Think my frame is bent?

Well of course the at fault insurance company, Mercury Insurance, is giving me the run around, trying to push me into using my own insurance...which I may do. But my insurance won't cover any diminished value, though they do seem more set that the truck is totaled. Mercury says its not..

anyone know a good lawyer for this type of thing in Los Angeles?

 

you MUST get this information in writing, otherwise the ins co is going to do their very best to screw you. they are not in business for your best interest, all ins cos policies are to give as little as possible.

 

Man just reading that frustrates me. One accident that was not even your fault and there goes your resell/trade in value...

 

^^^^^
That makes since, I haven't been in very many accidents in my time thank goodness.

 

Somebody rear ended me at 45mph in the same way. They just never stopped for traffic and ran into the back of me. I was in a 99 Tacoma tho. Not no 2012. The chevy 1500 hit me and bent my hitch straight down and it pushed me into a suburban in front of me. Yes it was totalled. I miss it. I'm driving an 05 Sequoia right now. Hopefully going to get into another Tacoma.

 

Sorry about your truck . I've been auto adjuster with a major insurance company for 15 years , have over 20 years experiance working in the body shop , your truck is most likey not totaled complaining is not going to get you anywhere , even if they replace the frame and bed they will probably still fix the truck , the rail is kinked and should be replaced , there may be a section procedure for the rail with out replaceing the entire frame , the most important thing to keep in mind is picking the right shop , make sure they have I-CAR trained techs , and the proper equipment , the choice is yours they can't tell you where to have the work done , however if you use an approve shop ,somtimes you may have more leverage if your not happy with the work done.

Good Luck !

 

... ^^^ ... That insurance company is difficult to deal with ... do NOT use you insurance if at all possible ... unless they want to "total" it.

Then your insurance can subrogate back to Mercury for full reimbursement for the "totaled Toyota" claim paid to you.

PS ... For you military and ex-military guys ... IIRC, USAA auto insurance was rated number one in customer satisfaction. On the pure civilian side ... Amica Mutual was also rated at the top. This is according to the "consumer advocate hero" ClarkHoward.com.
.

 

this sucked for OP but it seems to just suck more as each day passes..

 

Bent is a point of view thing...

 

I was in an accident recently in my 2011 dc and insurance gave the body shop $18k max to fix the truck and that included all parts, body work, labor. I thought the frame was damaged, but it wasn't. If it was damaged they were going to replace it as long as it was in the budget given. If it went over it would have been totaled.

 

... ^^^ ... Which ins co. paid and did they give you a fair price on your totaled Tacoma ... just curious ...
.

 

The frame is bent, but that truck is not totalled. Your truck is still worth 26-28K. In order to total it, the repair bill would have to be 70-80% (depending on state) of the value, in order for the vehicle to be totalled.

I went throught this, repair bill was 9K. File for diminished value after the repair and moved on. I wanted my truck totalled too, but didn't happen.

 

Handelonthelaw.com

I don't mind so much plugging his show here but that's the best source I can imagine of honest lawyers.

 

Related but unrelated question.

Is there some kind of law that mandates a Carfax report?

I do all my own work, no Carfax reports or even records that Toyota has.

Can't repairs be done by quality shops and have no Carfax reports filed?

As far as the truck, it may or may not be bent bad enough to total. Those subframe clips that are riveted on appear to have crushed as designed and may have taken the hit. Someone posted about body damage and so forth, did not look that close.

PK

 

... ^^^ ... Beavis0076 ... you came out better than most people in that type of station ... even without the extra $3,000.00.
.

 

Whee! Is this yours?

 

There is no mandate or law currently in the books requiring a CarFax. CarFax is 100% voluntary, and no shop is REQUIRED to report repairs or service work to them. My shop is one of those who is registered with CarFax, thus everything from a light bulb, oil change, or engine overhaul is reported to them each day.

I have recently heard that the feds are trying to improve the used car industry for buyers by starting to require a more extensive report from the selling dealers about any known history of major repairs. They key word being "known". This is still in the thoughts and planning stage from what I have read so far.

 

So it seems that in the op's best interest, if they don't total it, he should fine a really good body / frame shop. Replace those 2 rear clips, check the frame for alignment and wheel alignment. Do not have them complete a CarFax. See if it drives good or not. If not trade it in. Plus get diminished value $ from the insurance company if he can.

Kind of crappy for the next owner, but really if it needs to be totaled and insurance won't do it. Then the insurance company is forcing the issue.

PK

 

If insurance is paying the bill you can bet your sweet @ss that it will be on the Carfax.