4.19.10 Ford Ranger XLT Extended Cab Pickup Light Duty 3.0 V. 6 Engine. On the 28th day of February while waiting in a turn lane to enter the Maxwell Federal Credit Union located at 5245 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, Alabama, I, me, was struck by a Grand Marquis LS operated by a one John Carl Smith ALDL # 3254524, on the passenger side wheel well, rear wheel, back door, and rear bumper. Due to the sudden impact, my Ford Ranger was knocked several feet from its original position. Subsequently, the steering wheel was misaligned inside the driver side compartment. The at fault vehicle at the time of the collision was owned by a one Ann W. Smith. Vehicle license N5859, On or around the 1st day of March I had occasion to speak with an adjuster assigned to the collision by State Farm Insurance Company. A one David Butler suggested to me that Paul's Body Shop on Atlanta highway in Montgomery, AL was an approved destination for collision work relative to said insurance company. Upon arrival at Paul's Boby Shop located at 3560 Atlanta highway, Montgomery, AL, I was introduced to Sam Overton, an estimator for said body shop. He took possession of my Ford Ranger for approximately but not limited to two weeks. I arranged to pick up the said vehicle on the last hour of business the day he said it would be ready. When I called I was told not to come yet because it was still on the alignment rack. He the stated that it would not be ready until the following Monday at close of business. Once again, I made arrangements to have someone drop me off to pick the vehicle up, only to find out that the Truck was not on the body shop premises. When I was put off again I called state farm and talked to a alternative adjuster because David Butler was out of town. Then, I received a call from Sam Overton stating that he would bring the vehicle to me. The vehicle overheated on the way to take him back to the body shop. Upon repairing the vehicles blown head gasket due to overheating, I noticed the truck had an alignment / suspension / traction problem. I took off work again to return to the body shop but Sam Overton was gone for the day. So, I spoke to a Mr. Ronny Butland who confirmed that there was in fact a traction issue. He asks me to take it to American Tire and Automotive on Atlanta highway the following day. They did a simple front end alignment and test drove at a low rate of speed. I was told that it had no problems. Of course when driven at highway speed the problem is still every bit as bad. I took off work again, and this time I asked Ronny Butland to drive my truck. He acted shocked the farmed out alignment shop did not fix the problem. I left it with Paul's Body Shop again! On the 19th day of April it was back at the same farmed out alignment shop. I went there and and was told by the shop manager/owner they did not know how to fix it. Here I sit typing this letter on April 10th with no end game in sight! 4.19.10 I have spoke with Ronny Butland and he stated that the problem was the rear axle assembly and it had to be replaced and that should take care of the problem. When I inquired of him who was in charge of the service, he stated that he was. I asked him to explain how, after multiple trips to his collision repair shop as well as American automotive, why it has been so difficult to diagnose? I am not sure how the same group will somehow fix a problem they clearly do not understand how to fix? 4.25.10 Sunday Here I sit @ 3:25 pm trying to call my Mother at the nursing home. I miss her so bad I can't stand it. I tried to call David Butler w / State farm again this passed Friday only to be forwarded to a back up adjuster who forwarded me to another back up adjuster who refused to pay me the non - usage fee agreed to by Butler.initially, I was given the the sum of 20.00 dollars a day because I refused to pay insurance to a rental car company. They wanted to rent me a car on the cheap and force me inure it in case I wrecked it. I, Me, what? I found out from Ronny Butland @ Paul's Body Shop on the 22nd that they were getting a used axle from a junk yard shipped in and it would be another week or so? Junk yard! Really? The claim the shop showed me indicated the pay out to them was approaching 3,500. The insurance company should just pay me 6000.00 and let me get going to see my nursing home ridden mother, my sons graduation, upcoming Doctor visits, and so on. Important: The paperwork I read from the original estimate shows they already billed for an axle! 5.2.10 I am sitting here on the first Saturday of may and I have new information. Micky somebody from Paul's body shop called and told me the caliper on the passenger side front rotor is stuck shut and he wont drive the truck anywhere. He told me I could pay for that out of my own pocket!!! I told him to call David Butler with State Farm. I got a call back a couple of hours later from Micky who informed me that State Farm was sending an adjuster later that afternoon. So now I have a third estimator, and a second adjuster. He has never seen the vehicle and never saw it run before the accident and I don't know who he is. I called butler back and told him that I was through and I was filing a complaint in district court. He implied I should take it to court! Every time the truck goes to the body shop it keeps turning up with new issues and now it isn't drivable according to the body shop! The vehicle is now hostage.
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