F**k Deer!!!!!!!

Just talked to nationwide and filed a claim.. One of their adjusters is supposed to call me in the next two business days to take a look at the truck and should be able to write me a check to get everything fixed... Looks like plate bumper here I come!

 

Ugh don't get me started on the stupid marketing that Westin uses on their "bull bars". I call them brush guards because that's about all they're going to stand up to. Drives me nuts because it's not even in the same league as a plate bumper, which is what I consider to be a bull bar.

 

^ thank you! I'll slide on the bull bar name for plate bumpers, I know regionally names change. BUT.. A "brush guard" is NOT a plate bumper or bull bar.. They just don't take the same abuse!

 

Well what happened it's been a few days

 

The insurance adjust ist supposed to call within two business days of the claim. So sense I put it in on Friday they'll call either tomorrow or Thursday (off for Xmas of course)...

I did go and get a quote at a local shop I knew wasn't covered by my insurance just as a second opinion. They quoted me at only $2,700 to fix it all! I was really expecting it to be MUCH higher!! When I got backed into in my corolla years ago that was a $1,800 check and that was just a fender! Really figured with this being complete replacement of a bumper, fender, light, grill, and fog light, plus painting everything it'd be in the $3-4k range..

 

Did you tell them you wanted oem replacement parts. If not that's the issue a lot of shops will throw ebay stuff on your truck and hope you don't figure it out. When I got backed into in my other truck. I took it to ford for the quote.

 

The pricing will be MORE. Shops give you a good price.

Do yourself a favor and remove all the damaged stuff. Thats what I did. TOok the front bumper off, told them is was rubbing the tire(it was), ziptied my headlights back on. Since 1 clip was broken on the headlights, had to replace them, same with the grill, a clip was broken. Cross supports for the headlights were bent up, thus needed to be replaced. The aluminum bumper support had a ding in it, replace it. On the front bumper, there are the 2 fender moulding pieces, yeah, replace. Fog lights, replace. The moulding below the headlights, replace.

Just saying, you can remove all the broke stuff, toss it in the bed when you show up, all they do is snap a photo or two of the damaged stuff and then cut the check.

Do uou have the reverse camera miror? I had the 2012 mirror in there. Got pissed when I got in the accident and punched it. TOld them that, asked where it was, said think it flew out the window (did) they replaced it too - mAYBE YOUR HEAD HIT IT AND IT BROKE? That was a 750 right there they cut for me. Honestly, hadn't really thought about it. but when she mentioned why I do not have one, just told her what happened.

 

Ya, that shop I know was quoting me on non-oem stuff and I'm gonna make sure this quote is for Toyota stuff.. cuz as I'm gonna get the guy (sorta) I was all Toyota parts back on my truck when I take it to this "other shop"... If I was to have the do the work I'd require oem so I figure it's still fare.

And in terms of taking everything off, I can do all that standing there with the guys and the only real reason I would would be to check that factory aluminum bumper but I doubt the deer actually hurt that thing.. It's not the strongest but it was just a deer...

 

Was more so you do not have to worry about the "Supplimental" from the shop. They make a check "to get started" if there are any additional items not seen when it is apraised, they leave a form for the shop to fill out. Then an adjuster comes back out and verifies, cuts the additional check and they finish the repairs. - If you are just going to buy your own stuff, you loose the option for the additional money.

 

I've looked over it all real good and made sure I know all the parts (including brackets, etc.) that need to be replaced.. Believe me, even tho im gonna do it myself I want this check to cover all of it!

 

Exactly, Just trying to help you cover your basis with any abstract Ideas I have.

 

Just remember there is stuff in there that you won't see Is damaged. Your radiator support could be slightly bent and you'd never see. When I got hit it was clear what needed to be replaced. But the Ford body shop as they took everything exterior off would check with gauges and other tools on other things and found about 1.5k more worth of stuff to be replaced.

 

I totally get that. I and most of my family are mechanics either by trade or just because were in the family, so I've given everything a pretty good look-over including taking the bumper partially off to look behind it.. I know there's a couple mounting brackets for the light and grill that are bent so they'll be on the list.. Other than that, there's no deeper damage. I got lucky that all the body parts hardly got pushed even to the frame cuz the aluminum bumper took the brunt of the force. The radiator didn't get touched at all so I should be good other than those few body panel supports.

 

So.... it's two days after christmas. What's the damage

 

That sucks man... I have to drive 24.5 miles of back country roads to get to the station every third day and I see 10-20 kamikaze deer almost every time. That is the reason for the 40" light bar on the truck so I can at the very least have a fighting chance. During the fall and winter I very rarely get over 30 mph just for that reason. I had 2 run directly out in front of me last day on the way to work. It's just a matter of time before I become another statistic.

That doesn't include all the squirrels and rabbits I hit most every time. At least they don't do any damage. I don't even check up for them anymore.

 

Damn man! Ya I'd say that's plenty justification for the light bar!

And so far I STILL haven't heard from the claims adjuster... Will be callin back later today to check AGAIN on the claim status.. I know it the holiday season and all but this is gettin a little annoying now.. I got places to go that aren't just across town and I need my truck fixed!

 

finally got a call from the adjuster guy… haven it looked at monday and they say they'll write me a check on the spot…fuck ya!!!

 

Forgot to update this... Did get money from nationwide with no problems.. They actually gave me a Visa card instead of a check! Parts are now ordered and should be here by the 14th

 

How much $$$$ are you getting, or conversely, how much $$$$ worth of damage did they estimate?

 

$2,600 was the damage estimate, $2,500 to me after the $100 deer damage deductible.. All in all I'm pretty happy with it, trucks gettin fixed/improved a bunch!