2015 Silverado Accident

TJay74 · April 24, 2016

People who say not to settle for a fixed truck claiming it'll never be the same are full of shit. Bring it to a good shop and you'll have a truck in better condition than most new ones with their cheap paint.

While true that is only useful if they are going to repaint the entire vehicle, otherwise you end up with a half and half paint job that will eventually wear differently over time. As bad as this truck is hit I would push for total loss as well.

On a side note I don't mess with my insurance unless the other driver doesn't have a policy or is under insured for the damage. Always file it with the offending party insurance first, if they don't/wont/cant cover you then file with your insurance. While your insurance company will cover you, you will be out your deductible until your insurance subrogates the claim and your company will low ball you just as bad as the other guys insurance as well.

Been there and down that road. Have a 2 year fight to show for it.

poling45 · April 24, 2016

I'm hoping for a total loss, the adjuster is looking at it tomorrow. I'm not really concerned with the quality of the repair, I'm worried about the hit I'm going to take when trade it in. I typically trade in ever 2 years and have already been told by my dealer that it will be 20-40% hit on trade in value with a CarFax that has frame damage and a deployed airbag.

CbrownGT · April 24, 2016

Don't completely expect it to be totaled if there's frame damage. Insurance will do as they please, no matter what you say. I just got my '14 with 28,000 miles back 3 weeks ago. Almost 25k in damage including a FULL FRAME REPLACEMENT. I haven't noticed any issues since getting it back. Drives and rides just as good as before, if not better. All comes down to the shop doing the work. Good luck to you, hope everything goes smoothly. Here's some pictures of mine.

cbrsilv15 · April 24, 2016

25k in damage and it didn't total? I find that hard to believe. That's crazy for a frame and front end work....

poling45 · April 24, 2016

Don't completely expect it to be totaled if there's frame damage. Insurance will do as they please, no matter what you say. I just got my '14 with 28,000 miles back 3 weeks ago. Almost 25k in damage including a FULL FRAME REPLACEMENT. I haven't noticed any issues since getting it back. Drives and rides just as good as before, if not better. All comes down to the shop doing the work. Good luck to you, hope everything goes smoothly. Here's some pictures of mine.

Did your airbag deploy?

CbrownGT · April 24, 2016

25k in damage and it didn't total? I find that hard to believe. That's crazy for a frame and front end work....

It was complicated...adjuster came out day after and assessed body and "predicted" that only front section of frame MAY need replaced. That estimate was 17k. They gave shop the go ahead to start tearing apart. Once they got it torn apart they noticed frame was toast. Adjuster was called back out. Adjuster wanted them to straighten it and patch it up, shop went to bat for me and said they would only replace frame, no band-aids. That estimate (before little nick nacks and such) came to 24k. Basically, the adjuster did a poor job from day 1, bad inspection job. I believe they didn't total because they wouldn't pay a shop to tear it apart, or piece or back together, for it to be totaled. That would be a waste. Thankfully it all worked out for me. This is why I take my stuff to people I know.

CbrownGT · April 24, 2016

Did your airbag deploy?

Yes, all airbags went off..and i was going only 20mph, other vehicle maybe a tiny bit faster. Just hit it perfect in the sweet spot I guess. See other post I just made in this thread for more details on what happened with repairs.

awright2009 · April 24, 2016

I think they make the fenders and front end pretty easy to take off and repair, but the carfax report will make it worth much less in terms of resale value. I'd say totaling it and getting a new truck is probably the best option, but I would guess the insurance company will not want to do it

poling45 · April 25, 2016

I went and took a couple more pictures of my truck this afternoon, can anyone verify for me if the angle of my engine and a-arm bolt are correct. I noticed those while looking through the pictures and wasn't sure if they were suppose to have that angle.

gabekalp · April 25, 2016

Those pictures are kosher... Unfortunately, I feel like you will get a refurbished truck back with diminished value...

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cpttimerestraint · April 28, 2016

Depending on your state, if you feel like the adjuster is pressuring you to accept a sub-par settlement, let them know that you are going to be contacting the Department of Insurance to file a complaint that they are acting in bad faith. It is the key word that makes adjusters know that you know your rights.

Knightfall · April 28, 2016

Back in March, my 2015 Colorado that I had for 9 months was T-boned by someone doing almost double the speed limit (about 45 in a 25). While we are still arguing who is at fault for the accident, less than 2 months later the whole issue is otherwise settled (I recently purchased my new truck, my lien on my old vehicle was paid off and my rental was paid for by my insurance, they even let me drive a 2016 Ram). However, for the sake of helping you out with your issue right now, my shop (a Chevrolet dealer with a huge, well-renowned body shop), highly suggested that the vehicle be totaled out and I buy a new truck (the Colorado's don't depreciate badly now because of how new and in demand they are, so I am truly thankful that I did decide to purchase one when I did). In the end they were the ones that recommended to the insurance company that the vehicle could not easily be repaired to pre-accident condition, so make sure you get a good body shop and talk with them. That being said, MikeNH is also correct in that there are amazing shops out there that will literally make your truck as good as new and guarantee it for life, again: make sure it goes to a good shop.

Also, you likely have the right, depending on your state, to a Salvage Retention, where you accept a partial settlement from your insurance company and keep your wrecked vehicle. Call your local CoPart and Blue and Gold and other salvaging companies and see if you can get an appraisal from them; keep your doors open.

poling45 · April 28, 2016

Just an Update:

The insurance adjuster only came up with a $19k estimate. The claims examiner is heavily pressuring me into taking the check for $19k without giving my body shop time to look at it. So the truck is at the body shop getting torn apart. It's really annoying, just a quick pass over of the truck with the body shop turned up at least a dozen things the adjuster missed and that was without taking anything apart. I'm in New York so I'll look into contacting the Department of Insurance. I'm also drafting a letter for diminished value.

BIGDOGx · April 28, 2016

Just an Update:

The insurance adjuster only came up with a $19k estimate. The claims examiner is heavily pressuring me into taking the check for $19k without giving my body shop time to look at it. So the truck is at the body shop getting torn apart. It's really annoying, just a quick pass over of the truck with the body shop turned up at least a dozen things the adjuster missed and that was without taking anything apart. I'm in New York so I'll look into contacting the Department of Insurance. I'm also drafting a letter for diminished value.

Fight for what you deserve which is a complete replacement imo with that amount of damage and do not listen to the people on here telling you it wont happen and fixing it is fine, the value of your truck regardless of how well it is fixed is compromised and will never be as good as a truck that was not in a severe accident like yours has now been in.

Put it this way if you were in the market to buy a truck and you ran the car fax on your truck and seen it was nearly completely rebuilt, would you pass it over and look at the other 13283764276377 gm trucks on the market or would you pay full price for your repaired one? Don't take anything from the insurance company until you are 100% satisfied!

Glory-Hound · April 28, 2016

Glad you're alright. I'd be surprised if they don't fix it. It's not totaled... may be close but IMO insurance is going to repair it. If not, as already stated, get the FULL REPLACEMENT value for the truck. Been through this multiple times. If you have any questions brother hit me up.