Rough Morning, Some Advice?

On my way to the Big O this morning someone either decided they could beat me across the street or didnt see me. No one is hurt as far as I can tell, but i T-boned the old guys car totalling my truck and trailer, although at least on the surface there only appears to be some minor damage on the boat, a 2015 P4 I got brand new in March. The boat slid forward 6-8" it looks like but i dont know if that happenned on impact or if it was pulled forward when the trailer frame got the hell bent out of it as it completely jacknifed into the side of my bed when my truck ended up facing the opposite direction. Fortunately my Uncle was also in )Okeechobee this AM and was able to get me home to get my second vehicle (Enterprise rental in town there was closed, and it actually is a little more convenient for me not to have to worry about a rental anyway). Anyway, Im totally bummed but again pretty relieved no one was hurt. The other driver was ticketed for failure to yield right of way and will be mandated to retest for driving license. I was not cited and had two witnesses kindly stop and give statements supporting that the guy shot in front of me and I had no chance to avoid the collision at all. Ive never been involved in an accident while trailering and Im looking for advice on what to expect and demand when the adjusters get involved. My truck was an 04 and mechanically perfect with only 115K on it so I figure Ill lose some money there, but Im worried about being made whole on this brand new boat and feeling confident that it doesnt have any hidden damage.So far I have done and plan to do the following:1. Taken everything not bolted down out of the boat and the truck.2. Took about 50 high-quality pictures of both at the towing yard this afternoon in broad daylight to go along with some accident scene phone pics.3. Going to start researching values on my truck and gathering reciepts for add-ons like my hard tonneau, etc.4. Ill be checking all my rod tips and guides tomorrow since they slid pretty far forward in the box.5. Im going to tell them I want the boat and trailer to be taken to my BCB dealer since I assume a new trailer will be deliverd there eventually.4. I will not accept anything short of a brand new trailer built by BCB.Specific Questions:1. Do I have a snowballs chance of making them ship the boat to BCB so they can give it a thorough inspection for structural integrity and make the necessary repairs? Does BCB do this type of thing? I want to feel as confident as i can that Im not going to have issues a year from now. If not, how can I be most certain that someone VERY knowledgable is really doing things correctly when it comes to assessing the damage?2. What is the current turnaround time for a new trailer? 3. Any additional advice is welcome.

This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by Jbarton81.

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November 1, 2015 at 9:49 am #280184

m099643
Participant

Ian, sorry to hear about this and Im glad there were no injuries. Ill be available if you get the urge to fish.

November 1, 2015 at 1:18 pm #280185

bigkahuna71
Participant

Thanks Dave. I was going to text you the pics today. Just so happens Ill be hitting the big lake Wed and Thurs anyway to prefish with my N. Fl buddy for the Xtreme Classic. Should dull the edge off of missing this weekend out there some.

November 1, 2015 at 2:40 pm #280186

SabreDriver
Participant

Sent you a PM as I have had recent personal experience dealing with this.

November 1, 2015 at 5:07 pm #280187

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

I hope your experience with insurance and repair shops was better than mine. I totaled the tow vehicle and the trailer when a burro ran out in front of us many years ago. I got hosed on everything, and had months of my time wasted. Dont be afraid to get your own attorney if the guys insurance gives you a hard time, but I hope you dont have to. Your insurance “might” help you, but be prepared to be proactive if they dont. I am still towing my boat on the bent and twisted totaled trailer 8 1/2 years later. Amazingly it doesnt seem to eat tires. Bob La Londehttp://www.cncmolds.com–Bob La Londe Forums, Free Lures, Product Reviewswww.YumaBassMan.com CNC Molds N Stuffwww.CNCMOLDS.com

November 1, 2015 at 6:45 pm #280188

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

One wrapped around like that will often have stress fractures on the bow area where it flexed and then returned. Fiberglass leaves no dent like car fenders. It either breaks or returns to original position, or somewhere in between. Original position is worst for you as damage wont be noticed for months and the cracks lay behind the Gelcoat in the outer resin layer. This being a 2015 is a solid rig and while the resin is not Vinyl Ester (unless you added that option) it is a high quality blend and there still will be hidden cracks on it likely. There Probably more hidden crazing than cheap resins as the breakage is less severe in the outer resin area between glass and Gelcoat.

November 1, 2015 at 7:18 pm #280189

bigkahuna71
Participant

Hidden damage is what Im afraid of. I have started the claim process with my auto insurer, but I guess maybe I should get my boat insurance agent involved or in the loop at least since they deal with the boat end more.Here are few more pics. I just noticed in one that the bow eye looks bent downward, but it might just be the angle. What I thought was scratches may be cracks, but I cant tell (will be going back to take another look in person tomorrow). The last pic is what it looks like from under the rub rail. There is a gap, but I dont know if that is what it normally looks like under the rail or not. Might that gap indicate something since it is no longer covered by the rub rail, which appears straight from the side view?

November 1, 2015 at 7:29 pm #280191

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Bow eye is bent quite a bit. Just looked at mine. I cant imagine that boat not having been stressed significantly. Look carefully at the transom and jack plate.

November 4, 2015 at 7:57 am #280192

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Man! That took a lickin!

November 4, 2015 at 1:29 pm #280193

Jbarton81
Participant

Sorry to hear about the accident. Hire an attorney to represent your interests, wrap the fee up in the total settlement. Insurance adjusters job is to make you whole as cost effectively as possible to the insurance company (cheap). Not what you want in this situation. Sent from my SM-G900V using Yuku app
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