Taco Down!

Sucks about the crash my man, but you're alive to tell the story. That's a win in my book.

 

Yes, I completely agree. I asked the body shop to check the frame so he added it to the estimate. My last truck "crabbed" down the freeway after an accident. I would rather not have that happen again.

 

I am going through my insurance and will let them fight with the perpetrator's insurance. Only getting one quote from the shop by my house. If the other person's insurance wants more, they can call me.

 

I think the speed limit on the overpass is 35. It looks like she was going at least that fast before she entered the intersection. She did panic brake (not break) before she hit me so I would say somewhere in the 20-25mph range.

 

The purpose of getting multiple quotes is to get more eyes on the damages to further give you the best possible repair, or payout if the truck is deemed totaled.

Going straight for the first, only, or even the cheapest estimate you get isn't going to help anyone but the other insurance company save money.

The accident wasn't your fault. You definitely shouldn't feel the guilt of the overall cost of repair/payout.

Example:

If you caused a single car accident and wrecked your truck completely on your own, you would be going through your insurance, right? You still don't go looking for the cheapest estimate for rectifying your damaged truck. The dollar amount of the repair does not dictate the amount of "ding" that your insurance policy might see from an accident. It is gauged by the amount of claims that you file, or are filed against you over the course of your insured policy.

 

$5500 seems awfully low of an estimate. I don't see how the frame is not tweaked with the slider caved in like that. Reject the offer and request a 2nd opinion from a body shop that you can choose.

 

make sure they measure the frame properly to make sure it's not tweaked. i would get a second shop to look at it before committing to the repair. that frame does not look straight. the bed should not be touching the cab like that.

 

+1

Estimates are usually free, so I always get 3 to 4 to get a solid view on what they find regarding damages and how thorough each one is on their estimates comparatively.

 

You can see how much the bed has laterally shifted from the pics.

 

Shocked it was only 5.5k damage? It’s not that bad. Honestly if anything those sliders had the potential to do more damage overall. Worst case they could of transferred the impact energy to the frame instead of the cab body taking the blow.

 

Considering the fact that most body shops would charge $5,500 just to buff out bird poop I think that estimate is simply wrong

 

OP, can you scan and share the estimate you were given for $5500? Very curious what all it covers.

 

Happy Turkey Day TW. An update. After waiting a month to get it into the shop, and then waiting while the shop moves the finish line multiple times, I just got my truck back yesterday. Finally! Turned the F-150 back in to Enterprise thank god. Examining my truck in the auto body parking lot. Overall paint looks fab. Crawl underneath and looks good. They welded on a new driver's side slider. I opened the rear driver's door and I literally have 1/32" between slider and bottom of door. I tell the auto guy that this is not acceptable. I told him that I actually use these sliders and if it bends more than 1/32", I won't be able to open the door. We go look at the passenger side and I show him there's about a 1/2" gap on that side. He says, Gee...it's all welded on. I know, you guys frickin welded it on. Well, okay he says. We'll have to put you back in a rental next week. ARGH!!

I then started the drive home and immediately notice two other issues. They did an alignment and did not center the steering wheel. And they must not have bolted the bed down tight because I have some huge rattle like the bed or cab is loose from the frame. I turned around and went back to complain some more. They would've noticed both these issues had they taken my truck for a test drive after finishing all their work.

I just want it back and I want it right. Pretty frustrated...

 

Glad you got the truck back and are doing fine. 5500 seemed low. Was rear ended significantly slower speed and was quoted 3500 for new bumper, buff tailgate, and remove bedside to do a bit of body work and paint. No frame damage.

hope the shop you took it too didn’t just do bare minimum to get it on the road.

 

Sorry hope you are ok though

 

Make a dash cam your next investment…

 

Already have one and I have the dash cam of getting T-boned. Nobody stopped so it could've been she said, he said situation. I don't want any part of that.