Is it totaled? (Early/late Friday edition)

Also, not sure about your state but look up DV claims you can file for. Now that the truck will have damages repaired on its carfax you may be able to subrogate for the potential loss in value down the road when you go to sell the vehicle.

 

Do you have after pics?

 

Man. Fingers crossed for you Op

 

Not the best after pic. Only one I have as of right now.

 

Something also I ran into: the fender flares on the OEM paint is more of a matte clear coat. Make sure if they replace the flare that they really match up the fender flare gloss to the other ones

 

Glad you pointed that out. Now that you've mentioned that, I've noticed that too. And will keep it in mind. Thanks.

 

Of course. Just some mistakes the body shop made on mine initially and didn’t want you to run into the same issue

 

Glad my post, halfway made in jest, has yielded some fruitful input. Haha. Planning to start making phone calls in the morning.

 

Haha best of luck!

 

dont worry it will look like new, heck even if they decide to put used parts you wont tell the difference nothing like good ole bondo.. until it starts to crack

 

This is why I hate parking on the street

 

Yep. I literally never park on the street. It's always in the garage. But I was tilling my yard on either side of the driveway and moved it out of the way temporarily. It was on the street for about 2 hrs, but was there prior to my neighbor's mother arriving. Lesson learned, never again. But it's very common for people to be parked on the street around here...not sure how they're not all getting smashed into.

 

If it needs Bondo, might as well total it. I'll start parting it out.

 

I'm surprised that a Lexus did not auto brake in that situation. Even my wife's Avalon does that.

 

I think in one of your posts, you asked if the alignment needs to be checked. I'm no expert, but while I'm sure the fender, bumper, fog and other parts will be done well (yes demand OEM) including paint - I'd be very interested in the alignment. You'll want to drive the thing at a range of speeds and hopefully there will be nothing wrong... but I think you'll want to see the plan for the repairs before they start, and I guess if it were me, I'd demand they perform an alignment and that is part of the plan... that way if it isn't purrrrrfect at different speeds, I'd want that addressed.

Maybe the other poster who had work done would comment on alignment. A good shop can do wonders. I fell asleep and plowed into the back of a tractor trailer decades ago in a used accord sedan. Both air bags deployed. The whole front was crunched and the motor displaced. I was thinking the vehicle was totaled. Nope. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that after the repairs, the car drove better at all speeds than when I had purchased it.

 

Regarding diminished value: my wife’s car went through a somewhat similar incident while parked, and diminished value only came up because I asked for it. The other person’s insurance company did go ahead and provide an amount I was comfortable with.

When I think back to previous fender benders I don’t ever recall diminished value being offered up as part of the standard claim. I’m not an insurance expert but experience tells me you have to bring it up yourself, have a number in mind, and have some way to justify that number if push comes to shove.

 

Part out begun yet. Im late reading this

 

Yeah, I figured they won't go out of their way to offer it. Not sure what a realistic number is.

 

$50, all you can carry. The Diamondback isn't too heavy.

 

Unfortunately I had a similar experience last summer…depending on how your policy or their policy is written be prepared for the insurance company to not cover new OEM parts…you may have to pay that price difference out of pocket. My truck was a 2017 with no previous accident history and was mint and happened in 2022 might be the reason why but just prepared. Insurance companies your own or theirs are not your friend.