New to board and need help

[smileyq]

Originally Posted by DevynsDad

Couple of questions:

Who is your insurance carrier?

Who is the other guy's inurance carrier?

Does your state allow for diminshed value to be included in insurance settlements? If so, the other insurer must give you a check for the amount you have lost in resale value for your truck. If a 2000 Disco where you live goes for $14,000 but a 2000 Disco with frame repair and paint work goes for $9,000, the other carrier owes you $5,000 above what it costs to repair your truck.

If the other carrier has already paid for the half-assed repair to your truck, they are going to want to total it before they pay for any additional repairs. You DO NOT have to let them do that. If they try, your carrier needs to represent you in the back and forth legal slap-fight that will ensue.

Okay, that was the insurance industry weenie in me talking. Now for the "what I would do" advice: Hit the other guy's carrier with estimates from the best three shops that you can find. Have everything checked out, from the rear bumper to the radiator mounts to the frame. Present them with the three repair quotes (including paintwork), the diminshed value estimate (go to a reputable used car dealer in your area and ask him to type up an offer on your truck after explaining the situation) and the Kelley Blue Book "for sale by owner" price. Tell them they can either pay the bill to get it fixed and the diminshed value or they can just cut you a check for the middle repair estimate plus the diminished value. Then go to the used car dealer and sell them your truck, take the money from the sale and the check from the insurance company, and go by another Disco.

I couldn't agree more with the above. While you may get everything fixed and working properly it will never be the same and you would be better off just selling and getting another one (preferably not wrecked). Good luck man and again sorry this had to happen.