The Saddest Day of My Life (HIT AND RUN)

[Fo_SheeZy]

Oh my god! What a hit... I don't know what I'd do if I walked out and saw my 4Runner like that..

 

[riceandpho]

that truck can be totaled, frame damage is there i bet, i would consider it total. it happen to me too, but i was driving, my 3rd gen was rolling down the street and the other driver decide to run 2 red lights and while i went to the intersection on the green, he hit me and then i rolled 4 times and then he fled with his car. get a lawyer and get moneyoff the truck.

 

[jeffrosheen]

So if they indeed total it out, can I legally take everything off my car that was not factory? Do I need to replace it with the STOCK stuff?

2 pair of Focal K2P
Eclipse 5495
Back-up camera
iPod interface
K&N intake
LEDs
Thule rack
Sylvanias
Chicago Cubs plate frame
Hard-wire radar detector
Husky liners

 

[snowjay]

So if they indeed total it out, can I legally take everything off my car that was not factory? Do I need to replace it with the STOCK stuff?

Talk with the adjuster and let him know what you want to take off the truck & replace it with if they total it.

 

[Kmvreter]

Waiting for the adjuster today or tomorrow. The guys at the shop both said they thought it would be totaled.

The kicker...... When he hit me he knocked my car 22' forward and onto a curb and into a parking meter.

The car/truck was never found but i do have his windshield wiper fluid lid as a keepsake...

That sucks to say the least.

Make sure they take a real good look at the rear axle, linkages, bearings, etc... and take that into account after a hit like that.

Are the cops seriously investigating it or just writing it off? Did they take any paint chips from what hit you? Keep that fluid lid, and any paint chips you can get for yourself (no matter how small), tucked away in a safe place. Are there any video cameras in the area (gas stations, parking lots, stores?)

A buddy had a similar thing happen. His car was rear ended square on while parked overnight. He came out in the morning and thought something's not right because he was moved one whole parking spot forward. Then he saw his full frame car with a chrome bumper that got pushed into the trunk. The cops worked it up. He didn't hear anything for over 5 years but then they let him know they charged someone. Never did find out how they solved it.

 

[eskimochaos]

Wow sorry for your loss. Can you take pics of what underneath the rear axle looks like. Did the axle itself bend or just the control arms connecting it to the frame?

 

[jeffrosheen]

Wow sorry for your loss. Can you take pics of what underneath the rear axle looks like. Did the axle itself bend or just the control arms connecting it to the frame?

I will take more pictures tomorrow when i go meet the shop owner and adjuster

 

[gqr1c3boi]

from a fellow Oklahoman, I'm sorry to see this happen. Like pmrowczynski said, you're car is really shiny!

whereabouts was this?

 

[ric]

If that's the saddest day in your life,you're doing pretty good.

I agree, if this is the worst thats every happened to you, your living a damn good life.
Sure it sux, but vehicles are replaceable, LIFE isnt, this could have been A LOT worse, be grateful no one you love was in the rig.

I absolutly hate people that do this, they have no common curtisy, KARMA is a *****, and they will get what they deserve.

 

[trey99ek]

that blows the big one. i can't believe nobody heard that.

 

[snhrph]

So, this is what they do to the Cubs fans in Oklahoma??? :biggrin2:

Seriously, I'm very sorry to see what happened to your truck!!

My father-in-law is in the auto-body business, and I've had my fair share of experiences with insurance companies over he years.

I would not say outright DO NOT TAKE THE FIRST OFFER - you should consider it. It may be better than you'd expect. But if the insurance company decides to low-ball you - you can and should argue. Just remember that time is working against you.

Good luck.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

dahh! fricken people need to be run over! those loser b********s that fricken hit and run. That makes me so mad. very disrespectful to the hard working people who actually appreciate their investments and take care of them. Id be so pissed! anyway sorry bout my rant lol I work pretty close with insurance agents and bodyshops and hear all kinds of things for what is considered a totaled vehicle. You may be ok just because it is a toyota and its newer but than again if the frame is damaged there may be some problems like its been said above. Was it paid off? or did you get Gap insurance? As far as taking your after market stuff i agree you should talk to you adjuster. some are cool about it but others dont want it to be re-sold or re used for safety purposes. good luck man,

 

[jeffrosheen]

I had a non-fault accident in CA a couple years back. I hit a couple loose dogs on a highway late one night. The insurance company will generally total a car in that type of shape.

When it happened to me, it was 2005 and i had a 98 accord V6 in perfect shape and 80k miles. I bought it from my mother and all records were immaculate. When the accident happened i had just put on new struts, cv boots, timing belt and the works as i expected the car to last another 100k. In short the car was worth more to me than KBB value.

The insurance process was quick and they evaluated the car in around a week and had an offer out pretty quick. This is how they get you. No Matter What, DO NOT ACCEPT FIRST OFFER. I was offered 7k for my car on first offer. I pulled all the local papers and website info i could, to find what i considered an exact match for my car (same miles, trim, upgrades, maintenance records, number of owners) and came to a price of 12k which was a bit inflated on my end.

After several weeks of arguing and proving my point with factual evidence, they gave me an offer of 11k and i accepted. And thus i purchased my 4runner.

Good luck, and remember the insurance company is out to make a buck, you are not their primary interest. The majority of people will not argue and provide factual data so hold your ground and make sure you are happy with the salvage value they provide. You insure a vehicle for replacement value, not what the INS company deems your vehicle is worth.

P.s. dont forget to list your upgrades and mods in your value. Even if you did the work. I even listed monies paid for maintenance, this was a contested point, but in the long run it helped as i couldnt find a replacement that had just had all that work done. Most cars they will counter you with are being sold as maintenance is coming due (timing, suspension, etc)

Oh and i had the caveman insurance.

Thanks for the advise. i like cavemen too. Am interested to see how they handle it. As I said earlier, I haven't found a SINGLE ONE like the one I had. Makes me a bit nervous

 

[jeffrosheen]

from a fellow Oklahoman, I'm sorry to see this happen. Like pmrowczynski said, you're car is really shiny!

whereabouts was this?

Zymol wax is WELL worth the money.

I was in Tulsa on 15th and Peoria in between White Owl and Full Moon.

You live in Tulsa?

 

[jeffrosheen]

that blows the big one. i can't believe nobody heard that.

It had to have been soooooo loud in order to move the truck 22' forward. That is a whole parking space forward!!!!

 

[gqr1c3boi]

Zymol wax is WELL worth the money.

I was in Tulsa on 15th and Peoria in between White Owl and Full Moon.

You live in Tulsa?

I'll have to look into that..it's looks really nice! haha

No, i'm in OKC, best of luck to you. let us know how things turn out.

 

[r3dh3ad84]

I don't know what everyone is worried about- with a little bit of elbow grease, I think he may be able to buff this one out...

That does suck bro and I'm sorry to hear about your run in with an a**hole (other than me). But speaking from someone who has a brother in inside claims adjusting- be as nice and understanding as you can to start... My brother will bend over backwards for a hard-working guy who loves his vehicle. BUT if you run into some a**clown who doesn't understand passion for a vehicle or machinery--***** and ask for a superior!! Again- my brother gets these calls all the time- and if he refuses to pay out on even and open and close case when it is not his insured fault; and the customer asks for a superior- 98% of the time he pays out...keep that in mind.

Good luck with the cavemen, even though they seem smug to me

 

[Mark86]

Sorry to see what happened to your truck. Were there any security camera in the area that you can get access to? People are such jerks these days.

 

[riverider]

Since I also live in Oklahoma where one in every four drivers have zero meaning NO insurance.

We have lots of hit and runs. Even if they are found getting any money from them is a dream.

Many times your own insurance Company will try not paying off. This Oklahoma where you'r on your own baby.:bash:

 

[CO_FlyFisher]

Dude, sorry to hear that. How the heck could he have hit you that hard in a parking lot??? Sorry to say, but it may very well be totaled. First thing I can recommend is to figure out what the vehicle is worth to YOU. Figure out what you have into it, what mods you did (get as many of those out as you can if it gets totaled - insurance won't give you squat for them), and what comparable vehicles are SELLING for in your area. Don't take anything less from the insurance payout. If they really try to low-ball you, fight 'em hard, and stand your ground. Threaten to get a lawyer if they won't be reasonable.

Since I also live in Oklahoma where one in every four drivers have zero meaning NO insurance.

We have lots of hit and runs. Even if they are found getting any money from them is a dream.

Many times your own insurance Company will try not paying off. This Oklahoma where you'r on your own baby.:bash:

About 10 years ago, when I lived in Arizona, I was driving down I-40 in Phoenix at about 1pm in a '92 Honda Civic. Traffic was stop-and-go through some construction, and it loosened up a bit so things got moving along again.

Out of the blue, and for no reason, the left lane (where I was at) came to a screeching halt. I was able to stop without hitting anyone. I looked up into the rear view mirror, and there was a full-sized white cargo van barreling down on me and my wife at about 50 MPH, and it was obvious he didn't see traffic had stopped. I knew I had to either get out of his way, or get hit. There were too many cars in the middle lane for me to get out of the way, and the was no shoulder to the left, only a concrete barrier. :help:

It really sucked, but all we could do was take the hit. I eased up on the brakes to lessen the impact, and luckily the cars in front of us just barely started moving again, but the guy hit us nearly square on without touching his brakes. The impact completely obliterated the whole back end of our car, spun us around 1.5 times hitting the car in front of us and the concrete barrier at least twice that I remember.

We were pretty stunned, and the car was pretty messed up. The rear doors were smashed shut, and the front doors didn't want to open. Broken glass everywhere, a little bit of blood, but we seemed to be OK. About the time we're trying to get out of the car, the a$$hat took off!!! :rant:

Someone down the road called the cops on him, but he wasn't caught. The moral of the story here - they got his license plate #, and HE WAS FROM OKLAHOMA!!! Even worse, my insurance tried to go after him, and he WAS UNINSURED!!! Due to being across state lines, and his not getting caught while he was still in Arizona, there wasn't a damn thing anyone could do to get at him. Rrrr... Eventually I got his address in Norman (near OK city). I was tempted to stop by and say hi several times on my drives through OK city between Ft. Worth and Denver, but never did. I'll always wonder if I should have.
:happens: