Is it totalled?

The first one's always free... just like heroin...

 

An honest attorney will never win a case. OP needs a successful attorney and they cost money.

 

I might chime in a bit more, but realize insurance is state-specific and what someone suggests may not apply in your state. If you don't mind, where do you live (fill out location in your profile), and in what state did the accident happen (did it happen in the state where you live, it makes a difference)?

 

There's a ton of inner structure damage that extends into the sail panel. It could go either way. If it were my truck I would definitely push for it to be totaled.

 

But that's a relatively easy repair, and there is a clear roof "gutter" where no one will see it. The repair isn't difficult, and the structural integrity won't be compromised after the repair, it's just a matter of whether it will cost more to repair than the value of the vehicle.

 

Good point about inner structure… doubt it’s just reskinning, but would involve a lot of rebuilding of the inner body panels in areas where they are layered. The lower seat belt mounts could be messed up, and there could be damage in the area where the body mounts to the frame.

If they were the direct cause of financial damage to you, I can’t think of a good reason NOT to expect they pay you back in full. You could try asking them to pay for your losses. If they are a small outfit run by honest people they may recognize that they need to be accountable to you and count their lucky stars this wheel didn’t fly into a pre-school. But likely, they’ll only respond through legal means. I’m no lawyer, but I think getting one is probably important.

edit: I was being serious about lawsuits in situations like this being in the public interest. Wheels breaking off commercial vehicles should not be a thing that’s considered a random unpreventable accident. Likewise a wing falling off an airliner or cargo plane is not acceptable and making sure they stay attached is a considerable expense operators have to budget for. Same applies to commercial vehicles.

 

initial consult should always be free after, $$

 

Sure. If the case is big enough. We’re talking any a bent body panel which can be fixed with a hammer and a piece of 2x4. What can be the value of the lawsuit? Are we seeking emotional damages too?

 

not necesarily. It goes beyond the “fix”. Its personal and public safety that is at risk like McSpazatrin said.

also OP is out of work for 2 mo’s. Thats a huge loss to them

 

FWIW, in the above scenario with my son, I did call an attorney, ran it down to him and in 5 minutes he told me there was no money in it for him as he charges 30% to take a case. He told me to total everything up, add $10k to it, and see what could be settled. That included some medical expenses which had to be supported by documents from the urgent care and the follow-up doctors, the value of the pickup (which I had to detail myself after their initial offer was so wrong), lost wages which had to be supported by a document from my son’s employer, and the $10k for future medical.

IMO, if there’s no medical just let your insurance sort it out and make sure they are looking out for your interests and be grateful nobody was hurt or killed. At the end of the day it’s just money.

 

Unless there is negligence or a systematic problem, one off things happen.

If you get into an accident and are deemed at fault, are you saying that after the fact you are willing to pony up for any costs related to it? I am sure your insurance will handle it, but you were driving.

My intent is not to be an attack, but merely make the point that accidents happen and they are accidents. Maybe the guy at the tire shop was distracted and didn’t tighten the lug nuts, maybe the studs were manufactured incorrectly, maybe it was a mere unfortunate circumstance and everyone was fortune there were no serious injuries.

if its negligence, by all means run them through the ringer, but sometimes it’s just
Murphy’s law.

 

LOL! Participation trophy recipient.

 

Public safety? Can you be a little more dramatic? People literally weld vehicles together from 2 half donors and sell them as accident free. Now that’s public safety. This is a fender-bender. Little patience and a skilled body repair master all this truck needs.

 

And I bet you also complain when your rates going up too not understating why.

 

I guess some people don’t like it when they get called out for hinting that they should commit a felony.

insurance is not what screwed over the OP. The OPs ignorance is what kept him from having a vehicle for 2 months if that’s what happened.

But go ahead and try to keep blaming others while complaining insurances rates keep going up.

 

Not too long ago I saw news locally of somebody that was killed by a wheel that came off semi on the interstate. The person that died wasn’t even on the same road or anywhere near the truck that it came from. In years past I’ve seen reports of several deaths locally in this area for the same reason….200lbs wheels flying and bouncing down the road at 70mph. Being an alert driver won’t protect you much from taking one of those on the chin when it bounces across the median.

To allow a wheel to fatigue to a point of failure is a public safety issue. It amazes me that one instance of this occurring doesn’t result in a massive fine for the operation. It either points to poor maintenance on the part of the commercial operation, using poorly maintained trailers, or other factors like running overweight.

edit: welding two vehicles together to make one might also be a public safety issue, but they tend to naturally stop when they break in half. And they bounce and ricochet a lot less.

 

I did read his post. He has not said anything about being hurt. He said he uses the vehicle for work. If the vehicle is the only thing that kept him out of work then something is wrong as to why he didn’t have a rental. Getting a rental and having that paid for by insurance is very easy.

Also I find it funny that for some reason you tried to bring in a political statement. The funny part about it is what the different parties think about lawsuits and fraud vs what you tried to allude to.

 

point out anything false I have said with all the information that has been posted as of this post please.

 

This is precisely why those of us that work in aviation maintenance are held to such a high standard. All of us have a right to safely turn in to bed at night without worrying about having an airplane crash through the roof of your home. Maintenance is performed according to the book and FAA regulations by qualified, certificated and trained personnel. Yes, things still happen. Mistakes are still made. That is why aviation maintenance personnel are held responsible for their actions. Investigations will be performed. Because it matters - we all have to be able to sleep at night, and I and my family fly on these airplanes as well.

 

Will you e parting the truck?

 

OP... any update?