Got rear ended in my truck...

[fanaudical]

...and I heard today it's going to get "totaled".

It's a 2007 Dodge 1500 quad cab w/ 4wd and 135k miles. Got rear-ended by a Subaru and bent the rear bumper down ~10 degrees. I drove home. Subie got towed (and had all air bags blown). All involved were fine and no injuries.

Initial estimate was ~$3k to fix, but the shop got it on the frame jig today and determined rear frame is bent (how much I don't know). Per the shop, they have to replace the frame to fix it. Truck had less than normal wear/tear before this and was in good shape.

I've never had a vehicle totalled before. How does that work? Insurance pays me what they think the truck is worth and I go find another truck? If I opt for repair and get a salvage title, is there any compensation for "diminished value"? Suggestions/opinions on what you would do?

[LWJ]

Yes. Diminished value is something in Oregon.

If totaled, I can't imagine getting this. Diminished value is for you owning a repaired vehicle with a wreck.

Does that help?

Also, are you ok? That, is the most important thing.

[fanaudical]

Thanks. I'm totally fine (and so was the driver of the other car).

[High Life]

I have the same year model make truck - similar story..

I just took the check and drive the truck around with a jacked up bumper and tailgate...

Good thing is - people don't park next to me, or get in my way very much..

[JackDidley]

If its still a good truck just try and do as High Life. When I totalled my Vette, Allstate paid me market value and I bought it back for 10%. Never even showed up on a Carfax report. I fixed it and drove it another 90,000 miles.

[ckelly78z]

If you buy it back, and fix it, you will need to have it inspected to get a "rebuilt" title. I think it is more along the lines of checking lights, bumper height, glass, and other safety equipment by the highway patrol, not invasive spec frame measurements.

We did this on a VW Cabrio that my wife hit a deer with. I replaced the hood, fender, core support, windshield, and headlight, and drove it for another couple years.

[mattdavis11]

Our son had this happen not long ago. Rear ended in a 3 car accident, he was the lead car. They totaled his Accord, I bought the salvage back for more than twice ($540) what we paid for the car ($200), he got a check ($2250). It's my DD now, no repairs have been made.

Doesn't matter to me that the rear end is buckled a bit, it drives straight, and no tail lights were damaged.

[onewhippedpuppy]

It’s pretty easy to straighten the frame on a truck, and used bumpers are dime a dozen. If the truck is otherwise good I would seriously consider keeping it.

[GH85Carrera]

If you don't tow much I would not worry about the bent or damaged frame at the rear.

As long as driving a truck that looks like it does, does not bother you.

And if you buy it back the salvage title often never shows up. Just keep your current title, and drive it. Just understand that if you get rear ended again you will not get much money for it again.

[legion]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

If you buy it back, and fix it, you will need to have it inspected to get a "rebuilt" title. I think it is more along the lines of checking lights, bumper height, glass, and other safety equipment by the highway patrol, not invasive spec frame measurements.

We did this on a VW Cabrio that my wife hit a deer with. I replaced the hood, fender, core support, windshield, and headlight, and drove it for another couple years.

This depends on the laws in your state.

[fanaudical]

It's been an interesting day of talking to the other driver's insurance, my insurance, and the body shop.

I viewed the frame damage today. Frame rails are minimally bent near the attachment point of the hitch and bumper support. Shop claims that Chrysler states that this can't be heated/straightened, that a replacement frame is the only option. I'm calling BS and seeking a second opinion tomorrow.

My insurance doesn't want to insure the vehicle unless it's "repaired by an authorized repair center", whatever that means.

Other driver's insurance is low-balling me on the vehicle valuation.

Fun times!

[mattdavis11]

Get a list of at least 3 comparable vehicles that are for sale or have sold in your area. Also make sure to add in TTL, and inspection costs. It sucks big time, had to deal with twice the end of last year.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Also remember that the Chrysler recommended repair will be the most expensive CYA option available. So if you keep the truck there are absolutely shops that will heat and straighten the frame. Yes it could be marginally weaker which is why Chrysler won’t approve that repair.

[javadog]

Most likely it won’t need to be heated. It’s also unlikely that it was heat treated to begin with. I would expect that a frame shop could fix that in about 30 minutes. Install a new bumper, enjoy your truck.

If you get it totaled, buy it back, fix it, change insurance companies, go on with life.

[javadog]

The insurance company is probably relying on the services of an outside company, such as CCC One, to give them a valuation. The “analysts“ at companies like CCC One are untrained, minimum-wage idiots. Demand the report, pick it apart, come up with your own comps and receipts, you’ll get a lot more for it. I’ve had to total two vehicles in the last few years, I got 40% more than the insurance company’s initial offering.

[Baz]

Stating my position again here.

IMHO, insurance is too complicated.

Should pay one amount per year to cover everything no questions asked.

This "totaled" and "salvage" stuff is nonsense and only serves to add another layer of unnecessary complexity.

But you'll never change the way it's done - too much money involved in the industry.

Good luck!

[javadog]

By the way, as someone that used to run a body shop at the Chrysler dealership, many moons ago, let me say that Chrysler never got involved in any repairs whatsoever, unless they were warranty repairs. And that’s only because they were on the hook to pay for them. Collision damage isn’t covered under warranty and they couldn’t have given even a half of a crap about what took place in the body shop on a collision repair. I didn’t even have to use Chrysler parts to repair a Chrysler vehicle, if I didn’t want to. Back then, most of the bumpers installed on the rear end of pick ups wasn’t even a Chrysler product to begin with.

[vmb]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

It's been an interesting day of talking to the other driver's insurance, my insurance, and the body shop.

I viewed the frame damage today. Frame rails are minimally bent near the attachment point of the hitch and bumper support. Shop claims that Chrysler states that this can't be heated/straightened, that a replacement frame is the only option. I'm calling BS and seeking a second opinion tomorrow.

My insurance doesn't want to insure the vehicle unless it's "repaired by an authorized repair center", whatever that means.

Other driver's insurance is low-balling me on the vehicle valuation.

Fun times!

Are you sure your neck isn't hurting? It's not uncommon for MVA pain to start 24-48 hours after the impact. Amazing how cooperative insurance can be when an injury is being considered. I am NOT advocating making anything up. But I am recalling from past history (1996) when I got rear ended and sustained a broken thumb and couldn't work in full capacity for a couple weeks, how cooperative the insurance company was. I did not sue for anything, but they were eager and happy to rebuild my <1 year old jeep at a cost of >$10k in repairs. I drove it for 12 more years and >150k miles. That shop did a great job!