Would appreciate any expert opinions (Truck rear-ended)

Hi all,

I've been perusing these forums for the last 2 years since I got my Tacoma. I don't really post too much (if at all), however yesterday I was rear-ended at a stop light and then pushed into the car ahead of me.

The unfortunate part of this situation was the guy that hit me decided to take off. I was able to grab his tag number before he took off, but according to the cops he's a "problem child" and I should assume he does not have insurance. I am assuming my insurance will have to pay for it unfortunately.

As far as I can see, these are the problems:

-Front end skid plate damaged
-Bumper cracked/need repair
-Rear bumper is bent way down
-Hitch bent into spare tire
-Truck bed is no longer parallel to road surface
-Truck bed bowed in center

I guess my main question for you guys is what should I insist upon when getting this fixed? I figure a new truck bed is one item that I should insist upon, however I figure that's quite an expense. Its a 2011 4WD Offroad, so I don't think they would total it, but I could be mistaken. Does anyone have any experience with things of this nature? If so, any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

If the frame isn't bent, replace the bed, then take bumper monies and buy steel off road bumpas and skids

I'm not an expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once tho.

Edit:

I would guess the frame is bent looking at this...

 

I'd be really worried about frame damage. It looks like the frame was tweaked and that can be very difficult to straighten and who knows what other problems that tweaking may have caused with your suspension. If they don't total it, I'd want a frame shop with a GREAT reputation to be the ones doing the work. The front end looks cosmetic only unless there's more damage being hidden by the front clip.

 

Is that sort of like, "I'm not a doctor, but I'll take a look"?

 

The police need to track down this "problem child" and have his insurance pay for your Tacoma "problem".

If he doesn't have insurance, you should sue him for the damages.

 

Thanks all for the response, I figured there was potential for frame damage seing the rear end.

But thats what I said. Clearly if he is well known around Midland, TX not enough as been done to keep him off the streets. I think my insurance will actually sue him for me to recoupe the money if I'm not mistaken.

 

Good luck getting monies outa someone with no monies

 

You most certainly won't get a dime out of him through litigation. You probably WOULD get a judgment against him, but that won't help you if he doesn't have anything to hand over. I think he belongs behind bars, and if the police response is any indication, he should already BE behind bars.

I would consider litigation against the cops. If they know him so well to give that response, then they failed in their responsibility (to protect YOU) by leaving him free like that.

And that looks like frame damage to me. It takes a LOT of force to bend down a hitch like that.

 

I've done litigation before and its very difficult to get money. They put an action against the person, but they cannot execute on property (collateral) to make him pay, so its useless for me. I'm not too worried about getting reimbursed as I have uninsured motorists on my insurance. I am also hoping that the insurance company will have more pull when they undergo litigation with him.

 

y'all never know...

this "problem child" could be a trust fund kid.

 

Understand I am located in New England and rates might be higher --
This was $5790 (not including my damaged 2nd gear in transmission $1780 to mine and my frame wasn't bent. Good luck with your insurance.

 

Well, i attached some more pictures after getting underneath it... and unless I am mistaken, the crumpled bit is indeed the frame...

 

sucks!! what are the cops doing about it?

but that is why we have uninsured motorist insurance. call your insurance..they can usually determine if the other fool even has insurance. sue him?! hahahha..for what?

 

My father went through something similar with his truck a few years back and he pushed HARD to get a new frame and not just have his straightened. He towed pretty heavily with his and didn't have faith in the straightening process.

Is your frame bent further forward, like toward the front of the bed also? Also, the poster above has a point about the transmission and transfer case. The frame bent, which pushed your axle toward the carrier bearing and transfer case. The slip joint might have absorbed it enough but you want that stuff gone through to make sure.

 

Dang he hit you hard. That steel folded like butter. Lol

 

Not a lot of crumpled panels like on mine means the frame took the hit. You wont know until they get it on a rack, but I'm pretty sure they can't just bend that back. The metal is too deformed and compromised. Does a salvage then title apply if they have to cut the frame to replace a section like that?

 

How did that work for him? There is a zero percent chance I will let them straighten it out given how bent that is. I'm Mechanical Engineer and deal with fatigue/plasticity after deformation quite a bit. I would have no faith putting my trailer on that hitch if they just want to bend it back.

 

Might be new truck time...

 

The rear section of the frame is toast...on the other hand, depending on what the insurance does, a rear four link suspension is always a nice option.

if the police know the guy who did this, and no action is taken, then your options are limited to your insurance company and your collision policy.

Am I to understand that after he wacked your hitch hard enough to crumple the frame, his car was still driveable?

Howard

 

o yea that is the frame folding.
How fast did he hit you at?