Just Got in a Car Accident!!! My Fit is Destroyed!!!
I've had my brand new Fit Sport for a month and I already get into an accident with it!!! :mad:
Actually, I was an innocent bystander who didn't even move the whole time which makes it worse. Basically, two cars (myself and the moron) are at stop signs on a busy street. I'm heading north, he's heading south with east and west lanes having the right of way. For whatever reason the car across from me decides to peel out and take off either trying to beat or didn't see the car going in the opposite direction. They slam into each other and both cars end up slamming into my side while I was stopped the entire time! My two passenger side doors get hit, the side air bags deploy and my driver's side window smashes into a million pieces. :mad::mad::mad: Does anyone with experience of accidents, insurances, etc have any idea what the I will be getting out of this. I had no damage to the front end. However, any chance they call the car a total loss? The moron who had to be in his late 70's got a reckless driving ticket after two witnesses along with myself and the other driver explained everything. Here's some pics: http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox p.s. sorry they're cell phone pics. |
pics dont work
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Originally Posted by keepitpg
(Post 742675)
pics dont work
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Originally Posted by AintNoStoppinMeNow
(Post 742685)
Really? They're showing up fine for me, just small though. Can anyone else not see them?
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you might need to host them through photobucket, imageshack, or w/e
sorry to hear about your fit though |
Originally Posted by AintNoStoppinMeNow
(Post 742673)
I've had my brand new Fit Sport for a month and I already get into an accident with it!!! :mad:
Actually, I was an innocent bystander who didn't even move the whole time which makes it worse. Basically, two cars (myself and the moron) are at stop signs on a busy street. I'm heading north, he's heading south with east and west lanes having the right of way. For whatever reason the car across from me decides to peel out and take off either trying to beat or didn't see the car going in the opposite direction. They slam into each other and both cars end up slamming into my side while I was stopped the entire time! My two passenger side doors get hit, the side air bags deploy and my driver's side window smashes into a million pieces. :mad::mad::mad: Does anyone with experience of accidents, insurances, etc have any idea what the I will be getting out of this. I had no damage to the front end. However, any chance they call the car a total loss? The moron who had to be in his late 70's got a reckless driving ticket after two witnesses along with myself and the other driver explained everything. Here's some pics: http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox http://thumbp8.mail.vip.ac4.yahoo.co...=586&fid=Inbox p.s. sorry they're cell phone pics. It's a NEW car, so a couple doors, air bags, windows, that shouldn't total out a car. But I don't know how much damage there is, or what those things will cost. Like we talked about before, you can be the best driver in the world, and still not be able to escape an accident. In your case, you didn't even have to be moving to be in an accident. One of my former cars got hit while parked. I didn't know it it was repairable, but it got fixed just fine. The back wheel was bent all out of place and the back panel was torn. Got fixed. It's pretty amazing what can be done with good body shop people and new parts. I'm really glad it was the car and not you. That is something to be very thankful for. What if you'd been a pedestrian? Or if you had no air bags? You feel OK? Physically? |
I'm sorry to hear dude. Good luck with everything
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where in nj are you?
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Originally Posted by AintNoStoppinMeNow
(Post 742697)
I thought it was your passenger doors. I don't think that's too bad. I'd guess it's fixable. But again, I don't know what all might be damaged. If it's JUST doors and the side skirt and air bags and maybe the trim pieces around the door??? Looks like the car did a good job at protecting you. |
Couple of things I want to say about this accident, the Fit's safety and older drivers.
1) Certain people need to be off the road. In this case, I'm really starting to think more and more there should be an age limit for older drivers to have to pass some sort of test to keep their driving privileges. I actually like old people but some of them should not be driving, This old man actually had the audacity to ask the cop why he was getting a reckless driving ticket!!! 2) Like TafettaWhite mentioned, you can be the greatest driver in the world and still get involved in a mess like this. As soon as I saw the old guy take off I knew he was going to hit that lady's car. What I wasn't expecting was a split second later seeing two cars heading straight towards me! Talk about a scary sight! Right now, I'm just wondering what to do as far as insurance goes. Is this fixable or a total loss? Should I demand a total loss? Should I go through his insurance and have them cover everything or take the hit on my $500 deductible and just let my insurance handle it? Yes, this is my first major accident. |
Danmit is that a CBP?!?! -____-
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Originally Posted by interestingstuff
(Post 742699)
where in nj are you?
Originally Posted by TaffetaWhite
(Post 742700)
Yes, that works fine!
I thought it was your passenger doors. I don't think that's too bad. I'd guess it's fixable. But again, I don't know what all might be damaged. If it's JUST doors and the side skirt and air bags and maybe the trim pieces around the door??? Looks like the car did a good job at protecting you. No it was driver's sides. The two cars came straight at me! :mad: |
Oh btw, to make matters worse, all three cars in the accident were Hondas. The old senile man was driving a 95 Honda Accord, I had my one month old Fit and the young lady also had a one month old 09 Accord! Talk about the irony!
One cop did mention to me that in all the accidents he's responded to, all the Hondas have kept the drivers extremely safe and he highly recommended them for safety reasons alone. |
http://hhrol.50g.com/x.gif
....sucks about the wreckage. This is a classic motorcyclists' nightmare scenario - The Sitting Duck. I know this'll stir up drama, but I'm sorry...old freakin people need to be tested every year...after what age? i don't know...60? 65? Blue Hairs kill thousands each year. :popc: |
Working backwards...it's NOT your fault. You didn't do anything. You shouldn't have to pay any deductible. It's a brand new car. It needs to be fixed to be like it was. I don't know whether you have to let your insurance know or not, it's been a long time since I've had an accident.
As far as remembering the accident, you might want to write down everything you can remember. Everything. Time of day, where the sun was, how much traffic there was, if the road was clear or dry or slick or gravelly. It's a lot easier to remember now while it's fresh and if there are any problems at all, you'll have your own notes and won't forget any details. I feel that most people should have their driving ability checked on a regular basis. And there was a thread where we had discussed more driver training, perhaps including learning avoidance maneuvers. A more professional type course. I realize it would be hard to get all the drivers in, and there are not enough facilities to accommodate all the drivers in the country. But maybe an incentive, like a sizable discount on insurance would encourage more people to take a course. I haven't taken any professional course. And I think this year I can take some kind of "mature driver course" to qualify for a discount. Apparently they measure maturity by age and not by goofy inner personality. ;) It's not just age, though. There are people who make mistakes. Preoccupied people. It doesn't have to be drunk drivers or people on illegal drugs, some of the over the counter allergy things can make a person loopy and not as attentive. One small solution is to try to drive less. Everyone. If one of the three people involved in the accident hadn't driven today, there might not have been an accident. Right? It doesn't solve the stupid people on the road problem, but at least you're not in harm's way. |
Originally Posted by Watsoff
(Post 742720)
Blue Hairs kill thousands each year. :popc: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:t...l-hair-cut.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:a...k_in_blue_hair |
Hey can anyone link me to this thread that keeps getting discussed about driver privileges being revoked? I'd LOVE to read it right now...
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your username is rather ironic in comparing it to the thread you just created.
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Originally Posted by AintNoStoppinMeNow
(Post 742706)
I had my one month old Fit and the young lady also had a one month old 09 Accord! Talk about the irony!
Except here we have an example of an old clunker that wasn't taken off the road yet... |
Originally Posted by AintNoStoppinMeNow
(Post 742738)
Hey can anyone link me to this thread that keeps getting discussed about driver privileges being revoked? I'd LOVE to read it right now...
It might have been in a thread where it drifted into that topic. If I remember later I'll come back and look for it again. Usually the time I remember things is right around the time I get comfortable in bed, almost asleep, and THEN I remember. Grrrrr. |
Originally Posted by kylerwho
(Post 742740)
your username is rather ironic in comparing it to the thread you just created.
to the OP, my condolences. i didnt look at the pics, but hopefully the damage is enough to total it. get a new one. |
Saw the photo...pretty bad hit but it's interesting to see the side mirror's still unscathed.
If it were up to me, your car wouldn't make total-wreck status. Of course there's only one photo and it really isn't enough to make a judgement call with, but from what I can see it doesn't look like there was any misalignment to the chassis itself. Repair the doors and sills and replace the windows and it should be fine again. Like TaffetaWhite says, the car did a good job of protecting you. |
I think that people in general aren't taking driving seriously enough.... I learned to drive in a defensive manner riding up to thirty thousand miles a year on motorcycles .... I had a jerk in a Civic tail gate me for miles on a two lane Texas highway coming up scary close to my bumper numerous times while talking on his cell phone. I pulled over on the shoulder so he could go around me and he stayed on my bumper and drove on the shoulder too.... I down shifted, kicked in the boost and made a lot of distance between us and a minute or two later he was on me again still talking on his phone.....When I drive I don't do things that distract me and focus on driving and avoiding those that have their minds somewhere else..... I am an old man that will stop driving voluntarily when I lose the ability to maintain focus and am unable to spot hazardous drivers and situations. Everyone on the road has the potential to kill you if you allow a situation to occur where they can and most situations are avoidable..... Sitting at a signal light or stop sign and getting smashed is something that happens way to often.
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Originally Posted by Texas Coyote
(Post 742978)
I think that people in general aren't taking driving seriously enough.... I learned to drive in a defensive manner riding up to thirty thousand miles a year on motorcycles .... I had a jerk in a Civic tail gate me for miles on a two lane Texas highway coming up scary close to my bumper numerous times while talking on his cell phone. I pulled over on the shoulder so he could go around me and he stayed on my bumper and drove on the shoulder too.... I down shifted, kicked in the boost and made a lot of distance between us and a minute or two later he was on me again still talking on his phone.....When I drive I don't do things that distract me and focus on driving and avoiding those that have their minds somewhere else..... I am an old man that will stop driving voluntarily when I lose the ability to maintain focus and am unable to spot hazardous drivers and situations. Everyone on the road has the potential to kill you if you allow a situation to occur where they can and most situations are avoidable..... Sitting at a signal light or stop sign and getting smashed is something that happens way to often.
I mentioned there, and will mention again here, that it would be ideal for everyone to learn several things about driving. One is to be required to ride a motorcycle. The other is to at least ride in a semi-truck for a day or two. And listen to what the driver says. Especially if it's something like gravel trucks who make many runs per day, in and out of traffic. You learn real quick how vulnerable you are on a motorcycle. And if you absorb that lesson, you can become more aware of motorcycles as well as being protective of them. Listening for them. Letting lane sharing occur (just because *I* am stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, no need for my motorcycle road friends to sit behind me). And being extra cautious when behind one, giving them plenty of room, just in case they go down. Yes, I've gone down several times. Gravel happens. Slick roads. Dumb drivers. The gravel trucks. You can FEEL the weight of the gravel behind you. You can feel the engine pulling that weight. AND you can feel that weight behind you pushing as you're braking or going down hill. Maybe a car can stop plenty quick...but not that gravel truck. Ain't no way of stopping tons of material and truck and trailers just because some idiot cuts in front of the truck. The truck would go right over any vehicle, Fit or Escalade or Hummer. And for some reason, people just don't want let vehicles merge. What's up with that? It becomes a nightmare in a gravel truck with double trailers. You don't even have to ride in a gravel truck for that experience. Consider a school bus (if school wasn't too long ago) or a regular bus/public transit. There's the bus, trying to get a bunch of people to their destination, making many stops, and car drivers don't want to let the bus in. I let the bus in. I let the gravel truck or moving van or any other big truck into my lane, by clearing space and flashing my lights. You have NO idea how much that is appreciated. Even if not too many people do it, it seems to be enough to help get people and cargo to where they need to go. Anyone can help anyone else get to their destination with calm, careful, courteous driving. :) |
I hate old drivers. I totalled my S2000 when a 64 year old tourist cut me off in his 4 runner.
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For anyone over 60 the state DMV's should mandate a yearly examination of eyesight, reaction times and overall attentiveness. It's really bad on Sunday mornings when I'm trying to go to work and trying not to be hit by some bluehair who can't see over the wheel.
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Sorry about the accident.
You shouldn't have any problem insurance wise. I was rear-ended earlier this year (hence my new Fit :D). I suggest going through your own insurance to repair or replace your car (whichever the case is). Since you're not at fault, your insurance rate won't go up and your deductible should be refunded back to you. Your insurance will recoup it from the other drivers' insurances. Let them tally the numbers and deal with the headache. I think it's better to get you car totaled. Your car is practically brand new. There's a chance that the body shop might not 100% fix everything (ex: a dash rattle that wasn't there before). Geico totaled my civic (the one that was rear ended this yr) because it costs more to repair it than to give me the replacement value. Geico valued my car by checking how much other comparable cars were sold in my area. So in essence, they gave me enough money to go out and buy a similar car. Similar as in same make/model/mileage/options/etc. I took their check, went to the Honda dealer, added more money, then got my Fit. You'll probably spend a bit more out of pocket if you car is totaled since cars depreciate in value alot once it's off the dealer lot. On the other hand, since there are not a lot of barely used Fits for sale, the insurance might as well go with the dealer OTD price. Good luck. |
If you get it repaired, be sure to get extra money for the loss in value of your Fit. With carfax any potential buyer will deduct thousands for it having been in an accident, especially one where the airbags deployed. In GA it's mandatory that settlements include loss of value, not just repair.
That said it might pay you to spend a few hundred and consult a lawyer. If it were my car I'd want it replaced and not fixed. |
Originally Posted by TaffetaWhite
(Post 742768)
It might have been in a thread where it drifted into that topic. If I remember later I'll come back and look for it again.
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Originally Posted by AintNoStoppinMeNow
(Post 742701)
1) Certain people need to be off the road. In this case, I'm really starting to think more and more there should be an age limit for older drivers to have to pass some sort of test to keep their driving privileges. I actually like old people but some of them should not be driving, This old man actually had the audacity to ask the cop why he was getting a reckless driving ticket!!!
That said, I agree that older drivers should be required to take annual or semi-annual vision and driving skills tests in order to retain their driving privileges. The easiest way to do this would be to issue licenses for 2 years to drivers past a cutoff age -- say 72. Personally, I'm much more concerned about the idiot of any age who is gabbing/texting on a cellphone while attempting to drive. |
Hope your Fit gets fixed or replaced quickly, the important thing is you were not injured!
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I like the way that the Japanese use window tags to describe the age and experience of the person driving a particular car.... If older drivers are such a problem, why is it that my insurance provider doesn't cover drivers under the age of thirty on my policy and I pay a fraction of what a thirty year old or younger does for the same coverage?..... gbmurder13, I learned to drive over fifty years ago and have never totalled anything.... I will be 60 in five months and my last vehicular accident occurred thirty two years ago when I was rear ended by a car load of teenage girls while stopped behind a school bus and I don't hate anyone but people that have poor driving skills do tend to make me pretty damned angry regardless of how old they are..... If you are stopped in a car you aren't in motion, and therefore not driving.... The opening post is about a guy whose car was damaged while sitting still and caused by a person with poor reasoning abilities and driving skills and his age isn't relevant.... The guy was probably a crappy driver when he was twenty five.
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Get a lawyer to work everything out for you. Because of the circumstances there should be no upfront fee and you should get a new car too.
A friend of mine was tboned turning left and got a check for the total value of the car, free chiropractic sessions for several months, and another check for $1800. |
Originally Posted by Texas Coyote
(Post 743136)
The opening post is about a guy whose car was damaged while sitting still and caused by a person with poor reasoning abilities and driving skills and his age isn't relevant.... The guy was probably a crappy driver when he was twenty five.
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wow, sorry to hear about your accident. :( that totally sucks.
i too agree that at some age drivers need to be checked for sight/attentiveness/reaction times. kinda not fair to compare this way, but it is similar to driving while impaired or under the influence because they are not making correct judgements. i would like to say that noone is trying to cause an accident. it would not be fair to people like us who drive safely and have a clean record to be struck for no reason. my car's been struck several times while i wasn't even in the car. hahaha. :D |
Your insurance company most likely has a web site, and on that site a section about what to do in case of an accident, often in the form of a check list. PRINT IT and put it in your glove compartment, or in the secret underseat compartment of the left rear passenger seat. Regardless of who (if anyone) is at fault, the scene of an accident is no time to be trying to figure out what to do next.
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Originally Posted by Selden
(Post 743276)
the secret underseat compartment of the left rear passenger seat.
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Originally Posted by TaffetaWhite
(Post 743280)
Way to go, Selden! It's not a secret anymore. ;) :wavey:
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to let my insurance handle everything as recommended and also try and have my $500 deductible refunded to me by the other guy's insurance. I'm also going to demand as much as possible for a new car which of course will hopefully be another Fit!
btw, this is actually my 2nd bad experience with an older driver where I was stopped and out of the way yet still ended up being involved in the accident. I was in a four lane road *one turning left, two going straight, one turning right) stopped at a red light in the right lane. Out of the blue and for some strange reason while we are all stopped waiting for the light to turn, an old man in the lane next to me steps on his gas and slams into the car in front of him. In a panic, he starts to reverse while there are cars behind him! The car behind him beeps so the old man starts turning and reversing right into me and scraping the whole side of my truck. Just like yesterday's accident, I was a sitting duck and could do nothing with a car in front of me and a car behind me all stopped at a red light. I jump out of the car and yell at the guy asking him "what the hell are you doing?!" and no response. He just kept looking ahead with his car still reversing slowly. I then stuck my hand in his car, threw it in to park and took his keys. The cops show up and he's still unresponsive, almost as if he was in a trance, so they end up taking him away in an ambulance. Yes this is a true story and yes I seem to have bad luck with these sorts of accidents. I swear you couldn't make stuff like this up. Luckily for me, I ended up getting close to $1,000 from his insurance and had my buddy's workshop fix it up for half of that. Maybe just maybe yesterday's accident could actually turn out to be a good thing in the end. That's what I keep trying to tell myself anyway... |
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