Frame Damage From Being Rear Ended

Just wondering if anyone here has any personal experience with frame damage from being rear ended?

I've searched and found it doesn't seem like an uncommon occurrence with our trucks, it seems the way the tow hitch is mounted and likely an intended crumple zone in the frame lead to it bending even from low speed impacts.

I'm asking because I was rear ended this last week and the damage is extensive. Likely resulting in a bed, pass. bedside, tailgate, bumper and hitch replacement. The frame is bent at least vertically on the pass. side and possibly bent to the side and the truck appeared to lean and the rear axle was shifted despite the rear leafs being in the correct places still. The bed even slapped the cab and there are some small dents there as well.

The truck is a 19 Pro with <10k on it, so totaling it might be difficult especially with COVID truck values going up. I think the question for me might come down to trading it or chancing the repair in the long run.

If you have any experience with the frame being fixed, did you keep the truck, did you have any issues?

 

I have no experience with this stuff, but wanted to say I am sorry this happened to you, and I hope everyone walked away unharmed!

I hope it all works out and you either get a new one, or it is fixable!!! Good luck, and let us know of the outcome.

Do you have any pics? That may help others give more input.

-T

 

2020 Limited with 4200 miles. I was well over on total. The frame was a big part of it. Pros don’t really cost that much more. They just don’t have a rebate so it seems that way. At least in my area. The body shop hadn’t even really looked at mine completely before the decision was made. It was the initial walk around. What do you want them to do?

 

Pics after I get the whole insurance aspect taken care of. I might just be overly cautious, but will hold off. The situation is pretty simple though, stopped on the freeway due to traffic in an exit lane. The person that hit me did not, they were going about 40. I had a second or two before impact, so not sure how they missed my big ass blue truck.

Mine doesnt involve the motor area, I do know frame damage up front is far more complicated. Mine is aft the rear axle. I would like them to just do their part, I have a solid history with mechanical and electrical work so I already did my once over. I think my familiarity with precision mechanical systems makes me uncomfortable with trusting the truck would work flawlessly as a whole considering the damage. I will express that once we get to that bridge.

 

@Elduder Just went through this in June. 18’ sr5 OR rear ended hard, Frame bent, and frame orders for trucks projected out to 6-8 months (covid issues with factory output). Shop recommended totaling. Then dealt with a month of back and forth total valuations to get us to an agreed on price in the current market. Pain in the ass, should have ”attorneyed” up right away. Huge hassle to fight the insurance company just to get a fair current market valuation to replace my vehicle. Ended up finding a lease buyout that was comparable mileage and moved sideways to a platinum. Insurance was USAA to USAA too. Really annoys me that I pay a damn high premium for what ended up low rate care/assistance. Anyways good luck. Don’t settle/fight for what’s fair or you will come out at a loss/attorney up.

 

What he said.

 

I've heard claims where both drivers have the same insurance company usually are more difficult to get money out of. Basically the claims reps must just be like let's keep the total down so we can look better. Someone has to "lose" in the situation, but when its the same company it doesnt really seem like they allow that to happen.

 

My truck had that happen in January. Someone rear ended it at a stoplight. The frame was bent and they had to straighten it up and repaint the bed. They did not paint it the same inferno color as it was just a plain orange and had no yellow pearl to it. Pointed it out to the shop and they said they were going to get a paint specialist and they got close so I offered to pay for the entire truck to be repainted so that it all matches. I paid only $1500 out of pocket because of how long they had my truck. But all in all everything seems to be ok. I wheel my truck too and so far no issues. It’s only been 5 months since the repair. I asked if they could total it and they said no. They replaced the tow hitch the bumper, straightened the frame and repainted the entire truck. Nightmare to say the least. Good luck to you. Insurance will try and low ball you. We got an attorney when they didn’t want to work with me on the diminished value of the truck. Because of that we found out that my wife had 5 herniated discs. 2 in the lower back and 3 in her neck. So my advice is lawyer up and get checked out first. Sorry that this happened to you.

 

Luckily Voodoo Blue has no metallic flake in it, should be easier to match, but I've had enough repaints to know that it will still be off.

Good to hear it drives well. I am also worried about DV because its a Pro and markets at about 48k locally right now. Its a bit of a catch 22, if it were a SR5 it would most likely be totaled for sure due to damages vs. value. It being a pro makes that a bit more challenging. I do know it will need the bed and one bedside replaced for sure, it was folded and stuck out like 6" . Looks like the fender well turned into a tent. Ill get pictures up eventually. I have played the insurance game a lot, I had a lot of bad luck as a younger adult.

 

Car Accidents really suck. I got rear ended in my '07 and they ended up saying the repairs would be $3000, but as they dug into it it ended up closer to $8000. I was surprised how easily the tow hitch bent. I was stopped, and was hit by a Honda Civic that got rear ended by an F150 doing close to 45 we guess (speed limit on the road +5). Then, a year later got hit head on. For a year the truck seemed OK, though I always wondered about the frame, there were times that something would happen when I hit a pothole and couldn't tell if it was the accident, or just a new pothole, or 198,000 miles.

 

I agree with @StarLord get a lawyer or at least a consultation, I haven't in the past, but glad I did with the head on. It's been a year, and we are finally on the home stretch. Though the property damage was quick, the medical was what is dragging out.

 

Yes, biggest mistake Ive made in the past was when I was hit by a car from behind while on a bike. Had pain and obviously an injury, settled PI/pain and suffering for ~2k. Pain continued for a year until I finally worked though the joke of my medical provider to find out I had a small tear in my ACL that caused pain while riding. Personal lawyer friend of mine basically said its too late now, but would have been looking at a substantially larger PI settlement and the Drs might have actually done something about it. I still have the tear, don't ride anymore, and cant get approved for surgery due to the small size of the injury. I can live with it, but it changed my mindset some.

 

Sorry to hear hope everyone was ok.

I was rear ended last summer. She hit me right on my tow hitch. I even bend my steering wheel towards me somehow.
This was my frame.

Passenger side




Driver side.

tried to total it but insurance wasn’t having it.
Got fixed, just over $14,000CAD in repairs. After the fix truck looked great and drove just fine, but I could still see what seem to be like rumble strips on the frame still from being stretched out. I did mention it to body shop but they said it was normal as long as the frame is straight. I mean frame was probably fine but I wouldn’t of been comfortable towing my 5k lbs trailer behind me, So I traded it in November of last year with a 17 pro.

 

Looks familiar. Thanks for your insight.

 

I would have never accepted that. Once the frame bends, its weakened. The frame should have been replaced, especially if it was at the hitch area. I'd never feel comfortable towing anything with that truck. You paid for a truck with almost a 10k tow rating, would you want to hook 10k pounds up to that? Just sucks that now there is a truck floating around with a sketchy frame repair and someone could be driving around in a truck they have no idea was repaired that way. To me, it seems the shop did the cosmetic repairs, straightened the frame to make it look good, and called it good with no regard to structural integrity. That repair could have, and should have been closer to 20k to repair. My 2016 ram was rear ended at high speed while parked. Obviously the hitch took a hell of a hit, bent fram 90 degrees, need all new rear components. Including frame replacement, quote was about 20k. And that was just enough to total the truck out.

 

Exact same damage happened to my 2016. It happened after 9 months of ownership and about 11k on the odometer

After I saw the damage (same as yours) I knew I wanted the thing totaled. Plus, with the repair route you usually want to go after a diminished value claim which can take a lot of time and effort.

I found a good local body shop that quoted the repair at 28k (at faults insurance made a first estimate at 6k). So it was enough to total it

In the end I received a check from the at faults insurance for $2000 more than what I paid for the truck out the door off the lot.

 

I made a return trip to pull some stuff out of the truck, bikes, sunglasses, etc. I’m only holding off on photos for legal reasons, but I took the bed rug out and the bed is toast. The body angles look like the frame is angled. The cab has a dent the size of my fist where the bed hit it. It’s right on the corner and through a molded body line, so no pulling that out. I hope they total it at this point because I’m familiar enough with mechanic work to know this is going to be a major repair. I’m really beat right now over all, so might not post as much.

Even getting through to the doctors feels like work with the whole COVID thing.

 

I had the same sent in the cab as well. The whole process is a huge pain but at least insurance will eventually take care of you. I bet it will total it.

 

Yup, same as my ram. The bed folded like and accordion. I had a bunch of tools in the bed since I was starting a new job in 3 days. Had tools everywhere, some through the back window and scattered all over the road and on his car.

 

Ouch, that looks bad!

All the damage I had was basically only visible underneath. The bed looked fine, even the rear bumper. Nobody would have known it was totaled or even in a crash just looking at it. I even drove it home 200 miles from vacation which is when it happened.

This was a hit by an SUV traveling about 45 mph while I was stopped. The SUV was pancaked since it was then hit by a ram 2500 with a loaded down trailer.

 

Yeah this was parked and hit square in the rear by a 350z doing about 70mph. Where the 350z is in this picture, was exactly where my truck was parked. I had a ball mount in the receiver when he hit, all I can think is, he caught air coming up the driveway apron and pushed the ball mount down into the pavement, literally was bent 90 degrees and dragging on the ground. It never punctured his radiator.

 

Crazy, I was also on vacation, or starting it at least. I didnt drive it any further, it felt like the rear was lifted 6 inches. The thought crossed my mind though since we were 80 miles from arriving.

 

Shit dude, that blows! Sorry that happened. I hope they total it out. How could they certify towing and payload capacity after frame damage? It seems they would have to replace the frame.

 

Update:

The damage was far more extensive that I could see even in my pictures, the frame was bent sideways as well as upward. The total ballooned to well into the 10s of thousands so it is officially totaled. Guess the hunt for a new tundra starts, sucks because there are none at the dealers right now.

 

What trim package are you going for? I'll keep my eyes peeled.

 

2021 Sport models, Double Cab.

 

Good luck in your search!!

 

WOw, just went through that exact thing. Most insurance companies won't "straighten" a frame. I was a state farm hit by a state farm, and they no doubt try to low ball you. Be sure to ask for the details of the calculation. Unlike most manufacturers, the Vin number of a vehicle from Toyota does not contain all the nitty gritty details that add up that sport model. You'll need to justify every thing like bed liner, sill plates, leather seats, etc. you can figure an option depreciation abouts 20% year over retail, and with used truck prices right now, you'll have to do some digging to find a comparable vehicle with same options as you, there just aren't many out there. Insurance will grab and SR5 and try to price you out on that. My truck was hit two months ago, was a Tacoma, same damage as your talking. I was able to get insurance to come up about $6500 from initial offer after two rounds, but i had to do my diligence and had some real comparables. Good luck, sorry to hear it happened, it sucks all around the entire hassle of it all.

 

It is totaled as of now. If you had state farm to state farm on your claim, yeah settling with your insurance is probably the worst. I did that once as well, basically I got nothing for pain and suffering that time. Luckily the other driver was at fault and with a different company. Also, luckily the market right now is crazy, my settlement was very good. Mods were even factored in.

 

Sorry to hear, hopefully you find a good replacement. Car accidents are a royal PITA. One thing that I always look back on, is my Tundra save my families life, and I will always be grateful to that. If we had been in our minivan I doubt the outcome would have been the same.