stupid collision - not sure about insurance now, so sad :((((

[fenixus]

ehhhh, shit happens and it usually happen when you expect it least

Yesterday had a very bad luck when I took new GPS for testing on local roads. I ran into collision (not my fault at all!) in Garfield, NJ.
now wondering if my insurance covers it, so looking for some opinions from people who know how such cases are reviewed by insurance companys (no full coverage, only liability plus comprehensive).

long story short, i was at intersection and the Dodge truck in front me (following same direction as me) signaled the left turn, as there was heavy oncoming traffic from opposite direction, I decided to bear right and pass the truck standing in the middle of intersection ... when i was side by side with truck the damn sleepy driver decided to go straight instead and started closing on me fast, I hit horn and held it down for like 5 secs when trying to finish the maneuver (i was already a few feet ahead of him). and then buuuum!

the other driver (Dodge RAM or something) claims he did not see me and did not hear my horn at all, simply he just rammed into side of my car damaging driver door and the rear body plates (fender mostly, but since it's a 2D coupe it's all one piece with a roof).

Dodge truck has damages on passenger side of front bumper and fender scratched a bit (not much in comparison to my car) .

Cop that showed wasn't much interested in anything, simply prepared the report and took off saying that insurance company will have to sort it out as there was no evident fault (!?).

Now waiting for my insurance company to call back. nervous like hell, can anyone post if i can count on any repair refund for such collision or they gonna wash their hands off it ?

thanks.

[98CamryLE]

First question: You said that you hit the horn for like five seconds before the impact. Why didn't you slow down or stop instead- if you were at a complete stop behind the truck, you couldn't have been going that fast as you were passing the truck. Five seconds should have been more than enough time to stop or pull off the road.

Second question: You don't describe the type of intersection. Check the local laws in your area- if it is illegal to pass on the right, you are done and it's probably your fault.

Next: It seems as though you both share some fault. The driver of the truck indicated that he was going to turn left- but continued forward. You passed on the right and did not attempt to stop when you realized that a collision was possible. If the officer on the scene did not indicate that the other driver was at fault, you are probably done.

You have a few options.
1) suck it up and pay for it yourself.
2) attempt to contact the police department and see if changing the report is possible (probably not)
3) sue the other driver.

Good luck.

This is why my wife and I still have full coverage on our back-up crap car. You never know what type of idiots are out there and what type of accidents they can cause. It may be 9 years old and have nearly 200,000 miles, but we live in an area with lots of people who drive like idiots and do not have insurance. We may not get a lot if it is totaled, but it will be better than nothing. Full coverage only costs like 20-30 bucks more per month. The car would bring in $3,000 if it were totaled.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by 98CamryLE

First question: You said that you hit the horn for like five seconds before the impact. Why didn't you slow down or stop instead- if you were at a complete stop behind the truck, you couldn't have been going that fast as you were passing the truck. Five seconds should have been more than enough time to stop or pull off the road.

Second question: You don't describe the type of intersection. Check the local laws in your area- if it is illegal to pass on the right, you are done and it's probably your fault.

Next: It seems as though you both share some fault. The driver of the truck indicated that he was going to turn left- but continued forward. You passed on the right and did not attempt to stop when you realized that a collision was possible. If the officer on the scene did not indicate that the other driver was at fault, you are probably done.

You have a few options.
1) suck it up and pay for it yourself.
2) attempt to contact the police department and see if changing the report is possible (probably not)
3) sue the other driver.

Good luck.

This is why my wife and I still have full coverage on our back-up crap car. You never know what type of idiots are out there and what type of accidents they can cause. It may be 9 years old and have nearly 200,000 miles, but we live in an area with lots of people who drive like idiots and do not have insurance. We may not get a lot if it is totaled, but it will be better than nothing. Full coverage only costs like 20-30 bucks more per month. The car would bring in $3,000 if it were totaled.

damn, it not good news then. still didn't get the info from insurance company.

as per your questions:

q1) when i realized that he was going forward instead of left turn, it was already too late, because i was AHEAD of him by a few feet, so stopping would make thing only worse.

i couldn't run away from him - it was impossible to bear right because of very high curb (car wouldn't survive anyways)

perhaps i held horn for 2-3 seconds, who knows, i don't, it was long though.

q2) regular intersection "+" type with stop lights (quite hilly area, high curbs)

q3)

You passed on the right and did not attempt to stop when you realized that a collision was possible. If the officer on the scene did not indicate that the other driver was at fault, you are probably done.

I could NOT stop, because it was too late for that (car would be hit stronger) as I was already partially ahead of him when i noticed he was driving forward instead of left turn. see q1)

ehhhh, it sucks so badly. I need to check, but I believe my state has something like Improper Passing on right, however that equals a ticket and 4pts, while I did NOT get any ticket from the cop.

thing is that driver of the other car mislead me for starters with his left turn blinker (it was like that for a while) and then did NOT see or hear me when i was already partially ahead of him (he could have stopped, I couldn't because he was ramming into my driver side!), so ... for me HE failed to observe the front of his truck (and listen for warnings)...
you know, i cannot understand how the hell I could have PREDICTED IT ? because according to what you say I should have been reading minds and have eyes around my head. after all it's his front bumper damaged and my rear driver side.

hell knows what insurance decides, but if they screw me over on this then it sucks balls like from here to Japan...

I was thinking about getting Full Coverage though, huh too late a bit ... fuck

This is why my wife and I still have full coverage on our back-up crap car. You never know what type of idiots are out there and what type of accidents they can cause. It may be 9 years old and have nearly 200,000 miles, but we live in an area with lots of people who drive like idiots and do not have insurance. We may not get a lot if it is totaled, but it will be better than nothing. Full coverage only costs like 20-30 bucks more per month. The car would bring in $3,000 if it were totaled.

yeah i can imagine. northern New Jersey, especially on the border with NY state is paranoid. too many cars, most roads in cities are too narrow ... i can see your point about Full Coverage very well. problem is that for me it's not 30 bucks more, it would be nearly DOUBLE of the price I pay now for 2 cars in my sig and that is close to $2,000 a year for liability (plus some comprehensive benefits) - and what's best is that its the lowest price among all insurers around here LOL crazy!!!. I bet you have never heard about such insurance prices in Wisconsin Or Illinois area (I lived in both those states so can I remember the difference).
anyways within last 12 months i had 1 more collision which I was not refunded for as well, so by now (if i get screwed 1 more time) Full Coverage would pay off anyways ... it's such a pain ...

for now it looks like your option 1 (and maybe 3) while option 2 is out of question in this area. c'mon who dares to talk to their High Holiness-es (cops) about their Holy work (writing reports) - such an option doesn't exist in this reality here.

[judge34411]

Originally Posted by fenixus

ehhhh, shit happens and it usually happen when you expect it least

i was at intersection and the Dodge truck in front me (following same direction as me) signaled the left turn, as there was heavy oncoming traffic from opposite direction, I decided to bear right and pass the truck standing in the middle of intersection ... when i was side by side with truck the damn sleepy driver decided to go straight instead and started closing on me fast, I hit horn and held it down for like 5 secs when trying to finish the maneuver (i was already a few feet ahead of him). and then buuuum!

damaging driver door and the rear body plates (fender mostly, but since it's a 2D coupe it's all one piece with a roof).

Dodge truck has damages on passenger side of front bumper and fender scratched a bit (not much in comparison to my car) .


thanks.

I imagine standards are about the same in all of North America and for good reasons.

You are responsible for front of car and passenger side of car.

EDIT: Hey maybe a saving grace. If he was stopped in the middle of the intersection that is illegal as hell. You cannot block an intersection. If he was stopped where he should of been you would not of been able to pass him. 2 wrongs don't make a right but.

So on that note your looking good. But here is the kicker you are admitting you passed on the right, on a single lane road. What if a kid on a bike had been in that space?

If it was not for admitting what you did, you would have a chance. An sorry yes it is your fault, I do the same thing, we know it's wrong but we do it.

It's no different to following a car and he slams on the brakes for no reason, and you rear end him. He was a shit but your still at fault.

Now if he had a turning lane it would be all his fault.

Good luck, if that right hand pass is omitted in the report you should come out ok.

[fenixus]

thanks for opinions guys.

so i guess I need to wait for the police report (after 5 business days from accident). will see. got some slight chance still.

I already got over it i think, shit happens, if i get nothing from insurance oh well, will have to pay it out of pocket and suck it up

[fenixus]

just picked up the police report. in short it says that the other vehicle (Dodge Dakota) was waiting for a left turn at the intersection (blinker on) and then changed his mind and started going forward colliding with me passing him on right.

it doesn't say anything about lanes and fault. but i think it clearly says he collided with me, so i still got some hope. i guess in a few days it will be all clear.

don't trust anyone on road (even yourself lol)

[4Cyl'erThriller]

Seeing as how you were past him. The damage is to your rear and his front. So..... He should have been able to see you in front of him. That would be my angle of approach.

[fenixus]

thanks

keeping my fingers crossed for the outcome as fixing the rear fender in a Coupe sucks and is not cheap.

[fenixus]

just wanted to update. i received a repair estimate of the damage to my car from GEICO adjuster and it says $1,142. plus they are giving me an equivalent of 5 day rental car reimbursement.

since they decided it was 50/50 fault collision they gave me 50% of those numbers. not that bad, i was suspecting it. anyways glad that i received anything this time (last time i received zero).

here are pictures of damage on car due to collision (plus a longer crack on already cracked windshield, but this was not covered). that windshield i need to replace regardless since some time now.

[haux]

That's a very nice looking car. I like it.

I'm glad it didn't turn out too bad. Is this the car you've been posting about on the Gen4 forum?

Also, how much are they reimbursing you for the 5-day rental? Does it come close to covering your 50% of the repair?

[judge34411]

Originally Posted by fenixus

just wanted to update. i received a repair estimate of the damage to my car from GEICO adjuster and it says $1,142. plus they are giving me an equivalent of 5 day rental car reimbursement.

since they decided it was 50/50 fault collision they gave me 50% of those numbers. not that bad, i was suspecting it. anyways glad that i received anything this time (last time i received zero).

here are pictures of damage on car due to collision (plus a longer crack on already cracked windshield, but this was not covered). that windshield i need to replace regardless since some time now.

Not bad at all, after all you was making an illegal pass. If you can I would bum a lift to work for a week. Actually I imagine that will be fixed in 3 days. Shop around for prices, and don't tell them insurance is paying give them a hard luck story and it is coming out of pocket. You just might end up with a bill close to what you will get from insurance.

It pisses me off when old ladies back into my car at the shopping center too (no offence to any old ladies here).

On an up note. Nice looking car and thank god the damage though very maddening is not to bad.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by haux

That's a very nice looking car. I like it.

I'm glad it didn't turn out too bad. Is this the car you've been posting about on the Gen4 forum?

Also, how much are they reimbursing you for the 5-day rental? Does it come close to covering your 50% of the repair?

Originally Posted by judge34411

Not bad at all, after all you was making an illegal pass. If you can I would bum a lift to work for a week. Actually I imagine that will be fixed in 3 days. Shop around for prices, and don't tell them insurance is paying give them a hard luck story and it is coming out of pocket. You just might end up with a bill close to what you will get from insurance.

It pisses me off when old ladies back into my car at the shopping center too (no offence to any old ladies here).

On an up note. Nice looking car and thank god the damage though very maddening is not to bad.

thanks! yes that's the ride i was posting about in camry gen4 section. my wife loves it and she drives it daily. i am for now stuck with '92 Buick Lesabre

GEICO counted something like $30 a day for rental car. with my 50% rate it came up to around $70, don't have the numbers in front of me. in the end the check's total is $633. now i need to find a shop that could nicely (and cheap!) fix it without removing or cutting any body parts.

[judge34411]

Originally Posted by fenixus

thanks! yes that's the ride i was posting about in camry gen4 section. my wife loves it and she drives it daily. i am for now stuck with '92 Buick Lesabre

GEICO counted something like $30 a day for rental car. with my 50% rate it came up to around $70, don't have the numbers in front of me. in the end the check's total is $633. now i need to find a shop that could nicely (and cheap!) fix it without removing or cutting any body parts.

Check on a rear quarter panel change and repaint of it

[islandboy57]

I know this is after the fact, but for such a small amount (relatively speaking), $600 might have been better to just pay out of pocket and stay out of insurance. At-fault claims greatly increase the risk of premium hikes and the chance of being dropped as a client if you have another at-fault accident. I've heard [from a family friend that is an insurance agent] GEICO is especially bad with that - but what can I say, they're cheap and I have them too.

Anyway, glad you're getting your car fixed. $1100 isn't too bad.. Sh*t happens, just gotta deal with it..

[fenixus]

islandboy57.
i have no GEICO insurance hehe, they are OTHER driver's insurance. My insurance is local mutual exchange something called "CURE" (Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange or something similar), pretty much popular in NJ, PA & CT for their low prices.
They do not check credit record when setting your premium price. which works in my favor, because I had a disadvantage of knowing an asshole who did not pay one of my bills he promised too (old story). I discovered that like a year after bill due date. now i have a "collection paid" on my credit record which greatly impacts almost all insurance premiums except for small reciprocal funds like CURE.

since i have no collision coverage, i had to claim money against other drivers insurance (GEICO).

this is CURE:
www.drivewell.com

they have good prices, especially for people with short or bad credit record. they do not care about drivers credit record at all.