Wrecked my Jeep and seeking advice

whamoshi

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Joined
Mar 19, 2022
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12
Location
South Carolina
Wrecked my jeep today hitting a trailer that pulled out in front of me and didn't have time to stop, luckily wasn't going very fast. Had several witnesses stop and wait for the state trooper to arrive to tell him it wasn't my fault which I was grateful for. State trooper deemed it not my fault so I'm good as far as that goes, but as an 18-year-old that's never had to deal with insurance before Id like some advice on how to go about this process. Still not sure if the jeep is totaled yet either, most of the damage was concentrated to the driver's side fender and I had what I think was trans fluid leaking out :(, the frame isn't obviously bent as far as I can tell. My main concern is that the other guy's insurance will total my jeep and I'll lose money through the whole process. Any advice or comments about the best course of action from here is appreciated.

Taking it to my local jeep guy and crossing my fingers that it won't be totaled

Here are some photos of the it for anyone curious:

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Wrecked my jeep today hitting a trailer that pulled out in front of me and didn't have time to stop, luckily wasn't going very fast. Had several witnesses stop and wait for the state trooper to arrive to tell him it wasn't my fault which I was grateful for. State trooper deemed it not my fault so I'm good as far as that goes, but as an 18-year-old that's never had to deal with insurance before Id like some advice on how to go about this process. Still not sure if the jeep is totaled yet either, most of the damage was concentrated to the driver's side fender and I had what I think was trans fluid leaking out :(, the frame isn't obviously bent as far as I can tell. My main concern is that the other guy's insurance will total my jeep and I'll lose money through the whole process. Any advice or comments about the best course of action from here is appreciated.

Taking it to my local jeep guy and crossing my fingers that it won't be totaled

Here are some photos of the it for anyone curious:

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looks like you sheered off the pitman arm at the sector shaft too. going to need a new steering box.
 
Good to know thanks I assumed the steering was destroyed even tho im not super mechanically inclined lmao
I did this in my first jeep when i was your age.

except it was my fault...

Mercedes that Tboned me was totaled. My whole front end like yours needed to be replaced. did it myself on the street in front of my moms place axle swap and all.

Here to help, but we need more photos.
 
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I'd like to say it's probably not totalled. Unless that frame is bent. My jeep got hit and I was thrown into a back yard through the fencing then swerved to miss a house and cut it out another fence and scrubs. The jeep needed all new front end, tie rods control arms steering assembly shocks brakes radiator bushings and complete paint but wasn't bent at the frame. ($7000.00 +). The lame Californian that hit me ran. Was caught later but still they had *no insurance * My insurance picked it up. Fingers crossed for Ya. Good Luck.

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if the DS took out the TCase your control arms are probably bent up on at least that side. shock shaft probably bent. axle brackets can probably be straightened.
 
I did this in my first jeep when i was your age.

except it was my fault...

Mercedes that Tboned me was totaled. My whole front end like yours needed to be replaced. did it myself on the street in front of my moms place axle swap and all.

Here to help, but we need more photos.
I appreciate the help I didn't take anymore good photos :( and its at our local jeep guys shop so it'll be a bit before I get it back
Hoping I can fix it and add a few things along the way
 
I'd like to say it's probably not totalled. Unless that frame is bent. My jeep got hit and I was thrown into a back yard through the fencing then swerved to miss a house and cut it out another fence and scrubs. The jeep needed all new front end, tie rods control arms steering assembly shocks brakes radiator bushings and complete paint but wasn't bent at the frame. ($7000.00 +). The lame Californian that hit me ran. Was caught later but still they had *no insurance * My insurance picked it up. Fingers crossed for Ya. Good Luck.

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The people that hit me drove a ways down the road before they stopped so i thought they were gone but luckily I took out their trailer tire so they didn't get very far lmao. Hopefully fixing it on their dime. Your pictures give me hope that mine will get fixed too haha
 
My money is it being way beyond a total loss using insurance math. I'll also bet there is a lot more damage than anyone has picked up on. Very good chance the motor mounts are broken off the block.
I hope youre wrong for my sake but I guess I won't know for sure till my mechanic gets back to me
 
I hope youre wrong for my sake but I guess I won't know for sure till my mechanic gets back to me
Hopefully he finds all the damage and doesn't miss any.
Here is what I see-
Front axle unless he can repair it. The lower control arm mount on the left side is probably toast.
New control arms at least on the left side, likely need them on both sides.
New steering gear with pitman because I won't trust that one any longer.
New trackbar
New steering linkage because I'm not going to drive on that after that wreck.
New front driveshaft.
New t-case.
Trans needs to be checked for damage since the t-case got exploded by the driveshaft trying to punch through it.
Check and rebalance rear driveshaft since it was attached to the blown up t-case.
Check motor mounts themselves and then the frame side mount and bolt bosses on the engine block for damage and replace as needed.
Steering gear welded mount needs to be checked for damage and weld cracks.
New fender, marker light, flare and turn signal.
New hood latch set.
Hood needs to be checked for hinge bending at the cowl and repaired if needed.
Safety catch at hood needs to be checked.
New front bumper.
Left side swaybar link bushing needs to be check for damage and replaced.
Front swaybar needs to be checked to see if that side is bent.
Exhaust head pipe around front of oil pan is likely damaged and needs repaired or replaced if so.
The down kink in the winch guard light hoop points to a lot more of a lateral hit to the frame than is evident at first glance. They need to check that the front of the frame wasn't pushed over some. There is nothing else that points to that but still needs to be checked. It also may just be the result of the left side of the bumper getting pushed back and up which may have saved the frame.
 
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Hopefully he finds all the damage and doesn't miss any.
Here is what I see-
Front axle unless he can repair it. The lower control arm mount on the left side is probably toast.
New control arms at least on the left side, likely need them on both sides.
New steering gear with pitman because I won't trust that one any longer.
New trackbar
New steering linkage because I'm not going to drive on that after that wreck.
New front driveshaft.
New t-case.
Trans needs to be checked for damage since the t-case got exploded by the driveshaft trying to punch through it.
Check and rebalance rear driveshaft since it was attached to the blown up t-case.
Check motor mounts themselves and then the frame side mount and bolt bosses on the engine block for damage and replace as needed.
Steering gear welded mount needs to be checked for damage and weld cracks.
New fender, marker light, flare and turn signal.
New hood latch set.
Hood needs to be checked for hinge bending at the cowl and repaired if needed.
Safety catch at hood needs to be checked.
New front bumper.
Left side swaybar link bushing needs to be check for damage and replaced.
Front swaybar needs to be checked to see if that side is bent.
Exhaust head pipe around front of oil pan is likely damaged and needs repaired or replaced if so.
The down kink in the winch guard light hoop points to a lot more of a lateral hit to the frame than is evident at first glance. They need to check that the front of the frame wasn't pushed over some. There is nothing else that points to that but still needs to be checked. It also may just be the result of the left side of the bumper getting pushed back and up which may have saved the frame.
Yeah that all sounds completely reasonable :( unfortunately, the down kink in the bumper was already there before the crash but thats still an impressive catch
 
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