I'm Starting Over....Understand your vehicles insurance policy....

[Sam the Viking]

Overlanding is "Vehicle Based Adventure", and we often talk about our rigs and discuss things like bumpers, winches, racks, awnings, tents and all the other bits of gear and gadgets that we bolt, strap, and pack into our rigs. But after a recent accident on the way to a rafting trip in West Virginia, I was rear-ended on the highway, and my faithful & loyal Tacoma rolled over 1.5 times on to it's roof.

Be prepared for the unimaginable.

When I came to rest (upside down) NOTHING was where it belonged, luckily my knife was in my pocket, I had to cut the seatbelt and self extract myself from the vehicle, it was easily >5 minutes before anybody came to check on me... I walked away, unhurt. The Tacoma was totaled. However, I fully credit that vehicle, it's seatbelt, airbags and safety systems along with my steel bumpers, and the fully welded "BajaRacks" on the roof and camper shell for protecting me.

NOW for the truly sad news.... I have USAA vehicle insurance, I have a writer on the policy for aftermarket gear. I turned in receipts for over $10,000 of parts for those items, (and I actually left things off that list that I felt wasn't worth trying to claim!) I received $900 in compensation from the insurance company for those aftermarket parts....
Imagine trying to replace all the gear you have acquired and installed on your rig over the years of build time. I am frustrated. I am upset....
But, I am alive, unhurt and healthy after the accident. So, here I am starting over!

Please check your vehicle insurance policies, watch out for crazy drivers, and be safe!

 

[OG_Zuninja]

That's one helluva wreck and glad to hear you're still on this side of the dirt. That said, I've been questioning whether I should stick with USAA for some time but now wondering even more after how little they took care of you for your aftermarket expenditures. I've had them for over 20 years and luckily I haven't had to really use them on my modded vehicles but have a handful of times on the stock ones. Here's to hoping I don't need to use them any time in the near future should I decide to move on.

 

[Sam the Viking]

In USAA's moderate defense (I can't say I'm happy, per se...) I think it is an Industry wide policy. The person who hit me had State Farm, I and when I initially spoke to them, State Farm said VERY DIRECTLY "We don't cover aftermarket parts." But as I said, I had a writer on my policy, and it's my fault for not realizing what it did and did not cover. But it still stings.... 2 bumpers, a spare tire carrier, 2 roof racks, all these items are just powder coated steel, what is there to depreciate, really?

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Blast it all, Sam, you are one lucky mother trucker! Thank God you and everyone are safe. Yes, that is THE takeaway, but your insurance woes are a good lesson.

It is well known insurance likes to pay out as little as possible. Decades ago, I had a 77 z28 Camaro. It was the first z28 since the program was scrapped during the original smog years, and they did not apply badges to identify the 77.

The car was parked when someone hit it, bending the roofline. Insurance came out and totalled it, giving me a check for x amount

I had to point out on the vin tin that the car was a z and I deserved double according to book. They did pay me, but I had to claw for it.

Replacement value. Go for replacement value whenever you can afford that premium