Stranger in a strange land... last few years was crazy busy for us. A couple moves, buying a house, job changes. Nuts!

Anyway I Was involved in some fun this weekend. Not far from my house no less... A lot of fun factors involved. They were speeding (residential, 25mph and they were 40-45+), driver wasn't looking up (witness said it looked like they were texting), and they did not attempt to stop at all.

I am totally fine. I have airbag rash on my arm but that is basically it. Fortunately I wasn't moving at time of impact and I was in an amazing truck. Their Grand Prix didn't look so hot after. The fire crew had to go through the whole disabling bit before they had me back up off the car. It basically dove under the truck a little.

The passenger wasn't wearing her seatbelt so she bounced off the dash (chin) and hit the top of her head on the windshield.

I should have seen them sooner but I was at least stopped and I had my hand on the shifter attempting to get in reverse to get out of the way (not way to go forward, would have ended up making the accident worse). Ironically, that broke the gear shift!

Been doing some research and it is sounding like there are a few trucks out there with similar damage that ended up being totaled a couple years ago... thoughts? The actual damage doesn't look too bad. Definitely buggered up both radiator and trans cooler. Someone also said it looked like the engine was pushed back? The Driver's door isn't opening without a yank and the driver's side airbag deployed (I was only one in truck).

 

Man im glad your for the most part ok! Poor truck, ive always heard once the air bag is deployed your totaled for sure....did it mess up your front axle/suspension at all??

 

Hard to say. I don't think the axles took much damage if anything. At least it didn't seem that way. I have heard that too about the air bags. I figure though that it is pretty much right on the line between totaled and repairable. Best for me is for them to total it out but I actually think they might fix it.

 

same thing happend to me in November. I had a GMC though, which i didnt like, woman texting and driving rearending my truck at 45 or 50 smashing into a tree 60ft down the road. needless to say they did not total it and was never the same truck again it dog tracked down the road. and always had alignment issues. 18000 in damage and my truck was worth 17. do anything you can to have them total it. its for the best

 

It actually passed the value of the truck and they fixed it? That makes zero sense...

 

This truck is totaled. It may not look like that much damage but once a frame rail is bent the insurance company will automatically declare totaled, and I assure you with how far back that front bumper is wedged that the frame is bent. Sorry man. But he is right its for the better! Good luck with next truck!

 

Glad to hear your OK!! I'm betting it's totaled. If the airbags went off and you broke the gear shifter that alone is going to be 8-10 just to fix. Then you have to worry about the front sub frame, the bumper, depending how far under they got you might have some damage to the front of the motor or even the motor mounts. And lastly get them to look closely at your tire alignment to make sure nothing in your steering assembly is bent or loose. Good luck with everything man.

 

No I agree. I love the truck but I have my eye on a 2011 EB with 15k miles. Just so happens the dealer we contacted about an Escape for my wife has one. I am betting they'll cut me a deal since we are looking to spend a boat load of money...

Only the driver's side airbag deployed. I definitely did snap the shift handle though. Other interior stuff is okay. I am hoping they total it out but seeing some people say how they had more damage and had it fixed made me worried.

Going to grab a few more pics off my camera.

 

Detail pics of the under side.

 

Check with your agent...basic insurance rule is if the damage costs to repair are within 75 to 80% of the vehicle worth, they total it. These trucks are holding a good retail value, so if there is no severe frame damage, you might get it fixed rather than totaled. Be sure to demand genuine Ford OEM parts though. Your insurance company may have you take it to their prefered repair center. That is fine, but talk with the adjuster; you have the right to have the car repaired with genuine Ford OEM parts. Demanding genuine Ford parts are going to cost more, but you have this right; it may also tilt the truck into the totaled catagory as well.

Another thing; be careful of the first price they offer you if it is totaled. This too can be negotiated. If it seems low to you, check out the prices of trucks in your condition (vefore the wreck!) and show them to the adjuster if you feel you're being low balled on a payout. May want to contact a lawyer too. Be very careful on what you say over the phone to an insurance adjuster. If they say they are recording the conversation, refuse it. They can use whatever you agree to over the phone against you. Take the information they provide, don't agree to anything until you review it with someone else other than your agent. remember, they are a business; they want to pay out the lowest amount they can get away with; it's not always an amount that is fair to you. In this case, I assume the other person was charged with the accident, which means your insurance company will be going after theirs for collection. In Florida, it's a "no fault" state, which means you'll collect from your insurance company, and they in turn will collect from the person who was charged for the accident.

And it goes without having to say....glad you are alright!