Freaking Out

just the kind of thing to happen in a Trader Joe's parking lot

 

I feel for you, went through the same when mine was only a few months old..
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/people-suck-aka-someone-hit-my-tacoma-in-the-parking-lot.506827/

YMMV, but I had Geico, and they used all OEM parts.

 

The person causing the accident did the right thing and fessed up and stuck around. You are going to reward this good behavior by taking them to small claims court? Because your truck will get generic lucky charms in stand of real genuine general mills lucky charms...which NO ONE will ever even know about? Yup. Big tall hat.

 

gotta love America

 

Why did you quote yourself?

 

My wife dented this door of a Jeep with the door of her Subaru. Windy day. Over $900.00 to repair door.

 

Reporting an accident and exchanging insurance information isn't an option, it's the law, and if taking him to a small claims court is the only option to make his company pay then be it, IMO. Believe me it will not even get that far, in most cases insurer will settle before the court.

 

It’s the job of his insurance company to restore my vehicle. Geico is currently attempting to lowball. All they want to replace is the plastic bumper cover even though my left quarter panel is now creased and hood is damaged. There may be more damage behind the plastic bumper cover that the adjuster can’t currently see, which would be addressed as a supplemental claim. They will not address potential mechanical issues. My truck is now pulling to the right, which it was not doing before the accident, but they won’t pay for alignment. The Geico adjustor wants to repair the fender with Bondo. He says that’s the “industry standard”. He offered $1500.00. Ridiculous. Yes, the lousy driver stuck around because there was a witness keeping him honest. This is why we have insurance.

I have been driving for 50 years and I have yet to back 30 feet straight into into a parked vehicle. Driver should have paid attention IMHO. Also, as my vehicle has now “been in an accident” they need to compensate for diminished value.

All I want is what I had before the incident, nothing more.

 

Can you post photos of the damage? What state are you from? Every state has different laws when it comes to collision repair.

 

My boss has F150 King Ranch, when I bought my Taco the first thing he told me was: "In a parking lot, always park away from the rest of the cars. Is better walk a bit than get you truck fu**ed"

 

Always do. I am the most meticulous person when it comes to my vehicle. Always look for a spot that is least likely to receive damage, park away from others, don’t park next to Soccer mom vehicles. Shit happens.

 

If your Toyota dealer has a body shop, take the vehicle there. I did when my car got hit by someone in the grocery store parking lot, empty. My car was 7 years old,and of course their insurance lowballed, but the body shop uses only oem parts, and the insurance co. Had to pony up the difference. I hate your dealing with this, but you are the victim and have the right to get your vehicle fixed properly. Don’t let the insurance creeps cheat you out of being properly reimbursed.

 

Crappy cell phone photos. The entire front end assembly has been pushed sideways, very difficult to see the fender crease in this photo. The claims adjustor would only address issues that “he can see” wouldn’t even attempt to open the hood. The fender has been pushed upwards and hood/fender no longer align properly. I refused the check and am taking it to my body shop today for their evaluation.

I am located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

lol yup fix it with bondo. There's a few things that don't match up there anymore.

 

Yup I see it...probably broken tabs on the light as well.

 

EXACTLY.
He didn’t call it Bondo though, he called it “filler”. I called it Bondo (Im old). The shop actually opened the hood and looked. The left headlamp brackets are broken along with other things that the adjuster didn’t quote for. Body shop thinks they can price match OEM parts as they have some deal with Toyota. Geico tried to F me in a rental, too. I asked for a pickup truck or maybe a RAV4 but they wanted to give me a Nissan Altima.

Not happening, Bro.

 

I know your pain. I've been there twice. First one was a hit and run. This go around im armoring up.

 

Be sure to pick a repair shop that provides lifetime guarantee on repair work. Most shops that do that will only use OEM parts.

Don't take no for an answer. Most insurance companies are used to pushing around their own insured, but you are not their customer.

Also .be wary and don't file a claim with your own insurance, that is the green light to get screwed.

In TX we have a department of Insurance that is mostly worthless with few exceptions.

If they are trying to force you to take used or 3rd party parts that will affect the gurantee of work, they can be cited for acting without good faith.

Sorry to hear

 

Not my 1st go-round. My 2011 had 2 deer strikes within the same year.