Total loss

[bovellois]

Major badluck on Tuesday, I was waiting in trafic during a white out 60 miles from home. There was no one behind me so I knew I was vulnerable. Then sure enough, out of the blizzard came this tiny car going way too fast. We know how parts or pizza delivery people drive. My exceptional truck is probably a total loss (axle was pushed forward so driveshaft pushed into the transfer case which is cracked). But most importantly, I am not injured.

If someone could guide me, I'd like to post a photo or a link to a photo of the aftermath.

Let's try one more time.

or go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/bovellois/15779528533/in/photostream/

[bovellois]

I love the look of the 2nd gen but I'll have to be content with looking at others, as mine is retiring. I just bought the same truck but 8 years younger (2005 4x4 quad cab long box). Hopefully I'll like the 3rd gen as much as I did this one.

[bovellois]

Grit dog wrote:

spoon059 wrote:
Glad you are relatively okay. Too bad about the truck. I'm sure it didn't have much "monetary value", but it was a solid truck that was likely paid off and got the job done for you.

If it is indeed totaled, I would look into suing his insurance company to help offset the cost of a new truck. I am not a litigious person by nature, but your truck probably has a low value and a replacement vehicle will probably be in the mid to upper $40's. Why should YOU have to absorb the cost of the $35,000 difference between what insurance will likely offer and the cost of a replacement? The wreck was not your fault..

Good luck. You can replace vehicles, you can't replace you.

Sounds pretty litigious to me.....
I guess a $40 k replacement is what is due to someone who gets their $6k truck totaled!
Hopefully the OP has more sense than you and does.not sue for what he is not due.
Personal injury coverage, legit. Replacement vehicle at least in the same condition/ miles as the totaled vehicle, yes. Getting a replacement that cost 5x more than the heap you just had totaled, fraud.
Wonder why my insurance premiums just went up??? Now I know why......
Or maybe you didn't notice the pics of a rusted out, 440000km truck.
I'd be p!ssed that someone whacked my 12v Cummins as they are solid engines, but the rest of the truck is about clapped out.

You are right, it's mostly about the engine. the rest was still in good shape but showing signs of age. Rust was minimal, none on the frame as I did undercoat while I lived on the West coast. I like the fact that the 2nd gen 12v relied on very little electronics. As to getting a similar truck in terms of general condition plus single owner, I'd have to look hard and pay at least 8k with high mileage. Regarding mileage potential, I have met several RV haulers who drive their 2nd gen until they die, at about 1.2 million miles! I am still thinking of fixing it, because the damage is minor and there is emotional value attached to the vehicle, but first I need to see the amount the insurance will agree to pay.

As to getting full compensation through the courts, we have the no fault policy in QC, so I doubt that avenue is worth pursuing. I got hit by a company vehicle, so perhaps there is something there. It was pure negligence in my view.

[bovellois]

bovellois wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

spoon059 wrote:
Glad you are relatively okay. Too bad about the truck. I'm sure it didn't have much "monetary value", but it was a solid truck that was likely paid off and got the job done for you.

If it is indeed totaled, I would look into suing his insurance company to help offset the cost of a new truck. I am not a litigious person by nature, but your truck probably has a low value and a replacement vehicle will probably be in the mid to upper $40's. Why should YOU have to absorb the cost of the $35,000 difference between what insurance will likely offer and the cost of a replacement? The wreck was not your fault..

Good luck. You can replace vehicles, you can't replace you.

Sounds pretty litigious to me.....
I guess a $40 k replacement is what is due to someone who gets their $6k truck totaled!
Hopefully the OP has more sense than you and does.not sue for what he is not due.
Personal injury coverage, legit. Replacement vehicle at least in the same condition/ miles as the totaled vehicle, yes. Getting a replacement that cost 5x more than the heap you just had totaled, fraud.
Wonder why my insurance premiums just went up??? Now I know why......
Or maybe you didn't notice the pics of a rusted out, 440000km truck.
I'd be p!ssed that someone whacked my 12v Cummins as they are solid engines, but the rest of the truck is about clapped out.

You are right, it's mostly about the engine. the rest was still in good shape but showing signs of age. Rust was minimal, none on the frame as I did undercoat while I lived on the West coast. I like the fact that the 2nd gen 12v relied on very little electronics. As to getting a similar truck in terms of general condition plus single owner, I'd have to look hard and pay at least 8k with high mileage. As to mileage, I have met several RV haulers who drive their 2nd gen until they die, at about 1.2 million miles! I am still thinking of fixing it, because the damage is minor and there is emotional value attached to the vehicle, but first I need to see the amount the insurance will agree to pay.

[bovellois]

Grit dog wrote:

spoon059 wrote:
Glad you are relatively okay. Too bad about the truck. I'm sure it didn't have much "monetary value", but it was a solid truck that was likely paid off and got the job done for you.

If it is indeed totaled, I would look into suing his insurance company to help offset the cost of a new truck. I am not a litigious person by nature, but your truck probably has a low value and a replacement vehicle will probably be in the mid to upper $40's. Why should YOU have to absorb the cost of the $35,000 difference between what insurance will likely offer and the cost of a replacement? The wreck was not your fault..

Good luck. You can replace vehicles, you can't replace you.

Sounds pretty litigious to me.....
I guess a $40 k replacement is what is due to someone who gets their $6k truck totaled!
Hopefully the OP has more sense than you and does.not sue for what he is not due.
Personal injury coverage, legit. Replacement vehicle at least in the same condition/ miles as the totaled vehicle, yes. Getting a replacement that cost 5x more than the heap you just had totaled, fraud.
Wonder why my insurance premiums just went up??? Now I know why......
Or maybe you didn't notice the pics of a rusted out, 440000km truck.
I'd be p!ssed that someone whacked my 12v Cummins as they are solid engines, but the rest of the truck is about clapped out.

You are right, it's mostly about the engine. the rest was still in good shape. I do like the fact that the 2nd gen 12v relied on very little electronics. As to getting a similar truck in terms of general condition plus single owner, I'd have to look hard and pay at least 8k. I am still thinking of fixing it, because the damage is minor and there is emotional value attached to the vehicle, but first I need to see the amount the insurance will agree to pay.

[Grit_dog]

spoon059 wrote:
Glad you are relatively okay. Too bad about the truck. I'm sure it didn't have much "monetary value", but it was a solid truck that was likely paid off and got the job done for you.

If it is indeed totaled, I would look into suing his insurance company to help offset the cost of a new truck. I am not a litigious person by nature, but your truck probably has a low value and a replacement vehicle will probably be in the mid to upper $40's. Why should YOU have to absorb the cost of the $35,000 difference between what insurance will likely offer and the cost of a replacement? The wreck was not your fault..

Good luck. You can replace vehicles, you can't replace you.

Sounds pretty litigious to me.....
I guess a $40 k replacement is what is due to someone who gets their $6k truck totaled!
Hopefully the OP has more sense than you and does.not sue for what he is not due.
Personal injury coverage, legit. Replacement vehicle at least in the same condition/ miles as the totaled vehicle, yes. Getting a replacement that cost 5x more than the heap you just had totaled, fraud.
Wonder why my insurance premiums just went up??? Now I know why......
Or maybe you didn't notice the pics of a rusted out, 440000km truck.
I'd be p!ssed that someone whacked my 12v Cummins as they are solid engines, but the rest of the truck is about clapped out.

[bovellois]

FLY 4 FUN wrote:
Glad both you and the other driver are safe from immediate harm. Looks like a very bad storm and things can get out of control fast in that weather. I hope you have no long term effects, and like has been said a new truck is not an entirely bad thing. It makes me mad that other peoples carelessness can cost you pain and financial loss, but that's how it works. Keep us updated when the dust (snow) settles.

Daryll

Daryll

Thanks Daryll. I'm fine physically, PTSD is more of a problem and it affects how I deal with the insurance people. I had to speak to the supervisor of my claim officer to get things straight, which they did.
I also paid a deposit toward a 2500 cummins pretty much same as mine. It's a working truck in good shape mechanically and decent looking.
Regarding my 1997, I too doubt very much the frame has any damage, so I'm still hoping to get it back, and at least now I won't depend just on it.

[Jarlaxle]

Honestly...I would probably repair the truck. Is the frame damaged?

[FLY_4_FUN]

Glad both you and the other driver are safe from immediate harm. Looks like a very bad storm and things can get out of control fast in that weather. I hope you have no long term effects, and like has been said a new truck is not an entirely bad thing. It makes me mad that other peoples carelessness can cost you pain and financial loss, but that's how it works. Keep us updated when the dust (snow) settles.

Daryll

Daryll

[spoon059]

Glad you are relatively okay. Too bad about the truck. I'm sure it didn't have much "monetary value", but it was a solid truck that was likely paid off and got the job done for you.

If it is indeed totaled, I would look into suing his insurance company to help offset the cost of a new truck. I am not a litigious person by nature, but your truck probably has a low value and a replacement vehicle will probably be in the mid to upper $40's. Why should YOU have to absorb the cost of the $35,000 difference between what insurance will likely offer and the cost of a replacement? The wreck was not your fault..

Good luck. You can replace vehicles, you can't replace you.

[Hannibal]

Ouch! Looks like the little car's passenger compartment held up pretty well too considering the offset impact. Glad everyone is ok. Good luck in your truck shopping adventure.

[bovellois]

bguy wrote:
What do you think would have happened to that little car if it had cleared you, which it looks like almost did?

He would have run straight into the rear of a semi, which would have been way worse. My truck might have saved his life or spared him from life in a wheelchair.

[bovellois]

lj2654 wrote:
Don't sign anything from Insurance about no injuries. My wife and I were rear ended years ago by a drunk guy. She lost her occupation and has had neck and back problems ever since, and that was in 1995.

Thanks for the advice. My wife too had compressed vertebreas in the 1980s as a result of a bad accident. She settled but the pain is still there.

[Cummins12V98]

Forget the chiropractor get a reputable orthopedic surgeon.

[Powerdude]

Definitely do not sign a thing, until you've talked to a chiropractor, doctor AND a lawyer.

Make sure you can walk straight, get an MRI done, wait a week and see how you feel.

Sometimes, especially if you get rear ended like that, you may think you're fine, but you could have a hidden hip problem or some other joint problem later on.

I would also go see a rheumatologist and a podiatrist.

Make sure you document all the co-pays, and have the other guy's insurance pay for it.

[lj2654]

Don't sign anything from Insurance about no injuries. My wife and I were rear ended years ago by a drunk guy. She lost her occupation and has had neck and back problems ever since, and that was in 1995.