Today was not a Good Day
06-22-2013, 06:32 PM
#1
Heel & Toe
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Today was not a Good Day
Last night was great! I washed and waxed the vette in anticipation of driving it and hanging out with the wife. However, today was not a good day. On the way home I was driving behind a beater pickup truck and was driving approximately 30 mph. Unbeknownst to me that truck had stopped to make a left turn, but it did not have any brake lights or a turn signal illuminated, and when I realized it had stopped I had to swerve to the right to avoid rear-ending it.
Unfortunately, a drainage ditch was the only route of evasion and I went into and out of that ditch. I could have swore I heard the Dukes of Hazard theme song playing because I got some serious air. Checking the damage the most apparent damage was a busted lower front bumper, a busted grill, a curled up corner on the top of one side of the bumper where it meets the hood and the bottom of the radiator was smashed and dragging the ground. It also took a gouge out of the sidewall of the right rear tire and a chunk out of the edge of the right rear rim. Looking under the car I did not see any fluids leaking other than the radiator fluid and didn't see any other parts hanging down that aren't supposed to.
Most importantly, the wife and I were not hurt, even though my pride was hurt when I had to watch the vette leave the scene on the back of a tow truck. But, the insurance company was great so far and I'm only out $500.00 for the deductible. I will meet the insurance rep at the repair shop on Monday to find out how extensive the damage will actually be, so I'll update then.
Finally, for those of you in Florida, don't think the person driving a Yukon is crazy when they give you the wave as your driving your vettes; its just me with separation anxiety.
Unfortunately, a drainage ditch was the only route of evasion and I went into and out of that ditch. I could have swore I heard the Dukes of Hazard theme song playing because I got some serious air. Checking the damage the most apparent damage was a busted lower front bumper, a busted grill, a curled up corner on the top of one side of the bumper where it meets the hood and the bottom of the radiator was smashed and dragging the ground. It also took a gouge out of the sidewall of the right rear tire and a chunk out of the edge of the right rear rim. Looking under the car I did not see any fluids leaking other than the radiator fluid and didn't see any other parts hanging down that aren't supposed to.
Most importantly, the wife and I were not hurt, even though my pride was hurt when I had to watch the vette leave the scene on the back of a tow truck. But, the insurance company was great so far and I'm only out $500.00 for the deductible. I will meet the insurance rep at the repair shop on Monday to find out how extensive the damage will actually be, so I'll update then.
Finally, for those of you in Florida, don't think the person driving a Yukon is crazy when they give you the wave as your driving your vettes; its just me with separation anxiety.
06-22-2013, 06:46 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
Don't suppose the beater truck driver pulled over, said "my bad, knew those darn brake and turn signal lights were out, and here's my insurance info"?
Sorry to hear of the damage to your baby. Waste of a good cleaning yesterday.
Hope your repairs are swift and perfect.
George
Sorry to hear of the damage to your baby. Waste of a good cleaning yesterday.
Hope your repairs are swift and perfect.
George
06-22-2013, 06:55 PM
#3
Heel & Toe
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Nope, he kept driving to wherever it was that he was going. I'm just glad I missed hitting his truck that probably would not have been pretty. I'm kicking myself in the butt because I'm usually very careful and give other cars a wide berth when I'm driving the vette.
06-22-2013, 06:58 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
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Sorry to hear of your trouble but of course glad you're not injured. Hope the repairs go alright for you and you have the corvette back soon and good as new.
06-22-2013, 07:00 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Actually makes things much more simple to resolve to only involve one vehicle. Doesn't really matter if you live in a no-fault state where everyone pays their own damages with their insurance. Think that's how no-fault works. Never lived in a state with no-fault.
George
George
06-22-2013, 07:03 PM
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Sorry to hear about the wreck but at least you and your wife weren't hurt.
06-22-2013, 07:08 PM
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
good thing you're both ok. the number of lights out on all vehicles is really alarming. just my experience, but a lot of vehicles with an added trailer towing hitch seem to have light issues, too.
06-22-2013, 08:00 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
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Glad to hear that you and the wife are ok. A car can be repaired or replaced, humans... not so much. Best of luck with the repair, hope it's a speedy one.
06-22-2013, 08:05 PM
#11
Team Owner
glad you are OK....where ya at in Florida?
06-22-2013, 08:07 PM
#13
Team Owner
Glad you are ok and good luck with the repair
06-22-2013, 08:35 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
WRONG - Period. There is an expectation that all automobiles will have all requisite illumination in good working order. The buffoon in front of the OP did not. Entirely that morons fault - period... 
06-22-2013, 08:48 PM
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
LOL, nope. Guy that plowed into the back of my wife and messed her up told the Judge that her brake lights and blinkers weren't on. Judge read him the riot act and said it didn't matter, she was stopped and he was at fault.
Try again.
Try again.
06-22-2013, 08:55 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
So you are driving at night and you plow into a car that has it's tail lights out. Who's fault?
George
06-22-2013, 08:58 PM
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
The OP's accident wasn't at night. Try again.
Wife's car was destroyed. Judge said lack of brake lights or turn signals didn't mean the kid that hit her wasn't still responsible to watch the car in front of him.
Wife's car was destroyed. Judge said lack of brake lights or turn signals didn't mean the kid that hit her wasn't still responsible to watch the car in front of him.
Last edited by Steve_R; 06-22-2013 at 09:01 PM.
