'03 LC Hit by Drunk Driver. Think it's totaled?

[marshcat]

Was driving on interstate 90 Friday night on my way to visit family. Cruising 65mph in the right late about half a mile before my exit. BOOM. A grey Honda Accord in the middle lane abruptly swerves into my truck, bounces off it, and collides with me again before spinning out in to the ditch. The front right wheel on the accord is clear ripped off and the whole front end smashed.

I pull over behind the Accord and run over to make sure the driver is okay. He gets out of his car but is slurring his words. I immediately call the police. They arrive, take both our paperwork, and administer a sobriety test to the accord driver. He fails the test and is arrested for DUI. State trooper tells me "he's hammered"

Meanwhile, the trooper and I are able to bend back the front left fender of my LC to make it driveable. I drive the remaining 70 miles to my family's house. Truck drives fine but the door closes crooked so there's a cold breeze that comes through.

How much do you think this damage looks like? Front bumper dented, front fender crunched, door knocked crooked, rear door and quarter panel scraped, rear bumper hanging loose, and rubber damage on both my wheels.

 

[MongooseGA]

Sorry to see this.

If, that's if, the damage is limited to the sheet metal, you could theoretically replace the fender, doors, and bumper for ~$2k buying good used parts. Fwiw, I've been shopping for rear doors and they're running ~$250-500 plus shipping of about $200. Bumpers are free if you go check in the local forums. Guys taking them off give them away.

If there's more damage beneath the panels, it's totalled.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

I agree with @MongooseGA. Assuming no frame damage, you can replace all of the body parts with junkyard stuff for pretty cheap.

 

[FxFormat]

Insurance will probably cut you a check for a total loss, ask to buy it back and replace it with parts and pocket the cash. Glad you and the accord driver walked away though, bet he/she won't do that again.

 

[brownfox]

I think there’s a chance it could be totaled out. Someone posted a picture of their wreck a while back and it didn’t look as bad as yours and it was totaled out. My insurance appeared to just go by NADA. They gave me the next step down from clean retail due to some previous body damage and torn steering whee leather.

you could price out bumpers and fenders and compare it to the NADA to get an idea.

 

[marshcat]

I think there’s a chance it could be totaled out. Someone posted a picture of their wreck a while back and it didn’t look as bad as yours and it was totaled out. My insurance appeared to just go by NADA. They gave me the next step down from clean retail due to some previous body damage and torn steering whee leather.

you could price out bumpers and fenders and compare it to the NADA to get an idea.

Makes sense. I'll do that now. Working with the Accord driver's insurance company since he was 100% at fault (and drunk). Hopefully they make a fair offer.

 

[nukegoat]

Totaled. That's a lot of sheet metal damage along with paint etc. Rocker panels, doors, fenders, etc.

I agree with the others though, if you are into fixing stuff yourself then I don't think it'll be that hard to swap on some other vehicles stuff

 

[cruiserdan]

The bid on that one will come in at a minimum of 11 grand. It's a gonner.

 

[cjmoon]

I’ve got a fender and doors from a parts rig if your looking.

 

[LongHaulCruiser]

You were "hurt badly" in the accident and are going to sue. You don't care too much about the truck since it's old, in fact you don't need anything for it, just $15,000 for your pain and suffering, chiropratic treatment for a year, lost time at work. Insist on this. Then you won't have a degraded title and can fix it yourself while recuperating at home for several weeks.

 

[flintknapper]

You were "hurt badly" in the accident and are going to sue. You don't care too much about the truck since it's old, in fact you don't need anything for it, just $15,000 for your pain and suffering, chiropratic treatment for a year, lost time at work. Insist on this. Then you won't have a degraded title and can fix it yourself while recuperating at home for several weeks.

^^^^^

Seriously?

 

[AlpineAccess]

You were "hurt badly" in the accident and are going to sue. You don't care too much about the truck since it's old, in fact you don't need anything for it, just $15,000 for your pain and suffering, chiropratic treatment for a year, lost time at work. Insist on this. Then you won't have a degraded title and can fix it yourself while recuperating at home for several weeks.

And that, is how you do fraud boys and girls.

 

[nukegoat]

You were "hurt badly" in the accident and are going to sue. You don't care too much about the truck since it's old, in fact you don't need anything for it, just $15,000 for your pain and suffering, chiropratic treatment for a year, lost time at work. Insist on this. Then you won't have a degraded title and can fix it yourself while recuperating at home for several weeks.

Some of us have integrity and/or are adults

 

[Grego]

Possible damaged apron, probable damaged a pillar and rocker. None of these the insurance company will want to fix. I predict total loss.

 

[Pucker5]

Some of us have integrity and/or are adults

My wife bumped a Honda Civic in her rx350. They were both stopped and my wife was probably 1 foot from the bumper. The chick she hit said she was perfectly fine only to go zero dark thirty on us while we were trying to settle out of insurance. 7k fix and a 15k pain and suffering settlement later...our insurance is now double

you’re lucky to be alive and luckily you were solo in a strong vehicle. You could have lost your life to that drink pos. Sue the s*** out of him and do whatever you want with The money

 

[nukegoat]

My wife bumped a Honda Civic in her rx350. They were both stopped and my wife was probably 1 foot from the bumper. The chick she hit said she was perfectly fine only to go zero dark thirty on us while we were trying to settle out of insurance. 7k fix and a 15k pain and suffering settlement later...our insurance is now double

you’re lucky to be alive and luckily you were solo in a strong vehicle. You could have lost your life to that drink pos. Sue the s*** out of him and do whatever you want with The money

How do two wrongs make a right?

 

[Pucker5]

Nope but now he’s gotta play the insurance $$$ game on something that wasn’t his fault and it could have been his life. He should be compensated for his loss of property and being a victim of a dumb ass drunk driver

 

[AlpineAccess]

Nope but now he’s gotta play the insurance $$$ game on something that wasn’t his fault and it could have been his life. He should be compensated for his loss of property and being a victim of a dumb ass drunk driver

That's what insurance is for. DUI is criminal and not civil.

 

[flintknapper]

That's what insurance is for. DUI is criminal and not civil.

^^^^

Correct.

But the greater problem is the apparent willingness for some folks to sue (even commit fraud in some cases) for financial gain... when no real injury or other significant loss has occurred.

There are actually people (and lawyers) that would 'welcome' an accident (even a minor one) for just this purpose.

Sad state of affairs...these litigious times we live in.

 

[Pucker5]

Damn, bunch of bleeding hearts for drunk drivers on this board. I guess it’s only civil when a wife and kid are left without Their husband/father. The weak hand of the law largely slaps people in the wrist for doing this only enabling it further. How many articles come out about second and third offense dui’s leading to deaths. This below happened to my best friends sister’s high school bestie. op, glad your safe...sucks you have to put up with the bull**** ahead

36-year-old cyclist killed by Escondido hit-run driver recalled as family man

Kevin Lentz of Vista died Saturday morning when he was struck by a vehicle driving up La Honda Drive, about a mile from Daley Ranch Road

www.google.com