Lady ran a red light

[ShadowsPapa]

Right now it's cheaper for the dealership to do a frame straightening most of the time. I know the lead service manager at my dealership in Tampa and he said b/c of auto costs and supply chain shortages inflated new car values many vehicles that are normally totaled are now having frame off repairs being done. Sucks but what ya gonna do.

This is going to be more than just pull the front over and it's in alignment again. Can tell by how all things are shifted over. Yes, they may due to that state being a 100% state on vehicle totals but there's no way I'd want it back because of welds, rivets, things twisted than you can't put back into place. Then there's the frame will need cleaning and re-coating (paint) I wouldn't touch that truck. (unless it was to salvage parts). I've been too deeply involved in auto repair and inspected for others - I'd bet that if they repaired it, it will have gremlins in it for the rest of its life.

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[jwrigh64]

Insurance company confirmed they are in contact with ladies insurance and have finalized liability placing her at fault.

Spoke with collision center and they are doing visual inspection today and if not totaled off that, they will have me come down and sign authorization for them to dig into it and go over it with me. They mentioned the bent frame already and said they have done frame swaps in the past vs trying to straighten it out. Already mentioned the transmission fluid on the ground and desire for full engine inspection etc. We’ll see what their visual inspection comes up with….

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Insurance company confirmed they are in contact with ladies insurance and have finalized liability placing her at fault.

Spoke with collision center and they are doing visual inspection today and if not totaled off that, they will have me come down and sign authorization for them to dig into it and go over it with me. They mentioned the bent frame already and said they have done frame swaps in the past vs trying to straighten it out. Already mentioned the transmission fluid on the ground and desire for full engine inspection etc. We’ll see what their visual inspection comes up with….

Sounds like you have your ducks in a row (no, not the ones on the dash!) - good luck!

 

[chorky]

This is going to be more than just pull the front over and it's in alignment again. Can tell by how all things are shifted over. Yes, they may due to that state being a 100% state on vehicle totals but there's no way I'd want it back because of welds, rivets, things twisted than you can't put back into place. Then there's the frame will need cleaning and re-coating (paint) I wouldn't touch that truck. (unless it was to salvage parts). I've been too deeply involved in auto repair and inspected for others - I'd bet that if they repaired it, it will have gremlins in it for the rest of its life.

I agree with this completely and even with a frame off wouldnt want that vehicle back as sad as it sounds. Deep visual inspections are good but theres no way to test or chrck hidden things like spot welds as mentioned. They could fail in a couple years down the road causing body paint to fall apart and then what?? It wouldnt be warrantied or fixed likely because it would have been considered fixed already. That to me just sounds like a massive headache

that being said its the insurance to decide what to do I guess and of course they will choose the cheaper option. Hope they just get you a brand new rig….

 

[RichDSport]

I don't know what it's like in the rest of the country, but red light running has gotten so bad in the Denver metro, especially since the pandemic. You can't go through any light anymore without waiting a few seconds. Every red left turn light has at least 3 cars following through and most straight reds have at least 1. Keep your head on a swivel at all times driving these days. People have just given up on the idea that yellow means you can slow down and stop at the light.

 

[Shopshirt]

I don't know what it's like in the rest of the country, but red light running has gotten so bad in the Denver metro, especially since the pandemic. You can't go through any light anymore without waiting a few seconds. Every red left turn light has at least 3 cars following through and most straight reds have at least 1. Keep your head on a swivel at all times driving these days. People have just given up on the idea that yellow means you can slow down and stop at the light.

Same here. I can often count two cars after my light turns green and triple lane changes to make an almost missed exit seem the norm now. On the other side doing a 1-2 second count before going through the intersection seems to elicit several honks and gestures. Some people lay on the horn as soon as the light turns green...I guess it's a premptive honk in case someone up the line is on their cell.

Pandemic aggressive driving is one of the reasons I stopped riding motorcycles.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You guys aren't the only ones who have noticed. I saw it in a news article a few weeks ago as well - road rage is up big time, aggressive driving is more the norm now than ever................. people not looking before changing lanes, turning from or into the wrong lanes...

 

[DirkG]

You guys aren't the only ones who have noticed. I saw it in a news article a few weeks ago as well - road rage is up big time, aggressive driving is more the norm now than ever................. people not looking before changing lanes, turning from or into the wrong lanes...

 

[DirkG]

Insurance company confirmed they are in contact with ladies insurance and have finalized liability placing her at fault.

Spoke with collision center and they are doing visual inspection today and if not totaled off that, they will have me come down and sign authorization for them to dig into it and go over it with me. They mentioned the bent frame already and said they have done frame swaps in the past vs trying to straighten it out. Already mentioned the transmission fluid on the ground and desire for full engine inspection etc. We’ll see what their visual inspection comes up with….

I was hit by a lady on her cell phone years ago which totaled my car, so I understand what you're going through. I have young children and did not want any compromises with the safety of the vehicle. In general, it's always better (for you) to total the vehicle because that accident will always follow your JT via Carfax or insurance reports.

If it's close to a total and esp if you have children, I would tell the insurance agent you don't want to compromise safety and prefer to total it. That's the route I took and was much better off because of it. Although your JT looks killer, even if they shine that baby up like new, it will always be devalued because of this.

 

[chorky]

You guys aren't the only ones who have noticed. I saw it in a news article a few weeks ago as well - road rage is up big time, aggressive driving is more the norm now than ever................. people not looking before changing lanes, turning from or into the wrong lanes...

This right here is the real problem. And its becoming a HUGE problem. Everybody is in such a rush and most people are very selfish with their driving. it will only get worse.

 

[TheHeathen]

I agree with this completely and even with a frame off wouldnt want that vehicle back as sad as it sounds. Deep visual inspections are good but theres no way to test or chrck hidden things like spot welds as mentioned. They could fail in a couple years down the road causing body paint to fall apart and then what?? It wouldnt be warrantied or fixed likely because it would have been considered fixed already. That to me just sounds like a massive headache

that being said its the insurance to decide what to do I guess and of course they will choose the cheaper option. Hope they just get you a brand new rig….

Better hope she isn’t insured through Geico. BTDT. One of the worst experiences imaginable, and they’ll do anything underhanded to prevent it from being totaled. Mine was a 7 month saga that ended with a significant loss on my part, but they ensure that you’re thankful you no longer have to deal with their intentional incompetence.

 

[jwrigh64]

She has AARP (Hartford) and filed a claim. Just called them and they had a digit in my phone number wrong so good advice to contact them. Have talked to both adjusters.

Pushed my adjuster today that I would prefer it totaled and she said if the appraisal doesn’t come back totaled then I can request a property damage assessment to have someone else look at it from USAA. Initial outside visual inspection has it at ~20K without popping the hood. We’ll see what happens when they get into it.


Local dealer I ordered from says best they can do is $500 off MSRP of similar gladiator on lot…

 

[Chuck]

Make sure you ask about depreciated value amount being added to the total bill. This is extra money in your/banks pocket as the value of the truck dropped with this accident
Might push it closer to total value.....

 

[Mjolnir]

Make sure you ask about depreciated value amount being added to the total bill. This is extra money in your/banks pocket as the value of the truck dropped with this accident
Might push it closer to total value.....

This. I had to fight the other insurance carrier when my JK got rear ended from a few years ago. Guy fell asleep at the wheel of his suburban at 2:30PM. I was at a full stop on the highway, he hit me around 50 mph. Had a dashcam that proved he lied about me cutting him off and slamming on my brakes. It also got him saying to me he was sorry he fell asleep. Always have a dashcam.

Luckily no frame damage for me, but his suburban was totaled. After two months of battling with his insurance company, they agreed to a DVC amount of $5,000.00. Less than a month after that I saw the same guy got arrested for trying to sell 8 lbs of meth in my hometown. So that made me realize he was coming down from a high possibly when he hit me.

Some states dont do DVC, but if yours does go with it and have it added to the bill, that might push it over the threshold for totaling it or not.

 

[Elff]

You guys aren't the only ones who have noticed. I saw it in a news article a few weeks ago as well - road rage is up big time, aggressive driving is more the norm now than ever................. people not looking before changing lanes, turning from or into the wrong lanes...

I ride a motorcycle so these 2 posts are extra significant to me. My head is on a swivel.

O.P. Good Luck with everything.

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