Dealing with a wreck

[goldneagle]

I suggest you do not put any health related comments on this thread. We are not the only ones that can read them! If you want to talk about the damage to your vehicle (do not do the repair work yourself). Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.

 

[Flyingvan911]

Glad you are relatively safe. I agree, go to the doctor. You never know what problem might be laying below the surface. If everything is good, then great. If they find something severe you'll be thanking your lucky stars.

 

[steelypip]

Just another pile-on here. I got rearended when stopped by a relatively low-speed vehicle. It did a fair bit of soft-tissue damage to my neck which didn't fully become apparent for about a week.

As badly as your truck was damaged it is very likely that you have a medically reportable level of injuries, even if you feel 'ok' on day +1 or even +2. Head and neck injuries aren't obvious to the injured party, especially early on.

1. Get yourself checked over by specialists ASAP. Do exactly what they tell you to do after they've looked you over.
2. Don't say anything to anybody from the other party (or whose affiliation you don't know - sleazy insurers in particular tend to play costume and phone games) about what you experienced, your well being, or the state of the truck. Yes this forum counts.
3. Go ahead and retain a lawyer. This is the most important thing after getting medically checked out. You certainly have injury and damages that you likely won't fully recover for without counsel. As advised elsewhere, find a reputable pitbull from a larger firm. If you don't know who to call, ask a lawyer you do know with any different specialty than personal injury - they will know who is good locally.
4. Once you have retained counsel, do exactly what they tell you to do. Don't worry about conflicts with the doctors - there won't be any.

 

[cliffyp]

Hey guys, I really appreciate all the well wishes. I'll heed the advice given and leave out medical/physical condition. Well on Saturday I called in to the police station and got the report number. I asked if the driver was insured and they said they didn't know as of yet and to call back on Monday, they'd know by then. I imagine the guy sat in a cell till Monday morning when the judge came in, thats typically how they do it around here when people get arrested on a Friday night. I called in again today and they said the report was complete but they couldn't release any info over the phone, I, or someone, would have to come down to the station and pay the $4 fee and be given a copy of the report. This means that as of now I still don't know if the guy was insured. Here's the part you've all been waiting for, shots of the truck.

 

[jdknech]

Thats a HARD hit!! I hope everything works out in your favor as much as it can... what kind of car hit you?

 

[cliffyp]

In the shot looking back down the frame, it looks to me like the frame has a twist. Starts just about above the tire and twists as it goes rear. I think a lot of the impact went under the truck and hit my springs and lifted. The bed jumped forward and bit the cab on the passenger side. My doors used to close perfect, now both sides are sticky and the passenger sticks out at bottom. On the bright side, I got to keep some of their car as a souvenir. Fiberglass in the hitch and part of their grill up under my bed!

 

[o1951]

Truck took a pretty good shot. I would not be driving it without suspension repairs. Concerned about the suspension on RR, particularly the master leaf spring and hangars, which may have been overstressed, and could decide to become 2 leafs or new design hangars and bolts at the next big bump. Having been whomped a few times in my 70 years, can say other guy's insurer- or yours if he is uninsured - (mandatory we have uninsured motorist coverage in NJ and states around me) pays for a replacement vehicle until yours is fixed or replaced. You call insurer, they tell you where to rent car (they get discounted rate), allowed similar vehicle at no cost to you. Last time, they dropped car at my house, picked it up too.

 

[ducer]

Sorry for your loss. I hate to say it but I think that truck is F.U.B.A.R. I hope all will be well for you though.
Denny

 

[steelypip]

If it were a rare or exotic truck you could get it stretched back into shape on a frame machine and have the spring perches rewelded/replaced as necessary. It would be a lot of expense for a CUCV pickup, though. I'm guessing the other vehicle was shredded given how much energy went into bending the frame and lifting the back of the truck off the ground.

 

[Triple C]

I'm pretty impressed with how the truck faired considering the force it took to place car parts from the offending vehicle under the bed! Having said that, if the doors are sprung, I would think it would be hard to get that truck squared up again. Good luck to you on all fronts. Guess you can be thankful you were in that vehicle and not something that couldn't take that hit, or it would have probably been even harder on YOU!

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Now your challenge is going to be proving the value of the truck. Insurance companies are going to want to call it an ordinary 84 Chevy pickup, and pay based on that. It's totaled, of course (from an insurance perspective). You're going to have a fight on your hands.

One thing that might help is proving replacement value. With prices all over the map, documenting that is going to be tough. One way might be for those of us that have 1028s to provide you with documentation of our purchase price, and a statement as to the condition when we bought it. I'd be glad to do that for you, if it would help.


By the way, steelypip gave you the best advice on this thread. Listen to da man!

 

[Warthog]

In order for the bed to crunch the cab, the frame had to flex (otherwise the bed would be ripped from the mounting bolts).

Make them replace the truck with like kind (M1028 - very few made) and they will see the costs. Also make arrangements to buy the truck back from them for aquisition cost. Many good parts still there.

A fellow Texas SS member (pawnshop) had his M1009 totaled recently. He can provide some intel on dealing with the insurance companies.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?105689-Pinky-my-M1009-is-down-for-the-count

 

[DriverSideImpact1008]

What kind of car hit you?

Looks like a Mercury Grand Marquis grille, and the header panel on Crown Vics/G. Marquis is hard fiberglass, like the chunk stuck in the hitch.

Cliffy, hope you can get all the truck repair/replacement truck stuff figured out fairly quickly ("quick" is not a word insurance companies know).

 

[cliffyp]

Now your challenge is going to be proving the value of the truck. Insurance companies are going to want to call it an ordinary 84 Chevy pickup, and pay based on that. It's totaled, of course (from an insurance perspective). You're going to have a fight on your hands.

One thing that might help is proving replacement value. With prices all over the map, documenting that is going to be tough. One way might be for those of us that have 1028s to provide you with documentation of our purchase price, and a statement as to the condition when we bought it. I'd be glad to do that for you, if it would help.

That would be awesome! This has been my fear, that they are just going to low ball it because "it's just an old Chevy". I'll let you know if it looks like I'll need it and I'll put a word out on the forum to see what other docs I can get.

Cliffy, hope you can get all the truck repair/replacement truck stuff figured out fairly quickly ("quick" is not a word insurance companies know).

"Quick" is apparently not a word the records department knows either. When I called in on Saturday they said they would have it by Monday. When I called in Monday they said it was done but couldn't release any info over the phone, someone would have to come down, pay the fee, and pick up the report. Today it isn't ready and won't be for ten business days. I said I have a wrecked vehicle and I'd like to start the process. She replies with, "you can go ahead and contact their insurance". I don't know who their insurance is or if they have any. "Oooooohh! We have your number, we'll call you when it's ready"

So I don't even know if there is any insure yet. This is a blast! I'm looking around for a replacement truck, 1028 was my DD. It'd be nice to know whether I've got to come up with the cash all myself or if there will at least be something coming in to offset the purchase. A/C in my wife's Montero is nice and all, but its no CUCV!

 

[patracy]

Too bad people have to jack a thread to get on their soap box!

You got that right.

 

[jw4x4]

Hey guys, I really appreciate all the well wishes. I'll heed the advice given and leave out medical/physical condition. Well on Saturday I called in to the police station and got the report number. I asked if the driver was insured and they said they didn't know as of yet and to call back on Monday, they'd know by then. I imagine the guy sat in a cell till Monday morning when the judge came in, thats typically how they do it around here when people get arrested on a Friday night. I called in again today and they said the report was complete but they couldn't release any info over the phone, I, or someone, would have to come down to the station and pay the $4 fee and be given a copy of the report. This means that as of now I still don't know if the guy was insured. Here's the part you've all been waiting for, shots of the truck.

I was rear-ended in my 1009 by a Dodge Charger on my way to work about 18 months ago. Went thru the same run-around with the police report. (was told I had to PAY for a copy). Within 3 days of the crash, I started getting thick envelopes in the mail from OUT OF STATE lawyers. Complete with CD's instructing me on how best to cash in. Also included was a copy of the police report. I even started getting spam phone calls on my cell phone. I thought I was doing the right thing by putting my cell # on the report so I could be reached. Bad mistake. The report is public record and every scum bag lawyer started seeking me out so we could sue. I never even considered it. My 1009 had minor damage (Charger was totaled) and I worked it out with the owner's hubby without getting the insurance companies involved. Be careful what you reveal on the police reports.

 

[cliffyp]

Now the nightmare begins. I guess the guys that hit me is connected. After a week and a half the police report was finally released. "Investigators Opinion of What Happened" is as follows (I'm Unit 2), "as the driver of Unit 2 approached the entrance to turn left, the driver engaged the brakes. The driver of Unit 2 did not have his lights on, therefore, the driver of Unit 1 did not see Unit 2 until the brakes where engaged and struck Unit 2 from behind." This is an out and out lie.

There is no mention of the witnesses that immediately came up and said the other driver was traveling in excess of 80 mph (30mph zone). There is no mention of the speed he was traveling. It didn't even occur to me at the time to get the witnesses names myself. The officer was talking to them, of course he was doing his job and would have a record of their statements. Lesson learned. Let the fun begin!

 

[timarr]

You always have a right to have the state police to get involved. My son was riding a bike and hit by car. It took two weeks to get report in meantime he was issued a helmet ticket. When report was produced no witnesses either and was not detailed. I requested a meeting with chief,traffic officer and patrolman. I was informed it was a waste of services for a detailed report.I went through roof, used a favors of A judge and surrounding chiefs to get everyone on same page. In the end my son still has back problems at 16 y.o. so you play hardball and think of your long term results of this mishap! GOOD LUCK!

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

So now you need an expert witness to testify to the speed based on the damage. I may be able to connect you with one, if you like. I do expert witness work in another field, and am in contact with other experts in various fields. But expect it to cost more than the truck is worth. Typical rates are $200-$800 per hour. Let me know if you want me to point you at somebody.

Your insurance company should fight this battle, with a bit of help from you. If they would rather just pay off, there's probably not much you can do.

BUT, the report should list the witnesses, or you may be able to get their names by some sort of official request. You might want to talk to a lawyer and see if there is a legal process for challenging the police report.

 

[o1951]

Now the nightmare begins. I guess the guys that hit me is connected. After a week and a half the police report was finally released. "Investigators Opinion of What Happened" is as follows (I'm Unit 2), "as the driver of Unit 2 approached the entrance to turn left, the driver engaged the brakes. The driver of Unit 2 did not have his lights on, therefore, the driver of Unit 1 did not see Unit 2 until the brakes where engaged and struck Unit 2 from behind." This is an out and out lie. QUOTE]
That means you are at fault, and now have a chargeable accident. Your rates go up and your insurer pays - probably for both vehicles!!