Last night I was leaving work and thought I'd change it up a bit. Why not crash the tow vehicle? After all, I had such good luck reliability-wise with the race car...it was only a matter of time before I broke something else.

So here's the scenario. Three of us (me in back) in a left turn lane. Light goes yellow. Others start to stop. Car number one goes left. Car number two goes left. Car number three (that would be me) goes left. Oncoming S-10 Blazer decides "I really want to make this light." We were at least 2.5 seconds or more into the yellow and it turned red as I started to move. The results are as follows.

Hey, it didn't used to look like that...


No, that is not lipstick.


Nobody was hurt BTW. I actualloy didn't even feel the impact, I just heard it. I guess there's something to be said for a 3-ton SUV.

We shall see what the insurance thing does. The rule (AFAIK) is that a car that is already in an intersection, under yellow light, has right of way. Regardless, this jackass quite obviously was trying to "make the light" and crossed when it turned red (I watched the light change). His story is, as you can imagine, different from mine...so I'll leave it to the insurance companies to settle. That's about all I can do.

I'm hoping we total it, since the frame is bent and other itens are badly tweaked (roof buckled, door hinges mangled, wheels fooked...). If it's a total, I'll go looking for something big and diesel. Otherwise...there might be a loaded 99 big block Suburban for sale on the cheap.

 

Man, sorry to hear that! I hate people that are trying too hard to make a ******* light risking theirs and everybody elses lives out there!!!

GLAD YOU GUYS WERE OK!!!

 

damn.. sorry to hear that Karl. At least you're ok! Too bad there wasn't one of those stupid cameras taking pictures of people entering the intersection when the light goes red... It would have been the first time they would be good for something. On another note... my insurance company (Nationwide ) just decided to cancel my policies.. because of the number of non-fault accidents I've had in the last 5 years.... I wish I had known.. cause usually if somebody cuts into my lane.. I won't move. Guess I will have to start yielding to dumbasses from now on.


[Modified by XR4racer, 11:49 PM 10/30/2002]

 

wow... sorry to hear about that Karl. Hopefully the insurance fallout won't be too bad.

 

On highway 55 in Research Triangle Park (where I work). I was turning onto I-40 to go home.

Quote from the responding officer:

"I'm not here to say who's fault it is. I'm here to write down what you say, and what he says, and that's it. It's up to the insurance companies from here."

Whic, honestly, is good, at least in this case...this cop would be going "his word against his" so who's to say. The good news is that the guy I collected was a super nice guy and we agreed to let the insurance companies handle it. He's building, of all things, a Bradley GT circle track car. He's got a CDL and respects road racing. When we shook hands and left the scene, the dialogue was, "I'll see you on track." A pity to meet such a person under such circumstances.

Best case = truck is totalled I'm not at fault.
Worst case = truck is "fixed," I'm at fault.

Here's hoping the insurance company covers my ***...they have done so in the past.

 

sucks.

glad no one got hurt.


[Modified by civicrr, 9:14 PM 10/30/2002]

 

Cool.
Karl's gremlins are finished roaming around and are back at home.

Sucks for Karl, but at least the rest of us are safer now.

Scott, who thinks the deer incident must have scared them into returning home.

 

Good gravy! Glad you're ok man, but I'm starting to believe in your "bad luck" hex, or whatever they say you have. Do mom a favor, stay away from the Toyota.

 

Wow, that really sucks, Karl. I'm sorry... you seem to have an automotive black cloud following you around this year...

At least in VA, the above statement is true... for the first car in the intersection when the light turns yellow. The second (and third) car shouldn't be in the intersection if the first one is.

But he ran the red light... so I think it's a toss up. Good luck with the insurance company.

 

Karl-

That really sucks, but from the subject line I really expected to see this:



That being said, if you could prove that the guy was speeding when he ran the light, you would have a very good case.

Good luck!

Scott


[Modified by celica73, 12:58 PM 10/31/2002]


[Modified by celica73, 1:00 PM 10/31/2002]

 

Really? It doesn't look that bad at all. And swapping the frame might be less expensive than totalling it (depends on the year/mileage and all that crap).

 

A lot will depend on what NC law says. I got in EXACTLY the same accident in Washington state and got royally boned. The problem in my case is that the law stipulates that an accident is prima facie evidence (true "on its face") that the left turner didn't yield the right of way - and is therefore at fault.

In my case, the guy ran the red (and admitted as much in court), was coming back from lunch at a local tavern and stunk of Rainier beer (local cheap crap, I got slapped down by the judge for bringing it up because I'm not an "expert"), and had a passenger in the car that bailed and walked off (who the driver subsequently denied knowing the existance of).

The trial (with the local prosecuter, cop, and deadbeat guy who hit me all sitting happily togehter) was a dead lock against me. I spent money on a lawyer to defend me in a case that I couldn't win - again, because of the way the law was worded. Of course, the mouthpiece didn't mention that and I didn't learn it until after I paid my fine. Of course, the insurance company had opinions after that.

Find and read the actual code now, before the discussions begin...

Kirk

 

While I'm pretty sure I wasn't at fault, it will be in keeping with my luck that I'll end up with a busted *** truck...and higher insurance payments to go along with it.

Great.

 

Man, you can't catch a break can you? Did you smash a mirror or twelve a year or two ago?

Have a , that's about all you can do now.

Matt

-oh, and stay the hell away from my chit...

 

At least you have a nice orange MG shelf in your garage!

Drew - Who used to be amused by Karl's propensity to bust **** but is now starting to feel bad for him

 

They can do that??!!! How can they drop you? Its not your fault if you become the target of many a roadgoing jackass.

 

I think you were afraid that my recent ability to bust **** was threatening your superpower... so you went and got yourself one hell of a door ding! Good plan!

I was sorry to hear about this. At least you were in a tank so no harm came to you. Hope all works out with the insurance.

r2x ~ who wants a ride if Rice gets a diesel... mmmm... hell, I'll settle for listening to it run...

 

Ya mean listening to your two Miatas clatter isn't the same as listening to a diesel clatter?

Scott

 

Have you ever considered a different sport?

Warren

 

Not the same AT ALL! And the black car ticks, get it right. The yellow car just sounds sick. The dissambly will commence this weekend...

I racing...

 

Man, you're my hero.... I've drempt about doing that. I have a pretty good ding in a rear quarter and I keep telling my dad that on any given day I could probably just let someone hit me and get the insurance campany to fix it on their tab.

 

SHEEE-IT, man! i thought you were in a wreck! i think that'll buff out!
Remember Elite Auto Body, Kevin, 942-2070. good luck!
wildman

 

Crap. That sucks, Shultz. Time for an Escalade!

 

... or a tank.

 

If you've ever by chance heard how Karl's friend almost lost his thumb in a mountain biking incident... you'd think this might not be the answer