Truck met elk. Could use a little advice

Over the weekend I was driving late at night in northeastern AZ when an elk appeared out of nowhere, I was able to slow down quite a bit and almost avoided it but not quite. So, now my passenger side is jacked. Due to some other recent mishaps I'd rather not file an insurance claim and have my rates get jacked or worse yet dropped. After looking at the damage I think it's just a new front bumper, passenger fender, headlight, wheel trim, wheel well liner, and miscelaneous hardware; I'm 99% sure the hood is OK. First question is how difficult is this repair? I'm pretty handy with repairs but I've never done auto body work. It looks like is just taking parts off and replacing them, but if there's something I'm missing let me know.

Second thing is the parts. I see that PaintedOEMparts sells the fender and bumper pre-painted ($747 for the fender, $769 bumper). Has anyone used them, or am I better off spending less on the parts somewhere else unpainted and having a shop paint it? As far as headlight goes, I had a local guy when I first bought the truck (2017) who was modifying these headlights for people to have black trim inside the housing, they looked similar to the TRD PRO when done. They held up great but now I won't be able to get matching headlights, there are a ton of cool looking after market headlights out there, anyone have a suggestion (not the $2k TRD pro's)

Last thing, since I do need a bumper I'm considering an after market set up. I don't want anything overly big and offroad but a nice low profile bumper that will integrate my Baja Design fog lights would be nice. Just like the lights, there are a million options and I could use a little guidance. Price is important but it's not crucial.

Oh yeah the elk was fine I think, didn't see it anywhere when I stopped.

 

Looks like you already fixed it.

 

My heart would be broken and I'd be pissed at the Elk...WTF, over?

No frame damage, I presume...but lots of alignment fixes required.

 

brother this a lot more than swapping out parts.
good luck trying to do that when 90% of this truck is plastic and won't fit together unless panel alignment is perfect.
ask me how i know

 

really need to take it apart to see what the underlying structure looks like. from the way the fender wrinkled, i suspect the structure will need some work before any new panels are installed

 

Wow, that sucks.

Good luck man, that's more than I would be willing to handle.

 

I highly doubt the Elk was "fine".

 

Yeah, you're probably right. I think I'll take a look and if it looks anything but perfect behind the panels I'll just drop it off at a shop and tell them to do what it takes. Or just roll this piece of shit into a scrap yard and start over haha

 

Hard to say. I looked for him and saw nothing, but then again it was super dark out. I'm telling myself he was fine so I feel better about it

 

Animals are not considered at fault accidents if you state that it ran into you…

 

If it ran into you then the animal would be at fault. You should have stopped to get the elk's insurance info so you can file a claim.

 

At least it didn't break your windshield, so there is that.

 

Keep the elk hair for tying flies...eat the rest of the meat ...

 

You're right! After looking a little deeper under the hood and seeing that the damage was much more than just the fender/bumper I spoke to my insurance carrier who assured me that it would be a comprehensive claim, not collision and my rates would not be affected. That's a relief

 

Those mfs always be running around no insurance.

 

Oh, but elk burgers are really fine!


sorry OP, hope it works out for you.

 

Rocks also - they’re always rolling when they hit you.

 

Glad to hear that. A lot of us have to eat a big deductible on this stuff. I hit a deer years ago with my Bronco II ($3500 damage) and had to pay my $1000 deductible.

 

Na, Elkses is Tuffs!

 

I know I am going to stir up a hornets nest, but once you find out what kind of underlying damage if any can be replaced and fixed, I would look in to good bumper. I "got hit" by a Ram and my ARB Summit saved my ass by keeping the engine out of my lap.

And by Ram, I mean a 1500 long bed.