Got T-Boned in my F150

[Sunnyinhollister]

I'm not sure if this is the correct section to post this in, but as the title says I got hit in my F150 XLT 4x2. The girl driving the other car was trying to cross 4 lanes and a turn lane to get to the other side of the road and did not stop. No one was hurt thank God.

Damage to my truck, while not frame related is pretty extensive. Both doors, both door openings, corner of the cab, corner of the bed, side of the bed, rear tire and rime, and factory chrome running board are the obvious things I could see. The body shop total so far is over $12k just from what we can see. The tear down is today. From what I'm being told part of the additional labor is due to the candy apple red paint which adds an extra step in the process?

I guess my main concern is with all the panels that need t be cut and welded in place. I'm sure that the truck will look fine leaving the body shop, but what about a couple years down the road? Will the door openings be true and leak tight?
This is all uncharted territory for me. The last few times I've been hit (4 times in 12 years) the cars were totaled or minor repairs. On the bright side, this is the first time that I've been hit by a licensed, insured driver in California!

 

[JHZR2]

So sorry to hear that. Glad nobody was hurt.

Such a new truck, you think they will fix it?

Id plan to unloadit if so... it will never be the same, IMO.

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
So sorry to hear that. Glad nobody was hurt.

Such a new truck, you think they will fix it?

Id plan to unloadit if so... it will never be the same, IMO.


Thanks, and yes the insurance company will not total it unless the repairs exceed 70% of the value. Right now they tell me they are at ~50%.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Push the issue for "genuine parts" and see where your percentage falls.

 

[morepwr]

The only thing that matters is that you are ok.
The truck will get fixed but will never be 100% after a hit like that.

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

The shop says they use genuine OEM parts. I doubt it will get totaled so I am looking into diminished value as well. My main concern is with the integrity and longevity of the cab with so many welded in replacement panels.

 

[The_Jeff]

They can't just drop a new cab on it? They did it all the time with old cabs, even running scams like putting a 1973 chevy cab (and VIN

)on a 1987 frame so they could be emissions exempt.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Glad everyone is okay!

Wrecked vehicles can be put back together pretty well. My cherokee was totaled when new due to a head on collision. 13 years later, the panels line up and are straight, the doors don't leak, the windows work and the paint matches.

 

[SrDriver]

Lets hope that you can get them to total it.

If not and it were mine would get rid of it once it is repaired.

 

[gathermewool]

Glad to hear you're ok!

In for updates

 

[IndyIan]

I guess it depends on the body shop, but I wouldn't be in a huge hurry to dump the truck after they are done. I suspect most people will carfax it or atleast look underneath it and see its been in an accident, and you will lose more money for that the newer the truck is. 10 years from now the accident history is going to be a $400 loss in value, today $4-6-8k?
A dealer will use it against you big time anyways, if you are trading it in.
My Mom has had $4-5k rear end damage to both of her CRV's and they just threw all the new parts at it they could and both cars seemed like new.

 

[mrsilv04]

A really good body shop can put it back together to the point where it will be the same as new.

The trick is finding that shop...

 

[Kruse]

Glad nobody was hurt.
A couple of years ago my wife and kids (three of them who are teenagers, btw) were in heavy traffic and they came up to a red light. In the lane next to them was a driver sitting in his car and he was texting. My wife gave the kids the typical sermon about how texting should never be done while you are driving. Of course, my wife got the "rolling of the eyes" from all three kids. The light turned green and they took off and drove until they stopped at the next red light. Suddenly, there was an accident next to them. The texting driver had hit a Cadillac Escalade that had been parked at the red light. The texting driver had hit the Escalade so hard that he had lost a front wheel that was now rolling down the street.
My kids had a little more respect for their mom that day.

 

[Kuato]

First and most importantly, glad everyone's ok.

Sorry to hear about your truck; I must say I love the idea of a new cab! Definitely would check into that. With a proper repair shop you should never have to worry about the cosmetics.

 

[tightwad]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
A really good body shop can put it back together to the point where it will be the same as new.

The trick is finding that shop...


Yep, what he said.

 

[abycat]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
A really good body shop can put it back together to the point where it will be the same as new.

The trick is finding that shop...


I have seen this proof before. I saw a nicer 2008 ish car that got t-boned and when my favorite shop was done my buddy showed me that his side lined up better than the factory side. and rear and front for that matter. It was a low speed crash so the front back and other side was not affected at all. The doors were messed up and the lower sil was bent on the affected side.

Id say your truck will last the exact same as if this didnt happen, if the body shop does it right. The only concern should be that it has had an accident. Glad your ok. Stupid women drivers jk kinda.

 

[cptbarkey]

thats easy, take it to the FORD dealership body shop.

 

[wander2039]

Just hope they do a better job than the shop did on my dad's 86 F150. Instead of replacing the bed they just welded on a new drivers side.. after 4 or 5 years it was flopping in the wind. And instead of properly fixing the dents in the cab they used bondo. One mad momma cow kicked the cab one day and 3/4 of it fell off!

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: Sunnyinhollister
On the bright side, this is the first time that I've been hit by a licensed, insured driver in California!


Been there, how are you doing? From my experience the body pain does not usually come until a couple hours or the morning after. Sorry to hear about your pickup but at least no one was seriously injured.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
thats easy, take it to the FORD dealership body shop.


I did that once. One of the biggest regrets in my life.

It had to be removed from their possession (a representative of my insurance company went into their shop and drove it out of the shop to a flatbed truck that was waiting outside), it was taken to a different body shop, where it was torn back down, and was re-painted and re-assembled for a second time.

And Ford did nothing. They only gave me the "dealerships are independent businesses, and we're not going to take the time or effort to involve ourselves in this".

That was the last Ford I ever owned as well.

Most Ford dealerships are not going to invest the time or equity that would be *really* required to be a top notch body shop. The financial reward just isn't there.