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Some truck killed my car

S

Scootin159

Diamond Member
And it was my fault 😱:frown:

Anyways, Here is the damages:

Truck will need a new bumper and hood & front fender need a little 'tweaking', but nothing that you wouldn't know without REALLY looking at it. (2001 Dodge Ram 1500)

3rd car involved (we slid into) needs a new bumper & grill along with some supports behind the bumper, but it didn't penetrate to the headlights. (1996? Pontiac Grand Am)

My car needs: New right-side fender, new hood, new headlight/turn signal combo on right-side, new radiator & new grill. As far as I can tell the engine & frame are in fine condition. The passenger side door does have a little trouble closing completely, but it does close & latch (lock even works & everything). Most of the damage is confined to the fender & hood (the truck's bumper caught it on the way over). I'm actually not sure the bumper will actually need replacing now that I think about it. I think it just popped off when the fender cumpled. Oh, the airbox on top of the engine is pretty well shattered, but I think the engine it's self is in fine condition. Luckily it was on the opposite side of all the critical components (it was belt side, but dont' think it penetrated to the belts. If it did, it stopped right there. (1988 Pontiac Lemans)

Tickets: Failure to yeild right of way & expired registration (cop said I could get this dropped if I register in like the next day - will do if not totaled, otherwise I'll just turn in the plates. BTW, it expired friday).

How much $$$ do you think I'll end up paying out of all this? I "think" my insurance should cover their damages, but I'm not sure as I have MINIMUM insurance. This is in New York by the way. Any idea how much the tickets will be?

Anyways, if you're interested, here's what happened:

I pulled up to a stop sign on a back country road where I have never been. I see a car stopped across from me waiting to go left (I actually beat it, so I should go before it) & a car stopped on the road to the right of me waiting to go left as well. Once the car to my right went, I started going straight across the intersection, where I was promptly sideswiped by a truck coming from my right & slid into the car across from me. I went because I thought that it was a 4-way stop (the car did stop to my right, which confused me), but because he didn't have a stop sign, it is considered my fault (rightfully so). The truck hit my right fender, just above the tire & then slid us both untill his right tire caught the licence plate bracket of the grand am & ripped the bumper back from that point on (crappy plastic bumpers, peeled like an apple). I plan to plead guilty with an excuse in court & tell the judge exactly what happened, and why I went, along with proving that I did get it registered as soon as I noticed the error.

EDIT: BTW, nobody was in the most remote way injured, thankfully
 
By minimum, do you mean minimum full-coverage, which includes collison, or PLPD (Personal Liability and Property Damage, which would NOT cover collision?
 
What are the limits of liability?

Liability will cover the other two cars while your collision will cover yours (minus the deductible).

Sounds like you're easily into 5-digits.
 


<< What are the limits of liability?

Liability will cover the other two cars while your collision will cover yours (minus the deductible).

Sounds like you're easily into 5-digits. >>



I have whatever the minimum is....no collision or comprehensive or any of that stuff. It's an $800 car.

5 digits out of pocket? Shouldn't liability cover their expenses & I just have to cover my own (minus deductibles)?

BTW, I found one of mine in a junk yard that I should be able to get parts from
 
EDIT: BTW, nobody was in the most remote way injured, thankfully


Just wait till the lawyers get involved
rolleye.gif
 


<< EDIT: BTW, nobody was in the most remote way injured, thankfully


Just wait till the lawyers get involved
rolleye.gif
>>



No, seriously, there is no way anyone is gonna be able to claim injury in this one. Because the truck was slowing down to avoid the car that was turning it was going fairly slow. It was a soft enough collision that I was able to keep myself upright in my seat with ease throughout the whole thing.
 
Well, for the truck, I'm guessing around $5000. The Grand Am? Probably just shy of $1500.

Yours, well, if it's not driveable and only worth $800, I guess you're not out too much there (just your wheels...and that sucks, though).

Your liability should cover the other two vehicles. I imagine the minimum is at least $10,000.

Have you contacted your agent?
 


<< Have you contacted your agent? >>



Closed....will call tomarrow.

BTW, yeah, the truck & car are both completly driveable. My car would be with a new radiator & the strut tower straightend out (the suspension components are in fine shape as far as I can tell, other than the passenger wheel having a considerable (20*) camber, due to the fender being bent in. It looks like with it just being bent out it will be driveable. There is a LOT of room inside that engine bay, so I think it might be driveable with just some minor work. Oh yeah, I need a headlight as well (duh).
 
You're probably going to need a few pulls on the frame, too. That's like $100/pull (at least the last time I had to have that done)
 


<< You're probably going to need a few pulls on the frame, too. That's like $100/pull (at least the last time I had to have that done) >>



Please tell me this is more than the mechanic just pulling on the frame at that price. Anyways, best I can tell the frame is fine. The damage is mostly located to above the wheel (remember my car is low & the truck bumper is high). It was just about the height of the air filter on the engine (it's one with the big circular one on top of the engine). I did notice a belt (looked like accesory belt) laying on the ground though (cut). I hope it just got cut by the fender & that the engine really didn't get 'intruded on'.
 


<< Just prepare yourself when you get the estimate.

🙂 >>



well if it's over $800 it's new car time for me (~$500 or so this time). I really don't mind crappy cars, as long as they run. If it were legal, I would drive that car without any fenders, hood or bumper (I would require headlights though). Actually how legal would that be? The 'cockpit' part of the car starts right after the wheel, so throwing stones wouldn't be an issue. I could just attach a light/turn signal somewhere.
 


<< Hand signals. 🙂 >>



lol, I'll look like one of those nascar racers after a wreck (no fenders). I'll just get one of those off-roading lights for the passenger's side 🙂.
 


<<

<< Just prepare yourself when you get the estimate.

🙂 >>



well if it's over $800 it's new car time for me (~$500 or so this time). I really don't mind crappy cars, as long as they run. If it were legal, I would drive that car without any fenders, hood or bumper (I would require headlights though). Actually how legal would that be? The 'cockpit' part of the car starts right after the wheel, so throwing stones wouldn't be an issue. I could just attach a light/turn signal somewhere. >>



I'd whine at my parents until they're driven out of sanity if they ever said I had to drive a crap like that..
 


<< I'd whine at my parents until they're driven out of sanity if they ever said I had to drive a crap like that.. >>



Hmm....now where did I leave that flame-retardant suit?

hmmm
 


<< Well, for the truck, I'm guessing around $5000. The Grand Am? Probably just shy of $1500.

Yours, well, if it's not driveable and only worth $800, I guess you're not out too much there (just your wheels...and that sucks, though).

Your liability should cover the other two vehicles. I imagine the minimum is at least $10,000.

Have you contacted your agent? >>

NY State minimum liability should be 25/50/10 (10k max per accident) unless it has changed very recently.
 


<<

<< I'd whine at my parents until they're driven out of sanity if they ever said I had to drive a crap like that.. >>



Hmm....now where did I leave that flame-retardant suit?

hmmm >>



Yeah really, it's better than a bike & it serves it's function. It's better than the other option: nothing. Actually after driving a stick I would rather have this car in working condition (even without fenders or what not) than drive an automatic. I'm really hooked on the whole clutch/shifiting deal.

As for the whining to your parents option: They already offered to let me borrow their 92 dodge spirit (auto :disgust:, but like I said earlier, it works, so no way I'm turning it down).

Actually thinking of getting a bike (motorcycle) now & a crappy car (for bad weather & people carting).
 
I'd whine at my parents until they're driven out of sanity if they ever said I had to drive a crap like that..

If I was your parents I'd beat you into next week and toss your ungrateful ass out onto the street.
 


<<

<<

<< Just prepare yourself when you get the estimate.

🙂 >>



well if it's over $800 it's new car time for me (~$500 or so this time). I really don't mind crappy cars, as long as they run. If it were legal, I would drive that car without any fenders, hood or bumper (I would require headlights though). Actually how legal would that be? The 'cockpit' part of the car starts right after the wheel, so throwing stones wouldn't be an issue. I could just attach a light/turn signal somewhere. >>



I'd whine at my parents until they're driven out of sanity if they ever said I had to drive a crap like that.. >>

It's taking everything I have to hold back from commenting on that statement. Can't....hold........back...............If I were your parents and you whined because your car wasn't pretty enough you'd be buying your own car, and you'd likely be living in it with that attitude.

I'm not saying what he described is even drivable, i'm just commenting on the fact that you think your parents should buy you one on account you're embarrassed by it's looks. As long as it's drivable and safe, you'd keep driving it if I were your parents, especially if you were at fault for wrecking it.
 


<< I'm not saying what he described is even drivable, i'm just commenting on the fact that you think your parents should buy you one on account you're embarrassed by it's looks. As long as it's drivable and safe, you'd keep driving it if I were your parents, especially if you were at fault for wrecking it. >>



That is how I feel the situation should go. However my parents are willing to let me drive their car, so I'm not going to argue.
 
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