Well I got the call I didn't want today.

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Well, $5,000 worth of damage is probably by their estimation over 51% of the trucks value.



That is why it is being totaled.
 
Thanks guy. The other guy has Geico too. I'm just so confused as to what to do. I've never had to deal with Ins. Companies before since I've never been in an accident or had a situation such as this.



Doctor says I'm fine he can't see anything on X-rays or a CT scan.



I dropped the car off at the Geico shop when I got the rental. No clue how much longer I'll have a rental. Too be able to get a rental through Geico I had to drop my truck off for inspection at one of the service centers.



Salvage title? What good would that be too me? I couldn't drive it around on a salvage title could I? If I ever try to sell it that wouldn't look good that it has a salvage title.



The Dodge that hit me was going anywhere between 45-55mph and I was coming to a stop probably going 15mph. I hit the guy in front of me also but all he had was a little dent on his bumper.



As for the aftermarket stuff all I have around the house anymore is the factory stereo. The factory intake got lost in a move and the factory sway bar is nowhere to be found :( so I guess I'll lose money on those items.



Truck is a 2001 so it's a 7 year old truck :p if it was up to me I would have kept on drive cause it seems like it drives fine. I drove it all the way home from the accident and it was a 45min drive.



Thanks for all the advise guys.

 
I couldn't drive it around on a salvage title could I
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Of course you can.......when I had my 65 chevy, it got totaled in an accident but was still drivable. I kept my insurance with it. Since it was paid for, I only needed ins to cover if I was to get into an accident.



Living in So Cal at the time, I drove it down to TJ and got a new bumper, fender and all the other dents removed which cost me $75 bucks :) This was back around '72
 
I'm not sure why you think you are screwed. If they are paying you for your loss (value of the truck minus your deductible), then why can't you just take the money you are getting and get another comparable value vehicle? The only money you are out is your deductible, which is your choice.



You can choose to keep the truck and the value of your damages. Gieco won't force you to give up your truck if you don't want to.



You are not the victim here. You are in command.



If someone isn't holding their end of a contract, you can get a lawyer.



What's so horrible here?



Actually, you may be in a very lucky position of getting rid of a gas-guzzler before the market value drops dramatically. This could be one hell of a good thing for you- at least it is opening soem doors of opportunity for you.
 
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Well, insurance companies aren't in the business to lose money, much like casinos.



The money you are given is their idea of a comparable vehicle. You lose money on modifications, tile, transfer and a bunch of other fees.



Then there is the unknown, the maintenance and history of the replacement vehicle.



I do agree that as much as you love(d) your ST, maybe something more practical should be considered. If you use your ST for towing/hauling purposes, by all means replace it with another.



This is by no means a winning situation for Ion, no matter how you spin it.
 
As others said, get an accident atty. involved on a contengency. You were the one hit. You have more rights than if you were at fault..
 
Ok, people might of said this but in almost any rear end collision involving the ST, the bed, easily, gets pushed into the cab or just gets dislocated. Since this happen with many ST's at salvage distributions centers.



My ST is salvage and i just had to pass the emission test and a vin check, and then just register it. It depends on your state.
 
Not exactly sure how he did it, but when I wrapped my dad's Chevy Scottsdale around a tree and bent the frame, it was totalled by the insurance company, he got a settlement, bought it back for less from the salvage company (I think), paid to have it straightened, and then drove it another 50k miles....just got a new door from the junkyard. He ended up with cash in his pocket. Could have been something shaddy, though...not sure...I was 17 at the time, and wasn't part of all his wheeling and dealings.



Morale of the story: You can fix some bent frames, and you can turn lemon into lemonade if you know the ropes.



TJR
 
Not exactly sure how he did it, but when I wrapped my dad's Chevy Scottsdale around a tree and bent the frame, it was totalled by the insurance company, he got a settlement, bought it back for less from the salvage company (I think), paid to have it straightened, and then drove it another 50k miles....just got a new door from the junkyard. He ended up with cash in his pocket. Could have been something shaddy, though...not sure...I was 17 at the time, and wasn't part of all his wheeling and dealings.
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Nothing shady, my dad did that with the car I was learning to drive in after I rolled it. The insurance makes an offer on the totaled vehicle, you get it to a price you both agree on, then you tell them you want to buy the totaled vehicle, they give you a price, they take that off of your offer and you get a cheque plus your damaged vehicle. We had a friend fix it up, a quick inspection and it was back on the road. He also ended up with money in his pocket.
 
knew a tow truck driver that did the same, tow truck was deemed totaled, bought it back, fixed it and 3 weeks later was back in business with money in the pockets.
 
Thanks for chiming in Olaf and GM...that makes sense.



Does anyone know if on a totalled vehicle the original owner has "right of first refusal" to buy the vehicle back from the insurance company?



TJR
 
TJR,



I think that depends on the state you live in.



A girl I was dating at the time got rear ended by some people. The damage was minimal. The 2.3L Mustang had about 263,000 miles on it. Because of the mileage, the insurance company totaled it. They gave her $750.00. She asked them what they were going to do with the car. They asked her if she was interested in it. She got it back for 10% of the settlement. So, she got $750 for it, minus the $75.00 to keep it. A piece of red tape over the tail light and she was set.



She did drive it for another 2 years before she ran it out of oil and killed it. Just shy of 300,000 miles.





Tom
 
Hey, I totaled my wifes old saturn about 3 years ago and they wanted to clear the payoff plus about 500$...I called them and asked for 1000$ the lady did not have the auth to aprove that but as an alternate she did a market search on the vehicle in my area to determine what they are going for and I ended up getting about 2500 more that the original nada quote...of course this was w/state farm, but I am sure that geico has something comperable...



Also I had a cousin that bought back a totaled car from an ins co and fixed it himself...Probably much cheaper that buying a new (newer) truck...
 
Ion, It doesn't look like there is any reason your truck is unsafe to drive. If money is the bottom line here, consider this option. 1. Pull the tailgate off of your truck. See if a friend will let you use his tailgate and check to see if it aligns OK with rest of your truck's body. If it does try this.

1. Try a floor jack to see if you can straighten the bumper or reduce the mis-alignment as much as possible. And if you can! 2. Drop the insurance claim. 3. Replace the tailgate with a new/used one. It may not be perfect, but it may be worth a try.

Just a suggestion!

 
You need to take it to a REAL body shop...one that has a frame straighting machine. Have them take a look, get an estimate and THAT is what the insurance needs to pay up.



The ST bed is composit, and adjusters are not always honest too. He or she might like your trac enough to say it's totaled.... he/she saves their boss a few bucks and they buy the vehicle for themselves as an easy fix up to resell!



I am not saying that is what is going on..but it does happen. I wish all people did honest days work for honest days pay but ...in the real world.... you just never know.





On the other hand, forget that Gieco might drop you if you push it with them....they probably will anyway ...just never know that. I just don't feel you are getting what you are really entitled to... Insurance companies try to save money. You are out your vehicle and having the feeling of "paid off" taken from you. Why should they (because the other guy was insured by them as well) make you suffer and not compensate you properly.



I really wish you would consider talking to an accident/insurane attorney. Most don't require a fee to talk to them and if they do feel you have a case, tell them to go after enough that you are compensated for your vehicle and they get a good fee.



AT THE VERY LEAST, let the Attorney tell you what your rights are in this.





What ever you do, Good luck. :)

 
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ions,



I'm a little confused as to why this would require you to get a new vehicle with a new monthly payment.



If the insurance company is paying book value (hint: get them to pay third-party resale value) then you should be able to go right out and buy another ST just like it for the same money, probably even a newer one with less mileage since many are hurting to sell pickups and SUVs due to the high price of gas.



Sure, you won't get into NEW without a payment, but you should be able to do a lateral move, or maybe even move up a little with your settlement check.



TJR
 
You might actually be lucky. If they give you blue-book value, it would probably be more than a dealer would give you on a trade in. You might get as much as $10k or more including taxes titles etc and the dealer would probably only give you $5K-$6k depending upon the mileage and condition (if not wrecked)



With the SUV market so down, you could get a great deal on a new or used Sport Trac and have large chunk of money from the insurance payoff for a downpayment. Don't forget that you should be intitled to a rental vehicle while the insurance decides what to do.



...Rich
 
What Richard L said.



Also, since you got hit, you shouldn't even have to pay your deductible, IMHO. At least that is the way it works in PA. You might be in a 'no fault' state, however, and therefore always pay your deductible and settle through your insurance (I loath 'no fault').



TJR
 

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