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Jacob
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2005
22:19:02
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 Subject: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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My 97 5.2L 4x4 Dak got hit hard this past Monday. This guy on the right of me swirved hard and unexpectedly into my right side and bumped me over a lane on the interstate where someone going too fast then rear ended me and pushed the truck into the concrete median. I was going about 65mph at the time. I'm fine.
For how bad that sounds, the truck faired remarkably well in my opinion. It needs a lot of paint and minor body work, plus a replacement fender, bumper, headlights, rim, and tire. Front suspension is out of alignment from hitting the median, maybe a bent control arm... But still, it doesn't seem like that stuff would justify TOTALLING the truck, which insurance wants to do.
Whats the market for parting out trucks on this forum? There are so many good parts left about it. Motors, trans, axles, interior, chassis... all good. I would hate to see it go to a junkyard and let them make the profit. I'm just not sure what the market is for parting out these vehicles.
www.jcob2.com/dakota.htm
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fuzz
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
00:51:54
|  RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Find out what happens to the truck, sometimes they will go to a disposal auction where wreckers and general public will bid on them. Sometimes they are silent auctions. You might get lucky. If you can get in to see it before auction pour a liter or used oil on the engine so as to make it look wrecked then no one will put a high bid on it.
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Jasonb61
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
01:50:59
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Sorry to hear about your dak man... If you start parting it out on here, I call dibs on first choice lol.. Just reply or email me at megagix@hotmail.com.
Again, sorry about your dak.
-Jason
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
03:05:09
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Sorry to hear about the accident, my 00 was totalled last December. Most likely the insurance company is going to try and low ball you on the value of the truck, my insurance did. They agreed to have an appraiser look at the truck and his evaluation came in $1000 higher than thier evaluation, CHA CHING!
Once the truck is totalled you have first rights to buy the truck back,,, actually you won't be buying it, they will deduct the salvage value from your settlement and you keep the truck. Just watch who pays for the storage fees, I wouldn't want to be stuck with 30 days of storage fees... If you go this route, you "might" be lucky and not get the truck branded with a salvage title, good if you intend to repair and keep the truck.
The insurance company wanted $1500 salvage for my truck, it would have been worth it if I had the time and place to rebuild it as I figured I would have been out $2K in parts and paint.
Ebay might be a good place to sell the parts off your truck also, just have to look and see what used Dak parts are going for.
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bbbbbb
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
09:24:09
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Message:
i wish my fricking truck would get totalled.........I can't stand all the problems with it. 02 dakota qc 4x4
if you asked me you just been blessed..........
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Rob C
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
11:05:21
|  RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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First of all, who's insurance is trying to total your truck? This is what insurance companies try to get away with because most people won't fight them.
I'd be talking to a lawyer about getting the truck appraised and possibly fixed. This is BS, you're driving along and some klutz causes an accident which damages your truck. They want to take the cheap way out and total your truck. If you let them, you'll just be another guy on a huge list of people that have been screwed by insurance companies. If you make it unappealing for them to total your vehicle, you may get a settlement check that will pay for the repair of your vehicle. Just remember, someone has to pay for the lawyer so, the settlement check should include attorney's fees. Good luck.
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Jasonb61
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
12:23:09
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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I agree! The insurance company is only there to make money so whatever choice they make is the one that saves them the most money... If you believe it held up good and is fixable, then fight this! Please keep me posted on this!
-Jason
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
12:31:54
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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if it does wind up being totalled, make dam sure they give you fair market value + tax, title & license. because you have to spend that on a replacement vehicle that you would not have had to otherwise.
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Bo Sital
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
13:14:54
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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The fact is, when your truck gets totalled, you are screwed. I was in your shoes a few years ago. One day a guy ran a red light and nearly hit me. I thought, wouldn't it be great if someone smashed my truck up so I could use the money to get a new one! One week later somewhere else, a guy ran a red light, and he did hit me. And I got screwed. My truck was in pristine condition with six month old tires and low miles, and the insurance company still only offered me book value. I talked to a rep at my own insurance company, and he said I should take it and be grateful that they also covered a rental for the two weeks that I waited between the accident and when they officially totalled it.
It sounds like your bodywork alone will exceed the 'value' of the truck. So if you're handy and have the time, buying the truck back for the salvage price is a good idea. I also like the ideas of dumping used oil all over the engine if you can make that happen AFTER they value it for your settlement, and BEFORE they tote it out for auction; and of getting an independent appraiser, if the insurance company will agree to that. Good luck if you try to find an attorney who will do jack for you. They don't care about fighting the good fight - they just want to make money. If they can't take an appreciable percentage of your settlement, they won't do the job. I also wouldn't put a lot of hope in getting the money for a new title, license, rental, etc. They don't care about compensating you for every expense and difficulty you've incurred; they only care about the book value of the truck, and that's all they are required to care about by law. You can thank Congress for giving us regular people so little power against big insurance.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
14:50:32
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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I am sure insurance laws differ between states, but they should be responsible for what it's going to cost to replace the truck with the exact same truck (mileage, condition, options) including tax, title, and other fee's associated. If you had any toys on the truck, remove them and put the stock stuff back on. That $400 CD/stereo is only going to get you $75. If it didn't come installed from the factory, they won't pay you jack for it,,, well maybe 25% of what it's worth.
Here's something I did, they were only going to give my $75 for my $400 stereo since it was only a CD/stereo in thier eyes. I removed my high end stereo and replaced it with the biggest peice of crap $50 CD radio from WalMart. Got my Stereo and $25 to boot.
Fight, Fight, Fight,,, but don't be an arse and loose your temper. You have to remember it's thier job to give you the least amount of money you will accept. It's all a big game,,, playing with your hard earned cash and vehicle, get you pizzed off so you accept a low settlement.
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
17:14:35
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Its bad either way....if you total it its going to be under valued, but if you keep it and fix it with a salvage title, dont ever plan on selling it for anything, and often when a vehicle has been in an accident there are numerous chassis and electrical problems that will arise later that will not be covered if you have the insurance cover repairs...my advice is to let them total it, argue for a decent value and buy it back if you really want it...and part it out. I wouldnt mess with a truck that hit concrete at 65 unless you just want it as a beater... it will likely give you numerous glitches later on.... thats why they are totaling it.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
17:32:25
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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not true. it can be totalled and if repaired by a good body/frame man it will drive like new. back in december last year i hit a school bus broadside @ 45mph as it decided to turn left, right in front of me at an intersection. thankfully it was just me and the bus driver. my truck is an'00 QC Sport. the damage total was about $8900. a whole new front clip, windsheild, a/c system, etc.. they had my truck for about 8 weeks but it looks and drives just as good if not better than new.
IMO, if you have the place and time, buy it back and part it out or repair it. if not get the most money you can and hopefully find something comparable.
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Jacob
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
17:34:45
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Thanks for the replies. Good info on your past experiences with insurance companies. I will keep the board updated. As of today, (5 days after the crash), the insurance rep says they are still waiting to hear back from a witness before they will accept/deny liability.
Last night I got it out of the tow yard to avoid the surmounting storage charges. I had to get a used tire and rim from a junk yard in order to limp it home. Once I got it on the road, it was evident there is some major front suspension damage. Had to drive with the wheel turned 45 degrees to go straight!
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Jasonb61
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
17:57:17
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Man.. thats rough... Good luck on everything... Glad to hear that you'll keep us updated!
Thanks,
-Jason
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fuzz
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2005
22:56:50
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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jacob,
I wouldn't be too concerned about a steering wheel being out 45 degrees just yet. A poor alignment job can result in a steering wheel being out 45 degrees.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2005
21:00:44
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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daddio, the insurance company didn't total your truck with $8900 of damage,,, or did you want to have it fixed and keep it? My 00 CC sport had $6500 of damage and they totalled the truck, $9800 settlement.
I actually wanted the truck totalled because I drive too much to be having problems from shoddy repair work, it was a bitter sweet deal. I lost my azz on the CC Dak since I bought it for $15K in 2002, but I was able to replace it with a 2003 QC which was what I wanted when I origionally bought the CC. Plus, it would have cost me more to sell the 00 CC and buy the 03 QC, it all worked out good for me in the end.
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LankieHuges
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2005
21:32:46
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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u idiots! dont u know that the insurance PLANS all the wrecks and they end up screwing people out of lots of money.. that was no accident.. it was a setup... stick it to the man and buy a HONDA CIVIC... the only vehicle that can 4x4 with the toughest machines, faster than formula cars, and unwreckable!
honda=power
dodge=powder
nissian=cant-pull-a-string-from-cats-ass
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2005
22:21:41
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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DSW, no, to my surprise, it was not totalled. at the time my truck was worth about 13k. i am glad they didn't total it. the guys that did the work did a great job. there is a couple things that could have been better but i have no rattles or creaks and the truck drives just as good as before the crash.
i bought mine in jan '03 w/ 19,000 miles for 14k. it is basically a stripper SPORT QC. cruise, tilt, p/s, p/b, a/c, 3.9 w/ 5spd and 3.55 open rear. retail was still 18k when i bought it.
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Forseti
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2005
09:44:20
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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This is a bit off topic.. I have a 1999 Dak SLT for sale... it has a blown engine and bad tranny.... would be perfect for someone looking for major parts or even swap their engine in..... body has minor nicks in it and the frame is perfect..
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FagiteDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2005
12:34:11
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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Yo homie.. How much for that dak? I need a place for my 1.7 motor... HIGH HP... I dont think that old dakota body could hold the power... piece of crap... but that dakota may make a good lawn ornament to show that honda rules and dodge breaks...
Honda=Power
Dodge=Powder
Nissian=Cant-pull-a-string-from-cats-butt
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2003flrt
Dodge Dakota
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11/07/2005
17:03:17
| RE: Dak got wrecked, insurance wants 2 total
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jacob:
like in previous response find out where truck goes if it is totaled. about 15 yrs ago my mothers bonneville was hit head on during a snow storm. the ins co. totaled it. it went to a local junk yard (no auction). the car was only 5yrr. old. we bought it back for $300. spent $400 to straighten frame $300 for front clip and had a friend paint it for $750(whole car). she ended up with a brand new looking car and a couple $1000 dollars in her pocket.
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