Auto insurance question, not covering mechanical issue.
 

I was hit while in my Tundra. I was crossing a four lane and perpendicular traffic was backed up due to a train. The cars left me a gap to go across. As I was crossing a woman in lane waiting for the train backed up into me (trying to turn around I guess)and hit my drivers rear wheel square at 90 degrees with her hitch. The wheel got messed up and a gouge was taken from the sidewall of the tire. A few other minor trim items and what not but no sheet-metal damage.

This is a well worn truck (salvage title and 250k miles) and she makes a few noises if you might imagine. Well anyway, I noticed the next day (it was drivable) that a grinding noise was coming from the rear. It got worse and worse to the point that it's flat out loud over the next 200 miles.

Here in lies the problem, it's the passenger wheel bearing and it looks like it might have a slightly bent axle (they inspected it). The adjuster says no on covering it as it's the opposite axle from the side that was hit. Obviously the potential for transferred shock is there but they see an out and are taking it.

I cannot say for certain that there was "no" problem back there prior (there were some mild driveline noises), it's possible as it's a salvage truck but whatever it was it's now 5-10 times as bad and there is no doubt that it was at a minimum exposed and exacerbated by the accident.

Should I fight for this or am I asking too much? I can understand the idea that the problem may have existed in some way (albeit in a more acceptable manor) but the point as I see it is that I had a drivable truck and now I don't. Any advice?
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I assume the adjuster you saw was from the woman's insurance company, not yours.

Do you have collision insurance on the truck? If so, go see your insurer. You will have to pay your deductivle, but you should get it back after your insurer goes after the insurer of the woman who hit you.

Do you have a police report? That might be able to help you.

How worth it to you is it to have this vehicle fixed? If you can't go through your insurer, go get an independent estimate of repairing the damage. Call the other company's adjuster every day requesting settlement amount for the amount of your estimate. Hang up if you get a run-around and call back the next day.

I don't think you are asking too much to have the damage to your vehicle repaired after someone else hit you. That is what insurance is for.

One thing to be mindful of: if the repair costs exceed the value of the vehicle, then you are only likely to get the value of the vehicle, not the repair cost.

In Michigan we have no-fault insurance so it's my company that I'm dealing with. I do have a police report.

I just got off the phone with my insurance rep(old friend from business) and he's going to see what he can do but says I may be SOL. He's a good guy and I trust him so when he gets back to me I'm going to take that as "the word". I'll let you know and thanks.

Does the fact of it being a salvage title affect things? I always thought one downside of a salvage title was that insurance wouldn't cover damage, theory being the entire value of the vehicle has already been paid out and the insurer(s) won't pay twice. But no personal experience.

At least go get your $500.00 "Michigan Mini Tort" from her insurance company!

pardon? WTF is that?

Ok, looked it up. Seems that their insurance company could use the same defense that mine is (not caused by accident).

Never had that experience, it's never come up.

My experience in Cali with State Farm is that the value of the vehicle is the value of the vehicle. We totaled my son's car and retained the car. I asked what would happen if he hit another deer, the adjuster indicated that they would simply pay what was then the current value based on comps. I think State Farm is fair with this, my sense is there are other insurance companies that are not so fair...

Nope. I was t-boned (their fault) while driving a Silverado with a salvage title. They paid out to repair just like any other truck. The only catch might be if the vehicle was totalled, as fair market value for a salvage vehicle is less than a clear title one.