Rear ended on freeway - thoughts or advice?

RobCMass · Oct 23, 2025

As the title states I was rear ended coming off the freeway where this damn Dodge Ram claims he never saw me. Not sure this is enough to total it but obviously I am devastated as it didn’t even have 9000 miles on it yet. I’m being told this biggest repair is going to be the Quarter panel that got crunched. Trying to decide if I’m going to keep it after repairs or get rid of it if it doesn’t end up being totaled. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

I’m definitely filing a diminished value claim and the body shop is telling me it’s going to be on the CARFAX as a major repair. Also for anyone wondering I am fine, no injuries luckily so at least there’s that.

2025 4runner 6th gen Rear ended on freeway - thoughts or advice? IMG_5185

2025 4runner 6th gen Rear ended on freeway - thoughts or advice? IMG_5192

djw4run · Oct 23, 2025

Boy, that really sucks and I feel for you but at least you weren't hurt. It does not look to me like that would be considered a total loss. However there may be some structural damage to the frame underneath, especially behind the hitch. Diminished value claims are handled differently in each state. Here in New York you pretty much have to get your own lawyer to handle all of the paperwork which is extensive and even then the outcome is not a given. Let us know how you make out.

dirtwheeler · Oct 23, 2025

Glad you're OK -- sucks for the vehicle though

I'll bet he was an Eagles fan

xp0nex · Oct 23, 2025

Glad to hear you are ok and bummer about the vehicle. I am no adjuster, but I don't believe they will total it. I will say though that I had hail damage on my 3rd gen Tacoma that ended up being a lot and I mean a lot a lot which I thought insurance was going to total but they ended up fixing it anyway.

Joe Dirt · Oct 23, 2025

Well! I went through the same thing on a new car that had 6,000 miles on it. My insurance company would not file a diminished value. It's in their contract they would not go after the insurance company; I would have to do that through small claims court.

It's a rotten shame that insurance companies charge so much for our premiums but yet when we get bashed they just fix it and say have a nice day.
You will always have a stigma with that 4Runner and your resale price will be significantly shot down.
Glad to hear that your insurance company will honor that.

Looks like new hatch, glass, quarter panel, bumper and all the plastic that goes with it. Not to mention sensors and hopefully the Jugheads that put it back together know how to do it right meaning there are a lot of internals that go inside that quarter panel.

Here where I live in SoCal everybody is texting and swerving around on the roads, that was one of the reasons I quit riding a motorcycle. And our insurance rates are insane I'm paying over $2,000 a year for my 4Runner!. Well good luck with that. If you're like me I would get it fixed as best that I could and move away from it.
Just my two cents

RobCMass · Oct 23, 2025

mikeduff said:
WellIf you're like me I would get it fixed as best that I could and move away from it.
Just my two cents

That is most likely what I am going to do even tho it’s going to set me back some money. I work for a Hyundai dealer and the owner also has a Toyota dealership and was told it’s going to cost me at least 10% possibly more.

Joe Dirt · Oct 23, 2025

Absolutely, and that's on the low end. Then you have to find a buyer that's willing to take the chance. But I will say the good thing is that it's on the rear and it's angled off the car if it were in the front that's a whole different story. I think it will be repaired just fine and you'll get your your investment back.

Archer · Oct 23, 2025

Glad everyone is alright....

I think a lot of times it depends on how much is owed on the vehicle.

We had a severe hailstorm in 2015 that wiped out a ton of cars including complete car lots, , I had a 2014 Avenger that got totaled, had a friend with a 2013 Mercedes with about equal damage, mine was totaled, his was not. Difference, mine was paid off, his still had a big balance due.

2025 4runner 6th gen Rear ended on freeway - thoughts or advice? KIMG0043

2025 4runner 6th gen Rear ended on freeway - thoughts or advice? KIMG0052

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Coincidence... I think not....

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6thGen1419 · Oct 23, 2025

RobCMass said:
As the title states I was rear ended coming off the freeway where this damn Dodge Ram claims he never saw me. Not sure this is enough to total it but obviously I am devastated as it didn’t even have 9000 miles on it yet. I’m being told this biggest repair is going to be the Quarter panel that got crunched. Trying to decide if I’m going to keep it after repairs or get rid of it if it doesn’t end up being totaled. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

I’m definitely filing a diminished value claim and the body shop is telling me it’s going to be on the CARFAX as a major repair. Also for anyone wondering I am fine, no injuries luckily so at least there’s that.

My opinion. Get it declared as totaled and fight to get the true replacement value for it (including any mods you've put into it).

My 2009 F-150 was just rear ended and totaled last month.

glocke12 · Oct 23, 2025

That sucks...it looks like a lot of damage but not enough to get it totaled.

I'd wait till the repairs are done to see how I feel. Increase your chances of it coming out flawless and Make sure you take it to a shop that works on a lot of toyota vehicles, your dealer may even have a collision shop so check there, don't let the insurance company tell you where to go.

Once it's repaired you may end up being ok with things. If not do what you need to do and get rid of it.

This is one of the reasons I limit my driving these days to what is required only. Work and groceries 90% of the time. Work is a 90 minute commute so thats enough right there to make me not want to drive once home, but overall insanity of drivers these days is another reason. People are literally just nuts. Always looking at their phones, really aggressive driving, tail gating even when you going over the speed limit...its just not worth it to me to be out on the roadways if I dont have to be.

ModernDay4Runner · Oct 24, 2025

I guess I have to Google "what is a diminished value claim." I am thinking every repair (except for windshields) results with the vehicles value being diminished, especially in the mind of the vehicle's owner. I feel for you, I would be sick to my stomach if I were in your shoes and I too would want a brand-new vehicle. As far as an insurance company paying you more for the mods you made, I don't think that is even possible, but I could be wrong. I realize you did not make mods, I am referring to what was mentioned in this thread.

Salukidawg · Oct 24, 2025

I’m sorry that happened. That sucks. I was driving my daughter’s brand new Bronco Sport. I had just gotten it washed for her, I was making a left turn out of the shopping center onto a 4 lane road with a center turn lane and a big Chevy Suburban T Boned me in the intersection. The car had less than 1,000 miles on it. The car was paid off already but I told my daughter I would just eat the diminished value when she goes to trade it in eventually because I was driving at the time of the accident. Long story short, we got it repaired and they replaced everything with completely new components. It looks brand new again and we haven’t had any issues with it. With the damage I can see and the fact that the Airbags didn’t deploy, I would say it’s not going to be totaled and should be repairable.

btgood1 · Oct 24, 2025

Crappy situation, sorry. I would say pick the best body shop possible and make sure the repairs are done well.

RobCMass · Oct 24, 2025

Thanks everyone for the replies. I’ve been sick to my stomach just thinking about all of this since it happened. I work for a Hyundai dealer in the Parts dept so deal with body shops on a daily basis and took it to one that I trust. Just waiting for the damage and my main concern is if the Quarter Panel has to be replaced.

BLK_BeautyKC88 · Oct 25, 2025

glocke12 said:
That sucks...it looks like a lot of damage but not enough to get it totaled.

I'd wait till the repairs are done to see how I feel. Increase your chances of it coming out flawless and Make sure you take it to a shop that works on a lot of toyota vehicles, your dealer may even have a collision shop so check there, don't let the insurance company tell you where to go.

Once it's repaired you may end up being ok with things. If not do what you need to do and get rid of it.

This is one of the reasons I limit my driving these days to what is required only. Work and groceries 90% of the time. Work is a 90 minute commute so thats enough right there to make me not want to drive once home, but overall insanity of drivers these days is another reason. People are literally just nuts. Always looking at their phones, really aggressive driving, tail gating even when you going over the speed limit...its just not worth it to me to be out on the roadways if I dont have to be.

I couldn't agree more with you on this. I live in MA and Route 2 is HORRENDOUS, people are nuts.

My silverado just got totaled on labor day of this year coming home from VT. If you dont have frame damage they may just fix that with what it looks like here. I had front end, bed, frame and rear cab damage along with my air bags being defective not going off but the alerts went off in my app. I was worried still they were going to fix it rather then totalling it. However, I do prefer getting rid of vehicles after they have been repaired from anything like this. Glad you're okay though! Thats all that matters here, vehicles are replaceable.

Rear ended on freeway - thoughts or advice?

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