If I could turn back time

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
If I could turn back time
29
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 6:32pm
If I could turn back time. If I could find a way. I would have parked my 99 Nissan Sentra in a different parking place on that day.

Because....

I now have a car that will not operate. The back passenger side door is jammed and partly crushed. The back side of the car is smashed in. The back portion of the bumper is dislodged. I wasn't in the car. It was parked. No witnesses. No nothing.

It looks as if some BIG truck/SUV has run its tires across the side of my car. Instead of paint residue, it is rubber.

It was Friday afternoon, I left work. On my way to the Y, I noticed a terrible sound coming from the back portion of my car. You know, looks can be deceiving. The back end looks perfectly fine until you round the corner to the passenger side. I was taken back by what I saw.

I took my car by to a local tire shop. Nothing was rubbing the tire. The tire and wheel near the mangled mess are actually untouched. So, where was the noise coming from? I still don't know. However, I continued to drive the car. Actually, I didn't drive over 45 mph because I feared my bumper would fly off. Sunday, it decided that it wasn't going to perform for me anymore. :(

You know, I thought being shot in the butt wouldn't affect your head. Goes to show you what I know.

People's reactions, well, they are worth mentioning. Like the tire shop guy..."Whoa!" The police woman, "M'mm honey. Somebody had to know they hit your car!"

Now, I'll be playing..."Meet your insurance deductible" and "Let's drive a rental car!"

But, that's okay. I mean, all weekend, I tried to come up with senerios that were much worse than mine, so I could not feel so down.

You know, I never knew how busy rental car places can be. This morning, I stood alone in the rental car agency for what seemed forever. Everyone had someone with them except me. Well, I stand to correct myself. The one round looking guy was alone. Yeah, the one who was just told by his insurance company that they were droping him. I wanted to cry like a little girl. (I'm saying it like Arnold would). I didn't cry BTW.

They gave me this huge car to drive. I'm not a big car person BTW. I feel like Noah on Noah's Ark. I'm driving this HUGE 2005 Dodge Magnum. Yes, I've already been asked if it has a "hammie."

You know what? People respect you in a bigger car. In my Sentra, I had no respect. Today, nobody was pulling out in front of me. Of course, I guess nobody wanted to pull out in front of Noah's Ark. LOL Unless you want hammie all over your butt, don't pull out in front of Noah!

Okay, I'll be navigating the Ark over to the Y tonight. Wish me luck.

Take care,

rj

rj

Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 197

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-16-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 7:20pm

A hit and run... that sucks outloud Bug!

Kim
Check out my

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 7:32pm
Hi rj,

Hit and run is a bummer.



Good thing you had the police to help you. lol. geesh!

I don't think your insurance will drop you like the big guy. (Maybe he hit you)

But they might raise you premiums a bit.

Good to see you back! Sorry about the car. Can it be fixed?

Laurie
Laurie

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http://homepage.mac.com/lauriedav/PhotoAlbum1.html http://hometown.aol.com/didoangst/myhomepage/photo.html
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 8:09pm
Thanks for the hug. I did some research over the weekend about hit and run accidents and insurance premiums. Normally, they will not increase your premium on a hit and run unless it is an occurance. But, you never know. Insurance companies can increase premiums. And, they could increase mine. I hope not! But, we'll see.

rj

rj

Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 197

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 8:10pm
I'll assume it can be fixed. The appraiser looked it over today. I'll probably hear from him sometime on Tuesday I hope. I'll have to meet my deductible of $250. Ugh! :(

rj

rj

Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 197

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 8:17pm
Depending on the state and the insurer, normally a hit and run accident is not chargeable... however, some companies give a loss free discount, and that is where you can lose on such a claim. If your company does not, you should be ok.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 8:39pm
Yeah, that's what I read when doing my research over the weekend.

I'm going to call the rental agency on Tuesday. I didn't want an expensive car to drive as a rental car. My insurance company called in a reservation number and the rental agency picked me up. I am covered $30 a day up to 900 max on rental. I want to make sure they are only charging my insurance $30 day. I would have gladly taken a Neon or Cavalier, but they didn't have a compact car on the lot!

:) rj


Edited 9/20/2004 8:40 pm ET ET by just_call_me_rj

rj

Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 197

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 9:01pm
Usually they have an account with the insurer, so I'd not worry. You would have heard you owed more. Sometimes body shops are behind and don't get to your car right away. My ex's was in for 3 months before we got it back, but the other party's insurer was paying for our rental... 25 X 90...

How old is your car? Check state law on after market parts usage and see if it is allowed... if possible, you wish to avoid such parts. NH requires manufacturer parts if the car is less than 2 years old.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 9:32pm
My car is a 99 model-- 5 years old.

I would prefer new manufacturer parts. I think (not 100% sure) that in NC you get a choice. If you choose new parts, the insurance company will most likely total the car if the cost exceeds the car's worth. You can opt to have the car repaired with used parts. I know this because in 1995, I was hit in the rearend by a Lincoln Towncar. It wasn't my fault. The insurance company gave me a choice new parts or used. New parts forced the company to total the car. I chose not to have the car repaired because the frame was messed up. Plus, the repair process would have required the body shop to cut off the rear end of the car. I had recently at that time heard of horror stories of rear end replacements that became dislodged while driving. Can you imagine losing your rear end? LOL

Really, I'm body shop ignorant. I mean, I don't know what the repair process will be for this car. I do know that my tire sticks way out now. LOL I have the "racecar" look on that one side. The impact pushed the body in so much as to pull out the underneath of the metal, which gives it a "racecar" look. Okay, so I sound like a nut.

I guess that I'll do my necessary research when I'm presented with the verdict. I'll continue to assume that it can be repaired. Surely, they'll not total my Sentra. His name is Leo BTW. :)

rj

rj

Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 197

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 9:41pm
Not that you'll know the answer, but I'm just curious. Someone told me that the way my car was designed that it wasn't possible to replace just the area that had the impact. They said that my car was put together in pieces and that an entire section would have to be replaced. I wonder if that is true? H'mmm...

rj

rj

Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 197

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 10:02pm
Believe it or not, I am listening to Cher sing that same song but I'm sure it is not over a car. I am so sorry you had to go thru this. People can be such a**holes when then have no money or time. Everyone seems to be in a rush every day of the week and do not care about one another. Who do we blame, I guess no one, it is to each his own. Again, sorry for your loss and troubles. Huge Huggs and the song, "Don't worry, be happy."

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