Tacoma hit by U-Haul, replace with plate bumper?

Well, I've had pretty shitty luck lately. After my predator steps were stolen a few weeks back my new neighbor took out the front of my truck with his U-Haul on Friday. Looks like his personal insurance won't cover it so I have to go through U-haul's insurance (RepWest) which I am less than thrilled about.

Here are some photos of the damage: http://imgur.com/a/GkygR

I would like to take this opportunity to try to replace the front bumper with a plate bumper. Can anyone here offer advice on how they were able to swing this? I don't fully own the vehicle (Financed) which I have heard means they won't just cut me a check for the replacement cost.

 

I also wanted to get some opinions/advice on inherent diminished value claims in AZ as it's a brand new truck.

 

I don't think you are bound by uhauls insurance. Call your insurance company and make sure you are 100% comfortable with who does the assessment and/or repairs. Uhaul will send you to whoever is cheapest for them, you don't have to go there.

 

If you have to get the factory bumper put back on I'd make them put on factory parts not some cheap replacement parts. You bought a Toyota and it should have Toyota parts put back on it.

Does anybody make a plate bumper for a 3rd gen yet?

 

This is the best looking one IMHO. I'm hoping the estimate to repair is around the price for this as most of the damaged parts would be replaced.

 

Here's what you do:

1. Have insurance (Uhaul's or yours) send out an adjuster to give you the quote of the damage.
2. If you're happy with the amount, you can just have a check cut to you and you can do whatever you want with the money. But that's it. Insurance won't cover anything else after that, even if you find more extensive damage
3. If the amount seems low, just let insurance get it fixed with OEM parts so it's done right. Then, if there is any hidden damage, the insurance payout will be automatically adjusted and you'll be covered. But you'll be back to a factory bumper again.

 

X2. Let your insurance company deal with them. Get a repair quote from the repair company that your insurance recommends and and have the insurance company make the check out to you. If your mechanically inclined repair it your self with after market and factory parts. Make lemonade out of those lemons....

 

Will they issue me a check even though there is a lein on the vehicle from the financing company (TFS)?

 

Your insurance should fight with U-Hauls insurance.

 

Yes. The lein has nothing to do with insurance. When I was rear ended, I still owed a few more payments on my truck and I got a fat check and was able to afford front and rear plate bumpers, sliders, and a winch

 

^^^^This ^^^^

Make a claim on your insurance to get it fixed correctly and have your insurance get their money back. Some companies cover it under collision and some cover it under uninsured until they find out what party is responsible.

 

I would just have to pay my deductible up front and be reimbursed when my insurance subrogates for this right? I don't like the feel of this RepWest place after our first conversation.

 

If you have good insurance, use yours. If Uhaul insurance gives in to their pressure, which they most likely will, you will almost guaranteed get your deductible back.

 

You'll have to pay the deductible under collision or uninsured which ever your company will do it under, some will not do it at all and then you go after the person that hit your truck for the amount that you had to pay out for your deductible.

Your insurance company will not go after them for your deductible. I only know this because my wife is Licensed.

Hope this helped.

 

Mine did. Twice. And got it. It might depend on what state you're in, and definitely on what insurance company you have. I have American Family, and State Farm also did this for me. The top tier insurance companies will go to bat for you. That's why you pay the bigger premiums.

 

That`s good they did it for you because some don`t.

 

CBI makes a plate bumper for the 3rd gen. as well.
http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/products/3rd-gen-toyota-tacoma/

 

If it were me, I would report the incident to my insurer, just so they know about it right away, but I'd also pursue working on the claim with UHaul's insurance.

If it's difficult to work with UHaul, or if I think they're offering me a settlement amount that would not be enough to cover my loss, then I'd go back to my insurer and make them go after UHaul.

 

Yep, even with a lien OP. I was hit on base (hit and run) my insurance adjuster came out (USAA) since the vehicle was less than a year old, wrote me a check for new panels, oem, etc. minus my deductible so ($2.5k ended up being $2k), then went to the dealer and asked for a cash price to do the work, which was less than what I got, made money and relaxed.

 

Good luck with having that quicksand color matched. I had a few body shops tell me they had no luck when trying to get my bumper caps painted.