Pillar damage and repair times

I was involved in an accident at the beginning of June. I was at fault, and a small Subaru hit my drivers side front tire. It wasn’t that hard of a hit, but my tire was at a 45 degree angle. The Subaru had surprisingly hardly any damage.

Erie sent their adjuster out and quoted 4200$. After the collision center disassembled it, they found pillar damage and the cost went up to 11k.

Erie sent another adjuster out, and the collision center said they would probably total it. But they didn’t.

Now in my naiveness I was under the impression when you had rental on your policy, it covered your rental until the car was fixed. It’s my fault for not reading the policy, and now I’m paying for it. $380 a week in car rental. And it’s hurting. I’m on my fifth week of paying for the rental, and there is no sign of my truck being finished any time soon. I get text updates on everything they’re doing, but much of the time it’s “preparing” for body shop or refinishing.

My question is how serious is Pillar damage and what could possibly be taking it so long? The body shop says they had to get some Toyota specialist in so that it can be like brand new, but this is a Toyota dealer.

I’m not made of money and it seems like my only recourse is to sit back and eat the shit sandwich.

Here is a picture of the pillar.

 

I want to see what happens, that’s crazy

 

Was anything else tweaked?

 

Ugh, yeah that sucks! I think it’s a structural component that keeps the cab (occupant safety) intact.
This time sucks, in previous years, you could’ve just bought a $900 shitbox to get by.
My GF was drug through the mud by her insurance when she totaled her vehicle, they F’d around for a couple months, or more, and the rental hurt. I talked her in to taking a loan and paying the loan, rather than the rental,,,, but by the time she found something miraculously a check was sent. Hindsight; she wish she would’ve just went out and bought a new vehicle, and sold off her old,,, if or when they fixed it.

 

Maybe that’s what I should have done. Found a piece of shit for a grand lol. I tried fighting Erie on it to extend my rental but they wouldn’t relent. And people told me to ask the collision center for a loaner. And that didn’t work either. It’s frustrating and I’m watching money just go down the drain

 

It sucks
Maybe explain situation and see if you can a timeline, I mean if it’s gonna be months, that’ll probably change your mind.
See what kind of deal they’ll make you on a new one

 

I was just searching online. I think I found a solution! A Uhaul for 20 bucks a day!

 

lmao. that's awesome.

 

If you don't post pics of you taking the U-haul offroad we're all going to be very disappointed.

 

I like it!

 

That part of the A pillar on the 3rd gen Tacoma is made of high strength steel (590Mpa) and the little bit higher by the door hinges and the door sill are ultra high strength steel (980Mpa). Those parts can't be straightened or welded in the field without loosing significant strength.

 

yea, i don't see how this can be repaired unless they replace the whole body of the truck...surely it should be totaled

 

It should be. But my adjuster is only worried about what is going to save Erie money. They don’t give a fuck about how long it will take or how much I have to pay for a rental.

 

time to get a lawyer involved or i would just buy a new truck then sell your old one whenever they decide to fix it or total it.

 

I don’t think you’re far off or joking!
I’d guess the cab need’s replaced, which will be a while. I fear OP is going to get strung along, if he doesn’t go ahead and start looking for another vehicle,,,, the rental will cost as much as a new payment. The way I look at it; even if the old vehicles is reincarnated; would I want it anyways?
There’s a chance I wouldn’t.

 

Shit man I’d just take the money and have someone tub the firewall for big ass tires.

 

Would I have a case? In the eyes of the law I’d assume that they would say Erie is doing everything they’re obligated to do. The last thing I can do right now is blow more cash

 

Where did you get those numbers? I'm genuinely curious.

 

You would not, at least in my experience (6 years ago now).

Wife only had a rental for two days, which the insurance company thought was plenty, unsurprisingly.

Stay on top of the dealer. My 2016 was in the care of a local Toyota dealership for 9 weeks. It only needed 5 bolt-in things replaced, and then an alignment done. The only time progress was made on the truck was after I called and asked. And called and asked. And then finally one tiny thing would happen.

Repeat weak after week. Thankfully I already had another car, or I would have gone out and bought a late 90's Civic for 2k and used that until it was fixed.

 

It was a part of Toyota's press release when the 3rd gen came out and it was an interesting piece of technical data in a mostly marketing document so I kept it. Also explains why the 3rd gen is safer than the 2nd gen in similar crash tests.