[Jim Mac]

Sitting at a light yesterday BANG. Kid rearends us. I get out and ask if he's insured and amazingly he's covered. This was in my wifes truck. Bent the bumper and thats about it. But its going to tje dealership and they can figure it out. Jim

 

[VinceS427bb]

that's semi-lucky,
hopefully it didn't bend the frame mounting areas;
have them replace everything that is bent/deformed/damaged with factory parts....

glad you are ok and none of the hotrods were involved

 

[Jim Mac]

kid claimed he fell asleep at the wheel. He was out shooting and his buddy banged him in the head with a gun by accident and he had a pretty good lump on his head. Maybe he had a concussion or something. My wife got out of the car and first thing she asked him was if he was texting, but he said he fell asleep (at 1215 in the afternoon) jim

 

[Alan F]

Make sure to get your diminished value claim in too since it's going to show up on Carfax.

 

[Jim Mac]

is the diminished value claim a seperate form? do I go through his insurance for it? I never even heard of such a animal but it does make sense. jim

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

Make sure to get your diminished value claim in too since it's going to show up on Carfax.

Yes for sure, especially if it's a newer model year truck.

Jim,
There was recently a pretty good thread going on here about this topic a couple weeks ago about diminished value claims with a lot of good info.

I never heard of it before and was surprised to hear how much of an effect an accident could hurt your vehicle's value (even if it was only minor damage and all repaired properly).
I remember one guy on there saying that he received a check for $6,000 for "diminished value" of his truck after it was in an accident!

We aren't talking chump change here it sounds like.

 

[Jim Mac]

I see why our insurace rates are so expensive.what looked like a dented bent bumper, the estimate came to 2650 just for the repair (painted bumper). No idea what else they found under the car.

 

[Philip]

Hope you have a police report too.I learned the hard way...without one the driver can claim he did not hit you even after admitting it and giving all of his info. Had to pay for a quarter panel replacement on our 94 Firebird after the guy claimed he didn't hit us. Not sure how his insurance company could deny it, I had his driver license number, name, address, insurance policy number, phone number and could describe him.

 

[rel3rd]

I see why our insurace rates are so expensive.what looked like a dented bent bumper, the estimate came to 2650 just for the repair (painted bumper). No idea what else they found under the car.

Exactly.
Some insurance companies are a joke though. Mine is one of them.

A little over a month ago I got sideswiped from the taillight to the driver's front door on my Silverado. I was in my lane, stopping for a redlight and other car was 3 feet over in my lane (out of his intended left turn lane), as he hit me. I took many photos that showed that fact. I was clearly well over into my lane. He claimed I came over on him, lol.

Damage was taillight, left side of bed scraped up, crushed left rear cab corner needing to be cut out and replaced after frame pull, left rear door needing replacement, and driver's front door scraped up.

I have full coverage, including rental. My insurance company did initial appraisal. $2795 and said it was a 10 day repair. Because I was in complete disagreement with other driver about the way it all happened, the body shop told me what would happen.

He said, MOST insurance companies will not fight for you anymore. They will just cover your vehicle, and other guy's company cover his. That's exactly what my insurer said. But, because I have been a customer for so loooooong, that it would be a "no fault" accident, and no penalty to me....but yes, I would still have to pay my collision deductible of $500...

The other insurance company finally calls me and asks for a statement.
I give same exact story, and she said her insured said something totally different, but MY pictures, and HIS, both showed he was clearly in my lane and that they accepted full liability...:thumbsup:

So now here we are, end of the 3rd week at the body shop and the guy there says he is 40% done....lol. They found numerous other areas of damage and waited over a week for MY insurer to come re-evaluate it. I got approval for 30 days of rental coverage, so this will be getting interesting soon. :yes:

There really is no moral of this story....just had to vent, finally...

BUT...

It sure sounds like your body shop is screwing the insurance company who has accepted liability...which means, somewhere, somehow, we all pay for that...

I have 34 years driving experience, and a class A CDL license with zero "at fault" claims, yet my own insurance company tossed in the towel and was 100% ready to make me pay $500 deductible for something that was not my fault whatsoever....

I will be making some calls today inquiring about this diminished value claim...hopefully this is a blanket issue and is valid anywhere. I never wanted a hand out, but do expect whatever is due to me.

P.S. Glad you and your wife were OK. That's what is really important whenever there is an accident.