Wrecked 2018 offroad, help!

My son was recently hit in the rear end, while waiting to turn. The truck only has 10,000 miles, we bought it new. The body shop looked at the truck yesterday, and informed us that it will need a new frame and bed, among other things. I suspected this, and now have to deal with it. My first instinct is to want the truck totaled, and to move on! I personally would not buy a fairly new truck, that has been in an accident that required a new frame and bed. Insurance is telling us that the damage, $23,000, is 20% of the replacement value, so that is why it has not been totaled. Anyone have some good advice on how to handle this?

 

Is your son okay? Never mind the truck... How is he doing?

 

Replacement value is $115K?

 

**running to carvana**

 

It's completely up to the insurance company, there is no swaying them to total or not, this is purely a numbers decision for them. Now, you could attempt to get compensation for something like diminished value, but I think that's a process and different in every state,,, I'd also guess that's something you'd go after their insurance for, but I know zero about it.

 

Yes, my son is ok. He is soar, but doing good, other than being sick that his truck is a wreck. We had just finished putting a lift, bed rack with cvt tent on a month ago. I am hoping someone on this forum is in the insurance business, or can give me some good advice on how to handle this situation that we are in.

 

I'm taking a wild stab and guessing that they total anything thats more than 80% of the replacement, or that 23k is 20% below their cutoff.

Either way, 23k for a truck that blue books for high 30s in a normal year, probably won't be totaled. I'm just surprised that a full frame plus panels, plus (I'm assuming) C-pillar work, plus a long term rental (since most body shops are still 6 months backlogged) is *only* 23k.

 

Interesting. The “20%” does not sound right. My 2018 TRD OR DCLB with 30,000 miles on it was rear-ended last September. I got three different “percentages” of what it would take to declare it totaled from the body shop, an insurance salesman, and the claims adjuster. The adjuster estimated it would take a bit over $23,000 to repair the truck. He declared it totaled and I got a check for $41,270.

 

Make sure it's a great shop, skilled at this work, that offers a great warranty, and has a history of reasonable turn around times.

Have the truck fixed.

Drive it.

By the time it has 200k or so on it, that 'history' won't matter a hoot in the value of the truck.

 

It’s all up to the company. We got damaged worth 6k. Car is work 11k. They just fixed it.

 

If they deem it fixable, then it is fixable unless the shop fixing it comes back with a bunch of unseen damage that pushes it over the line. Accidents happen and cars get repaired and driven for years after the repair. Just because it has a decent amount of monetary damage does not mean it is a death sentence for the vehicle.

 

Hi Op, glad your son is OK.
My wife wrecked her RAV a few years ago. At the time it was worth $17,000 and the body shop was going to fix it for about $10,000. I insisted with the Insurance adjuster (AAA at the time) that after the body shop is done, it goes to Toyota for a thorough inspection and that the ins would pay for any issues Toyota found.

I was worried AWD components would be messed up. After some back and forth AAA totaled it. It was not my intention to have it totaled, but I thought it was ridiculous to trust a body shop with all the mechanical components and just assume everything would work out.

 

I know there are cases out there that are the exception but I've normally seen an accident costing the not at fault party $$$.
I guess that's why they push "Gap" Insurance in my state (NY).

YMMV

 

I had a similar situation with my 2004, although luckily the frame was OK (rear-ended while sitting at a light). But, full bed replacement and some cab and door repairs, about $13.5K. Looked totaled to me, but not enough damage. I had only had the truck 9 months. I had it fixed at one of the best shops in town and was happy with the repairs (I did paint and body work for a couple of years out of high school). I drove it for a year, and it was fine, but eventually traded it in. If the body shop is willing to fix it, it will likely be just fine (as long as it is a reputable shop).

 

Because?

I thought gap insurance was for leased vehicles or financed vehicles where the owner had limited equity or was even upside down? As in it fills the 'gap' between the insurance payout and the remaining lease/loan obligation.

 

If only all the airbags went off...……..

 

Evidently that doesn’t matter anymore. Wife was in a wreck with her 2019 FourRunner and ALL of the airbags deployed. Insurance (State Farm) refused to total it. With cost to fix over $22,000. Didn’t meet the 75% threshold for SC to total it evidently. Not sure what they’re valuing the vehicle at

 

its crazy how people want to total a car with the limited supply available in the market right now. Just in the Atlanta area i couldnt replace a V6 4x4 to replace my truck if totaled today.

 

Well, for one your w/o your vehicle/mods, etc.... And I wasn't clear but I meant totaled vehicle ends up costing the non-fault driver. NY Insurance companies will not give you a replacement cost for the vehicle. They give you low wholesale. Get them to give you same year, same mileage as a replacement w/o out of pocket is a trick. Yes, you can purchase full replacement ins, etc... and in this market its crazy but overall, if your truck is totaled, it's going to cost you.

Gap insurance is if you owe more than the totaled car's depreciated value. What magic book the insurance companies use to come up with depreciated value would be good to ask when getting car insurance, but no one does. Well, I did and mine uses Gaulves or something like that. It's the dealers goto for trying to steal your car. Again not all cases but if your car gets totaled from an accident, your chances of coming out clean is slim IMO (barring any injuries aside. No injuries, your a winner).

 

You got rear ended, you have the upper hand in this situation. If you are really worried about any of this, contact an attorney.

I don't want to sound like a dbag but if the guy hit your son that hard to do that kind of damage to the truck, an attorney would have a field day with this case. A diminished value claim won't matter when you receive a 6 figure settlement. Sorry but I don't feel bad hosing insurance companies.

If anything, have your son get COMPLETELY checked out by a doctor. The other persons insurance will pay. Whiplash symptoms sometimes don't show up for months after the accident.