A bad day for the Ranger

[XR1200]

One the way to the local big-box store this morning when a woman turned left in front of me. She was in a 2012 Equinox and all her airbags blew. None went off in the Ranger, which seems a bit odd. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The Ranger's front bumper was jammed into the tire, so the police had it towed. The jacka$$ tow tuck driver didn't let me put it in neutral before he dragged it up onto the flatbed. Should I be worried that it was in park? He didn't take the key, so I assume they pretty much just dropped it off the flatbed still in park.

The bodyshop is a month behind -- assuming they can get the parts.

It's a 2020 that had a little over 1,700 miles on it.

Anyone have any advice on managing the claim and making sure it's fixed right?

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[Cabose-1]

I am going through the same. Parts are hard to get. And having to deal with insurance company. This particular one a hassle. Just be on top of it lots of phone calls for me unfortunately. I bought my 2020 in january fender bender in july. Still not fixed but drivable. I wish i could tell you more. Car rental?? For how how long, insurance will pro ably fight that too. Everyone is behind on parts labor everything. Good luck, we can start a wounded ranger support group

 

[theherofails]

That’s a great accident to warp the frame, which would total the truck. Tow truck driver was probably assuming the same.

 

[AdamHarris]

That’s a great accident to warp the frame, which would total the truck. Tow truck driver was probably assuming the same.

Good lord you have no idea if his frame is warped Or if that would even total his truck.

Vehicles are dragged onto flatbeds all the time, cringeworthy yes, but not a big deal really. Just work the ins process.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

One the way to the local big-box store this morning when a woman turned left in front of me. She was in a 2012 Equinox and all her airbags blew. None went off in the Ranger, which seems a bit odd. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The Ranger's front bumper was jammed into the tire, so the police had it towed. The jacka$$ tow tuck driver didn't let me put it in neutral before he dragged it up onto the flatbed. Should I be worried that it was in park? He didn't take the key, so I assume they pretty much just dropped it off the flatbed still in park.

The bodyshop is a month behind -- assuming they can get the parts.

It's a 2020 that had a little over 1,700 miles on it.

Anyone have any advice on managing the claim and making sure it's fixed right?

Hi XR,

Sad to see this happen.....Our daughter in Michigan had the side of her Escape raked by a POS from Detroit who left the scene and the cops would not even entertain pulling this person of color over. So here we waited from June until September for the parts to get delivered. Now the vehicle sits waiting for paint.... 20 days later than the body damage being fixed a few weeks ago. And so it goes...As she is handicapped, our cab bill for her to the Bloomfield School Wing Lake Development Center (for the severely disabled/handicapped) is through the roof...but her teacher and the kids need her, so we pay the cab bill... As a minimum wage person...she is loosing money to work. We have to wait for the dealer to acquire the parts and then the car has to get into the paint que as there are so many damaged vehicles in line ahead of her Escape. This national parts shortage really sucks.... Almost makes me not want to drive my vehicles...but screw it...vehicles are to drive, not sit....

Best,
Phil

 

[Joeiconic]

That’s a great accident to warp the frame, which would total the truck. Tow truck driver was probably assuming the same.

That’s not always true. Frame damage can be repaired. A vehicle is only totaled if the cost to repair exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

That’s a great accident to warp the frame, which would total the truck. Tow truck driver was probably assuming the same.

Hi Thomas,

I doubt the frame is in the picture...The tire is in the wheel house just fine. And if a frame tweek, a front stub is available to save the vehicle.... What rationale do you see that I may have missed?

best,
Phil

 

[Trigganometry]

From the looks of it mostly outer skin parts and paint. Crash bar took the brunt of it. I’m guessing about 7.5K when all said and done.

 

[JimG_AZ]

That’s not always true. Frame damage can be repaired. A vehicle is only totaled if the cost to repair exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle.

I seriously doubt that Ranger is totaled or even close to being totaled. Regarding totaling a vehicle, the other factor to consider is the salvage value to the vehicle. I used to have a 2017 Mustang GT that was rear ended and totaled when it was 2 years old. The damage estimate was $22k and Geico cut me a check for a little over $30k. The reason they did not fix it was that my Mustang had a salvage value that was estimated to be @ $13k at that time.

 

[EJH]

OP, I've had much worse front damage without airbag deployment. They are clever enough to know when needed

 

[VegasRanger]

One the way to the local big-box store this morning when a woman turned left in front of me. She was in a 2012 Equinox and all her airbags blew. None went off in the Ranger, which seems a bit odd. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The Ranger's front bumper was jammed into the tire, so the police had it towed. The jacka$$ tow tuck driver didn't let me put it in neutral before he dragged it up onto the flatbed. Should I be worried that it was in park? He didn't take the key, so I assume they pretty much just dropped it off the flatbed still in park.

The bodyshop is a month behind -- assuming they can get the parts.

It's a 2020 that had a little over 1,700 miles on it.

Anyone have any advice on managing the claim and making sure it's fixed right?

Think thats bad? I was once in new Elantra, stopped in traffic. Got rear ended by a distracted female on her phone going 40-50 mph. She hit me so hard she pushed me into the car in front of me, I bounced of that car, hit a car on the HOV, did a 360 spin. Car totaled. No air bags went off lol.. Needless to say.. I got a nice settlement off that accident.

 

[bfastr]

Welcome to the club.. Got rear ended 8/30. couldn't get scheduled for repair until 10/4.
And thats assuming they get all the parts in. At least for now I can still drive mine.
we need a "scratch and dent" club

 

[Rebel Ranger]

Ok first of all, even if the frame is bent, a minor pull on a frame machine would fix it. A frame machine uses targets attached to the frame and a laser measuring system to tell you if the frame is bent left, right, up, or down, then hydraulic pulling system to pull it back into true with tighter tolerances than the manufacturer uses. This is not a bad hit at all. If the shop is that far behind, ask if they can at least order parts. Also, check with your insurance company to see if they have a trusted shop that can get it done quicker.

 

[Rebel Ranger]

Forgot the airbags, sorry about that. Airbag systems are ”smart” systems, and designed to take directionality and speed of a collision into account before deploying. From the picture, an airbag deployment would only have left you with powder burns and possibly a broken nose, and done nothing to protect you.
I was a body shop advisor with a Ford dealership and a large national chain for ten years. I’ve seen plenty of damaged cars, and my best advice is to always go to a shop you have checked out and trust. No one can force you to have your vehicle fixed anywhere you don’t agree to.

 

[Vr22s]

Sorry to hear about your ranger.
That amount of damage likely isnt going to be anywhere near totaled. If anything you may just have to drive a rental car around for a bit until you can get your Ranger fixed.

What I would recommend is getting it into the repair shop and go through your insurance as that is usually faster. Assuming she will be found at fault I would try to get her Insurance to pay the deductible.

At least be happy yours didn't end up like this.....

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