1. take the truck to the Ford dealer.
2. have the Ford dealer do all repairs. It is your right to demand Ford make the repairs and Insurance foot the bill. they'll give you crap, but they cannot force you elsewhere
3. DO NOT FIX THE FRAME. REPLACE OR NOTHING
4. are you sure the drunk guy still has insurance? alot of times insurance companies will drop a person when they get an alcohol related accident. gotta be careful with this.
5. I can't believe the Body Shop is actually suggesting you lie about the wreck. that is just...just wrong on so many levels

 

edit: FTE and my computer arent' agreeing

double post

 

edit: FTE and my computer arent' agreeing

triplicate post

 

Comsidering the new frame from ford is 4,800.00 this is why they want to cut the rear section off yours. The body builders guide lists a frame swap as a 22 hour job.

 

22hrs for a frame swap holy crap. Never knew that.

 

It makes sense seeing as how a frame swap basically means removing EVERYTHING from one truck to move it to the new frame.

 

Firemut, Cove Ford IMO has a great service department (they've been treating me and my family very well for over ten years), but YOUR FRAME IS BENT!! Have insurance total it out and get a new truck. I understand that it may be your baby, but if you allow that repair to happen, your truck will never be the same and you'll regret it. Good luck.

 

That Ford dealership in Belton at the southern city limits and is under the I-35 overpass is pretty good also. My family has bought Fords from there since the 1960's.

AVOID THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TEMPLE. Ringlers Auto Group I believe is the name. They are one of those places you want to skip at all costs. Nothing but problems from them with different vehicles.

 

Some of the advice you have been getting is hogwash (I worked insurance claims for 30+ yars).

You ain't gonna get a new truck. The most you are owed is the Actual Cash Value of your damaged truck (what it would sell for on the open market). Since trucks have taken a beating in value recently, it would hurt.

With a properly repaired frame, you can't tell the difference.

If repaired, you would have a diminishment of value claim (difference between the value before and the value after). This may out the window or greatly decreased based on the previous work or condition of the vehicle.

Most dealerships are not the best place to have repairs done. They get most of their work because they are a dealer and it is not based on the quality of their work. An independent shop that gets its business strictly based on their reputation for high quality work will normally give you a better quality job.

If you don't want to keep the truck, you might be able to work out a deal and sell the truck. Vehicles with a clean title (not totaled) that are wrecked has a good value to a rebuilder if they are bought from the owner. You could check with local rebuilders and see what they would pay you for the truck as it sits. See how much the insurance company will pay for the repairs, diminishment of value and potential rental costs as a cashout. If you can get enough for both the salvage and the repairs, it might be enough money for you to buy a replacement vehicle similar to what you had (considering the low resale prices).

 

You wouldn't happen to have GAP insurance would you? If not, I would agree to have the frame replaced but not repaired. A repaired frame IMO would be a bit weak compared to a new one and the truck would not drive the same anyway. If you do not choose to have the work done at a Ford dealership, have it done at a shop you are familiar with. If you haven't already done this, you may want to see how much you owe on your truck and compare it to what the market value of your truck is and go shop for a new/used truck. As mentioned before, call and work with your insurance company rather than working with the drunks.

 

It all boils down to you do not have to accept a sub-par vehicle. PERIOD!!!

 

I did call Cove Ford for some info. He tried looking up what my possibilities were for voiding my warranty, which would give me more power to total it, but really no luck. They gave me the number to Ford customer service and they were less help. I have even tried calling their insurance asking questions about the work being done and they said it was a Ford recommended repair, by cutting the frame where they are! ?

 

If I got fair market value that would be fine, I do have gap insurance. I think these guys might know I am entitled to that because they are really pushing my truck through the repair process. Yesterday they started cutting on the frame. I really don't care if they complete the work or not, if I was entitled to have my truck totaled and they didn't present me with that option to begin with and I have to find out on my own, then they just lost alot of money on an unneccessary repair.

"If repaired, you would have a diminishment of value claim (difference between the value before and the value after). This may out the window or greatly decreased based on the previous work or condition of the vehicle."

The lawer I spoke with said I would not be entitled to the "Diminished value" claim if they repaired the truck. That doesn't make much sense, if its totaled there is no sense in a diminished value, it would be market value discussed. I am getting alot of info, unfortunately it is while work is being done on my truck. I couldn't afford to wait to get my truck repaired while I sorted out the lies the insurance company would feed me. They really haven't been in touch with me, only if I call them will they pass me off to some silver tongued "representative". I hate having to deal with people that make a living off of lies and deception. It just isn't right!

 

If I were you I would call the body shop in the morning and tell them to stop. IT IS YOUR TRUCK!!! NOT THEIRS...

And insurance companies wonder why they're regulated!! Give me a break...

 

The repair will show up on a carfax (I believe they report anything more than $1500 in repairs) or make it a salvage title...you are entitled to diminished value for this reason. If (when) a potential future buyer sees this information (fair disclosure comes to mind) it will result in diminished value of your truck. Been there, done that, it ain't hogwash. Been driving in Harris county for 17+ years. Hence, I've made plenty of claims against other's insurance! (People around here can't drive for ******) Don't let the insurance company dictate the terms of the repair. You have a right to be made whole again! YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS! Good luck!