Ins. companies cannot dictate where you're vehicle is repaired. Unless that's only here in CT.

I definately agree with George Eh's 4 rules. But hard to get the Ins. Co. to follow them.

I'd be callin a lawyer now, let him/her take care of the battle.

 

i think its about time you get a ball dropped in that tow hitch.

 

I have to run but here's the skinny.

The frame bent right in front of where the hitch bolts to the frame. The adjuster (former body repairman) said that it's a factory crush point.

Problem 1: Ford does not recommend repairing these points. It is an absolute NO GO if they're the crush points on the front of the frame. The rear may be a different story. I told the adjuster that Ford recommended NOT straightening that area. He insisted that it could be done. I did not go down that road arguing with him. I CAN do a lot of things that I shouldn't doesn't mean that I will. I'll post pics on my site when I get back and link them. I have called an attorney but they have yet to return my call. I will be calling another tomorrow.

 

Like I said dont take delivery atleast until you talk to an attorney, because that may or may not be agreeing to the repairs that were made. Depending on local laws. Here it likely would be, along with cashing an insurance check is acepting that amount as the settlement.

 

You can't help but wonder if they don't recomend repairing it in the interest of selling a new truck. If it isn't between the two suspension systems I wouldn't worry too much about it. The thing that would scare me the most would be the resale value of a fairly late model truck that has spent time on the frame puller on two occasions.

 

There you have it.

These are pics of the separate accidents. You may have to be logged in to see them.

http://www.black-rifles.com/forums/i...howtopic=22555

Neither one looks bad, but only from that perspective. In the first accident he truck was humpbacked and leaning to the passenger side. It looked funny. In the second one the truck had the bed sticking out to the PS past the tire, it looked funny and drove like CHIT. It was all over the road during the few miles as my hard headed *** drove it to the shop.

 

I signed up but the forum is not letting view the pics or reply right away. I'll try again after work tomorrow.

 

Same screen name?

EDIT: It was waiting for you to validate your account. You should be good to hook now.

 

Thanks for the pictures. I can see where your frame has deformed in pic2. It's hard to tell if those are cracks in pic1 or just shadows from the undercoating or paint. It suspect the frame work hardened from the initial repair and your hitch acted like a lever on the frame where it was bolted. Any progress with the insurance company or Ford repair guidelines?

On a positive note it looks like your undercoating is working well .

 

I spoke to an attorney this morning. Basically they said to keep pushing the insurance company and or take them to small claims court. No attorney is likely to take the case since there's no money in it being a property damage case.

 

Too bad. I'm pulling for you.

 

Writing a letter of complaint to the Virginia SCC.

 

I spoke with the INS co again and the body shop that worked on the frame. They claim to have conformed to the ICAR standards so I'm not sure what other recourse I have left at this point.

 

The fist thing I would do would be to contact VA State Insurance Commissioner. There you can find out if it is against your states law for them to do unauthorized repairs. If it is against the law, then you can file a complaint yourself on them.

Next thing I would do, there are plenty of insurance firms everywhere, Law firms that specialize in Property & Casualty Insurnace (AKA Auto insurance) suits.

A regular law attorney dosn't have the slightest idea about insurance laws as they can change literally every year.

 

I'm supposed to get the truck back Wed or thereabouts so I don't have too much time. Not really sure what I would/could get out of reporting them that would benefit me. If the truck was fixed to icar standards and is safe then I have little to no problem. I will be sending the VA SCC a letter of complaint about how the whole situation was handled. Now if my truck is rear ended AGAIN and somehow someone gets hurt or whatever do to an inferior and unsafe repair? Stand the F*&#$ by.