Collission....possible frame damage

Hi all, first post here.

So basically I was a happy Tacoma owner for exactly 1.5 months.... and well, just in an instant, life said "nu'-uh, you can't have that"
I was hit by an impaired driver on a snowy highway at night in the middle of February ...
Essentially what I believe happened, was he nodded off(probably on prescription painkillers or whatever...opioids as he nodded off completely asleep after the police interview) and began drifting into my lane about 120 yards away. As I try to slow down and pull to the shoulder, he has the same idea...he regained consciousness I suppose, and pulled to the shoulder on my side at the same time I did. You can see where this goes, essentially there is a stale-mate and ends up with him getting past me(almost) on my right, where I favour more the lane/middle road...
Our front ends clear by probably inches, who knows, maybe less. So......I'm pretty sure what happened was that he tried to correct to soon to try and steer back on the road, and just steered into my truck, smashed his front passenger end pretty much directly into my rear passenger tire.

Insurance has offered me cash settlement of ~$30k+tax ($33k ish) Canadian, or owner retained salvage option with no brand title. I would get the truck back with $7400 which is the balance of the $30k cash value less their estimated "salvage value"($22k....which seems ridiculous but you can see how putting a higher value on the salvage favours them)

Anyways, I know some might think I'm crazy for even considering keeping, but I absolutely love the truck and certainly wouldnt mind some opinions especially from those who are familiar with details of the frame structure and whether this could be worth saving,

 

Do some research. Try to find comparable trucks valued at greater than $30k Canuck. Use those comps to leverage a higher payout, take the cash, go buy another clean title vehicle.

As for the frame, if it is indeed twisted, don’t touch that thing at their valuation.

 

Damn.

 

Already done, have searched all of Ontario online listings. The settlement amount they offering is fair...I got a nice deal on the truck, lets say I wont be at a loss. It's just a heart break to see it go like this...Really not liking the thought of having to start all over when this one was pretty much everything I was looking for. I Have wanted one of these trucks for 3 or 4 years now, have been looking seriously since summer...I specifically wanted one with with a 6 speed manual, but when I saw one in the inferno orange colour it was like love at first site....this truck had some goodies on it too...wheels, BFG KO2's, front levelling kit, K&N cold air intake, TRD skid plate(which i pulled at the tow yard heh), literally the week prior I had just finished upgrading the stereo head unit,

$77 CRUX SWRTY-61N Radio Replacement with SWC & OE RVC Retention (for Toyota Vehicles 2012-Up)

CRUX SWRTY-61N wiring interface, new dash speakers, door speakers, amplifier, seat jackers, ..... brand new front brakes and rotors before safety inspection in early January

Insurance is saying there will be no salvage title put on it in owner retained salvage deal.....

 

It sucks but at least your not hurt . Just move on a start fresh

 

Dont make an automobile a shrine. Know when to move on, they make more everyday. You might be able to "fix" the truck with the money but, you will never recoup your time and energy. My personal time is worth way more than what it takes to estimate, procure parts, frame, mechanical, electronic, and refinish repairs. Just go on the hunt again, and find another one. Ski

 

Take the $30K and walk away! She's toast.

 

So you keep the truck and they give you $7400? That doesn't look like $7400 worth of damage. Take the $30k and get a truck that isn't all jacked up. It's a truck not a family member, they can be replaced.

 

Here in So California, I was placed in a similar situation some years ago.

Insurance offered me a complete payout, with buyback rights and said they wouldn't salvage brand the truck title.

I was also advised it wouldn't stop carfax or other collision monitoring services from reporting the accident as a total loss.

 

All of the above. It'll never be the same truck again no matter how much time and effort you put into it. It's gone. Give it a Viking funeral, take the cash, and find another truck.

 

Key is offered settlement. Don't accept. Negotiate it up based on both private sale and dealer comps if you think it's necessary. Tell them it's a ow ball and show time and money recently put into the vehicle. If they won't budge, appeal it, get a private appraisal, drag them through arbitration. Or just move on... That puppy will never be the same and you shouldn't accept the salvage. Plus, you'll never be able recover any money on it in the future if you try to sell it private party or attempt to trade it in.

 

I'm in a similar situation. Some stupid illegal kid hit my rear end. No insurance, no license & absolutely no driving skill.

I have a security video of it all. Teresita, who lives next door called the sheriff. He hit her car, also. It took him three hours to get here.

The whole family started ganging up on Teresita & I. Our vehicles were parked, minding their own business. What the friggin' hell are you talking about?

By the the time the sheriff showed up, they were all gone, of course.

Long story, short. Don't claim anything on your insurance, it will go up, even if it's not your fault whatsoever.

Your frame is bent. I wish you luck

 

BTW, Jim OOOFFF! Glad you're okay, bud

 

My $.02, with 30 years of experience in the insurance and collision repair industries, the damage visible is not bad, easily repairable. However, there's always going to be more found if you proceed with fixing it. Bent axle shaft, bent housing, frame (a bent frame can be repaired properly, a kinked frame cannot, and a frame with a compromised crush zone cannot), etc. That's not to say don't keep it and fix it, just to be prepared to spend more $$ than you initially think it will cost. And if you're impressed by some of these homegrown collision repair rebuilder type guys on YouTube, don't be. They're hacks. It's not that easy to correctly fix something.

A $7,400 charge against your settlement AND keeping a clean title in exchange for keeping it is a sweet deal. That truck would pull $12-$15k at a salvage auction with ease, maybe more because of the clean title. I think you'd come out ahead by keeping it and then reselling it yourself vs. keeping it and fixing it, or taking the full settlement and giving up the truck.

 

Here’s mine looks similar.
Frame was bent both sides take the money!

 

Looks like my truck, except the body is black. Sorry for the loss. If the offer is the initial, they will go higher. Justify higher with all the extras in it. Play it up. Plus all the time you have been without a truck. Or heck, see if they will just buy you a newer model just like it. Let the insurance play the game. Your time is worth money.

 

Nice Jim! What is that cement gray? Me like!! Stay off the ice my friend

 

I’m grateful you walked away unharmed. Time to move on. Build a new truck. Enjoy the process.

 

Sorry to see this and we are all glad you are ok.

Can you imagine a world, and insurance rates if people didn't drive while intoxicated or on their cell phones.

Wouldn't shed one tear if everyone convicted of drunk driving would be either sent to prison for life without parole or as they
do in other parts of the world, just chop-chop their heads off.

 

damm I’m not voting for you!!!
I agree sort of but this might be a bit extreme.