It’s a sad day for my baby. I got rear ended by a Ford F-250. I don’t know what hurts more…

[ShadowsPapa]

After sleeping on this one, my recommendation is to let YOUR insurance handle this one. You pay your deductible and let them deal with the repairs and related issues.

Once it's all said and done, your insurance will subrogate the other side, get your deductible back and you'll be made whole.

In only one case have I let the other insurance company handle a wreck and it did not turn out in my favor as they were underinsured.

The other side is all smiles and roses now but they have their interest in mind not yours.

It's just business.

Basically what i did years ago - my company paid, and in a manner of speaking "sat with my attorney" through the case and got their money back.
When my father was killed by the sleeping young guy (won't go beyond that here) there was only very basic insurance covering that guy. Just the legal minimums. Geico - pain the butt. Dad's company paid under the underinsured section and the caps were so low it was stupid.
They literally said 'the other party has nothing to go after, no assets at all, and their company legally only has to pay xx in this' as there was a limit in their coverage. You can't make them pay more than what their policy limit is. If it says "$25,000 maximum" then that's all you can legally get from them. So just because the other party has insurance doesn't mean it's enough insurance and if between the two, it's still short - you lose and nothing you can do if there's no assets to go after.
My brother was so furious it's a good thing our parents raised us how they did as I was afraid someone was going to get the life beat out of them. To this day my youngest brother is furious with the outcome and won't even be in the same room with the other driver.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Here is another concern that popped up after the accident. Can anyone explain this?

I'm more concerned about the tire pressure - seems really high for the big tires. Of course that's probably hot temperature after driving a few miles on the highway.

Otherwise, like Hootbro said - and if you had the top of the line "safety, convenience, security" package it would have called 911 for you. They detect criteria that can set off air bags and certain other forces on the vehicle. Nice to see those systems were working as they should!

 

[Sandevino]

Basically what i did years ago - my company paid, and in a manner of speaking "sat with my attorney" through the case and got their money back.
When my father was killed by the sleeping young guy (won't go beyond that here) there was only very basic insurance covering that guy. Just the legal minimums. Geico - pain the butt. Dad's company paid under the underinsured section and the caps were so low it was stupid.
They literally said 'the other party has nothing to go after, no assets at all, and their company legally only has to pay xx in this' as there was a limit in their coverage. You can't make them pay more than what their policy limit is. If it says "$25,000 maximum" then that's all you can legally get from them. So just because the other party has insurance doesn't mean it's enough insurance and if between the two, it's still short - you lose and nothing you can do if there's no assets to go after.
My brother was so furious it's a good thing our parents raised us how they did as I was afraid someone was going to get the life beat out of them. To this day my youngest brother is furious with the outcome and won't even be in the same room with the other driver.

Each accident my daughters were involved in where they were not at fault, Teslas were the other vehicle and the drivers had state minimum insurance - $25k/$50k policy limits. Our insurance covered everything as we carry much higher limits then subrogated the other insurance company, not the driver. Essentially, the other insurance company paid ours back for their expenses as their insured was at fault making them whole.

We however were screwed out of the difference between Actual Cash Value (ACV) and price paid on a brand new car to the tune of about $2500. We paid cash for the car two weeks prior and we’re now out the difference. We had medical bills (T-boned in a Honda HR-V at a red light by a texting Tesla driver at 50 mph) which we had to cover as his insurance only covered the first $25k. Long story short, the driver was from California, moved to Texas, had $0 to their name but was starting a new job.

Our attorney filed a civil suit against them (driver and owner of the car as the driver was under 18 and unlicensed) and won resulting in a judgement and lien on future income and assets. The lien stays in effect until satisfied.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Each accident my daughters were involved in where they were not at fault, Teslas were the other vehicle and the drivers had state minimum insurance - $25k/$50k policy limits. Our insurance covered everything as we carry much higher limits then subrogated the other insurance company, not the driver. Essentially, the other insurance company paid ours back for their expenses as their insured was at fault making them whole.

Yeah insurance of the person at fault has limits, your company has limits, and if the two don't meet the loss - you eat it. In our case, the party at fault had the minimum. Dad's company paid xx amount over that but there were limits there as well. Normally Dad's company would have gone after the party at fault to recover the difference but since there wasn't anything to go after, it was a lose-lose thing.
The kid lived with his parents, who rented a house, and totaled their car so there wasn't anything to go after to recover the differences.
It's a good reason to watch the limits on your own policy - assume the person at fault has minimum and these days it won't go far.
We were also really fortunate that Dad's policy had a final expenses rider. We were able to submit all bills for that stuff to the insurance company and it just covered things.
But there wasn't any amount of money that covers a life - so while people look out for "gee, you ruined my Jeep now you owe me a new one", few are ready for other possible results. My little brother is forever changed as was the relationship between him and our forever forgiving other brother who said "it was a mistake, he is sorry for it" and moved on.
So when I see these accidents where it was just a Jeep messed up and the driver and family walk away - that's what I think of, screw the Jeep - it did it's job, the occupants are fine.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Be glad it wasn't a Lightening behind you.

 

[JarHeadLV]

Sorry this happened to you and your Jeep. The good thing is YOU are ok, you can replace the Jeep!

 

[Silverator]

@MOJTAVE - so sorry this happened to your baby. Glad you were not hurt more though.

A couple of notes to others as I have been in this same situation several times, including a multi vehicle (8) pileup on the freeway.

- 1.) Ditch the cheap insurance companies. It's all good until something like this happens. After an ice storm accident that totaled my sons vintage toyota truck, we jettisoned Liberty Mutual as they fought against us the entire way.

- 2.) Beef up your "under insured motorist" insurance. Not UN insured - UNDER insured. These days well over 50% of insured drivers are not carrying enough insurance. Getting hit by one of them can really mess you up financially. After getting seriously disabled (broken back while riding a bicycle and getting hit by a car) by a under insured driver, even though out of work for 6 months, I got very little other than dr. visits paid for by opposing insurance. Talked to attorneys, and they would not take the case as the other party was poor, lived in a poor part of town, and didn't have enough assets to go after. Attorney suggested upping our "under insured motorist" clause in our policy which would have totally saved us. We did. Total yearly cost - $12. I cried when I saw that. BEEF UP YOUR INSURANCE!! Often it doesn't add that much to the bottom line.

- 3.) Do not sign off on your whiplash until it's absolutely necessary. It can come back years later to haunt you. This is a very common injury in rear end accidents, and the opposition insurance is going to do everything in their power to get you to sign off on your health - ASAP. Consult an attorney. At least as a consultation. Get some good legal advice, and choose whether or not you want to roll the dice on your health down the line. You'll probably be fine, but you never know.


Best of luck with everything, including a new truck. I hope they total yours. Cheers, bp

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Looks like a total loss to me, frame damage is a expensive repair and normally cause for a total or at the very least your gonna probably have a salvaged title if they do repair it

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Looks like a total loss to me, frame damage is a expensive repair and normally cause for a total or at the very least your gonna probably have a salvaged title if they do repair it

That's one of the things that comes into play with those state numbers. Even if you accept the repaired truck, if it exceeded your state's formula, it's title must reflect that by their standard it was totaled.
Similar for lemon buy-backs - they must state o the title that it's a repaired lemon when it's repaired and re-sold. (yes, they do get sold in some market)
That's something to look for - if your state says it's market value 1 minute before the accident vs. salvage value plus the repairs put into it or some similar formula, once that number is hit, it may be required to have that note on the title.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

That's one of the things that comes into play with those state numbers. Even if you accept the repaired truck, if it exceeded your state's formula, it's title must reflect that by their standard it was totaled.
Similar for lemon buy-backs - they must state o the title that it's a repaired lemon when it's repaired and re-sold. (yes, they do get sold in some market)
That's something to look for - if your state says it's market value 1 minute before the accident vs. salvage value plus the repairs put into it or some similar formula, once that number is hit, it may be required to have that note on the title.

A similar thing happened with a 2000 Honda Civic my wife bought new. 2001 it was totalled by a girl that hit her head on and she loved the car so she somehow talked the Insurance company into repairing it. Total cost was around $11,000 when it was said and done and a adjuster lost his job on it. Not sure why they agreed to it but it had a salvaged note on the title after that.

 

[DADDI8R]

When my father was killed by the sleeping young guy (won't go beyond that here) there was only very basic insurance covering that guy. Just the legal minimums. Geico - pain the butt. Dad's company paid under the underinsured section and the caps were so low it was stupid.
They literally said 'the other party has nothing to go after, no assets at all, and their company legally only has to pay xx in this' as there was a limit in their coverage. You can't make them pay more than what their policy limit is. If it says "$25,000 maximum" then that's all you can legally get from them. So just because the other party has insurance doesn't mean it's enough insurance and if between the two, it's still short - you lose and nothing you can do if there's no assets to go after.
My brother was so furious it's a good thing our parents raised us how they did as I was afraid someone was going to get the life beat out of them. To this day my youngest brother is furious with the outcome and won't even be in the same room with the other driver.

I feel for you. My mother was killed by an impaired driver(heroine) three years ago. Driver had no license or insurance and neither did the owner of the vehicle. The driver is still in jail awaiting trial, so nothing to go after civilly. Maybe we could sue for whatever stipend they get in prison. LOL

 

[MOJTAVE]

I feel for you. My mother was killed by an impaired driver(heroine) three years ago. Driver had no license or insurance and neither did the owner of the vehicle. The driver is still in jail awaiting trial, so nothing to go after civilly. Maybe we could sue for whatever stipend they get in prison. LOL

I am so sorry.

 

[MOJTAVE]

My heart sank for you when I saw your photo. I am sorry. Hopefully no one was injured.

Whiplash.

The problem is that my truck is highly optioned and not only are the prices up but the interest rates are as well. I may have to settle for a new frame, bed, etc and the diminished value compensation. After doing some hypothetical shopping online, that seems to be the best outcome. I was entertaining other types of cars and trucks but nothing does it for me like my Mojave.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I feel for you. My mother was killed by an impaired driver(heroine) three years ago. Driver had no license or insurance and neither did the owner of the vehicle. The driver is still in jail awaiting trial, so nothing to go after civilly. Maybe we could sue for whatever stipend they get in prison. LOL

What really "PO'd" my youngest brother was the fact that the kid did only 2 days in jail while awaiting a judge to determine something technical, then he was released and of the 3 charges from the IHP, he was found guilty of two and charged something like $125 fine and let go. The judge was really super lenient. No real jail time, no real monetary penalty, go home and carry on.
See, you can be charged stiff penalties for drunk driving - but there are no penalties for driving stupid or impaired by lack of sleep and so on. One state has laws but you must PROVE that the driver had only xx hours of sleep in the last 48 hours or something like that so there's no way anyone can possibly be charged.
You knowingly stay up all night, get 1 or 2 hours sleep, drive sleepy, cross the center line, drive the wrong way in the wrong lane, kill someone, and pay a couple of small fines and go home and live your life. He won't have any sort of a bad record, he had minimum insurance.
I did a ton of research (it's what I do) and found you can't be charged for being stupid. Seriously, it's not constitutional. You can knowingly have a problem - some drug interaction, lack of sleep, whatever, and it's all totally fine because you are protected.

 

[Sandevino]

Be glad it wasn't a Lightening behind you.

I find this comment shocking.

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