Is it totaled or repairable??

I got rear ended yesterday by a smaller car and now my truck is in the body shop. The other driver had insurance, so i'm good there. The frame is bent and the bumper and trailer hitch are destroyed. Driving it to the body shop, the truck felt like it was going sideways down the road. Also, the tailgate is misaligned and who knows what else. The estimator is supposed to check it out in the next few days, but im wondering if it will be worth it to fix it. The truck is valued around $10,000 before the accident.

Any experience with this type of damage?
What was the Outcome?
Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

It was driving sideways because of the frame damage, and your panels don't align for the same reason. If it's valued at 10k and has frame damage to that extent you'll likely be totalled, but the only one who really knows is the insurance adjuster.

Glad you weren't hurt.

 

Totally totaled....

 

Its totaled OH WAIT!!! we need pics

 

Ok, so it sounds like im screwed because for 10,000 dollars. I cant replace it. What does a new one cost?

 

Just went through this EXACT situation. I had my frame replaced only cuz my truck was valued at twice wht your is. New frame replacement and everything totaled out around $13k so I would say its totaled based on that and my experience.

Post pics of the damage and when you get your new vehicle too!

 

Can they bend the frame back?

 

They can, but it'll never be "straight." It's also more than your insurance will pay for if your truck is valued at $10k. The amount of effort and precise work to bring a bent frame back to 100% perfect is functionally impossible, since it would cost more in hours than the cost of a new frame. Frames don't bend in just one direction, they bend in ALL directions.

It's like taking the wrapper off a drinking straw and folding it into a tiny square, and then trying to take all of those folds and make them disappear again and be a perfect, unmarred piece of paper.

 

Yea they can, but in all honesty, would you really want to drive it? It would never be the same. I would be willing to bet that you wouldn't like it. Your better off getting something new. I was even skeptical with getting my truck back with the new frame. I was lucky and it now is better than it was before, but it had a lot of frame rust and would've most likely been up for a new one from toyota anyway. Your Ins. Co. will most likely total it and cut you a check. Its be a nice down payment on a new Taco!

 

^ has a good point. Even when new frames are used, it's not super easy to realign the body panels and make it drive perfectly.

 

Well, I guess I'm in a bad situation. I know I cant replace my truck for 10,000. It was in perfect shape before that. Now I got to get an old beat up Tacoma with over 100,000 miles and full of dents and scratches for that money.

 

BUGGY!!

And yeah, sounds totaled

 

Thanks for all the input, I'll let you guys know what happens.

 

Accidents are never good situations, but you're in undamaged condition, so I'd say you came out pretty good. I would imagine you can find a better deal than a used up piece of crap for $10k. You can buy a new one for $8k +/- more than your check, and even if you finance that $8k, you'll be paying $100 a month for a couple years? Not the worst outcome I've ever seen.

Friend of mine totalled his car, it was worth $2800. Insurance gave him no payout, so he has no money for a new car, and the job he'd recently gotten was lost because he had no transportation. No money from insurance, no car, no job. That is a harder situation to deal with than your own, so I'd not take it too hard.

 

This is true.

 

Also, if they bend the frame back, can I still tow with my truck?

 

Just for sake.. if you have to ask that question, do you want the frame bent back? I almost guarantee you that you will not be content with a repaired frame.

 

Ill drive one of these out to you if you pay for gas and airfare back haha

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4616474660.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4640255720.html

http://mansfield.craigslist.org/cto/4630488841.html

http://zanesville.craigslist.org/cto/4604002368.html

 

This is what I'm talking about. I can't believe I'm about to go from a 2008 with 65,000 miles. To a 15 year old truck!!