Think my frame is bent?

I have USAA insurance and I can testify to them being the best.. That being said the truck is NOT totaled - both companies say so. And since I won't be able to get it fixed in time for my trip I am thinking I will just let Mercury fix it but not sure. My worry is getting Mercury to pay me for the diminished value. The adjuster from USAA that actually came out to look at the truck said he wasn't sure but he thought I would be more likely to get money from Merc if they were the ones doing the fixing. If USAA fixes it then at least all the parts have a 5 year warranty via USAA. I've been trying to get Merc on the phone today and haven't had any luck. I'm thinking I"ll get it fixed and then sell it, in the mean time I have this trip and need a 4x4 truck. Not a lot of rental companies out here in LA have 4x4 trucks.. which makes sense, it is LA after all. I still have a few days before I have to pull the trigger on getting a rental for 2 weeks or going ahead and buying a new truck and just waiting till I can get this one fixed and sold..

 

my 09 was hit in the back just about like that.they pulled the frame,didn't total it.i'm fine with it and it didnt show on Carfax for some reoson.it was done in a week.

 

I have to talk to the at fault party about the diminished value. I have three statements from dealers. I also happen to work closely with Toyota headquarters and have been able to get some statements from them as well, speaking to the point that a truck put together in a shop is not the same as one put together in a factory.. But yes I will be talking to Merc insurance again, called three times today, and will be pointing out the diminished value and the rental fees and repair time...

Thank you to everyone who has chimed in here. It has been incredibly helpful.

 

Hi,

I had an experience with usaa insurance with my Tacoma. I was rear ended leaving the world superbike races at miller Motorsports park , toelle, ut.

Drove the tongue of my mc trailer through the bumper lodging in between the spare and bed, totalled the trailer, minor dents in the Nighthawks head pipes, scratches on the right muffler.

I let my insurance,State Farm, and usaa fight it out. Usaa treated me very well although it took some time. I was able to get the truck fixed at my preferred shop, gave me enough for the homemade trailer to buy a nice new Shorelander and money for new exhaust parts for Roxie (sorry Roxie, I pocketed the money).

So you've got good insurance.

Jim

 

I know I am a little late to the party, but is there a different body shop you can take the truck to? If I were you, I would definitely push til the end to get that truck totaled. Like has been said, mercury, and any other insurance for that matter, will try and shell out the least amount of money possible.
I had my truck repaired at one of the top body shops around, a Toyota one, and mine was a slight accident, nothing like replacing a frame. As soon as I got the truck back, I could tell it wasn't the same as before. There were a bunch of missing clips, and little pieces here and there. The body shops do everything as fast as possible to get more vehicles in quickly,.

 

I just saw this, do not let Mercury fix it. They take it to their own "preferred" body shops which usually do things cheaply. I would take it to a Toyota dealer with a body shop.

 

California has a law where no insurance company can require you go to a specific shop to have it fixed.

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-co...10-automobile/insur-related-repair.cfm#choice

Some douche in a 5 speed Saturn Vue rolled into my 1990 Integra when I was in highschool (2005). Extremely minor damage and I was given a list of "preferred" shops and I chose one that used only OEM parts but told that I could go anywhere I wanted (Geico)... I pocketed the $800.

Oh and Carfox gets information from any source possible, In California if a vehicle is damaged in a police/insurance reported collision that goes over $750 in damage the DMV has to be notified and if insurance, Police reports (DMV related), repair shop doesn't report it to show up on Carfax the DMV will... I had a BMW 540I that I had a wreck with, No police report was filed... Insurance was aware but they did not pay for either damage to either vehicle (they called it a "wash") but I notified the DMV since it was clearly over $750 in damage just in case they got word somehow... It showed up on the carfox when I tried to trade it in, The trade in went from $4000 to $1500 (my ex lost his license for 6 months for failure to notify the DMV in 10 days of getting the estimate to fix his Evo 9 after rear ending a S2000).

 

Ok well good to know. Does anyone know if the insurance company has to pay for whatever estimate I get? meaning if I find a good shop to do it for 15k, but Merc says it only costs 12k.. do they have to pony up the extra cash there or do they get to stick to their estimate?

My thought is that with diminished value, the repair, the cost of renting a truck for 2+ weeks.. they might change their mind and total it..

 

.
From what I have seen from other claims ... your diminished value should start at $3,000.00 and go up.

I got $2,800.00 diminished value, maybe 10 years, ago from a very tiny bend on the frame piece (where the bumper is bolted) on a new Highlander. I was barely bumped in the rear at a red light.

My wife got almost $1,000.00 in DV when a Honda Fit door had to be replaced.

The newer and the more expensive the vehicle, the more leverage you have to get it done by a top quality body shop (in general).
.

 

Have you done this with new cars not yet paid off? I just got in an accident, getting it fixed. Dont want to keep it because I was planning on modifying it and keeping it forever.

 

^ Yep

 

I have not. You will loose some since its new, but the peace of mind will be worth it.

 

You will lose a hell of a lot, 10 grand or so.

 

Yeah, that's what I meant, my post was a bit vague. He said he will just let Mercury fix it, which I assumed meant use their body shop and have them do everything.
The list of their preferred body shops give them deals fr taking in so many vehicles.

 

You can't just ask a shop to NOT compete a CarFax form. If the shop is a CarFax registered company they are required by contract to report ALL repairs to ALL vehicles serviced.

As mentioned before, CarFax is not required. your 09 just went to a shop that was not CarFax certified.

Edited for accuracy.....

 

Ya it looks like I would lose 7.5k. I guess Ill keep it for awhile and then sell it. Just wont be doing any mods or take them off at time of sale.

For this carfax thing. Is their a database you can check to see which shops are registered?

 

How did you find how much you would be losing on it? It is my next step to figure out. I plan on selling mine..

 

Well my frame isn't bent, so I just looked at the KBB value in poor condition and took that from what I paid. Granted its not in poor condition. So I am just estimating around 7.5k. The collision shop is also an extension of a dealership so I pry will just go back to the dealer and try to trade in with them.

But like you I was planning on keeping this vehicle forever, just not sure how lined up everything will be once I decide to add a plate bumper etc. So that is really the reason I want to trade it in for a new vehicle. Though the accident was my fault.

 

Ah ok, thanks for the info

 

Mercury insurance still seems to think there will be no diminished value.. right until I bring up a Carfax report... Apparently i need to send them statements from dealers who say they would pay X amount more for the truck if it didn't have a replaced frame.