Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Brad Johnson on December 21, 2009, 07:26:43 PM
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About 4:00 this afternoon an elderly lady ran a stoplight and totaled the Vic. She was going the speed limit - 45 mph - and hit it square on the front quarter panel, spinning me around into a truck crossing the intersection from the other direction. I was lucky, though. She was in a small SUV and hit me on the heavy end of the car, forward of the center of gravity. All it did was spin the front around, the sheer mass of the Vic and the resulting rotation absorbing a huge chunk of the impact energy (enough to deform the entire body of the car, creasing it aross the roofline beginning at the B-pillar). If she'd hit a foot or two farther back it would have pushed the car straight sideways, transferring most of the energy into the passenger compartment. All I have is a little soreness in my midsection from the sudden sideways shift and a bruise on my wrist where it hit the steering wheel.
The driver of the SUV was subject to a full frontal impact. She was injured pretty badly. She was dazed and only partially responsive when they loaded her into the ambulance. Hope she's okay. Being that her light had been red for at least 20 or 30 seconds, no skid marks, and by all accounts she hit me going the speed limit, they're suspecting she might have had some kind of underlying condition that cause her to blatantly disregard the light.
I'd just done a ton of preventive maintenance and 100k service stuff to the car. It was ready to rock and roll for another 100k. I wouldn't have any trouble finding another one, but it definitely won't be as well maintained as mine. That's going to suck greatly.
I suppose it's off to fight with her insurance company tomorrow. I have to get something arranged because we're supposed to go to Breckenridge on Wedsday... in my car.
Brad
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Glad you're ok, and sorry about your car.
I had a similar incident back in 2001. I had just bought an immaculate 1991 F-150. A kid ran a red light at 45 mph as I was turning left and put the front end of my truck in the passenger seat. I walked away with bumps, bruises and a few friction burns. Had anyone been in that passenger seat, they'd have been cut in half.
That truck was showroom perfect with a 2 inch stack of maintenance records. After trying for weeks to find a similar replacement (and failing miserably), I bought a new F-150. Still angers me to this day.
By the way you're going to be really sore tomorrow, and probably for the next 3-4 days. =|
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Good thing you're OK. The car can be replaced. You are a little harder.
I got T-boned in 1999 while in college. Lady pulled through an intersection and hit me as I went by. The brush guards on her Jeep ripped open the rear quarter panel on my '92 Civic like a can opener. I suddenly found myself facing south in the northbound lanes of a highway leading out of Prescott, AZ. I was pissed when her insurance decided to repair the car rather than total it. I even had a new car picked out (2000 Subaru Imprezza wagon). I was not happy when I had to get my deposit back from the dealer. Kept that damned Civic for another 8 years.
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Must be the day for Crown Vics to get smacked. I had to detour around an accident tonight involving a Vic and an older Ford Ranger. Looked like the Vic won, but neither one was in great shape. Looked like the Vic t-boned the Ranger.
Sorry to hear about your car. Sucks to have taken pains all those years, and then watch it all disappear.
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I'm glad you're still among us.
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I wouldn't have any trouble finding another one, but it definitely won't be as well maintained as mine.
Maybe PTK can sell you his. ???
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That sucks man, hopefully she has good insurance and you are ok!
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Welcome to the fun rides. Glad you came out with relatively minor owies. Do be sure you get them looked at both "right away" and "after a while" to make sure nothing niggling lingered until it was the most inconvenient time to flare up.
As you are probably aware, it is not a good idea to settle with the insuraqnce companies (yours as well as hers) too soon. I'm still holding mine at bay about resolving the medical claims 3 1/2 months after the Element was turned into an Isotope.
After the initial inconvenience and anger subsides, remember to hold on for the real inconvenience and anger that comes with the discovery that there is never going to be another one close enough to your old ride to make up for the inconvenience and anger. You may also find you get pissed off about it on a recurring basis.
On the other hand, nothing major on you seems to have been bent, folded, stapled or otherwise mutilated.
stay safe.
skidmark
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I'm still holding mine at bay about resolving the medical claims 3 1/2 months after the Element was turned into an Isotope.
Okay, that's just damned funny... =D
Brad
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Glad you're ok, and sorry about your car.
This ^^
Good luck finding a replacement.
Being that her light had been red for at least 20 or 30 seconds, no skid marks, and by all accounts she hit me going the speed limit, they're suspecting she might have had some kind of underlying condition that cause her to blatantly disregard the light.
Like being asleep or not paying attention?
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Okay, that's just damned funny...
Well, you've still got a sense of humor. That, or you're delusional.
You're very lucky, too.
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Glad to hear you're okay, but I'm sorry about your car. Those are such just-plain-good cars that I'm always mad when a nice one gets taken out of service :(
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Well, you've still got a sense of humor. That, or you're delusional.
Well, according to most people...
Brad
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Don't worry, you'll probably get a couple hundred for it - you know, NADA wholesale :mad:
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Glad to hear you're okay. Unfortunately, the major suck part is about to begin....