Loose Wheel smashed me on the freeway..help?

Wow, as bad as it was, it was your lucky day. Those types of accidents end poorly when the wheel comes through the windshield. Be happy you escaped un-injured as the truck can always be repaired.

 

That might be a body shop technique, but since welding to the skin requires paint removal and repainting - that is definitely NOT a "paintless dent removal" technique.

The limit to my expertise is minor DIY cosmetic bondo and touch up paint stuff.

 

Dangit, I knew I should have added "stupid tax" to my budget sheet.

I replaced the hood myself, looks good as new for $250. Truck is fine and drivable, just need to tie down the battery and replace fan shroud. Ill shop around for estimates on the piller. I'ts dented in about 1/2" deep for a good 14 inches or so.. Im in the valley so should be an enormous amount of options for shops.

I followed the van that hit the wheel and sent it into my truck we exchanged information. Hypothetically, in my gut it would be an asshole thing to do but could I claim it against HIS insurance since he technically hit it into me?

THanks for all the help fellas.

Is this diagram showing me theyd cut out a big ol piece, top and bottom to replace the damaged top part? am I reading that correctly?

 

Why do you think it would be an A$$hole thing to do? if you have the responsible drivers info, hopefully its not bogus, i would be on the line with their insurance.
any documentation from the police?

 

Because it wasn't his fault, it was whatever moron let his wheel loose on the highway we were both victims. No police report, he gave me his business card though. Seemed like an upstanding dude.

I didnt think of it at the time but maybe he could be a little negligent or distracted enough to not react. He did say he didn;t want to move for fear of hitting other cars in other lanes even though there was none.

But your saying in your mind, this is something I can claim?

 

Yikes, someone was looking out for you there. Glad you survived unscathed.

The wheel that hit you, does it have worn / egg shaped lug nut seats?

If it was spare it's quite possible that it was a failed spare tire winch that let go, and the original owner is completely oblivious that they are missing a spare tire. It may not have been a case of blatant negligence.

 

Lug seats are A ok. Tire is even in good shape. Maybe ill sell it for $40 bucks or something and put it towards the repairs lol.

 

I had just watched that video two days prior.

 

Cleaned up new hood installed.

 

exactly

 

Paintless dent removal requires access behind the dent to push it out. Sometimes they use glue rods to pull the dent out too. Lots of cool YouTube video on PDR.

 

Are you guys serious? You're telling him to claim in on the insurance of the guy who didn't lose the tire???? The guy in the van was lucky to avoid injury too, and you want the OP to put the blame on him? Legal or not it is jut not right. Right and wrong doesn't seem to matter much these days.

 

Instead of selling the tire, have you thought about posting it on Craigslist and the local papers as 'found on the side of the road, if missing please contact' so that perhaps the responsible party comes forward to claim it? That way you can show him pictures of the damage, and get his insurance info for you and the other guy.


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I was thinking the same thing. Sadly, moral values are FUBAR thanks to progressives.

 

You've got no claim against another vehicle that hit a road hazard before it hit you.

If you'd seen the vehicle that actually *lost* the wheel - you could make a claim.

The other thing you can do is go to a body shop, tell 'em that you'll pay cash - no insurance- and ask how much to repair? Sometimes shops are willing to do a "camouflage" type repair - not perfect but a lot better than it is now - for a bargain price.

 

Let's keep the discussion on topic and focused on getting the original poster's truck repaired.

 

Can't say. Beyond my expertise. Sorry.

One thing that DOES seem to be clear in that diagram is that the pillar is constructed of a laminated sandwich - and the repair is cutting and welding each layer of the laminate at a different point.

Which I'm guessing takes some skill and expertise to pull off correctly.