Repairable or totaled?

Damn! Do not be afraid to lawyer up if the insurance company doesn't give you enough to replace your loss.

+1 at getting checked out at a hospital even if you feel fine now.

 

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If the insurance company does not total it ... fight them to total it and give you full retail value for it.

On your injuries ... don't remember reading when it happened ... many times, it takes a day or 2 to feel the crash and soreness in your body.

From the photos ... that was a very hard rear-end hit with a lot of force ... you were lucky to walk away from that one.

IMO ... I would NOT sign or say anything ... until I had good information from the other insurance company.
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You want it to be totaled. Don't let them give you that future problem back.

 

Goddamn shit like this scares the hell out of me, I'd be SO EFFING PISSED if some idiot not paying attention totaled my truck like that. They would need the cops there to keep me restrained.

Years ago I was in my ex-girlfriend's Acura sitting at a stop light, we got slammed from behind just like you describe. Pushed up into the car in front of us, smashed both ends of her car. The driver that hit us was a 90 year old man that forgot where his brake was. When we got out and went to exchange information, I asked for his ID and he handed me his Home Depot card

My girlfriend thought she was alright at the time too, but over the next week she started having neck pains. She spent several months afterward going to a chiropractor to resolve this issue. I on the other hand was completely fine. Just goes to show that you never know. Make sure you go to a doctor just in case.

 

+1 on this. I've been hurt too many times to mention (I am a clumsy man who enjoys activities that require physical grace). You never know how bad you're hurt until at least 48 hours after the event. Neck injuries are no joke. As an old fart, my advice is to head off as many aches and pains that will visit you later as possible.

Good luck with all of it. Glad to hear you're OK (but don't forget to be sure!)

 

Sorry to hear about the accident, hopefully you are ok and have no issues with the insurance company.

 

The hate is strong with this one..

 

Glad your ok! Sucks about the truck but yeah that's toast. Frame looks taco'd pretty good. Depending on your insurance they could be awesome or crappy. I have statefarm and when someone backed into my truck it was a no hassle experience. Also I see you are a new member, welcome to TW

 

I'm in the same boat. If something happened to mine I would probably have to get a used 2nd Gen. Those 3rd Gens just don't have the same smooth curves that my truck has.

 

I like the 2nd gens a lot, it was a tough call for me. I'm happy I went with the 3rd gen though, I haven't had any problems with mine.

 

I wouldnt want a used whip so i would have to do 4r, or fullsize

 

I'd probably get a Tundra AC 8' Bed.

But I also don't live in the Denver area anymore.

 

Msz Katie - glad you walked off from this - but others are right........ make sure you are OK!

Does it bother anyone else that the Taco frames all buckle up like this one? I understand the "crumple theory" of energy absorption is a favorite of the automakers (maximizes number of totaled vehicles) - but that weak spot over the rear axle seems to be prominent in every photo I see of a rear-ended Tacoma.

 

I would rather see the frame crumple than the energy transferred to my spinal column.

RJM

 

Yeah, I think that if it's subjected to that much force, it's reasonable that it not be so burly that it won't bend. And I'd rather have it absorb that energy as Loco says.

Another thing to think about: everybody wants their vehicle to be tough and durable, be we also want every mpg of fuel mileage we can get. Toyota competes with other mfgers on mpg. Cutting weight is a huge part of making a vehicle more efficient.

If you have to have an indestructible frame, drive an old FJ. And be fine with 10 mpg.

 

Sorry to hear about this. Hope you are OK. I would be very sad if this happened to me. Luckily I have only had incidents with trail objects and not other bad drivers yet so I can't relate with the scary experience. But happy to see you walked away. My wife (girlfriend at the time) lost her Outback to someones bad driving a few years ago. Make sure that if you get a replacement truck you love it just as much. We ended up with a newer outback but to this day she still does love it as much as the last. We could not take our time to find the "right" one because her mom was sick and she was driving to a different city every weekend to be with her. The Tundra I had was to intimidating for her to keep driving.

And I don't get all the 3rd Gen hate. I came from a Tundra to a Tacoma because I don't need as much truck anymore (if I every really did in the first place). I personally love the new truck. looks great, drives great, much better mileage than before. I don't feel like it is sluggish or under powered. I was worried because I have been driving a 5.7 liter V8 for 5+ years. Maybe I am missing something because I have not owned a 2nd gen. Part of the reason that I bought the Tundra over a Tacoma in the first place was that I was not a fan of the interior looks of the 2nd Gens. I am sure that if you had the time to dig though old posts you would find just as much bitchen from the first gen owners over the 2nd gen the first year it came out. Change is hard sometimes I guess.

again glad you walked away with hopefully only minor injuries. Good job for wearing a seatbelt.

 

As others have mentioned... I hope you are okay, but you should get yourself and passenger checked out. Some acute injuries can turn chronic and then it's a long road to recovery. I would go see a myofascial doctor (not just chiropractor) I never had good results with just chiropractor, but doctors that understands joints and muscle and trigger points. If the frame took the brunt of the damage then that's great news. I can recommend some equipment that will help with any muscle/joint issues, but don't want to post for medical debates etc...just PM and I'll let you know.

The truck is totaled and even if insurance would convince you to fix it... it's not worth it if the drivetrain damage is extensive. Unless you are handy with the wrench and willing to take the truck apart and do a full swap, I would insist it's totaled and get a lawyer if the insurance gives you hassles. When the damage is close to 50% ( I think) or more it's considered a write off.

If you don't keep vehicles for a long time...I say get 3rd gen Tacos... if you want to keep for a long time...for now 2nd Gen late model. Toyota is new to direct injection. 5 years past or more... BMW and VW both had issues with direct injection. Toyota is now getting into it...and they will have teething problems. I was not happy with their FT86 direct injection and guess the Tacoma DI won't be any different. If you don't keep long time... 3rd gen have better creature comforts. Good luck with the next vehicle selection.

 

I say totaled. This rear end was VERY similar to mine a month ago. The only difference was that I had an All Pro bumper.

My truck didn't seem like much but she actually bent the frame, my auto shop guy told me even though with the frame replace it would only reach 60% of the trucks value

My advice, lawyer up and go to the doctor and explain what happened. I walked away from the accident fine until all the aderaline wore off, next thing I know, I was diagnosed with whiplash, fractured rib, and some sort of tear.

My two cents

Their car:


Mine:

 

I guess I needed to be more specific in my comments about the "buckling zone" - why ruin the whole truck frame when that protection zone could be at the rear bumper mounts and hitch? That stuff folded down out of the way....... and whatever scheme the engineers had in mind - it seems to have focused the "energy absorption" damage on a central structure of the frame. Duh?

The energy eater idea is fine - saves lives - but destroying the truck because it was the easiest way to design it - bull!

 

I just went through this with my 2013.

I was totaled out due to frame damage (someone crossed the double yellow and hit me head on) and the push to do the frame was enough to total me out. The high salvage value also worked in my favor. A buddy of mine that worked at a Toyota dealership had given me an off-hand number of about $5,000 in trade in depreciation due to frame damage even if repaired with a new frame.

I'm quite pleased with my new 2016 so far but I elected to go 6MT to avoid the AT debacle. Personally I think the interior is a huge step up but what do I know. I feel like I'm in the tiny minority but so be it.