by joncuro » Sat Mar 29, 2008 04:50 am
Hey everyone,
I have some pretty serious questions/insurance issues that I need some help with. First a little background:
About a month ago I was hit on my front left by someone who failed to yield the right of way. Her insurance company claimed liability and after 3 weeks my 2000 Ford Ranger was "fixed". After bringing the truck home I noticed there was a small coolant leak. I had asked the Ford body shop to inspect the whole truck top to bottom as the impact was pretty hard. After hitting me she pushed me across a lane of traffic and we ended up in a grass area on the side of the road, and a sign was lodged under my truck Apparently Ford did not do this, thus me discovering the leak and not them. I took my truck to an very reputable mechanic in town, and right away they recognized that an impact had caused the damage. In their words" natural wear and tear does not happen in this area, anyone who knwos engines should know this. An impact is needed to cause something like this.
After contacting the insurance company, they sent the same appraiser who appraised the damage the first time. A little background about this guy. When he originally appraised the damage I asked him to look at the engine as the check engine light was on. His response was that as an appraiser he does not check the insides of vehicles, only estimates the outside damage and that he was not a mechanic. After checking my truck today, he said that in his opinion, after inspecting the engine, the damage was not caused by the accident. Everything he claims is in direct contradiction to a certified and very reputable mechanic. I asked him what exactly he was basing his opinion on, he mumbled something about a gasket and kept repeating, "its my opinion and thats what I'm reporting to the insurance company". He also claimed that a hard, front side impact in which a car that pushed a 3200 pound truck over a lane and into a grass area would have zero effect on an engine, which sounds completely ridiculous to me. So basically he had nothing to substantiate his "opinion". Naturally I have contacted the insurance agency and disputed this, but now it is the weekend and I won't hear anything for a few days.
So, I'm really just kind of curious how an appraiser who self admittedly is not a mechanic ,and refused to inspect an engine, comes to the conclusion that the damage is not accident related, directly contradicting a reputable mechanic. Is this their job or isn't it? I also find it interesting that with this added damage, the truck would have most certainly been a total loss as it is over $1000 in additional damage. Do I have any recourse here? I now own a truck that should have been totalled.
Any help or advice would be appreciated. thanks
Jon
I have some pretty serious questions/insurance issues that I need some help with. First a little background:
About a month ago I was hit on my front left by someone who failed to yield the right of way. Her insurance company claimed liability and after 3 weeks my 2000 Ford Ranger was "fixed". After bringing the truck home I noticed there was a small coolant leak. I had asked the Ford body shop to inspect the whole truck top to bottom as the impact was pretty hard. After hitting me she pushed me across a lane of traffic and we ended up in a grass area on the side of the road, and a sign was lodged under my truck Apparently Ford did not do this, thus me discovering the leak and not them. I took my truck to an very reputable mechanic in town, and right away they recognized that an impact had caused the damage. In their words" natural wear and tear does not happen in this area, anyone who knwos engines should know this. An impact is needed to cause something like this.
After contacting the insurance company, they sent the same appraiser who appraised the damage the first time. A little background about this guy. When he originally appraised the damage I asked him to look at the engine as the check engine light was on. His response was that as an appraiser he does not check the insides of vehicles, only estimates the outside damage and that he was not a mechanic. After checking my truck today, he said that in his opinion, after inspecting the engine, the damage was not caused by the accident. Everything he claims is in direct contradiction to a certified and very reputable mechanic. I asked him what exactly he was basing his opinion on, he mumbled something about a gasket and kept repeating, "its my opinion and thats what I'm reporting to the insurance company". He also claimed that a hard, front side impact in which a car that pushed a 3200 pound truck over a lane and into a grass area would have zero effect on an engine, which sounds completely ridiculous to me. So basically he had nothing to substantiate his "opinion". Naturally I have contacted the insurance agency and disputed this, but now it is the weekend and I won't hear anything for a few days.
So, I'm really just kind of curious how an appraiser who self admittedly is not a mechanic ,and refused to inspect an engine, comes to the conclusion that the damage is not accident related, directly contradicting a reputable mechanic. Is this their job or isn't it? I also find it interesting that with this added damage, the truck would have most certainly been a total loss as it is over $1000 in additional damage. Do I have any recourse here? I now own a truck that should have been totalled.
Any help or advice would be appreciated. thanks
Jon
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 02:54 am Post Subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 02:55 am Post Subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 02:56 am Post Subject: Someting does not sound right...
joncuro, I am trying to imagine why the only suspension part that was changed was the upper control arm. I would ask the shop that originally repaired it for a print out of the wheel alignment. I would also look for set-back at the damaged front wheel, and as Lori suggested the motor mounts. There has to be some kind of other visible damage that is not being noticed. Was the frame measured?
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:13 pm Post Subject:
I'm curious at what cost level would you total out the truck?
It would total if the cost of repair exceeds the ACV minus the salvage bid...also most states (in addition to above) have a percentage rule...if the damage exceeds a certain percentage (usually 70-80%) of the value it is an automatic total as well...I don't know about good news.
what I meant by that was that the ford shop agreed it would have to be accident related...or did I read that wrong?He did say however, that this damage has to be caused by something, most likely an accident. UNBELIEVABLE
Make sure you put the carrier in contact with this guy as well...Yes, the timing chain cover and gasket is cracked which is the source of the leak.
that should be great news (because the chain did not break and cause the crack, if I'm understanding this correctly...if the chain broke..you are out of luck)....did the appraiser see this?Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:16 pm Post Subject:
Dave,
joncuro, I am trying to imagine why the only suspension part that was changed was the upper control arm.
Didn't it say the knuckle too ? (i know 'technically' that's steering but connects to the control arm)...and wheel of course, did it also say both upper and lower control arms?I would ask the shop that originally repaired it for a print out of the wheel alignment
I told him to get that as well....but he didn't mention it in the last post....need to get that!Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:24 pm Post Subject:
wait, i re-read that, there is a spindle, also front and rear wheels...then you have two controls arms listed, but i don't know if that is an accident or if both upper and lower control arms were replaced....looks like this truck has a total of four mtr mounts (one tranny mount-actually looks like a mt and a brkt one on each side)..hard to tell from the graphic but looks like one sets very close to the susp...certainly worth checking....another thing...if they did replace the upper AND lower arms and knuckle, no strut? no hub or bearing? didn't you say the tire/wheel was snapped off? :?
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 01:03 pm Post Subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 01:04 pm Post Subject: You are right
There is a spindle. It must be a whole used assembly. I still think that some visible damage is being overlooked, with both a coolant leak and an oil leak at the front of the engine... Sure would be nice to see some pictures.
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 01:49 pm Post Subject:
I still think that some visible damage is being overlooked,
I agree and how on earth did a timing cover (only) get cracked?Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 04:21 am Post Subject:
Just a quick update as I have been extremely busy. The insurance company finally conceded that a timing chain cover crack would be due to the accident and they would be liable for it. Nothing happened over the weekend naturally, so I'll find out more nformation tomorrow.
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