER they give you the settlement offer.

Good luck with your claim.

 

There are a few things you can do to help get it totaled, get an estimate at a really nice body shop using all oem parts and repainting every damaged panel from bare metal, all the time it sits in thw tow yard costs $ too. You can bitch and moan about everything. Especially if you start costing them money they're more likely to total it if its close anyway.

 

one note to add simply as an FYI

there are parts there still good that have good value and not things the insurance sees as value so check to see what it would cost you after the totaled truck payoff, to be able buy the truck back at scrap value.

a few things that come to mind are:

front cap
front fenders
front grille
front bumper
hood
radiator
washer fluid reservoir
complete running engine
tires and rims
rear end
cab interior (seats, carpet, moldings, steering wheel with air bag, dash)
doors
front and rear windshield and side glass
electrical wiring harness (under hood and in dash)
computer ECM

and maybe the tranny (only if it didn't sustain any impact from drive shaft)

it all depends on the individual but assuming you can buy the truck back at scrap value for around $500 there is the option to have no problem getting around $2000 for those parts still in good shape and worth selling

after you remove all the good parts off of it you can then sell it for scrap at the price you paid for it. not sure if it is true, but I have heard if the insurance is scrapping the truck they will let you take anything you want off of it so if this is true, you can tell them you want the chance to take off all the easy to remove stuff that still has value and not be stuck with whats left of it after.

 

You don't get to use all OEM parts unless you are in one of the FEW States that mandate it. In almost every State, you will get an estimate using aftermarket or reconditioned parts, as dictated by the State's insurance regulations. Rule is, those parts used must be in as good, or better, condition than the part it is replacing. And if the shop is not in the insurance company's program, it wouldn't matter if they gave you a $1M estimate, it means nothing. The cost of the storage fees in the tow yard have no bearing at all on whether it's totaled or not.

You are naïve about insurance matters, I would suggest you don't offer up any advice.

 

That would be awesome, I will totally, pun intended, do that if I can. A co-worker of mine said something similar. After his van was hit he fought the insurance company and was able to keep his totalled vehicle somehow.

 

keaker made a valid post. Most States offer you a buy back option and if you elect it, they reduce the salvage value from your payment and allow you to keep your vehicle. The title would be re-branded as a salvage title but yes, you could keep it and part it out or keep it and fix it and drive it if you prefer.

 

I dont think you meant it to sound that way, but just to be clear, in no way would I consider that truck to be something even remotely fixable or worth trying to put back on the road, its too unsafe after that sort of damage but its a great value as a parts truck

and just another FYI, if you find a good truck with high mileage or a blown engine, you have the engine from your wrecked truck

along the same lines if a truck you like has a trashed interior, you would have the interior from your wrecked truck to put in it

having a good parts truck on hand gives you the option to buy a truck with issues very cheap if you have the parts already on hand to solve those issues

 

Don't forget any taxes & fees to title and register the replacement vehicle.

 

Ok, well I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. What is the typical scrap value of these trucks, roundabout? Anywhere from 500 -2000 I'm guessing?

 

I don't think insurance covers any of that unless its a fairly new vehicle and maybe not even then

it is scrape value, the total weight of the truck at the going rate for scrap iron so if you have a 3,000 lbs truck and scrap iron is 10 cents a pound then that's like $300

 

Good point, I like how you're thinking