I've had better Mondays. $4,000 collision damage.
05-03-2004, 01:59 PM
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I've had better Mondays. $4,000 collision damage.
I had nothing to do today at work. Waiting for materials, so I took a half day off. What a mistake!
Before anybody throws up the "this thread is worthless..." Smitty has my pictures, and I trust he will post them.
So I am sitting on a two lane road in the heart of town. Dead stopped at a red light, north bound.
A woman in a green Mercury cougar hits the intersection east bound, and turns south. The only problem is that she took out about 40% of the drivers side of my CLS6! A bit of the door, quarter panel need to be replaced, bumper needs to be repainted, tail light broken. Quarter panel=$704, tail light=$223.
No injuries, everybody is fine. The cars are fixable. She also transferred her paint onto my rear custom powder coated wheels, and this is interesting, none of the powder coating left the wheel! After I finish this, I'm going downstairs and see if I can save that wheel with some rubbing compound, but if it looks off in anyway, recoat, she hit me!
So I immediately hit the Onstar button and call 911. By this time, several people appeared from businesses in the area, and I notice something. The car that hit me is nowhere to be seen! So I am figuring hit and run. The gal who hit me was 60 something, and I could have sworn the car that hit me was silver, and I see a silver car retreating in the rear view mirror.
Still bound to stay with 911, I turn the car around and give a moderate chase, and lose the car. I decide to return to the scene, and several people who came out notify me that she is pulled into the parking lot of the liquor store located where the accident took place.
Still bound by 911 to stay with them, negating my mobility, she disappears, and not walking like what you and I would call "normal" The cops come. Now, I make a bad situation worse by going to hang up on Onstar, the white button, and mistakenly press the red button, emergency services. Now I HAVE to stay with Onstar, to explain my mistake.
The cop comes back from around the corner, with the older lady in hand and get this: she has a peck sack package full of liquor with her! She was also complaining of back pain, but not from the accident. Something previous. The officer asked her if she had been drinking. She says negative, but she was last night.
In my opinion, she either had one hell of a hangover, or was out on painkillers, and I think the latter is more probable than the former.
But fer Christ's sake! If I had caused this damage, I think the LAST thing I would do, because she didn't run, would be to park in a liquor store parking lot, disappear (she technically left the scene of an accident, I was asked if I wanted to prefer by the police to press charges, and I said no), and return with both arms full of liquor.
Me: Progressive, and her: Allstate. I'll keep you posted how this goes.
This might be very hard to see, but if you look closely at my rear wheel, you will see a linear impact. If I had been moving, they would be arcs. Proof POSITIVE I was stopped, and just hit.
Before anybody throws up the "this thread is worthless..." Smitty has my pictures, and I trust he will post them.
So I am sitting on a two lane road in the heart of town. Dead stopped at a red light, north bound.
A woman in a green Mercury cougar hits the intersection east bound, and turns south. The only problem is that she took out about 40% of the drivers side of my CLS6! A bit of the door, quarter panel need to be replaced, bumper needs to be repainted, tail light broken. Quarter panel=$704, tail light=$223.
No injuries, everybody is fine. The cars are fixable. She also transferred her paint onto my rear custom powder coated wheels, and this is interesting, none of the powder coating left the wheel! After I finish this, I'm going downstairs and see if I can save that wheel with some rubbing compound, but if it looks off in anyway, recoat, she hit me!
So I immediately hit the Onstar button and call 911. By this time, several people appeared from businesses in the area, and I notice something. The car that hit me is nowhere to be seen! So I am figuring hit and run. The gal who hit me was 60 something, and I could have sworn the car that hit me was silver, and I see a silver car retreating in the rear view mirror.
Still bound to stay with 911, I turn the car around and give a moderate chase, and lose the car. I decide to return to the scene, and several people who came out notify me that she is pulled into the parking lot of the liquor store located where the accident took place.
Still bound by 911 to stay with them, negating my mobility, she disappears, and not walking like what you and I would call "normal" The cops come. Now, I make a bad situation worse by going to hang up on Onstar, the white button, and mistakenly press the red button, emergency services. Now I HAVE to stay with Onstar, to explain my mistake.
The cop comes back from around the corner, with the older lady in hand and get this: she has a peck sack package full of liquor with her! She was also complaining of back pain, but not from the accident. Something previous. The officer asked her if she had been drinking. She says negative, but she was last night.
In my opinion, she either had one hell of a hangover, or was out on painkillers, and I think the latter is more probable than the former.
But fer Christ's sake! If I had caused this damage, I think the LAST thing I would do, because she didn't run, would be to park in a liquor store parking lot, disappear (she technically left the scene of an accident, I was asked if I wanted to prefer by the police to press charges, and I said no), and return with both arms full of liquor.
Me: Progressive, and her: Allstate. I'll keep you posted how this goes.
This might be very hard to see, but if you look closely at my rear wheel, you will see a linear impact. If I had been moving, they would be arcs. Proof POSITIVE I was stopped, and just hit.
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05-03-2004, 03:04 PM
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dallison: thanks for the driveway comment. My mom and dad are not long for this earth, but pretty soon that will be my house when the expire.
They do everything first class within reason. When they expire, that house will probably be mine. 3,500 sq. ft. ranch.
And I have told Allstate that the rental they provide me had better be something close to the ClS. I'm NOT putting up for a Saturn, or of the sort.
They do everything first class within reason. When they expire, that house will probably be mine. 3,500 sq. ft. ranch.
And I have told Allstate that the rental they provide me had better be something close to the ClS. I'm NOT putting up for a Saturn, or of the sort.
05-03-2004, 03:17 PM
#12
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Well good to see the damager isn't too bad. Your car will be as good as new soon enough.
That sounds shady as hell as to what that lady did after she hit you. Incredible.
That sounds shady as hell as to what that lady did after she hit you. Incredible.
05-03-2004, 03:43 PM
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SMITTY! What would you say? "Well, when they croak...?
Just kidding, man.
I just got done negotating with the insurance companies, both hers and mine. Realize, no fault has been found here, it is too early.
However, progressive (me) wants me to turn my car in tomorrow after I meet their adjuster, at a body shop of my choice. I don't get this. They have no parts to replace, no 1/4, no tail light, but they will provide me with a loaner, tomorrow. I see no sence in this. My car is driveable.
Allstate, her, was perfectly reasonable, and although promised nothing (gee, we expected something else), I told them I do not consider acceptable a replacement car on the lines of a Saturn to replace my CLS. They said they would do their best.
I still cannot understand progressives desire to immediately assume possession of the car, when I know they do not have the parts to fix it. Most body shops don't touch anything, unless they have all the repair parts, to minimize floor shop space.
Just kidding, man.
I just got done negotating with the insurance companies, both hers and mine. Realize, no fault has been found here, it is too early.
However, progressive (me) wants me to turn my car in tomorrow after I meet their adjuster, at a body shop of my choice. I don't get this. They have no parts to replace, no 1/4, no tail light, but they will provide me with a loaner, tomorrow. I see no sence in this. My car is driveable.
Allstate, her, was perfectly reasonable, and although promised nothing (gee, we expected something else), I told them I do not consider acceptable a replacement car on the lines of a Saturn to replace my CLS. They said they would do their best.
I still cannot understand progressives desire to immediately assume possession of the car, when I know they do not have the parts to fix it. Most body shops don't touch anything, unless they have all the repair parts, to minimize floor shop space.
05-03-2004, 03:58 PM
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take the loaner. make her pay.
the longer you have it the more it will cost her co, and they will prob raise her rates.
when my g/f was hit it was the fri before memorial day last year. they said that she would not be able to get a loaner until tues after memorial day, i tell em bull shit!!
i said your insured hit my g/f and totaled her car and she needs one now(even though we had our winter beater). so she had one by 5pm that day.
dunno what i am getting at but if they are going to pay for a rental i would get it.
they gave her a solara. not the greatest but it was a good car to beat the piss out of
the longer you have it the more it will cost her co, and they will prob raise her rates.
when my g/f was hit it was the fri before memorial day last year. they said that she would not be able to get a loaner until tues after memorial day, i tell em bull shit!!
i said your insured hit my g/f and totaled her car and she needs one now(even though we had our winter beater). so she had one by 5pm that day.
dunno what i am getting at but if they are going to pay for a rental i would get it.
they gave her a solara. not the greatest but it was a good car to beat the piss out of
05-03-2004, 04:17 PM
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dallison: So far, no flack from either insurance company. Shit, i wasn't even going one mph. How can I be held accountable?
Even the accident debris supports my claim.
Even the accident debris supports my claim.
05-03-2004, 04:29 PM
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you'll have no prob man. as long as you are calm when talking to em you'll be ok. i had to be stern when talking to them but i was able to negotiate so she wouldnt be too inconvenienced(she sure does miss her car)
05-03-2004, 05:56 PM
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sorry, that really sucks, it usually happens that way when you take a day off or whatever and you schould be at work or school,etc...something like this can happen, and well, it did!
Did it hit the door, by the pics it looks as if it missed the door?? And did you powder coat the wheels at goodrich technology??
Did it hit the door, by the pics it looks as if it missed the door?? And did you powder coat the wheels at goodrich technology??
05-03-2004, 06:32 PM
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Originally posted by darrinb
omg, what a bitch
thats easy to fix though
omg, what a bitch
thats easy to fix though
btw: sorry for hijacking the thread.
05-03-2004, 06:55 PM
#29
CLS 6MT Navi
Hang in there, your car will hopefully be nice as new real soon. (sounds like an ins. company rep!). The stress is having to deal with all these 'professionals' to do the right thing.
I feel your pain, cause we have the same car (except for the wheels!). Another poster here had an anthracite for a short time and totaled it avoiding a cat. Hope all the bad luck is over for all.
I've been really lucky driving around in my town, it could happen to anyone, anytime. Glad no one was hurt. I want more airbags!
I feel your pain, cause we have the same car (except for the wheels!). Another poster here had an anthracite for a short time and totaled it avoiding a cat. Hope all the bad luck is over for all.
I've been really lucky driving around in my town, it could happen to anyone, anytime. Glad no one was hurt. I want more airbags!
05-03-2004, 07:25 PM
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Thanks to all. And strangely, I am not worried about the damage. It can be fixed.
What miffed me is that the woman who hit me initially recanted herself.
"I don't know if I hit him or he hit me" was her initial reaction, But she soon retracted that, after I led the cop to the wreckage left on the road. This woman was clearly impared when she hit me, no doubt. But yet the police let her pass.
What miffed me is that the woman who hit me initially recanted herself.
"I don't know if I hit him or he hit me" was her initial reaction, But she soon retracted that, after I led the cop to the wreckage left on the road. This woman was clearly impared when she hit me, no doubt. But yet the police let her pass.
05-03-2004, 10:14 PM
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Originally posted by dfreder370
I don't get this. They have no parts to replace, no 1/4, no tail light, but they will provide me with a loaner, tomorrow. I see no sence in this. My car is driveable.
I don't get this. They have no parts to replace, no 1/4, no tail light, but they will provide me with a loaner, tomorrow. I see no sence in this. My car is driveable.
Suppose there’s hidden damage and the wheel falls off when you’re doing 80MPH down the Interstate tomorrow?
Now this relatively small claim becomes a 20,000 dollar claim for a totaled car and maybe medical costs.
05-03-2004, 11:20 PM
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dfreder370, insurance companies have their own investigators, specializing in determining how the accident took place.
I've had my previous car hit on the side when it was parked at work and thought I didn't have anything to prove it was a hit and run when I took the matter to my insurance company (well, there's only one owned by the government in BC, Canada)
As they took a brief look at my car, they figured out that my car wasn't moving when it was hit without a doubt.
Your insurance company will definitely be able to tell that you were completely stopped (you should have a fresher brain to remember better than that old lady lol) and you'll be totally ok. Sorry to hear that happened to you, it sux.
I've had my previous car hit on the side when it was parked at work and thought I didn't have anything to prove it was a hit and run when I took the matter to my insurance company (well, there's only one owned by the government in BC, Canada)
As they took a brief look at my car, they figured out that my car wasn't moving when it was hit without a doubt.
Your insurance company will definitely be able to tell that you were completely stopped (you should have a fresher brain to remember better than that old lady lol) and you'll be totally ok. Sorry to hear that happened to you, it sux.
05-04-2004, 05:26 AM
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Nicky: Brockway and Palatine. Jesel: Yes, she was ticketed.
The Palatine police, who were professional in every way, kinda suprised me though. They took about 10 minutes to respond, although I did say through Onstar I thought there were no injuries, so higher priorities may have had to be attended to.
Still, I could tell the woman was clearly impared, and while I talked to Onstar to get the cops, her departure (she hadn't even spoken one word to me, or I to her) to the liquor store was hardly what you would call "in a straight line". To get to the front door, she had to walk west, but occasionally, she walked north, then south. After the officer got her, he looked at me and gave me this silly grin, as if to say "boy, she is really out of it, isn't she?" I think she got "scared straight", if you know what I mean.
Looking back, I am almost sure she was "up" on prescription drugs. The officer even had to help her put her liquor in the car. She opened her drivers side door, and laid her bag of goods down SIDEWAYS, as versed to upright. At that point, I noted the officer got a few inches from her face, he was checking her for alcohol.
No matter, just a lot of hassel from here on in. My car can be fixed, and I don't really care about hers.
I'm just dismayed that I had this car for 11 months, and it didn't have even one scratch or door bang. Payback, I guess.
And whoever asked (sorry), yes, she did get part of the door.
The Palatine police, who were professional in every way, kinda suprised me though. They took about 10 minutes to respond, although I did say through Onstar I thought there were no injuries, so higher priorities may have had to be attended to.
Still, I could tell the woman was clearly impared, and while I talked to Onstar to get the cops, her departure (she hadn't even spoken one word to me, or I to her) to the liquor store was hardly what you would call "in a straight line". To get to the front door, she had to walk west, but occasionally, she walked north, then south. After the officer got her, he looked at me and gave me this silly grin, as if to say "boy, she is really out of it, isn't she?" I think she got "scared straight", if you know what I mean.
Looking back, I am almost sure she was "up" on prescription drugs. The officer even had to help her put her liquor in the car. She opened her drivers side door, and laid her bag of goods down SIDEWAYS, as versed to upright. At that point, I noted the officer got a few inches from her face, he was checking her for alcohol.
No matter, just a lot of hassel from here on in. My car can be fixed, and I don't really care about hers.
I'm just dismayed that I had this car for 11 months, and it didn't have even one scratch or door bang. Payback, I guess.
And whoever asked (sorry), yes, she did get part of the door.
05-04-2004, 05:45 PM
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Absolutely Nicky!
The planets are beginning to allign for me in my favor. Both Progressive (me) and Allstate (her) contacted her yesterday, the day of the "accident" (as a certified flight instructor, I do not believe in any such thing as an accident, unless it is purely mechanical in nature.)
When both companies asked her about the accident that occured earlier that day, her reply was "that accident happened today?" And both noted that her speech was somewhat slurred, and she could recall very little details of the accident.
Both companies said they will base their decision on my testimony, and I did the official recorded account of the accident today.
I apologise for the wheel pic which doesn't show the linear swipes of her green paint on my wheel due to being taken in the sunlight. I will try to do the same tomorrow, in the shade, with the wheel aligned with the damage to the quarter panel. Then this will all be crystal clear to you all. Which is precisely why I am showing the car to Allstate tomorrow.
Here is a tip. If you are involved in any accident at all, report it to your own insurance company, if for only record keeping purposes. But if you are absolutely sure you are 100 percent not at fault, go after their insurance company with a vengance. So far, that has worked for me.
Back in the late 80s, I was broad sided by a paint truck doing 50 mph ON ICE in a residential section. He had a Yield sign to obey, which he didn't. Yield signs are inarguable. If you have the yield sign to obey, their would be no collision if you obeyed. Stop signs are argueable. Anyway, their fly by night insurance company tried to attach some blame to me. Their logic was "If I wasn't born, I wouldn't have been at the scene of the accident" The proper response to that is to turn that right around, and apply that to their insured.
This 67 year old lady either had one hell of a hangover, or was wiped on prescription drugs.
The planets are beginning to allign for me in my favor. Both Progressive (me) and Allstate (her) contacted her yesterday, the day of the "accident" (as a certified flight instructor, I do not believe in any such thing as an accident, unless it is purely mechanical in nature.)
When both companies asked her about the accident that occured earlier that day, her reply was "that accident happened today?" And both noted that her speech was somewhat slurred, and she could recall very little details of the accident.
Both companies said they will base their decision on my testimony, and I did the official recorded account of the accident today.
I apologise for the wheel pic which doesn't show the linear swipes of her green paint on my wheel due to being taken in the sunlight. I will try to do the same tomorrow, in the shade, with the wheel aligned with the damage to the quarter panel. Then this will all be crystal clear to you all. Which is precisely why I am showing the car to Allstate tomorrow.
Here is a tip. If you are involved in any accident at all, report it to your own insurance company, if for only record keeping purposes. But if you are absolutely sure you are 100 percent not at fault, go after their insurance company with a vengance. So far, that has worked for me.
Back in the late 80s, I was broad sided by a paint truck doing 50 mph ON ICE in a residential section. He had a Yield sign to obey, which he didn't. Yield signs are inarguable. If you have the yield sign to obey, their would be no collision if you obeyed. Stop signs are argueable. Anyway, their fly by night insurance company tried to attach some blame to me. Their logic was "If I wasn't born, I wouldn't have been at the scene of the accident" The proper response to that is to turn that right around, and apply that to their insured.
This 67 year old lady either had one hell of a hangover, or was wiped on prescription drugs.