The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 57 3100 got rear-ended this weekend at dump!

My 57 3100 got rear-ended this week-end while waiting in line at the dump. A 20 year old driving his dad's Ram 4 wheel drive 2500 (with cummings diesel) and pulling a trailer slipped on the pedal and started going and ran into mewithout breaking.

His bumper hit square in the middle of the left rear stake pocket. But his right tow hook hit smack dap in the middle of the tailgate! It pushed the mettal in and ripped it out of the bottom part of the tailgate. It pushed my truck forward a few feet.

It also pushed in the bottom cross sill under the tailgate and I have a diamond pattern steal plate bed floor over the rotted bed wood. The steal got bent up a bit in there on the left side and the whole left part of the bed got pushed forward and hit the back of the cab a little bit and made a small 1 inch square dent in the cab and chipped the paint on the cab.

So now as it sits the left is forward about 1/2 inch closer than the righthand side.

It missed the bumper as far as I can tell. And missed the taillights.

It also put a small dent in the left stake post and maybe the side bed wall on the left.


I was wondering what I should expect from the insurance company?

It happens that the driver that hit me is insured by Allstate and same agent. He admitted guilt and my son and a cop came and heard him say he did it also.

But what should I expect the company to fix?

I assume the tailgate will be replaced and painted. That is a given and the cross sill too or at least straightened and painted. The bed wood was and is rotted so I do not expect them to fix it I don't think? The steal diamond plate could be straightened I guess. But should they pain it to?

What about the cab? Should I expect them to pull the bed off and do body work on the cab and paint the back of the cab?

If they do that should they replace the pads and bolts? How far should I expect them to go when some of the damage is because it is older and rusted and ageing? As they pull things off they will be faced with other things that need fixing that was not a result of the accident.


What about the slight bend in the bed left hand wall?

This is a 52 year old truck. It is a driver but not a show quality truck. It has the normal rust starting in the front fenders and doors. The rear fenders have lots of chips of paint comming off from the last paint job 20 years ago. But to me it is a keeper as it is an original V8 truck and has the big window and deluxe cab and the 5th wheel spare on the side. It is still in pretty much original condition, no Camaro suspention or power steering mods or different transmission or anything. Looks pretty much stock. Still has the original vacuum tube radio in it and stuff.


Any recommendations as to what I should expect?

I also am wondering if I should take what ever they offer, get a second opinion at a body shop to see if it was a fair price and then do what I can myself as eventualy I want to get the other body work done or replace the doors and front fenders with new ones and then repaint the whole truck.

This is the first accident the truck has ever had in 52 years. :-(


Any recommendations?

Thanks.

have your lawyer ask for the death penalty.

simple: the truck should be returned to it's previous state, at no cost in money or time for you ... be nice to'em, specify paint isn't necessary if they take it to bare metal and finish with good epoxy priner

Bill

An Update.

Since I have some prior rust and pin holes in the tailgate they said I would have to pay them $125 for it as I would be getting a better tailgate than I had on it since it would not be rusty and have holes.

I said it would not be original either!
And I said it was a heck of a note that I get rear ended and I had to pay something to fix it. Just does not seem right.

Also Over the last 17 years hear in california with Allstate i have paid a grand total of $102,000.00 for insurance on my 5 autos, 1 motorcycle, house, earthquake, term life and umbrella insurance! About 6000 a year. And the cars are all old (57, 90, 92, 97, 2000, 2003). And in all that time I have never made a claim.

And even this time I was not at fault and am insured by Allstate as was the guy that hit me and I have to pay $125 to get it fixed!

All together they said it was estimated to be 1486 less the 125 I have to pay so $1361.06 to repair.

That is suppose to cover 14.6 hours for repairs at $63 an hour for replacement and paint prep and painting and $376 for parts - tailgate and $104 for single stage paint.

They are only replacing the tailgate and are pulling the rear cross sill to straighten and metal working any other dents and dings caused by the accident.

All stuff I can do at home including the paint. Just seems like I should not have to do it or pay anything for it.


I need to talk to my agent and give him the what for!

Maybe I should take my business elsewhere like state farm or geico.

you could tell'em to straighten the gate, leaving the rust - or look around and maybe find a cheaper or even free tailgate [here] instead, tell'em to skip that part if they want you to go elsewhere

that's always the way with insurance, they take as much as they can get for as little as they can get away with

Bill

Tell them to write you a check, and fix it yourself.
It's the only way to get it done to your satisfaction.

Most insurance will not give you as much as they would a legitimate body shop, you may only get parts and materials if you do it your self. They hold the upper hand, we all have to have insurance by law but try to collect what ya got comming. They lobby, we can't affored to.
DG

I have never had a problem collecting the check and doing the repairs myself.

In Massachussetts if you have lien on the vehicle they will only make the check payable to the body shop. But if you own the vehicle outright they will give the same amount to you. I just replaced my front bumper on my Toyota myself after it was hit it a parking lot. I saved the entire $500 deductable.

As far as your accident they should pay the full amount. If there is cash to pay the party at fault should cover it