Drunk driver rearended us...

I will have to see if I kept any of that stuff, I might at least have a picture of it somewhere.

 

As much as I love my dash cam, it will absolutely get me in trouble one day. I just know it...

Honest accident: stuff happens, no worries, have a nice day! Drunk hits me: he may "trip on the curb" a few times...

 

Most trucks/suvs with ladder style frames can be place on a frame puller to be straightened. Smaller commuter style cars have frame sections that can be bought and welded on if a frame puller will not work.

That only even matters if its even cost effective to repair. most auto policies read that insurance will pay the lesser of the two values of repair/acv

 

I agree, if the truck is repaired I will be getting rid of it.

 

I'm glad you and your family are safe. That's a really scary thing to have happen. I had something similar happen when my wife was 6 months pregnant with our first. Lady turned in front of me, I t-boned her at about 60. I didn't even have time to lift out of the gas. Car went airborne and when we landed we went head on into a guardrail and a light pole. My VW looked like it could drive away except every airbag went off and the passenger front wheel wasn't attached. The car saved our lives, but my wife went into preterm labor from the impact (mostly the second impact into the light pole because her air bags had already gone off at the initial impact) . Likely my daughter wasn't born that day, but my wife spent 5 days in the hospital and another 3 months on bed rest. It sucked. The first thing the lady in the other car said to me (as my wife was laying on the ground screaming in pain) was that she didn't even look before turning.

Make sure she goes to she her OB. Your doctor knows you better than the hospital. The hospital released her after the first night but her OB sent her back because of some things they saw.

 

I'm glad you and her are both ok. BUT - A likely reason your frame got all busted up is because of that hitch you left in the back. That transferred the energy of the impact to the frame, instead of being absorbed in the back bumper and bed crumple zones. Guys, don't do this. It seems counter intuitive, but the truck is designed to be safer and more impact resistant without the hitch in the way.

 

Remove your original post about how you feel. Go to a doctor and get checked out. Many of these accidents can have problems appear weeks and months later. Any legal recourse could point to a thread on the internet with images (proof) of the accident and you stating you dont (at this time) have any conditions. I would go after a drunk to pay for the repair, lost valuation of the vehicle due to the repair, etc. as this is 1111100000% their fault and preventable.

Oh yeah - and you PREGNANT wife was put in risk because of them as well. Totally unacceptable.

 

Even when using a SpareBumper?

 

I can only speak for my own bodyshop but we're on site at a dual Honda/Toyota store so they've fixed plenty of tacoma frames. According to the bodyshop manager it is per toyota specifications to NOT repair tacoma frames, no frame straightening no welding they will ONLY allow replacement. Now because we're a toyota certified bodyshop thats the only way WE can do it. That I'm 100% sure of and it will apply to any toyota certified bodyshop out there.

Now other bodyshops might very well be ok repairing them, nothing illegal about it and they take on just as much liability as repairing any other frame. But they will never be allowed to be a certified toyota bodyshop if they do that. The following part I'm less sure of but it was explained to me that it has to do with the fact the Tacoma rear is C-chanel and the type of alloy they use loses integrity and strength once its bent which is why they only allow full replacement. It may be different fixing the front of the frame where its boxed.

I know this for sure because we've seen more than a few 2nd gen tacomas come in with what otherwise looked like minor dammage (rear bumper/tailgate) only to leave with a $12k-$15k frame replacement because the rear is easy to tweak when rear ended, ESPECIALLY if you have a trailer hitch installed.

Edit: do you remember if your frame repair was on the front half of the truck?? Not sure but I think even we're allowed to perform frame repairs up front again because its boxed up front and IIRC a slightly different alloy.

 

Start truck shopping, I think it’s gonna be totaled. Glad you both came out ok, but especially for your wife and unborn child. You and your family’s lives are the most important, trucks are replaceable.

 

I am not positive, but the shop that fixed my truck put it on the frame machine, and I am almost certain they are Yota certified repair.

 

So I may have been partially wrong I shot the bodyshop manager a text he referred me to a CRIB (info bulletin from toyota):
http://gcia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/T-CRIB-0136-W.pdf

I guess the difference is that cold straightening is the ONLY approved frame repair method. Whereas other frames from other manufacturers and even other toyota vehicles you're allowed to use HEAT and allowed to "section" repair.

So you may have very well had your frame repaired via cold straightening.

I'm not an expert just relaying what i've been told in the past and seen plenty of tacomas that LOOK like all they need is a bumper replacement only to turn out to be completely totalled because of a small crease in the frame. Again we normally see it with tacomas that are rocking a ball hitch and get rear ended... i'm told thats the easiest way to bend a tacoma frame.

 

This was the only thing I can find from my old truck as far as pictures or paperwork, it was a 2000 Tacoma and the accident was around 2002. I wish I could find more pictures as the bed is into the cab on one side and I can fit my fist between the cab and bed on the other side. The Front Boxed Section was hit by the wheel and completely collapsed and pushed the floor all the way up to the clutch pedal. Hard to also see in this pic but under the front bumper is also buckled under and pushed the skid plate up into the AC Condenser and the bottom of the radiator is pushed back into the engine. I also recall the Control arms, steering rack, brakes, brake lines, axles, CVs, and transfer case all needing replaced, and the total bill was between $13,000 and $14,000 if memory serves.

 

Holy shit. I know and feel your pain.

 

holy shit that was fixed?!?! I would've guessed completely totaled without a doubt. I remember this guy's thread his tacoma ended up being totalled and compared to yours it looks like NOTHING (but his frame was bent):

 

Yeah I was pretty pissed that they decided to repair it, I think they were not expecting so much damage but just kept going as they were finding stuff. It looked decent after I got it back but it always pulled to the left and never felt right again.

 

Tundra time

 

Go to a body shop. Absolutely no one can tell from pictures and measurements. Even an adjuster would have to see it.

 

depends on insurance if it will be Total loss.
I've had AAA and farmers total two of my tacomas 1st gen and 2nd gen from rear end damage.
The adjuster said if frame is bent it's a total.

 

start shopping!
the drunk have insurance?