I was on my way to give a work estimate this morning when I was stopping in the usual bottleneck of the Loop 101 Northbound at the loop 202 interchange in Tempe, AZ. It was one of those deals where a car up front probably not paying attention slammed on there brakes causing all of us behind to have to hit our brakes relatively hard. Because I had a safe following distance I was able to stop safely with no issues. Not 2 seconds later a Wrangler driven by a young girl (Had ASU parking permit on windshield) plowed into me pretty fast (Greater than 30 MPH I'm sure.) This caused me to be slid into the Nissan Murano in front of me (Who had no visible damage surprisingly). I called the girls insurance once I got back to my office. Thankfully an officer saw us and stopped to file a police report as, my phone disappeared in accident and I later found it slid into passenger floorboard so far it ended up under the carpet.

Here are my damage shots.. I am pissed. This truck was immaculate before the collision. My hitch was snapped in half but there was no obvious frame damage I could see. My tailgate dont look it in the pic but its all f'ed up too from the top of bumper slamming it. I can't open it without it coming its hinges and it's scuffed and dented to hell on the bottom. Hopefully everything goes smoothly. I am expecting a call from the claims rep.

Front bumper shots




Rear shots...







here's looking right under my hitch where it's snapped

 

I am not one of those crazy sue happy people but I do believe in indemnity on this one. So what I am going for as far as repair is:

Replacement class V hitch
Front bumper
Rear Bumper and paint repair to quarted panels scuffed behind bumper.
Replacement tailgate.
A fullsize rental truck while mine is in collision center.

Funds for replacement cost on my license plate holder, for aftermarket emblem and chargers bolt emblem, as well as cost to line x (and only Line X) my replacement tailgate. I also expect them to pay for my previously flawless seats and carpet to be detailed as they are now covered in coffee.

Any advise from people who have been through situations like this is and will always be appreciated. This sucks bad. I only got this truck in October. Why couldn't I have been hit driving the beater Ranger I replaced instead of my baby?

 

must be a thing with Women in Jeep Wrangler's hitting Men in F-150 in the rear...happened to me also...got pushed into a BMW...I was in my 94 back then..

 

The ball is certainly in your court. Her insurance co is going to feel you out to see how likely you are to sue, bc their client is obviously at fault. They may balk at replacing any aftermarket part, and having seats/carpet cleaned, but if you mention back pains and lawsuit, they should take care of you. Just be prepared to play a little hard ball, bc they are trying to get off the hook for as little expense as possible.

 

Been there .... twice. Both times insurance company agent said, "take it to any shop of your choice. We will meet with you and them. We will make you whole and you vehicle 100% " ..... and they did, including cleaning blood from my coat .

 

I'm not sue happy either but if you don't lawyer up her insurance will try to screw you with china made parts. I got rear ended much the same way years ago and felt fine for about 2 weeks after and have suffered back pain for the last 25 years.


Not getting a personal injury lawyer is the biggest mistake you will ever make.

 

I absolutely will get my back looked at. During accident I was fine. Now I have a dull ache in my upper back. Not unbearable but just to be safe I'll go see a Dr.

 

Hopefully it was a learning experience for her. When I was 18 I did similar except my truck and van I hit were totaled. It made me a much more attentive driver. Heck this is my first accident since. I'm amazed at how solidly built that jeep was. Aside from a real ugly dent from my hitch, she received nothing but scrapes on the front. I wish my bumpers were build so solid. I had always heard how dangerous wrangers were in a collision. At this point I would have to disagree. That little thing kicked my trucks ***.

Yeah I won't take no for an answer on that stuff. If it has to get ugly I'll have to be prepared. However, Lets hope my experience is like dcrabby's were.

 

Your attorney will likely have a doc set up already for cases like these, make the call!!!

I'm dead serious about this, I declined what my attorney recommended and am reminded of it every day with back/neck pain.

Making your truck whole again is easy, you will never be whole again!

 

I will see a chiro prior to hiring an attorney.
The insurance company is having me take my truck in tomorrow to get looked at and photos taken ETC.