The insurance company for the gravel truck has to "Make it like it never even happened" so they need to pay your hotel bills and pay for the repairs to "As good as before" on your fifth wheel, or replace it with a like one. You don't have to brag to them the value of the fifth wheel because of the delaination, just go shopping for a similar length, and age fifth wheel.
You mention the fifth wheel being under warranty, so if it is less than 6 months old, expect to get a new one, perhaps another brand though with a equal retail cost. If it is 2-3 years old, then consider that you will have to get a 2-3 year old fifth wheel to replace it.
Look at RvSearch.com for RV's like the one that you lost. And remember that if you have to buy a replacement, they also need to cover the sales tax, regerstation, and any other fees and inport tax that might be required to bring the RV in to Canada.
Befor you pick up the truck, make sure that the seats are un-damaged. Sometime the reclining part gears can get damaged in a sever rear end collision (this was no accident, the other driver was following to close and did not leave adaquate room for his rig's braking ability). Make sure that the doors line up properly, and that the paint will not cause the truck's value to go down by $1,500 when you go to sell it because one half is brand new color and the other half is sort of faded paint.
Yes they can color match the paint, look at it in bright sunlight, not under the tree that it will get parked under when they show you the truck, and tell you with a straight face that it looks better than new, when it does not.
If you where buying a used truck, and the owner said it was in a accidnet, the truck bed was replaced, but the frame is only bent a little bit, the passenger door shuts a little hard, but the paint scrapes on the door are OK, because they did/or could not align it properly, and the towing hitch is only a little bent up, but I want full price because I keept the truck clean - what would you say?
Lets face it, the truck value on the used market just went down by $2,500 or more, even if it is fixed to the point that it looks great, and everything works fine. If the work was not flawless, then the truck value goes down my even more money. They have to make it right - no matter what the cost. What I am saying is if you accept the truck with a three tone paint job, don't complain when the value goes down by $5,000. Have them paint it right, fix it right, and keep the value where it was before the collision.
Ask the insurance company if they will provide a rental vehicle until yours is repaired or the check it cut to replace it. Then find out from Cruise America what a rental will cost for the next month or two, and present them the bill for their approval. It might get you a check cut in record time.
If you where not planning on spending any time in a motel, then they should cover that cost until you can get back into your fifth wheel or it's replacement. Knowing that there is a $500 a week expence report building should light a fire under them to settle sooner than later. Sometimes they like to see how many weeks they can wait before making a settlement.
You might want to consider Foremost Insurance to insure the next RV. When I bought new, I had them, and if the RV was totalled for any reason, they would pay for a new RV during the first 5 years, and for a replacement RV of the original cost during years 5-10. If you had their insurance, you could put in a claim, go shopping for the RV, buy it (after getting the right approvals), start traveling in a few days, and let Foremost collect their money from the gravel truck people.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
This was a big misfortune. I hope you can get everything going again. These things will happen, but at least you are OK.
God bless you and hope you can still have a great trip.
ipeltier wrote: Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement. The person from CA suggested a lawyer. We've been checked out at a hospital and have no fractures or injuries. In Canada, a lawyer wouldn't be involved unless serious injury occurred. We just hope that our insurance covers the cost of a replacement trailer--it was a 2007 Wildcat. I think our lst year RV insurance covers some meals and hotels. I guess we'll find out when we return home and submit our claims.
Hang in there. Glad you both are OK. In this case I doubt that your insurance will be the one having to cover the claim. The company's liability insurance for the offending truck will be paying this one out most likely. Your insurance company will know how to get in touch with them!
2009 Bristol Bay by SunnyBrook 3420BH 36.5'L, 11.1k dry
2005 F350 Superduty 6.0 CrewCab, Longbed, DRW, 4" exhaust, SCT with custom tunes, triple Autometer gauges and pillar pod, Tow Command Package, 4.10 LSD rear
Nicknamed "Tiny"
wow....accident happened 1 mile from my home.
Glad all is well with you.
Yep, those ribs sure are gooood.
need any local info, call me....717-843-2700
Regards, Walt
Sorry to read about your accident. Glad you aren't hurt.
D@mned dirt haulers are the same all over, bunch of buddy big-rig wannabees.
Don't know how your Canadian insurance works, but the trucks insurance should pick up all costs.
Stan & Linda
Loki & Hobo
06 Dodge 3500 CTD 6 sp Quad Cab Bighorn
04 Laredo 29GS
"The Chief Warrent Officer was unimpressed by everything and seldom spoke except to express irritation."Joseph Heller,Catch 22
Retirement trip has a new beginning! Just a quick update for all those kind people who posted words of encouragement after our accident in Pennsylvania--our insurance company settled our claim promptly. Our truck is repaired and we've just bought a 2008 Jayco Superlite 5th wheel for less than the settlement we received for our totaled 2007 Wildcat. We intend to head south for two months through Arizona and California, leaving the frozen north in Canada right after Christmas. Once again, thanks for your messages of commiseration and encouragement!
Glad to hear that everything worked out for you. I live not too far from where your accident happened, and know how bad the traffic can be around there, although we normally take a short cut (coming from or going to the Lancaster, PA area) and avoid that specific highway interchange.
I was also amused by the response from the person in CA, suggesting that you contact an attorney. That's one of the prime reasons why our country is so mucked up with issues such as insurance and health care.
By the way, that's a beautiful area of Canada you live in - if I were a deer hunter (which I'm not) I would think I'd died and gone to heaven living there.
I respectively disagree with your comment about getting a lawyer involved.
I certainly would, not so I could sue their butts off and make a million bucks off it, but to protect myself from being taken advantage of by the other party....Do you really believe they will act in your best interest??? You must also believe in the tooth fairy.
JIMNLIN wrote: glad your all fixed up now but dang that was a heck of a way to deal with the manufacture on your delam issues....
good luck.........Jim
Sometimes I wish my Delam issue would be handled this way as well..
Glad you all are OK and ready to get back on the road..
2007 McKenzie Starwood SL 31 BHD
2006 Dodge Ram 2500, Quad Cab, 4x4, CTD
My Wife: Dawn
Myself: Scott
Our Dog: Belle
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