Rear-Ended

dodge guy wrote:
Did the hitch even get touched? If the body shop looked at it and said it doesn't need one, then it must not have gotten touched. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially considering it was an offset hit.

I'm with dodge guy. I'm sure that if the hitch was damaged at all, the body shop would replace it. After all, the more they replace the more they make, so it wouldn't make sense for them not to replace it if there was any damage at all

Deano_1 wrote:
Thanks again for the responses.

That person that hit me was probably going 35MPH. I was stopped. As you can see, there doesn't appear to be any damage to the hitch and the assured me they would sign-off on it saying it was safe to tow a #6000 camper.

Well if they were going 35 mph it was a glancing blow. looks like 90% of the damage is to the bumper cover and the plastic filler on the side, likely a bumper mount also did it's job and needs to be replaced. It doesn't take much to get $3,000 in repairs. I don't see and wrinkles in the sheet metal above the plastic.
Typical body repair, parts $, paint and labor $$$$$$$$.

MAKE SURE the shop uses FACTORY PARTS, the plastic after market parts don't fit as well as Factory.

Was it a bicycle going 35 mph or a vehicle. That impact didn't affect your hitch your hitch and if it was a 35 mph hit, it was a glancing blow and the guy stopped somewhere other than at the back of your rig. Looks more like a 5 mph hit.

Insurance should cover and if me...if there was any marks on the receiver...I'd
insist they change it and get a good one

Around $200 bucks for a good one and about 1 hours labor...why chance it ????

BenK wrote:
Insurance should cover and if me...if there was any marks on the receiver...I'd
insist they change it and get a good one

Around $200 bucks for a good one and about 1 hours labor...why chance it ????

So you insist and the insurance company says "no", then what? The insurance company has a vested interest in not paying out claims with no merit. The only card you hold is a checkbook and I'm pretty sure they're probably not making $300.00 profit on a 6 month policy when all is said and done. And if they are, then you better go down the street cause I'm pretty sure you can get a cheaper policy.

Just a reminder there is no aftermarket bolt on receiver for any 2007+ full sized SUV. They are integrated into the design of the rear bumper/crumple zone. If it is bent, then it has to be straightened and braced. Pictures from under would help, but I would guess that the receiver was unaffected in that collision.

Here is the other vehicle. As you can see, most of their damage is on the left side.

Sorry, forgot the link

wing_zealot wrote:

BenK wrote:
Insurance should cover and if me...if there was any marks on the receiver...I'd
insist they change it and get a good one

Around $200 bucks for a good one and about 1 hours labor...why chance it ????

So you insist and the insurance company says "no", then what? The insurance company has a vested interest in not paying out claims with no merit. The only card you hold is a checkbook and I'm pretty sure they're probably not making $300.00 profit on a 6 month policy when all is said and done. And if they are, then you better go down the street cause I'm pretty sure you can get a cheaper policy.

If the insurance company says no, you refuse the claim and send it to arbitration. If it has anything to do with a safety/liability issue in any manner, you can simply say "I no longer feel safe with this vehicle"

The fact that another party rear ended him and is 100% without question at fault usually means that the other companies adjuster is going to go out of their way to make the hit party happy.


The initial damage pic didn't make me question the hitch, but the picture of the car that clearly hit low and ended up under the vehicle does make me question if the hitch was touched/tweaked.

6.6 Oilburner wrote:

wing_zealot wrote:

BenK wrote:
Insurance should cover and if me...if there was any marks on the receiver...I'd
insist they change it and get a good one

Around $200 bucks for a good one and about 1 hours labor...why chance it ????

So you insist and the insurance company says "no", then what? The insurance company has a vested interest in not paying out claims with no merit. The only card you hold is a checkbook and I'm pretty sure they're probably not making $300.00 profit on a 6 month policy when all is said and done. And if they are, then you better go down the street cause I'm pretty sure you can get a cheaper policy.

If the insurance company says no, you refuse the claim and send it to arbitration. If it has anything to do with a safety/liability issue in any manner, you can simply say "I no longer feel safe with this vehicle"

The fact that another party rear ended him and is 100% without question at fault usually means that the other companies adjuster is going to go out of their way to make the hit party happy.


The initial damage pic didn't make me question the hitch, but the picture of the car that clearly hit low and ended up under the vehicle does make me question if the hitch was touched/tweaked.

The adjuster will go out of his way to make the hit party happy? Boy, you're an optimist. But I hope you're right.
An arbitrator will probably want more in the line of factual evidence than someone saying "I don't feel safe".