adventureseeker714
Tustin, CA
Full Member
Joined: 08/11/2007
View Profile
|
I'm glad I don't drive a smaller vehicle. My truck literally saved my life a couple of days ago. While sitting at a red light (in Tustin for those of you stuck in my traffic...I'm sorry) some idiot in a red Lexus doing 50+ and talking on the cell phone rear-ended me. When I woke up and was able to get the truck to the side of the road, it was clear that the truck and Superhitch won. Her motor was rammed into her passenger compartment and the FD had to pry her out.
Sadly though, it is pretty clear that the rear horns on the frame of my truck are bent downward and the bed tagged the PS side of the cab, so they may be totalling my beloved 06 3500/Alison/diesel.
Where to go from here? I have a blue book of $32K plus accessories, hitches, hidden steps, nav and wheels, and a very good attorney. I love the Alison trans and don't want to mess with Ford until they figure out that the 7.3 was the best thing they had going. Are there any differences in bed width or cab height on the new 3500? Has anyone had issues with mileage or repairs with the new smog junk on the Duramax? Any input is great... I'll have about three weeks to find a new rig.
|
1995brave
San Antonio, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 01/24/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
Doesn't California have a no cell phone law? So, i see a 45' diesel RV, and a brand new truck in your future. You and your lawyer stick her for everything you can. You do have witnesses, right? Don't forget get her cell phone records, that will prove she was yapping while driving.
|
adventureseeker714
Tustin, CA
Full Member
Joined: 08/11/2007
View Profile
|
Yes, we have a cell phone law, but we also have a law against illegal immigration... sadly both are seen all of the time in the area.
Attorney is highly recommended by my wife's boss (both attorneys) who was also a former client. He already has me in physical therapy (three months worth, four days a week as an estimate) and dealing with the various insurance companies. I'm not expecting a ton out of the settlement... I did it more for the physical injuries end of it being completely taken care of.
|
sgip2000
Oregon
Full Member
Joined: 05/01/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Depending on the KBB value of your truck, it may not be totalled.
Truck frames are a lot easier to repair than unibody. The cab and bed can literally be unbolted from the frame.
|
bka0721
Republic of Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: 03/19/2008
View Profile
|
It is great that you survived. The truck and possessions can be replaced, but you will be further victimized with the intangibles that arise from an event, like this.
It is a good thing that you were in a truck. If the other driver could not distinguish a vehicle the size of a truck, stopped, let alone viewing of an approaching signaled intersection, the event would still happen and it was lucky for her that you were not in a much smaller vehicle. Vehicular Manslaughter is a terrible alternative and a loss to our TC Family.
b
08 F550-4X4-CrewChas-6.4LDiesel-206"WB GVWR17,950lbs
09 Lance 1191
600w Solar~8-6vGC2 928AmpH~Tri-Star45/4 MPPT
Xantrex 2000W
300w Solar~2-6vAGM 240AmpH~Tri-Star45/4 MPPT
Xantrex 1500W
08 BMW R1200GS Adventure
09 7X14 Enclosed Haulmark Trailer
|
|
|
billtex
RI
Senior Member
Joined: 07/20/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Whoa....that sux...but thank God you are OK.
The material things...even an 06 Duramax...can be replaced.
Hope everything works out for you...
Bill
2006 Chevy D/A CC
Adventurer 810WS
25'Airstream Excella
"Good People Drink Good Beer"-Hunter S Thompson
|
DWeikert
York, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/07/2006
View Profile
|
Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad you're walking around talking about it.
Only thing I can caution you on is with the new body style starting in 2008 they narrowed the tail gate opening to 59". They also rounded the bottom corners but a little lifting of the camper can easily compensate for that if needed. But you will need to make sure no part of the camper that goes through the tailgate is wider than 59". I'm fairly sure that dimension hasn't changed since the 2008 redesign.
2008 Chevy D/A 2500HD ECSB
2010 Northstar 8.5 Adventurer
|
silversand
Montreal
Senior Member
Joined: 09/12/2004
View Profile
|
Glad you're all right!
Insurance:
Our truck (say, if it was an '06 DA Silverado) on our insurance would have got you barely $12,000. An '06 being nearly 6 years old would be nearly worthless in an insurance write-off situation. You would have eaten nearly $30 grand.
This reminds me: we need to have (contract $) an evaluator this year to re-evaluate our truck (an '04 2500HD) for insurance purposes, and we'll up our replacement section to ~~$25,000. As it stands now, if our truck was written off, we'd only get $9000  (it's in mint condition: read, showroom condition, with barely 22k miles).
Just a heads-up to everyone...check your value/payout on your insurance if your mint-condition heavily modified baby is over 5 years old !
Silver-
Silver
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4 6.0L Ext/LB Tow Package 4L80E Michelin AT2s| Outfitter Caribou
|
Raften
Northern Calfornia
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2003
View Profile
|
Yea we have a cell phone law and last month the CHP issued 30,000 tickets for cell phone driving yet every time I am driving I see people talking on hand held cell phones. Going to have to start taking away vehicles when caught I guess.
Glad you were not hurt more, just think of what would have happened if you were not in your truck but in a small car.
|
arto_wa
SW, WA
Full Member
Joined: 02/25/2007
View Profile
|
adventureseeker714 wrote:I love the Alison trans and don't want to mess with Ford until they figure out that the 7.3 was the best thing they had going.
Sorry to hear about your accident, but what does Ford have to do with any of it? 
99 F350 4x4 CC DRW 7.3L PSD, 97 Bigfoot 10.6
89 Duckworth 17' Pro 302
|
|
|
