Request for your wisdom...

Subject requested knowledge is for:
Princess Platinum Crewcab TRD Rock Warrior 2012 Tundra vs. 25,750 pound telehandler. OR A 12.87 ton forklift, going a minimum of 10 mph, rearends a perfectly innocent, parallel parked, Princess Platinum Crewcab TRD 2012 Rock Warrior Tundra.
This happened at 5:45 in the morning. I was the only vehicle in sight. The construction company Foreman assured me that they would take good care of my Warrior. No need to worry. Two weeks later and I have not heard from their insurance company. I'm not too worried about them skipping town or anything because the construction they're doing is for the very large company I work for. I will be contacting them tomorrow and suggesting that they get their butts in gear. I don't have a problem with that. The problem I have is that I have had two weeks to contemplate just how much damage was done. At first I just researched to see how much a back bumper would cost to replace. But when I decided to Google the vehicle the hit me and I found out that it weighs two and a half tons. I realize there would most likely be other damage. If that thing popped a hole in my heavy duty bumper like it was a piece of aluminum foil. Now I believe that there is a very good chance that the frame may have been bent. I don't know how to verify this. I have found that it tweaked something, because my tailgate now catches on one side. I feel a little better knowing that this will be an area I will require to be looked at in depth. My question to you is "What other kinds of potential damage should I be alert for? The forks on the vehicle were pretty long and I doubt they just hit empty space as they plowed through my bumper. I am so scared that some damage will be missed and I will be stuck holding the bill for some $2000 bolt made only in the Himalays by monks with bare feet on thursdays. Y'all know what this vehicle cost me. I am making $700 a month payments with very little left for frivolous things like food. There is just no way in this lifetime that I could afford to pay to repair any body part or buy that monk nut. My Sweet Tundra, which is incidentally, the love of my life, would be out of service. I need to be better informed and ready to make sure everything is taken care of. Any suggestions, ideas, words of masculine wisdom for me? Also, ive read several places that if the frame is bent, they would most likely total the Warrior out. This would do wonders for my money situation. Do any of you have a more solid knowledge of how likely it is that the frame could be bent and then totaled out? I very much appreciate your time and consideration of my situation.

 

See "general Tundra discussion" category... From California, here

 

Dang!! Definitely take some pics and post. Maybe call your insurance company and have them send an adjuster to look at it first and then go to a reliable body shop and have them verify what the adjuster found.

 

my eyes..my eyes..

 

File a police report!!!! Then call your insurance company!

 

Pic of damage

 

I contacted my insurance carrier right away. I don't really want to involve them too much right now just in case they decide that I owe them money or that they should raise my rates because I involved them. Taking it to a reputable shop is another great idea. But without knowing exactly what the other guys are going to do for me, I hesitate to involve a shop because I don't have the money to pay them out of pocket. I'm going to have to wait till I hear from them before I either take it to a shop or go after them legally. My main reason for asking for knowledge is so that I can show that I'm not totally ignorant of the fact that there could be additional damage. I am also interested in knowing if anybody else had this kind of accident and if they did is it at all possible that it would be considered a totaled vehicle. Recent events have put me in the position of having to support my mother and my brother financially. The $700 a month truck payment for the next bazillion years, is going to make things very difficult. I know it's not the way that things should be done, but if I could get away with not fixing my truck and using the money to pay a good chunk of what I owe off, life would be a little bit easier. I could not think of life without my black beastie. I could live with a bent frame and a big hole in the bumper though. The hole in the bumper would always be a great conversation starter. I just don't know how Insurance works anymore. Which is why I was seeking insight as to just how much unseen damage could possibly have been done. I do realize that II am probably quite the oddball among Tundra owners. My special princess Tundra is a wealthy woman's vehicle. I am very aware that I bit off more than I can logically chew. But it is my love and sacrificing other things in life has enabled me to make every payment for the last five years on time. A huge cash settlement would come in oh so very handy. I'm a dreamer and I can't help but dream that this might be a way for me to be sure that I can keep my baby.
Just like every other Tundra owner, I would love to trick out my Beastie. I would just love to have it lifted with big meaty tires. I keep hoping that because I was not born beautiful maybe I will be rich instead. But until that day comes, my priority is just being able to maintain possession. One of the best things about the Princess Platinum Crew Cab is that it is plenty big enough to live in. Been there and done that. Quite the comfy cozy arrangement. The fancy Blu-ray player tops it off as fit for a princess. Damn, life is good! (Sorry for such a long reply.) Ohhh and I so very much appreciate your sage advice and wisdom! Thank you!

 

Report to Insurance carrier
Get rental while being fixed.
Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish!!!

 

Yeah, don't mess around guessing or asking forum members to diagnose damage we cannot inspect. Report this to insurance (unless you're not insured); unless your truck was parked illegally and that contributed to the collision, you cannot be penalized (your rates increased) for this.

Probably best to keep your cash settlement dreams to your self as well, 'til you get the damage assessed. And how you do that without paying out of pocket is, again, by reporting to insurance. They'll give you a few options of places to take it-- you pick from those. You can probably also take it somewhere else (select based Internet reviews, an experienced friend, whatever) and get it assessed w/o paying-- shops do it b/c they want your repair business (which is why you get zero benefit out of leading with your dreams of a cash payout).

I do caution, if you start pushing the construction co. for resolution, but you haven't gotten the damage assessed, you'll be in no position to know if you're getting screwed. And, if I were to bet, their first offer will be that you take it somewhere they choose for repairs that they'll pay for. Since I know that's not what you want... make an insurance claim.

Good luck.

 

Michelle, can you post a pic showing the underside of the truck? Can't really see whether the damage goes past the bumper into the truck.

 

Definitely report it to your insurance company. They are there to represent you in such obvious cases as this. A legally parked vehicle struck by a third party will not cost you. If you have any trouble from the ones that did this, your insurance company will stand in you stead, in court, if necessary. That's what you're paying them for.

 

I thank you all for your Insight and awesome advice! I feel a lot better with the information you all have given me! I contacted my insurance company first thing. I had the information in my account 15 minutes after it happened. So I think we all agree I did at least that right. I also received notification from my insurance company that California has a law that says I can take it it anywhere to have the work done. I feel that I need to have the from either Insurance Company before I have the work done. Or even even before I get an estimate. As for announcing the fact that I thought a huge settlement would be good, I am surely not going to broadcast that. I did send off an email to the construction company boss asking him exactly what his intentions are. I let him know that security videos are available should they be needed. I was 100% legally parked.
My purpose for posting a request for information was was mainly to find out what other things underneath the truck in the rear end area could possibly have been damaged. When I was younger I knew a lot more about the vehicle I drove. Not So Much Anymore. So I thank you all very much again. You all rock!!