Auto Insurance Question

MrQuadrasteer · June 29, 2005

Hey, gang.

My wife was involved in an accident with Quadzilla Monday morning- got hit directly in the right rear wheel, bending the rear tierod and chewing up the wheel. The body received ZERO damage- the wheel took the ENTIRE brunt of the impact. Wife says it kicked the back-end out a couple feet, maybe. Not too much, but still enough to hook her sideways a little. She was at fault, btw

Speaking with the service manager, he said they would repair my wheel, a procedure I am familiar with.

However, being that the wheel took the WHOLE hit, I want a new wheel- not repaired, and not a take-off from Discount Tire (which they offered me), since I won't know the history of it.

My concern is the wheel has been stressed and could fracture when I need it most- heavily loaded (and probably with my family on board). This is a 3/4t truck, 6000lbs... and the ins co wants to skimp $410 on the wheel.

I called and spoke to a rep and she stuck to -the repair is all we're paying for. I tried to explain my side, she cut me off. I said fine, let's take it to the next level. Her manager is supposed to call me back.

I'll mention (when I get the call back) that if they Magnaflux the wheel and give me the documentation that there are no stress factures or anything else, then I'll accept the repaired wheel

My question is- what rights, and what recourse, do I have here ?? I'm stressing the safety aspect with this, but also, I don't pay full coverage so I can get used parts.

So.... whatchy'all think ?? Think the wheel is okay ?? Got hit by some kinda Mitshu, maybe a Diamante. Took ALL the plastic off the front of the car- bumper, grille, spoiler, etc. NOTHING left up front except the headlights.

Thanks.

EB

MrQuadrasteer · June 29, 2005

Kinda hard to see in the pics, but near the bottom, on the bead area it's chewed up, and around the weights.

Scyry · June 29, 2005

Personally I'd take a used wheel over the one you have being fixed. If they want to fight you, they can fix it, then go buy someone's used one. I got a set of used ones for $50 each. There are tons of used rims out there that someone put 500 miles or less on before getting custom rims and tires. So then you will have a matching non steel spare. It is what I'd do.

I wouldn't trust a fixed rim, even if it had been xrayed for stress fractures. Metal is processed certain ways to get certain properties, so in by fixing it, most likely the wheel will not have the same strength even if it has no fractures in it.

MrQuadrasteer · June 29, 2005

Good advice- thanks, scyry.

I'm a little pissed right now...... not thinking it all out....

....but that's what I have y'all, for, right ?!!!!?

GONZO · June 29, 2005

Good advice- thanks, scyry.

I'm a little pissed right now...... not thinking it all out....

....but that's what I have y'all, for, right ?!!!!?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i had a similar fight with an ins co over a wheel on my trans am. they would only pay for repair of the wheel and not replacement. i manged to get around this because the check comes to me and not a shop, so i just took the $300+ and put it towards a new wheel myself through gm parts direct which was much less than the dealer price. so it cost me about $25 for the wheel.

also i have a set of 4 aluminum wheels from a 2500HD for sale in the "for sale" section here if you need some.

MrQuadrasteer · June 29, 2005

Gonzo, you gonna wanna part with just one ?!!? I kinda doubt it, but never hurts to ask !!!

BTW, mine's at the dealer, so I won't be seeing any checks....

Also, gang, what do y'all think of this- the more I fight, the more likely I'm gonna screw myself, either with higher than whatever rate I was already gonna get jacked with, or even cancled ??

GONZO · June 29, 2005

Gonzo, you gonna wanna part with just one ?!!? I kinda doubt it, but never hurts to ask !!!

BTW, mine's at the dealer, so I won't be seeing any checks....

Also, gang, what do y'all think of this- the more I fight, the more likely I'm gonna screw myself, either with higher than whatever rate I was already gonna get jacked with, or even cancled ??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

at the dealer or not, if it is an insurance issue they should cut the check to you. you have the right to have it repaired at your choice of locations. i have always handled my ins dealings this way. check comes in my name and then i pay whoever does the repair. last fender bender i got into in my blazer the ins check came to me, i did most of theneeded repair work my self with parts i found super cheap (new fender, bumper, grill, and some brackets) then used the rest to have the whole truck painted. ins would have only paid for one corner to be painted, which would have looked bad with an older paint job already. so with the money i saved by doing the repair myself i got the whole thing painted for like $200 more out of my pocket.

is the wheel being repaired by ins or warranty?

the wheels i have would like to see them go as a set. you could buy all 4 then you'd have a few spares!

MrQuadrasteer · June 30, 2005

It's all insurance.

I've gone that route, having the check sent to me. But in this one, I don't even want to jack with it. And I want some kind of warranty !!

I hear ya about the rims. If I pop for four... it'll be some bling, yo !!!!!

biochemist · June 30, 2005

It's all insurance.

I've gone that route, having the check sent to me. But in this one, I don't even want to jack with it. And I want some kind of warranty !!

I hear ya about the rims. If I pop for four... it'll be some bling, yo !!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Eric, glad everone is OK, first off . Now, 1) if she was hit in the rear, how is she at fault? 2) New wheel and tire, factory new, nothing less...typical though, what a bunch of crap, paying all that $$ for insurance (not sure how it is there but for my truck it is ~$1100/year), and they want to mess around with fixing a wheel? Get in it with the agent, the agents manager, the managers manager. whomever, and if need be tell them you will switch companies! Do not worry about higher rates (except for the one you will get if she is found at fault), these are not subjective numbers or arbitrarily calculated based on if they like you or not...and they want your business. Let us know how it turns out...later,