Oh deer...lol (2015, 36k miles)

Jan 2 hit a freaking deer at about 35 mph... Center punched the critter in the middle of the grill. Leaking all sorts of fluids, so it got towed. Long story short, almost $10,000 worth of insurance money later, I got the truck yesterday...

It took so long, because insurance companies want to save money, and authorized aftermarket, used, or ‘LKQ’ crap parts, that really don’t fit right, so the shop usually has to do 5he work twice after having to buy OE parts to make it right...

Only thing they didn’t get right was the headlight aim, no big deal. (Both headlights, hood, driver fender, grill, rad support, radiator, AC dryer/condenser, Trans cooler, guards, fog lights, bumper.. paint... on and on.... What’s it take to total these things? Lol

 

Not sure but more than the $10,000e.

 

Did the same thing with my beloved ‘03 Tundra, got it fixed up but that truck was never the same. Random things kept happening, clock stopped working, weird smell......oh wait that was from the repair shop that accidentally set off a fire extinguisher inside of the truck 20 minutes before I was to pick it up.

damn Bambi.

 

OP, what year is your truck?

It’s amazing how much damage those critters do when you hit one. I’ve been lucky since my last deer strike back in 1999 (knock on wood)

 

About two years ago, one of them jumped into the side of my wife's nearly new Kia Sportage turbo SX.. Had to replace both doors on the passenger side. There are WAY too many deer... I'd be pissed if I hit one with the new Vette... (2021 HTC Z51.. had it 3 weeks and it's only got 125 miles because of the snow and salt...)

 

In areas that routinely see deer, a $1k aftermarket bumper investment would likely prevented this $10k damage.

 

Just a tip from a retired Insurance claims supervisor...Read your policy before an accident. Read the replacement part clause...Most policies state LKQ as replacement parts (Like, kind, & quality). Unless the policy states specifically aftermarket/economy/catch phrases like that, you do not have to accept them...LKQ is the only rule they can stand on...Have the shop order the parts, & then go to the shop to see if acceptable to you...A headlamp from a 2010 is not LKQ for a 2014. The salvage yard has to provide the vin from the vehicle the parts came from. Redo's from A/M to OEM should be a last resort. Replacing a nose, will result in blending the doors. Partial paint & full clear,.... times 2?? no way...Its bad enough you had a damaged vehicle that will never be the same, & to tear it apart again to redo the job only adds insult to injury....The policy holder has to be pro active with the insurance company, not the shop. The policy is a contract between the Insured & the company, not the shop...The company can tell the shop to 'pound salt' but not the Insured...Unless your vehicle was damaged before, & had A/M parts, demanding OEM might be a stretch....but if you have a vehicle with all OEM parts that's what your entitled to...by their LKQ clause....The LKQ parts have to be same year or newer...The exception to all of this are radiators & A/C condensers...Another important fact...."Customization" endorsement... If your vehicle is modified and have a ton of $$$ invested, Insurance will only cover a stock truck...unless you have a customization endorsement....A basic cap on the bed would not be covered without this endorsement.....Hope I saved the bloodbath of Insurance claims.....

 

The real question is: did you make delicious venison back strap steaks.

 

That Vette is far too sexy to drive anywhere near salt.

 

And I'd be ok with LKQ if they actually were like kind or quality, The parts that insurance company made them get were garbage. The chrome grill surround had visible waves and knife like serrated edges that would have injured someone washing the truck. The aftermarket headlights did not fit, and they couldn't get the hood to line up with the fenders, headlights, or the crappy grill. The Toyota body shop knew this was going to be a problem, and said they see it all the time. I met with the adjuster and the body shop guy and we all agreed it was unstat. they bought new Toyota parts and everything is fine now... In their quest to save money they ended up spending more.. I'm sure there are customers that simply don't care what it looks like, and they accept what they get.. I was very polite and firm that it was unacceptable.

Anyway, glad to have it back. Driving home rom the shop I remembered why I like this truck. It's actually very nice. I had a Kia Kona, and a Mustang convertible as rentals. (don't ever buy either...lol, although I liked the Kia much more than the Mustang.. If that was what all Mustangs with the 4 pot Ecoboost are like, what the heck are those people smoking? It seriously sounded like the header was broken or it blew an exhaust manifold gasket...
And No I didn't get to keep the deer, it went to be processed and given to food pantries. (I'm ok with that ...)

Interesting aside, right after it happened, a man that lives where it happened came out with his rifle, shot the deer in the head, asked if I was ok, and then went back inside his house. I guess it happens all the time....lol Just walked out, plunked the poor thing in the head, (needed to be done frankly), and wandered back home. Pretty sure he was carrying a beer too...

 

Yep, this weather just won't let up... The day I brought it home.

 

This...., at least get some good meals out of it

 

Wouldn't think of running a Vette on salted roads, the salt will rust all of the fiberglass, alum., & plastic parts

 

Well it's not really fiberglass anymore. and plastic doesn't rust. But I get the point. all the aluminum parts would take a beating.. So I'll wait until after the melt and some rain cleans the roads. But I digress...

 

I think Mr Phillips was making a joke there, since it wouldn't have as much impact as it would on steel. Sleek looking car though, couldn't get away with that up here

 

No deer in my area but we do have good sized hogs, I purposely hit them, only damage I’ve done is break a tie rod and smashed my stock skid plate. Worth it though damn things tear up land

 

Deer looks in pretty good shape... should get about 60 pounds of meat... that works out to be about 166.00 bucks a pound..

 

This is the perfect time to trade it in on a new one.

 

Glad you're ok

Sorry about your truck

Rest in peace Bambi

 

All that and no air bag went off...

And if I were buying a new truck, it wouldn’t be a Toyota. I’d probably get a Chevy Colorado...