911 vs 4x4

[gerard vaglio]

Nice day today.

IÕm running errands, traffic moving slowly, 5mph, I change lanes. No problem.

IÕm sitting in my lane for about 6 seconds moving about 2mph when a raised 4x4 pickup to my left turns its tires and actually drives into the side of my car? WTF? He hits me in the front of the drivers side door and front quarter panel around the wheel well. We are each moving about 2mph so not much excitement, just a sad crunching sound.

I look up at driver but I canÕt see him, heÕs too high, then I realize he probably canÕt see my car at all?

Okay, I wasnÕt doing anything wrong and there was no way to avoid this. ItÕs just one of those big 4x4, little 911 moments I sometimes think about. I call the cops, the cop shows up and listens to my story. Then he listens to the other guys story only the other guys story is different. In the other guys mind we were both lane changing at the same time and we hit each other?

We didnÕt hit each other, his front bumper pushed into the side of my car, IÕve had time to come to a complete stop and then start moving again in a straight line at 2mph.

The cop believes the other guy and writes up the report that way? Am I screwed?

This evening I go to the police station and fill out a statement again explain what happened.

IÕm screwed right?

Has anyone else had a 4x4 moment yet? Should I have done something differently? What is my insurance company going to do? Why did I get out of bed this morning?

[strother]

Man, that is a sad story. Did anyone get a ticket? How much will the damage to your 911 cost to repair? If you hope to have the 4x4 driver pay for the damage, you probably have a hard road ahead of you. Your insurance company will probably not fight the driver or his insurance company for you. Did you get his insurance information? I wouldn't even call my insurance company -- I'd call his and file a claim, and if it wasn't taken care of, I'd file a lawsuit with the expectation that I'd probably fail.

Like I said, a hard road ahead of you... It depends on the additional facts.

[cstreit]

You'll have to take it up with your insurance company. IN a case like this I think the cop is not supposed to assign blame in the police report. Additionally I might also go down to the station and ask for an amendment to be put on the police report.

[gerard vaglio]

Spoke with my insurance company today, they were very helpful, hmm, that's not suppose to happen, right?

They said they would submit the claim according to MY discription of the accident. They also told me that my premiums would not go up for making this claim because I did not contribute 50% of the responsibility for the accident.

I have a $500 deductible, so the 4x4 driver didn't do me any favors but, whaddya gonna do?

Not to equate youth with carelessness but the 4x4 driver was 25 years old and when I was 25 I was careless. I honestly don't believe he saw me. The 4x4 was lifted higher then stock which is the fashion but it makes it difficult to see 911s right next to you.

Will keep you posted, in the meantime, don't get to close to those 4x4s.

[wastintime]

OMG, that sucks... that's about as bad as the M3 that backed into my parked car with me holding the horn down and screaming at him.

I don't know what to say other than that I feel for you... and not all of us young guys are careless... off the racetrack anyway.

[DavidI]

Gerard, I would go to the police station and ask to speak to the officer who wrote the report. You will probably be advised to speak to the Traffic Sergeant. Because it is now later than working hours, you most likely will be told to come between the hours of X and Y. Return during those hours and politely, DEMAND to speak to the Traffic Sergeant. When you meet with this person, have your story straight (correct location, time, and circumstances) and explain it to him/her. Leave contact information and request to be contacted. You may be able to have the report amended with a supplemental report written. You have nothing to lose but your time.

Good luck, David

[lateapex911]

That sucks. When something happens like that, I leavce my car in the EXACT spot it stopped at, and request, or demand the other driver does as well.

Will it make a difference? Sometimes it will prove that the "other" story is just impossible. Cops are likely to write the incident up in such a way as to be personally uninvilved and unimpeachable later. In other words, they go "low risk" for their own good every time. So I also try to get a witness to stay to back up my side of the story. Often when two parties are at odds, and the physical evidence is not present, a cop has no choice. Having a matching story can make a difference. I was a passenger in a car in a similar incident, and I offered to "reimburse" a witness their time for lost wages. The other driver was charged as both stories jived, and my driver's insurance co never knew anything happened.

[strother]

"When something happens like that, I leavce my car in the EXACT spot it stopped at, and request, or demand the other driver does as well."

In Texas, you're ticketed if you are able to move you car and you leave it in the way of traffic

[DavidI]

It is safest to move the cars out of traffic so no other cars become involved in an accident as well. That includes the parties involved not getting hit by cars as well.

David

[gerard vaglio]

Thanks for all the support, David, I'll give it a shot.

Just to put things into perspective, nobody was hurt, and not a lot of damage to my car really, quarter panel and door thats it. It's more a pain in the neck then anything else.

The car had a lousy paint job on it anyway. I wanted to ask if the insurance company will give me a check or will they only give it to the body shop. Not trying to get away with anything, I was just thinking I could do some work myself , bolt, unbolt panels and get the rest of the car painted with my own money.

Again, you guys have been great, I love this forum.

[Ken911]

you know down here in miami they just fire a warning shot accross the hood when the horn doesnt work.