Damaged Panther Truck

[Broompilot]

Two Saturday's ago comming from Chicago to NY when passing through Toledo saw my one and only Expeditor truck for the entire day. Behind a tow truck. Appeared someone crossed a yellow line, $40K in damage at least entire side of truck was about 2 feet thinner than mine.

It was a newer T-300
96 sleeper
Very well kept until that.

Anyone know anything about this? Curious if the drivers were OK, I hate the thought of someone having an accident like this. I would not say the truck was totaled as it appeared to be in tow back to Bentz or Ft. Wayne but wow it was cruched but good.

 

[davekc]

Certainly sounds like a bad day for someone.
Hopefully everyone involved was ok.
Davekc

 

[bigguy1001]

You are correct Broompilot. Someone did cross the yellow line. The fourwheeler did. The drivers of the truck were shaken up but ok. The driver of the four wheeler didn't fare as well.

 

[Broompilot]

Had to be a very high PU or Van because the damage was clear up to the windows. As you said they did not fair well, by the look of all that damage did not look good.

So let me lead this into another question? What if this happens to one of us or what are they going to do about insurance while its in repair?

Curious from those who have gone thru this,

What did you learn?

What did you change on your insurance?

What do you do different on protecting yourself $$$?

What did you do on the spot that you should have done or would do different now?

 

[davekc]

So let me lead this into another question? What if this happens to one of us or what are they going to do about insurance while its in repair?

Curious from those who have gone thru this,

What did you learn?

What did you change on your insurance?

What do you do different on protecting yourself $$$?

What did you do on the spot that you should have done or would do different now?

Great post and questions that are seldom asked.
We had a driver involved with a wreck in TN.
At the time it was a Roberts(FedEx) truck and the insurance company was Baldwin and Lyons. On their policy we had changed nothing.
At the time, they were very good to work with.
We had incorporated many years before because of so many trucks.

I should have had all the drivers carry cameras in the trucks. I do now, but not back then. Highly recommend doing this.
Attitudes have changed and it is no longer whether you are at fault, it has to do with why are you there?

The other issue was we were underinsured. We had #1,000,000 in coverage but quickly realized in a more severe accident, we had some exposure.
We now carry a seperate liability policy that kicks in when this one runs out.
We also learned that being incorporated offers some protection, but nothing close to the protection that we thought we had.

Driver or owner operators should carry a seperate disability policy.
Most of the ones through a carrier that I have seen offer some protection, but most likely, not enough.
As mentioned, can you live on $1400 a month? If not, carry a seperate policy. I would shop this because rates, age, state all affect what you will be paying.

Really take the time to read your policy and understand how you are covered.

Davekc
owner
20 years