frame damage from accident

[nick11]

My truck got smashed coming home from work on friday. I was stopped waiting to turn when a kid hit me going 45mph. his truck was totaled, mine heavily damaged. The bed is folded up and the frame is bent in about 3" at the bump stop and down about 2" in the corner. The bed hit the cab and the rear door does not close well. The guy at the body shop says it is fixable. My problem is i had a perfect 05 low mile truck, now due to no fault of mine I now have a fixed truck. Have any of you have frame damage or a bad accident and had the truck drive and perform as it did before the damage?

[travisH3]

no insurance? u should be able to tell them to total it. my brother was hit by a drunk driver in his car and bent the frame and they said they could fix it but my mom said she wouldnt take the car back and they totaled it

[nick11]

Any advice?

[hollister25073]

From experience the truck will never be the same if it gets fixed

[dazdillenger]

Originally Posted by hollister25073

From experience the truck will never be the same if it gets fixed

If you get a quality shop to do the work, you wouldn't know the difference. Being as the damage to the OP's truck is in the rear, I wouldn't be concerned about a repair. If it were in the front it would be more critical that the repairs be perfect to maintain proper steering geometry and alignment. As it is, I've fixed, or seen fixed things you wouldn't believe. As long as the shop knows what they are doing, I wouldn't be concerned. Good luck.

[novemberdelta]

I used to do body work. If a tech knows what he's doing it shouldn't be any problem. My truck has some in the front and it lines up perfect. Thats the biggest thing.

[NYC F-350]

Something that has not been mentioned:
You are entitled to having your truck restored to the condition prior to the accident AND monetary damages because the actual fact that the truck was in an accident involving frame damage, the value of your truck is now lower. This is not a very well known fact, but it is true. Through no fault of your own, your truck, post repair, will be worth less.
If you have a good agent, and discuss this with them, they can help you.

[PGreenSVT]

It's a truck. The frame rail can be replaced.

[jetjock15]

good shop can bend it back into spec, you wouldn't know any different. as long as you dont get a "salvage" or "restored" title out of the deal, you should have the same truck on the flipside.

[NYC F-350]

Sure, but all that work would show on a carfax. That would lower the trade-in (and resale) value of the truck.
He can ask for "loss of value" from this type of accident.