Nightmare came true… contact a TPA?

[awch00]

I live in GA and covered by State Farm, full coverage.

I got side swiped in the middle of day by a minivan. I was probably going around 20-30.

Reading another thread, I’m fully expecting my insurance company to claim a total loss on my truck. The truck is sort of a family heirloom if you will so I want to keep it.

Knowing the insurance company is going to lowball me, should I go ahead and contact a third party adjuster? Anyone have any rec?

So pisssed/annoyed. I try to drive so defensively… always scanning for dangerous drivers.

 

[MongooseGA]

Sorry to hear. These Altima drivers around here are crazy. Glad you were safe, though. Add in big tires and sliders and it just looks like trail damage.

I assume you got the other driver's insurance info? If so, in my experience, it's much easier to get money out of another provider when the other party is at fault. I had a beautiful '00 LC rear ended by a dump truck and pushed in to a semi. Dump truck provider was excited to offer me $8K, we bickered, they paid me $22K. Your truck was pristine until their insured ruined it. You pay your provider to cover the vehicle at FMV, you don't have to care what the other party pays for. Was there a police report made?

If you didn't get their info, it may be easier to just not deal with insurance, if your concern is them totalling the truck out. 2 door skins might run you a grand out of pocket. Try car-part.com (no affiliation) for color matched used parts. I understand the heirloom aspect you mentioned, this could be a relatively painless repair.

 

[awch00]

Sorry to hear. These Altima drivers around here are crazy. Glad you were safe, though. Add in big tires and sliders and it just looks like trail damage.

I assume you got the other driver's insurance info? If so, in my experience, it's much easier to get money out of another provider when the other party is at fault. I had a beautiful '00 LC rear ended by a dump truck and pushed in to a semi. Dump truck provider was excited to offer me $8K, we bickered, they paid me $22K. Your truck was pristine until their insured ruined it. You pay your provider to cover the vehicle at FMV, you don't have to care what the other party pays for. Was there a police report made?

If you didn't get their info, it may be easier to just not deal with insurance, if your concern is them totalling the truck out. 2 door skins might run you a grand out of pocket. Try car-part.com (no affiliation) for color matched used parts. I understand the heirloom aspect you mentioned, this could be a relatively painless repair.

Yep, all is well. Thanks! I saw the other coming so I was able to slow down in time but I didn't know if I could slam my brakes and have another car rear end me..

Yes, there was a police report. Actually, I got pretty lucky-ish. At first it was a hit and run, but when I called the cops, they were actually able to pull up the traffic and camera and as I was filing the report, the cop actually told me the perpetrator actually called themself in. (there still is good in the world, though I would prefer not to have been hit lol )

Any tips on bickering? Do I just find comps online and send them over to the other insurer's company?

 

[Foehammer]

Sorry for your incident but (and it's just my 2cents) that thing doesn't look too bad. Probably not any actual structural damage; and if the doors function properly why not keep it? I seem to recall a member posting here about a similar accident and torn between keeping the truck or not. You'd probably get a decent amount of it was written off; and then buy it back for less than half of that?

 

[awch00]

Sorry for your incident but (and it's just my 2cents) that thing doesn't look too bad. Probably not any actual structural damage; and if the doors function properly why not keep it? I seem to recall a member posting here about a similar accident and torn between keeping the truck or not. You'd probably get a decent amount of it was written off; and then buy it back for less than half of that?

Thanks!

Ok that's good to hear. I drove her on the road going about 50-60 mph and I didn't feel any pulling to either side. And yeah the doors function properly.

I just saw this thread here and damage look very similar, hence why I assumed it's going to be totaled.

I guess I'm just asking how can I make sure to max amount from the other insurance company at this point? I don't mind rebuilt title, we are never selling this car anyways. But I also don't have to come 10K out of pocket etc.

 

[MongooseGA]

Any tips on bickering? Do I just find comps online and send them over to the other insurer's company?

Get a trustworthy adjuster to give you a good number on the repair and just don't accept anything lower than that. Literally, I used the line "I had a beautiful, pristine truck until your insured ruined it" multiple times. I also had documentation to prove quite a large investment just before the accident (owned the truck 2-3 months). Showing maintenance logs etc will help show the vehicle was cared for and not some beater. The other provider is responsible for putting you whole again, doesn't really matter to me what they think the value is or what it costs them. You can also get them for diminished value since your truck now has an accident on its history report. If you do hire a TPA, I'd have them paying for that as well. Use the fact that their insured initially hit and ran as well to your advantage.

They will offer you peanuts to start, claim the truck is old, find all kinds of crappy comps to diminish the value. None of that matters to you, they're not your provider. You don't pay them premiums based on the vehicle's value. Be steadfast. Insurers want these claims off the books and will try to rush you in to signing the release statement which means they can wash their hands of you. **** em, get what you're owed. Do you need funds to be checked out by a general care provider for potential injury? They're paying for it. Medical will be a second line item from vehicle damage, but it all goes to your pocket. Use it to your advantage. Take it to a few body shops around town. Try Magnum in Marietta (but don't use them, their quality has gone downhill since the owners sold a few years ago). They're relatively pricey and have a long-term resume. Try others also. Get 3-4 body shop estimates, which are, in my opinion, more reliable than an adjuster since body shops are who actually does the work.

Then, when you feel you have a good number, submit it to the provider, get the number you want. Are you renting a car while the truck is in the shop? They're paying for that, too.

 

[awch00]

Get a trustworthy adjuster to give you a good number on the repair and just don't accept anything lower than that. Literally, I used the line "I had a beautiful, pristine truck until your insured ruined it" multiple times. I also had documentation to prove quite a large investment just before the accident (owned the truck 2-3 months). Showing maintenance logs etc will help show the vehicle was cared for and not some beater. The other provider is responsible for putting you whole again, doesn't really matter to me what they think the value is or what it costs them. You can also get them for diminished value since your truck now has an accident on its history report. If you do hire a TPA, I'd have them paying for that as well. Use the fact that their insured initially hit and ran as well to your advantage.

They will offer you peanuts to start, claim the truck is old, find all kinds of crappy comps to diminish the value. None of that matters to you, they're not your provider. You don't pay them premiums based on the vehicle's value. Be steadfast. Insurers want these claims off the books and will try to rush you in to signing the release statement which means they can wash their hands of you. **** em, get what you're owed. Do you need funds to be checked out by a general care provider for potential injury? They're paying for it. Medical will be a second line item from vehicle damage, but it all goes to your pocket. Use it to your advantage. Take it to a few body shops around town. Try Magnum in Marietta (but don't use them, their quality has gone downhill since the owners sold a few years ago). They're relatively pricey and have a long-term resume. Try others also. Get 3-4 body shop estimates, which are, in my opinion, more reliable than an adjuster since body shops are who actually does the work.

Then, when you feel you have a good number, submit it to the provider, get the number you want. Are you renting a car while the truck is in the shop? They're paying for that, too.

thanks this is super helpful.

Basically, I need to claim the my car is the highest value possible and and then go find an accurate estimate for repair? The issue that I am reading right now though is that body shops will start low, only because they don't know what they can't see. Therefore, the insurance company knows that so they're more likely to want to get a total. i.e. I got to a body stop, they say its $5k to fix. But insurance company is hearing $5k to start, then rental car fee then supplementals are added etc. I guess what I'm assuming is that the higher the repair cost, the more likely they will want to total my car.

I'm also reading on the internet, which I know can lead to hysteria, but nonetheless, people are saying getting a rebuilt title in GA is that easy..

Should I also hire a lawyer?

UGH... I basically need to this be a cheap repair so either the insurance company pays or I can just cover it out of pocket.

 

[MongooseGA]

I don't think it's worth talking to an attorney at this point. When you talk to the body shops, tell them it's a quote for insurance work and they'll know what to do. If the shop says $5k, and the provider pays it, the shop will submit a supplement invoice directly to the insurance provider (usually). If the company has already paid out, a minor supplement isn't likely to tilt the scales toward totalling. Realistically, your damage looks very cosmetic. The issues arise when you get hit hard in the front of the car, or T-boned. The former is home to all kinds of fluid systems, rad support, rad itself, headlights, etc. I would be surprised if there was much, if anything at all on yours that isn't visible right now.

Do the doors open and close smoothly? Are the door panels inside cracked or bowed at all? Have you tried putting the windows up and down? If all of these things work properly, the worst you're looking at might be 2 new door shells and the labor to paint/install them, transfer the glass and guts, and a little bit of cladding.

 

[awch00]

I don't think it's worth talking to an attorney at this point. When you talk to the body shops, tell them it's a quote for insurance work and they'll know what to do. If the shop says $5k, and the provider pays it, the shop will submit a supplement invoice directly to the insurance provider (usually). If the company has already paid out, a minor supplement isn't likely to tilt the scales toward totalling. Realistically, your damage looks very cosmetic. The issues arise when you get hit hard in the front of the car, or T-boned. The former is home to all kinds of fluid systems, rad support, rad itself, headlights, etc. I would be surprised if there was much, if anything at all on yours that isn't visible right now.

Do the doors open and close smoothly? Are the door panels inside cracked or bowed at all? Have you tried putting the windows up and down? If all of these things work properly, the worst you're looking at might be 2 new door shells and the labor to paint/install them, transfer the glass and guts, and a little bit of cladding.

OK.. thanks for all the help and insight.

I just tested everything and yea everything seems in order. No bowing, all windows roll down, I can open the car doors all the way. I think I partly have PTSD from owning German cars. Also, the sentimental value of the car is obviously irreplaceable... might be sign to get 100 series lol.

 

[MongooseGA]

I totally relate. I had transmission issues in mine recently and considering shopping for a replacement broke my heart. But don't sweat this too much. Once you get on the other side of it, it'll only make the truck more endearing to your family. Think about it like a Subaru commercial but with a good vehicle. It's family!

 

[dubdub20003]

Do not go to State Farm’s repair network. Toyota has a certified repair network that will approach the repair with the idea of using proper parts and proper procedures… many do not. The will also not care about pleasing State Farm.

This is important. You are a “third party claimant”, meaning claiming on another person’s insurance, not “first party claimant” where you claim on yours. This means it does not matter what the other person had in their policies… on aftermarket parts and such. Just keep holding line, as said above. Do not cash a check if they send you one. That can imply you have a deal.

 

[CJF]

Think about it like a Subaru commercial but with a good vehicle. It's family!

 

[excessive]

sorry that happened, looks repairable but bodyshops aren't cheap anymore

 

[nissanh]

You may even find two doors with the same color!

 

[sterling]

Sorry to hear about your truck, and I admire your passion for the family heirloom.

Found a rear door on marketplace, search:

2000 Toyota Land Cruiser left Rear Door​

$725 · In stock
Listed in Woodstock, GA

Car-part.com(as mentioned) has some listed in the South-East for half of the above price.

I thought @cruiserpatch had a parts truck (local) in black. Not 100% , worth a shot.

Don't take the first offer! Good luck!

 

[awch00]

Sorry to hear about your truck, and I admire your passion for the family heirloom.

Found a rear door on marketplace, search:

2000 Toyota Land Cruiser left Rear Door​

$725 · In stock
Listed in Woodstock, GA

Car-part.com(as mentioned) has some listed in the South-East for half of the above price.

I thought @cruiserpatch had a parts truck (local) in black. Not 100% , worth a shot.

Don't take the first offer! Good luck!

I just PM the Facebook listing; thank you for the heads up. When I went to car-part.com, I got a message saying I needed to contact them.

@nissanh @CJF @excessive @dubdub20003
Thanks for the help, guys, I really do appreciate it. Yea definitely not going through insurance company network. According to one shop, State Farm has gotten really bad over the years which is such a shame because they charge such a premium.

Most body shops I called said to basically wait til I found out the insurance company I would be working with. One shop did give an estimate right at $7K, which they said could bring it down a bit if I just deleted the sideboard, which I've been mulling/thinking about anyway. I don't use them and I would like the mini-left anyways. Therefore, it seems like a no-brainer.

Collision Co up in Alpharetta said they would definitely be able to work with me. I've used them multiple times in the past but good to know they are still such a well run shop.

 

[dubdub20003]

Yes... I have heard the same from collision shop friends. State Farm and Allstate have really made proper repairs more difficult.

If you want to know who they recommended to not get screwed over - Chubb, Pure, Amica, Accuity.

 

[cruiserpatch]

I've still got both passenger side doors and a lot of other goodies on this 1998 Land Cruiser I'm parting out. Located in Brookhaven, GA

I'd be more than happy to strike a deal with you to keep your truck on the road. Hate to see something like this take one off the street. Obviously will need a paint job but this truck is a 1-owner with zero rust

 

[awch00]

View attachment 3846494

I've still got both passenger side doors and a lot of other goodies on this 1998 Land Cruiser I'm parting out. Located in Brookhaven, GA

I'd be more than happy to strike a deal with you to keep your truck on the road. Hate to see something like this take one off the street. Obviously will need a paint job but this truck is a 1-owner with zero rust

Whoa! This might be perfect. I’ll be in touch! Thank so so much!!