I need to vent! Drunk driver hit my Parked 2021 Ram 1500 🤬

[Portercycling250]

So I go out to my vehicle a day ago and try to drive it but it won’t move for some reason .. it’s like I’m stuck... well I get out to look at front tire and this is what I find!! I find out after that the RCMP did catch the drunk driver who hit several vehicles on the street that evening , but my month and a half old truck is now in shop and I’m just depressed.

 

[dts828]

Sorry to hear that, it truly sucks coming from someone that similar issue. Doesn't look to bad, hopefully just bumper and it didn't do any frame or suspension damage.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

 

[Portercycling250]

Sorry to hear that, it truly sucks coming from someone that similar issue. Doesn't look to bad, hopefully just bumper and it didn't do any frame or suspension damage.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Unfortunately there is suspension issue as the drivers tire points in a different direction than the passenger side tire

 

[AK103]

Damn I'm sorry, that has to be heart breaking.

 

[CMil527]

That sucks... sorry to hear!

 

[OldMarine]

hopefully this will help ease the pain a bit...you have what I call a "clean hit", meaning all the parts you see damaged will be replaced vs. repaired. That is good. Don't sweat the suspension stuff, whatever is bent,(outer tie rod, lower control arm, stabilizer link, etc.), will also be replaced. This is the type of repair where you will never know it was hit afterwards....as opposed to say a side-swipe, where they have to repair and repaint doors and side panels, using plastic filler. You will be as good as new!

 

[Portercycling250]

hopefully this will help ease the pain a bit...you have what I call a "clean hit", meaning all the parts you see damaged will be replaced vs. repaired. That is good. Don't sweat the suspension stuff, whatever is bent,(outer tie rod, lower control arm, stabilizer link, etc.), will also be replaced. This is the type of repair where you will never know it was hit afterwards....as opposed to say a side-swipe, where they have to repair and repaint doors and side panels, using plastic filler. You will be as good as new!

Thanks. This did help . Much appreciated.

 

[Willwork4truck]

Sucks. Glad the RCMP got him... now for the repairs/paint etc...

 

[DomW]

Tell the drunks insurance you want "Depreciated Value". Get a couple estimates on how much you have lost in value for resale or trade-in. Don't let the drunks insurance say they don't do that because they will try to say they won't. That lost value will come out of your pocket at resale. There is always a record of any insurance claim and they will take it off the trucks value. My condolences on the trunk, mine only got hit by a shopping cart. Is there an emoji for whiplash?

 

[mikeru82]

Tell the drunks insurance you want "Depreciated Value". Get a couple estimates on how much you have lost in value for resale or trade-in. Don't let the drunks insurance say they don't do that because they will try to say they won't. That lost value will come out of your pocket at resale. There is always a record of any insurance claim and they will take it off the trucks value. My condolences on the trunk, mine only got hit by a shopping cart. Is there an emoji for whiplash?

It's actually called diminished value. And definitely something for him to look into.

 

[OldMarine]

here in MA, there is no insurance mechanism for "diminished value", you have to take the other party to court, on your time, and your dime....

 

[Hydroblueguy]

So I go out to my vehicle a day ago and try to drive it but it won’t move for some reason .. it’s like I’m stuck... well I get out to look at front tire and this is what I find!! I find out after that the RCMP did catch the drunk driver who hit several vehicles on the street that evening , but my month and a half old truck is now in shop and I’m just depressed.

This happened to my new truck 14 years ago on my wedding night. This sucks and it will never be the same! Sorry, hope they get it fixed soon

 

[Burnzie]

I feel your pain, my 15 Challenger R/T Plus was hit and run in Walmart parking lot, never caught the person and I always park at the FAR end of the lot . I used to be that guy though, now I've been sober for just over 20 years and I'm a happier man for it.

 

[Aseras]

here in MA, there is no insurance mechanism for "diminished value", you have to take the other party to court, on your time, and your dime....

That's the gist of it everywhere. You doc the losses and appraisals to cement the losses and send a demand letter. Insurance is liability for losses, so it makes them liable. The smart ones pay up quick before it costs even more in court.

 

[grimreefer]

So I go out to my vehicle a day ago and try to drive it but it won’t move for some reason .. it’s like I’m stuck... well I get out to look at front tire and this is what I find!! I find out after that the RCMP did catch the drunk driver who hit several vehicles on the street that evening , but my month and a half old truck is now in shop and I’m just depressed.

I didn't make it to a full two months either. Hope everything gets sorted to your satisfaction.

 

[TruckDriver]

the RCMP did catch the drunk driver who hit several vehicles on the street that evening

I'm glad they caught 'em! did they ask him how he drove a bunch of nails in your tire too?! (jk jk I know what studded tires are)

Like said above, they'll be able to replace everything, glad it was a clean enough hit

 

[scottmoyer]

I've played the diminished value game with Geico in the past. My son's Mustang was 1 year old and a guy backed into the driver's door, requiring a new door skin and whole side repaint. The diminished value was about $5k. Geico offered $700. I fought them for 2 years and finally settled on $3k. As long as their was an open claim, Carfax doesn't get notified. It takes about 6 months for the claim to get updated and I sold the car in that time.

Just don't settle for their first offer. Get an estimate from a dealer before you get it fixed. Let them know you'll be getting it fixed prior to trade in. That's your low price. Then wait until it's repaired and see what another dealer will give you without disclosing the damage. That's your high value. These numbers are averages and the actual diminished value could be more, but this is a starting point.

Many insurance companies will also tell you that the diminished value can't exceed the cost of damages, but that's wrong. If a car scrapes the side of a Lambo and it costs $10k to repair, the fact that the car was repainted devalued the Lambo probably $40k.

Good luck.

 

[OldMarine]

That's the gist of it everywhere. You doc the losses and appraisals to cement the losses and send a demand letter. Insurance is liability for losses, so it makes them liable. The smart ones pay up quick before it costs even more in court.

Here in MA, the insurance companies have no liability for diminished value. Just a fact. I work for a major ins co here. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/frequently-asked-questions-about-auto-insurance-claims

 

[slatersan]

here in MA, there is no insurance mechanism for "diminished value", you have to take the other party to court, on your time, and your dime....

That's when you call the Lawyer that advertises the most on your local TV channels.

 

[OldMarine]

That's when you call the Lawyer that advertises the most on your local TV channels.

You can call them, but it will cost you. These are not the kind of cases they take on contingency....most people that even bother to try and recover, go through small claims court, max amount of recovery is $5000.