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I was going to work a couple of months ago... the day after my birthday... and came across a construction zone. Everyone was just creeping along, going pretty slow. A car was trying to turn into a parking lot and I stopped to let it go by. The car made it all the way across. Then I could hear tires sliding and felt a bump. I got out, said a few choice expletives as I looked at the kid in the lifted truck behind me. We moved out of the way into the parking lot to look at the damage. I was lucky... the truck was lifted above my bumper. It had just managed to push a dent into the tailgate. His tires were almost slick without any tread and he slid on the dirt and gravel on the road. At first he tried to just pay me off. He didn't off much and I didn't have a warm feeling how that would turn out.
I got his insurance information and took several pictures. My truck is Alto Blue so the dent doesn't show real clear but there were a couple of creases and the inside of the tailgate was pushed out some. I told him I preferred going through insurance. That turned out to be a hassle but should be worth it in the end. Of course just after this happened, a hail storm came through and damaged a lot of cars and property. I managed to dodge that one... but now body shops were filling up with claims. The body shops I had dealt with in the past said it would be pushed out 2 maybe 3 months. I found a small body shop that was getting good referrals and took in the truck.
I had an estimate from the adjuster to give to the body shop. It had been done out of state using the photos I took on their app. It came out higher than I expected and showed work that did not need to be done. The truck never touched my bumper... it had just gently kissed my tailgate. Insurance wanted to cut a check to me and the body shop. I'm okay with that. Body shop said no go. The check was going to be more than work they would perform and they weren't sure how to refund the overage to me. The estimate showed extra body work and bumper work I didn't need. Adjuster said since there was a lien (still paying on the loan) it had to go to lien holder and myself.
I finally got the check ... I paid off the body shop and I'm just waiting for the bank to endorse the check and return it back to me. This has been a pain and a hassle. However, I was very lucky. I see so many trucks on here that had bad damage or totaled. I just needed to replace my tailgate. By the time it's all said and done I will be able to pocket a couple of hundred dollars. They did a good job on the tailgate and even kept my blacked out logo and ordered new letter for my tailgate.
I got his insurance information and took several pictures. My truck is Alto Blue so the dent doesn't show real clear but there were a couple of creases and the inside of the tailgate was pushed out some. I told him I preferred going through insurance. That turned out to be a hassle but should be worth it in the end. Of course just after this happened, a hail storm came through and damaged a lot of cars and property. I managed to dodge that one... but now body shops were filling up with claims. The body shops I had dealt with in the past said it would be pushed out 2 maybe 3 months. I found a small body shop that was getting good referrals and took in the truck.
I had an estimate from the adjuster to give to the body shop. It had been done out of state using the photos I took on their app. It came out higher than I expected and showed work that did not need to be done. The truck never touched my bumper... it had just gently kissed my tailgate. Insurance wanted to cut a check to me and the body shop. I'm okay with that. Body shop said no go. The check was going to be more than work they would perform and they weren't sure how to refund the overage to me. The estimate showed extra body work and bumper work I didn't need. Adjuster said since there was a lien (still paying on the loan) it had to go to lien holder and myself.
I finally got the check ... I paid off the body shop and I'm just waiting for the bank to endorse the check and return it back to me. This has been a pain and a hassle. However, I was very lucky. I see so many trucks on here that had bad damage or totaled. I just needed to replace my tailgate. By the time it's all said and done I will be able to pocket a couple of hundred dollars. They did a good job on the tailgate and even kept my blacked out logo and ordered new letter for my tailgate.
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