Accident in my 944S last night - car is smashed bad.

944S Boyeee · 12-24-2003, 08:16 AM

What a Christmas gift I got last night - my 88' 944S is basically a write off I think.

Was out shopping - waiting to take a left turn across two lanes of traffic.

Oncoming giant SUV gives me the headlight flash to go.

I pull out and start taking a left.

Guy coming behind the SUV pulls around the stopped SUV and plows into my passenger door at full speed (no skid marks from him braking). My girlfriend is only alive today because we were in a Porsche - if we were in my Suzuki Sidekick, he would have drove right through us.

She basically has bodylash - she can't move at all. She is still pulling glass out of her hair. My right hip is so sore and my left wrist is not able to move.

My sister is taking pics right now and I will post them as soon as I get them.

It doesn't look good - the door is basically gone - jaws of life were used to open it to get the girlfriend out. My rocker panel is pushed in so it hits the floor. The back wheel-well took a hit and the back rim has chunks out of it. The front fender is pushed in so far that my front tire is almost totally exposed. It looks like basically the whole passenger side of the car is pushed in like a foot.

I don't know if anyone can judge if it's a write-off without pics - but after you see the pics, let me know.

I haven't talked with an adjuster yet (not till Monday now) - but the cop at the scene said he figured the insurance would go in my favor, yet the insurance agent said anyone cutting across traffic is at fault. My only thing is that I was fully past the SUV when I got hit. It wasn't like my nose was sticking out or something - he hit me fully on the side - right on the door handle - so he had to have seen me. I figure he was playing with the stereo or something and just didn't see me, cause he didn't put on his brakes at all.

The impact was wicked - the girlfriend was drinking coffee and it ended up all over me and I was covered in glass also. The inside door panel is pushed in to the point where it hits the glove compartment and I can't open the glove compartment. I noticed my stereo is now 1 inch lower than before. You have to see the pics to get a better idea - but just picture what a car would look like if it was hit at a fast speed flush on the door.

Merry Christmas to all and I'll talk soon after I get back from X-mas vacation.

P.S. - for anyone who has been through this, how does it work? Will they write-off the car, then give me money or am I screwed out of a car here. What is the deal with buying it back? Thanks all.

I'm so sad.

Jeff (944S Boyeee)

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

dude, I am so sorry. You don't know how many times I've cursed damn SUV drivers that think they are immune to the rules of the road just because they have 4wd. This time of year, people drive even worse, it seems to me.

So I am guessing that the car that plowed into you will be paying for the repairs, etc? It is their fault, after all. In most situations, the person taking a left turn would be at fault, but they swerved around a car in front of them to hit you, meaning that they were probably doing something illegal/irresponsible. Was it a 2-lane road? or was what the driver did illegal? If so, you might have a 968 in your driveway before too long.

Sorry about the accident. Hope everything turns out okay.

scheistermeiste · 12-24-2003, 08:34 AM

man that sucks, im sorry. ive been in a few accedents but none too bad. at least no one is dead. and let me guess, the suv just has a scratch on his bumper huh? did the other driver say anything to you? and it sounds like that dash is cracked now...

TheCooler · 12-24-2003, 08:42 AM

Glad to hear you and your girlfriend are not severly harmed. I delt with the same thing about 3 monthes ago. Guy ran a stop sign and tboned me and i went under a parked acura tl. These cars save lifes. I cant believe how safe these things were built. All I have to say is get a good lawyer and just be happy you and your gf are safe this christmas.

Dark Skies · 12-24-2003, 10:11 AM

Sorry to hear about your accident, chap. Crappy time of the year for it (like any time is a good time). Glad it was just bruises and aches rather than breaks.

Seems to me that the insurance should go your way (assuming US law is broadly in line with UK traffic regulations). If you're already straightend up on the main road (where you have priority right of way) and a driver overtakes another vehicle at a junction, then pulls out into that main road then the liability falls to that driver.

Did the cop write anyone up? You need to find out if the other guy was cited for anything as it'll go in your favour to demonstrate the standard of driving by the other chap. Any witnesses (as in names and addresses ) to call upon?

Over here older cars are generally written off if the damage (repairs) exceed two thirds of the value of the car.

todwic · todwic's Garage

Man, I'm glad you're mostly alright. Side impacts are viscous. I was in a chevette that hydroplaned at 70. I was the passenger, and the passenger got to watch two cars drill it right into his door. I pulled glass out of my head for months. Just something for your g/f to look forward to. Good Luck.

Macfreak007 · 12-24-2003, 11:51 AM

944s boyeee, I just got done finishing up all of the stuff from my accident a while ago. They will total your car, well i am about 95% sure. My accident was much like your only i got hit from behind, some instance though, omeone came around another driver and didn't see me waiting to turn. had no time to stop. Drop me an email i can give you more in depth advice about insurance stuff. I actually made out like a bandit with the insurance company and i ended up buying a very nice replacement 944. The really important thing is that everyone is safe. Accidents are really scary, but the 944 is designed surprisingly well to take the impact of them. This is mine after being hit at 45+ from behind...

I ended up proving, through many methods that my car was worth alot and that i should be reimbursed a hefty ammount. again email me if you need any advice, what is your insurance company? and i will be able to fully describe my situationa dn exactly how much money i got for my car etc. so you will have an example for the insurance company. Good Luck, I feel your pain, beleive me I really do!

also, the insurance company will wrie the car off, then my suggestion is to buy it back from them, for something like $200, I think that is what mine was, and then part it out, you can make alot of money doing that.

ae1969 · 12:05 PM

I am glad you are fine. Take care over the holiday season....

P.S ... if you have a chance... buy the car back!

ronin · 12-24-2003, 12:29 PM

glad to see that both of you are o.k.!!

as for the fault issue, you did cross traffic which initially puts the blame on you, but since the SUV did go around another vehicle there is the possibility of negligence on his part, (as you already stated) especially if it was on a two-lane road. you will have to be relentless in pursuing this case, as you do have the initial (and most heavy) evidence against you. Dark Skies makes a good point in asking who was cited and for what. (as you didn't specify in your post) I am assuming that you were not cited since the "cop" said the case was in your favor? if so, then this will go a long way for helping you win. Macfrak also makes a very good case for being relentlesss with the insurance company, as you want to be sure that you get the most for the car you can. he'll definitely be a lot of help in how to deal with the insurance since he unfortunately had to do this as well. the outcome of this case will depend largely on how hard you push to get what you need

if you need any help, p.m. me. I do mostly criminal (misdemeanor) cases but I should at least be able to answer a few questions for you. I know it's not easy, but don't try to let this get you down over the holidays! who knows, like Mac said, perhaps you could be starting the new year in a 968

btw: if you get to keep the car and decide to part it out, if the dash is still straight, I got dibs!

Brando · Brando's Garage

terribly sorry to hear of one crappy christmas present like that

i have to agree with porsches being made to save lives. In any other car you'd probably be road pizza. I think most of us can attest to the survivability rate of porsche owners in accidents.

Hope you heal up well and get the insurance taken care of. try to have the best christmas you can, take care.

Dark Skies · 12-24-2003, 01:28 PM

Am I reading this right? I was under the impression that the SUV was stationary and courteously allowing 944S Boyeee to make his move. Then a guy (impatiently?) overtakes the SUV and impacts with 944S Boyeee's car.

Did the accident occur entering a main road or simply pulling across the lanes into a lesser road?

What was the speed limit in force? Sounds like the guy was going a bit to do that kind of damage.

944boyfutureman · 12-24-2003, 01:33 PM

Well... its too bad about your wreck. Its good that no one was permanently injured. This may be bad luck however, I just bought a 944. Several of my neighbors own SUVs.

ronin · 12-24-2003, 01:33 PM

hmm, you made me do a double-take. I thought that the car that hit him was also an SUV. perhaps not. doesn't really matter. everything else is still the same

Dark Skies · 12-24-2003, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ronin
hmm, you made me do a double-take. I thought that the car that hit him was also an SUV. perhaps not. doesn't really matter. everything else is still the same

Well over here that'd make the SUV driver innocent!

ronin · 12-24-2003, 01:36 PM

because he was driving an SUV??

Dark Skies · 12-24-2003, 01:39 PM

No, because he was stationary and wasn't the guy that rammed Boyeee's car.

ronin · 12-24-2003, 01:57 PM

basically yes. however, one problem here is that it is not legal for someone to give signals to induce another driver to take certain actions. seldom ever gets followed through on though

todwic · todwic's Garage

But does that make the SUV liable? I think not.

ronin · 12-24-2003, 02:02 PM

naaah, too hard to prove

Dark Skies · 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ronin

basically yes. however, one problem here is that it is not legal for someone to give signals to induce another driver to take certain actions. seldom ever gets followed through on though

naaah, too hard to prove

Agreed. Over here, flashing your headlamps is an alternative means of warning of a hazard. You might, for example, use it on a tight bend at night to warn others of your approach instead of using your horn (illegal to sound a horn after 11 PM at night unless there are extentuating circumstances) or to notify a car approaching in a dip to lower their headlamps. It's also used in poor visability to warn of your presence - say in heavy rain when you fear you may be in a vehicle's blind spot and using the horn might be a confusing / less effective alternative.

However it's use now become somewhat ambiguous because truckers / bikers / car drivers use it as a form of greeting, warning of a speed trap (or hazard ahead), to allow someone to pull out etc. etc. It's also used by aggressive tailgaiting wankers whilst they try to bulldoze slower drivers out of the way. I'm guessing the situation is pretty much the same in the USA / Canada.

Consequently it'd be easy for a driver to claim that they weren't waving you out but warning of an impending hazard (such as the guy behind is approaching fast - he may well overtake because he can't stop in time). So the SUV guy would have that get-out unless he threw his hands up to it during his statement to the cop.

I wonder how the defence of common practice (with respect to inducing an action using headlamps) would hold up in Boysee's case? I would imagine traffic violations are specific liability offences (as they are here) and only counted as a mitigating factor in severe penalty cases (involving serious injury / death).