Ah man, what a shame... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I got into an accident back in September of last year, took out my fender and corner lamp, and as for the Jeep... well his driver's door was smashed, and there was somewhat of a crease running down the length of the drivers side. The kid ended up getting a brand new (used) Heep. Man I'm still peeved over that.

Fixed all the damage myself, ended up avoiding the $500 insurance deductable, and actually saved 50 bucks, as it cost me a MERE 450 to fix, including paint. Insurance had quoted me at upwards of 1 grand to fix all the damage. Still waiting on my rates to go up, but so far, I'm in the clear, as I believe it was deemed a no-fault incident.

If you can save it, fix it yourself... (I'd get the paint done right though, unless you have primer or camo fantasies). You'll gain a whole lot more pride in your truck.

I'm with Smiley! Here's to a quick recovery, and to you making it to Uwharrie on time! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Doesnt sound too bad and you should have it back on the road soon. Pretty cheap too thx to jerry. A Port-A-Power makes easy work of fixing rad supports. I've had one for years and used it on lots of wrecked vehicles (so did my co-workers after off roading weekends).

My mitsu pickup got totalled after some old man turned in front of me and yours doesnt sound as bad as mine but only cost me $500 in salvage parts to fix it after buying it back from the ins company. Pics can be seen HERE

The rock damage is from the riots after the broncos won their first superbowl. I worked downtown and was just tryin to get out of there. Someone threw a huge rock in the road, when I saw it I tried to stradle it but didnt have enough clearance. Had to drive home 20 miles at 10 mph because there was a 4 hour wait for tow trucks.

I know i said i would get pictures up soon, but i was waiting to hear from my insurance agency to give me the bad (i was hoping for good!) news. After an investigation, they ruled it as my fault, citing following too closely as the main reason for it happening. The way the report was typed up, it wasnt apparent what happened, and there were no pictures to send to the insurance. They never called my witnesses....thanks ALLIED INSURANCE AGENCY! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
So, as of yet, im still debating whether i should sink the money into a nice winch bumper, or just go with a stock bumper. Im thinking stock, as i want a dedicated trail rig anyway, somewhere down the line. Time will tell.

and, as promised, heres the carnage.


My main damage point. See the part with the yellow sticker, over near my brushguard support? well, that is pushed UP, while my hood latch is pushed DOWN. Its pretty well pretzeled. Its gonna take alot of tuggin and pushin to get it straight again.



I love to tell people that my trooper likes to bully around small import cars.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
-J <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
Oh, PS, Jerry, ill be getting in touch with you again nearer this weekend, so i can come down to get the parts and stuff. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

After an investigation, they ruled it as my fault, citing following too closely as the main reason for it happening.

While it was only a minor accident, I am glad nobody was hurt and damage to the Troop was not more severe. Mostly cosmetic and probably some ego bruising. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But...I doubt there is much you or your witness could have said to mitigate your fault in this incident. I know you were hoping for a better ruling and under the umbrella of common sense, the guy you hit should have been at least partially to blame. But, if you are behind someone, it is 100% your responsibility to not hit them. No lecturing here, I have been in the same spot and very irritated at my fellow driver in front of me. But, they could be driving backwards, singing show tunes, swerving all over the place, but if you touch them, it is most likely going to be your fault. It is your job to be in control of your vehicle 100% of the time and this includes adequate stopping distance. If someone is acting stupid, give them room.

Why is this not lecturing? Because I have been there. Luckily I did not hit the panel van that was forced to stop short in front of me and I did not hit the state cop going the other way as I skidded into the oncoming lane. I did get a ticket for it, though. The cop was not amused.

Also, if you happen to have some yahoo who has chosen to be less than intelligent in their driving manner, just make sure they are either waaaaay ahead of you, or behind you. If they are far ahead of you, there is nothing to worry about. If they are behind you, just be smart, but there is a ton of fun to be had. Oh yeah, watch out for those darn cats that dart out into the street and cause you to slow abruptly. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We don't have to be perfect, we just have not be at fault.

Michael

This was before my Isuzu (best I can do for content).

Years ago, I was 3rd in line at a stoplight one night. The road was three lanes wide on each side in Mesa, AZ.

It turned green, we all left, accellerating and spreading out as we worked up to 45 mph.

About 50 yards past the light, the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes. I slammed on mine. He came to a dead stop. I came to a dead stop--after I hit his rear end. It wasn't a setup, the guy didn't see that some prankster had but a white/orange reflective construction barracade in the road until the last second; the car in front of him had simply driven around it but the guy I hit was boxed in and just slammed the brakes.

I was at fault, same reason as you (following too close). I went to the library, pulled the lawbook, copied the pages, and went to court. I argued to the judge that on that same street, there were sidewalks with no "break" between the sidewalk and the street (sidwalks ran up against the street). By the letter of the law, if I was doing 45 mph and a kid riding their bicycle towards me fell into the street 5 feet in front of me, I was responsible to stop.

He agreed this was both the legal law, and impossible under the laws of physics.

I then explained the dynamics of stoplights, and got him and the officers in the room (who wrote the ticket) to agree they both leave a stoplight and slowly spread out. It's a generally accepted practice. (A lawyer her could make a tie into generally accepted legal precidents; there's a legal name for it. I didn't.)

I then tied the brake slamming into an unexpected event that was beyond my control, much like the kid on a bike. The judge agreed, and dismissed the ticket.

With that being said, there was no fine, no points on my license, nothing. But in the insruance companies eyes, I was still 100% at fault and had to pay. To hire a lawyer to fight it would cost even more, even with a police report and the "mad braker's" personal statement.

As an aside, many times insurance companies ignore witneses and go with the physical evidence, as no matter what, people will generally lie to back up their friends. More so if they're relatives. Not a lot of personal integrity in this world.

Your damage doesn't look too bad, but a lot of minor worok to fix. Stout front end. Mostly, I'm glad no one was hurt.

I would just run it like that. Maybe get a comealong to reshape the bumper and a new hood. Save your money for the solid axle. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Ya know I had quite a similar type of accident in my old trooper, almost the exact same damage too.

I was going down a very steep hill in Seattle, in the rain, with the left lane next to me backed up for the left turn. As I was going down the hill someone decided to dart out of the left lane and into my lane about 15 feet in front of me. Needless to say, there was not enough time to react and the street was slick so I slid right into his titanium bumper, smashing up my brush guard, lights, grill, rad. support and hood. And of course no damage to his car..

It was deemed his fault. The insurance co. declared my car totaled and gave me 2100 bones..

Wow, in Mass you would be out a bunch of money for that. You strike someone you are at fault. No contest. Only way out is if other party is breaking the law. Driving drunk, running a red light etc.

Though I do mourn the decrease in personal integrity and personal responsibility, I feel obliged to note that this is also lost on the insurance side of the equation -- IMHO, there is prescious little accountability, responsibility, or integrity from insurance, and I'd suggest that they are less motivated to go with physical evidence and more motivated to go with the quickest solution that costs them the least money... which equates to placing as much blame on the insured as possible, and then jacking up their rates to 'insure' that money continues to be made in the long run.

Ethically, insurance companies are bankrupt, but financially, there are few better investments available. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Randii

Michael, i understand completely that you werent lecturing. Ive heard the same thing repeatedly from many people, and i agree 100%! I am not going to try to blame it *all* on him, but it would help my ego if the insurance company would have said it was like....49% his fault, and 51% my fault. Heck, i dont have to pay a penny, out of pocket, (except for the higher rates, and for my truck) so im ok with whatever situation arises. It sucks that it happened, but im not crying over spilt milk, ya know?

Also, insurance companies suck for the main reason that Randy stated. They are in it for the money, and nothing else. The only thing that was comforting, was that my claim (adjuster? investigator lady?) was really really nice, and that after reviewing the police report, etc., she went to several of her superiors to try to get them to change their minds. But, alas, they didnt, so now my insurance company is paying for his car (except for that stupid- <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> underglow, which is coming out of his pocket. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

The only thing that is still ticking me off (and again, theres no reason to be ticked about it, im just stating that:) Until the accident, I had a clean record. No moving violations, no wrecks, (no warrants <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />)nothing. He had been in at least one wreck, he had gotten a ticket for his stereo being too loud, and he had gotten a speeding ticket. The golden child (so to speak <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />) is the one who has to pay for the bad kids mistake. Doesnt seem fair. But, i guess life isnt, is it?
-J <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />