I wish this was an April fools joke... :(

OP, hope you are ok. My vote is the truck isn't a total loss, but let's see.
Also I wouldn't let the fact that the truck has been in a wreck bother you with the value or its percieved safety. A lot of times you can fix a truck to be better than what it was. Heck, you may be able to get a fab bumper out of the insurance money mehehe

Also, I like how people are like "I'm gonna sue over my airbag not going off". Have you people ever been hit by an airbag? It freaking hurts. The powder released in the air can also cause horrible pneumonitis. Air bags only deploy when sensors detect they need to go off. Airbags can cause injury when they deploy in just any random collision. Airbag sensors have made them much safer than in the past where airbags used to carry around the adage that they killed more people than they saved.

A girl just died in Texas from her Honda airbag flinging a piece of metal. So be careful what you wish for.

You also can't sue for what "could have happened". Unless you sustained serious and permanent injury from the airbags not going off, good luck getting a lawyer to back you in a suit.

 

Glad you're okay OP!!

Looking at your photos I'd be surprised if there's more than body & radiator damage. It looks like the plastic fenders/bumper folded up by design. I'm betting the aluminum bar behind the bumper is in pretty good shape. Looks like the bumper cover moved up instead of backward.

You must have pounded the brakes and slowed down a bit!

 

Sadly most people with insurance decline to leave the scene. I'd be surprised if that asshole had any coverage other than cricket.

 

UPDATE: Truck is totaled. $18k payout + $1065 tax reimbursement. @72,xxx miles.

 

I'm not surprised, unfortunately. My cousin said his fleece caught fire when his airbag blew up.

 

There is a disconnect somewhere for me. You called the cops....... and you drove that home? You lost me.

1. You were pissed so you limped it home, or
2. You called the cops and they made you tow it.

I didn't think there would be a third option. Glad it worked out ok for you OP.

 

Next time put a tube/plate bumper on it and he won't be able to drive off and you'll only be out a can of paint to repair the scratches.

 

Not an LEO in Mass, so I can't say for certain, but I severely doubt there is a law that says a collision is your fault if the other driver is unlicensed.

I'd really delve into that more, because that isn't right. I don't know how much the discount is, but that "policy" would be a deal breaker for me.


OP glad you're ok. That guy is real scum for leaving his friends behind.

 

He can still drive it home after making his report. At least here in CA, what you do with the vehicle is up to you. An Officer can assist in arranging a tow, let you tow it, or you can drive it away. Its the owners choice and responsibility to get the vehicle out of there (unless, of course, they are incapable due to injury, drunkenness, etc.)

 

Glad you were ok, that's the important part

So any idea what you will be in the market for now?

 

Referring to the damage making it not road-worthy. Do you think that thing looked safe to be on the road? I wouldn't let someone drive that thing away and if I happened to pass someone driving it they'd be lit up and it would be getting towed. 3 defects here and its a mandatory tow and inspection.... or 'box 1' in our local vernacular.

 

Fair point, if its deemed unsafe one can be told to tow it. It all depends on the officer. If the OP said he was a few blocks from home, the officer may have told him to limp it.

 

What was a sheep doing in front of the airbag ??

 

Mass has some strange laws ..... I "Think" that the insurance co is looking for someone to hang the Liability onto. No necessarily blame - but financial.

 

sooo. That brings us to the always asked question..... How did your interior lower drivers side B panel go missing and end up shipped to me?

 

Cops never showed up. So I called a friend's sister who is a cop in a different district and told me to limp it to her station (was closer anyway) and I got a report.

 

3rd gen DC LB TRD OR in Super White should be here at my local dealer next week...

 

Oh kaka!
Yay for third gen though!

 

Well glad it's working out for ya.

 

Not much of a deal if you are getting bent over...