What to do after getting hit at a truck stop?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by zaroba, Nov 11, 2021.

  1. zaroba

    zaroba Heavy Load Member

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    Pretty simple question since this is my first time dealing with this situation. Somebody backed their trailer into the hood of my t680 last week while trying to park at a truck stop. I woke up during it so got them stopped, got their insurance, and took pics. Contacted their insurance about it, as well as mine, and just waiting for them to call back now.

    It's just cosmetic damage. The hood still opens and the truck still drives. Hood just almost has a hole over the drivers side steer due to the trailer hitting it.

    But I'm wondering what the best next option is:
    Do I get it repaired myself now than send the invoice to the guys insurance later when they ask for it? Or would it be better to wait for them to get back with me after they talk to the driver and his company?

    To throw a wrench into this, the hood also had existing damage due to a deer 2 years ago and the guy hitting the hood did make that a bit worse. That old damage might have already made the hood unrepairable.
     
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  3. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    I wouldn’t say anything about the old damage. Let your insurance company handle it from here. Take it to a shop and get it repaired, your insurance might have to pay it and then go after the other parties insurance company.
     
  4. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    ALWAYS ALWAYS call the police! Even if the police only do an information exchange, you will have the police officer as a witness when the driver admits fault. You will be surprised how the story changes after the fact.
     
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  5. zaroba

    zaroba Heavy Load Member

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    It was also somewhat recorded by the cam on my drivers side mirror and sent to the insurance companies so will be hard for them to deny it.

    While the cam doesn't show the actual contact (below the field of view), you can see the truck drive by before backing in with the company logo visible, back in getting right in front of the camera on the mirror putting the trailer license plate in view, see my truck shake from the hit, and see my hood lift and fall back down as he pulls forward after I got his attention. At the very least, it shows me stationary and him backing.
     
  6. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    Thats good, glad you have that. But its still a good idea to call the police.
     
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  7. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    What do you mean got them stopped were the fleeing the scene.
    Did you break his drivers window and pull the driver out buy its greezy hair , what happened.
    Hope you didnt have to chase the heathen down in your Sponge Bob PJs.
     
  8. zaroba

    zaroba Heavy Load Member

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    Stirred from sleep to loud crunching and the truck shaking. Than felt more shaking and heard more loud crunching, got up, saw what was happening, and pulled my airhorn to get him to stop backing. He pulled forward and got out to see what was going on.
     
  9. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    Did you get a insurance settlement from the deer's insurance company ? did the deer receive a ticket for leaving the screen of a accident ? or was that a hit & run too ?

    Asking for a friend
     
  10. shooter19802003

    shooter19802003 Road Train Member

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    In most states cops won't even come if it happens on private property.
     
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  11. GYPSY65

    GYPSY65 Road Train Member

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    I’ve been hit twice
    Both times with in two weeks of buying a new truck

    I had the driver write out a statement how he hit me and I took tons of pics as we al copies of all his docs
     
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