Well, this was a fun experience

HeySkippyDog · October 3, 2019

Makes me want to think that if he was the one that caused an accident that he would try to go after them for something because after all it's their fault for being in his way.

The world really could do with more level-headed people.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727A using Tapatalk

dieselfan1 · October 3, 2019

She was more than likely tailgating. I hate tailgaters. I don't tailgate ever. I don't want the rock chips for one thing.

Whenever I'm on the highway and come up on slower or stopped traffic I tap my brakes several times to get the attention of the idiots behind me. If it's a sudden slow down I really get into it tapping the brakes as fast as I can while slowing down. The quick flashing brake lights get the morons attention effectively.

Try it sometime.

It works.

BTW I live 1/2 mile from I-94 and I avoid it as much as I can. There are several 2 lane blacktop roads I'd rather take. No traffic.

HeySkippyDog · October 3, 2019

She was more than likely tailgating. I hate tailgaters. I don't tailgate ever. I don't want the rock chips for one thing.
Whenever I'm on the highway and come up on slower or stopped traffic I tap my brakes several times to get the attention of the idiots behind me. If it's a sudden slow down I really get into it tapping the brakes as fast as I can while slowing down. The quick flashing brake lights get the morons attention effectively.
Try it sometime.
It works.
BTW I live 1/2 mile from I-94 and I avoid it as much as I can. There are several 2 lane blacktop roads I'd rather take. No traffic.

Maybe she was, but do you think you should ruin her life over it? OP got out of it if only a little sore. Some of these responses here are basically asking for the blood of her firstborn. Accidents do happen.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727A using Tapatalk

UofMz71 · October 3, 2019

Dang, this got heated quick... lol

Believe me, I was fuming, and may have been more rude to her than I should have. And my reasons were geared more toward 'now my truck is damaged and not the same' as opposed to 'we could have died, or someone else could have been seriously injured.' Was I wrong, maybe/maybe not, but I bet my life savings she will pay more attention and not be on her phone while driving anymore.

I thought about every avenue to sue her and her parents, but after a couple days I cooled down. Trust me, I want her to pay, but bankrupting someone/family on an accident seems aggressive. Shit happens. Ill be milking it for as much as I legally can. Even thought about how I could have a 2020 fully paid for...

She was at least 2 or 3 car length behind me, so she wasn't tail gating - and that's why I figure she was on her phone. She told the cops she hydroplaned (false). I would like to figure out how to get phone records.

16 hours ago, mikeyk101 said:

Without a doubt, persue a diminished value claim. I did so after my previous truck was hit while parked on the side of my house and the guy took off. He luckily got caught a very short time later. He had Allstate and they have a diminished value department. I ended up having this guy prepare a DV report and it is very professional. Without it I was fighting a losing battle https://stlucieappraisal.net/

At first, Allstate said they dont do DV claims but after persisting, they finally started the DV claim. It is a separate process from the actual repair claim. They tried lowballing me first but I wouldnt take their offer. I finally got close to the amount I wanted.

And just to add, a DV claim doesnt necessarily mean you are planning on selling or trading in your vehicle. It is compensation for what your vehicle is worth just prior to the damage and the loss of value just after the damage. As most will be aware, when folks are shopping for a used vehicle, they will many times request a carfax report or Autocheck report. A damage free vehicle will command a better price than a vehicle that has been previously damaged and especially when the reports show frame damage. Many will not even consider a frame damaged vehicle even if it is completely repaired back to factory specs...

I've already argued and argued, right now ball is in my court until they tell me DM is less than I want. I have about three dealerships already quoting me a before and after price. We'll see what happens. Once I sell, ill really have to price it well so that someone would consider it (probably still get lowballed)

15 hours ago, Donstar said:

Yea, I wouldn't be too sure.... I think there will be some significant unseen damage. I went for years putting heavy duty custom bumpers on my trucks. My friend who had the same bumper as mine was in an accident. The VW he hit was totalled and his truck sustained no immediate signs of damage. The fact that he had to force open and close his doors after the accident was the first clue that his truck was seriously damaged. (repair exceeded value). A crumple is not always a bad thing!

I hope everything else other than the bumper is okay. Ive open and closed all the doors and all good. the bed didn't look like it moved either. But Im guessing you were referring to her car since you quoted the jeep pic. I would be curious to see/hear the total damage on the Jeep tho.

dieselfan1 · October 3, 2019

1 hour ago, UofMz71 said:

She was at least 2 or 3 car length behind me, so she wasn't tailgating

You don't think that's tailgating at 80 mph? No wonder you got ass ended.

That's what's wrong with the younger crowd these days especially women. They haven't a clue. To big of a hurry.

If someone is 2 or 3 car lengths behind me even at 70, I move over. I don't want you on my ass period.

Look in your mirror next time someone comes up on you. Bet they are under 25.

BTW

I don't think there is anything to gain by " bankrupting her"

Jesus Christ she's 20 years old. What do think your going to get?

Donstar · October 3, 2019

1 hour ago, UofMz71 said:

Dang, this got heated quick... lol

Believe me, I was fuming, and may have been more rude to her than I should have. And my reasons were geared more toward 'now my truck is damaged and not the same' as opposed to 'we could have died, or someone else could have been seriously injured.' Was I wrong, maybe/maybe not, but I bet my life savings she will pay more attention and not be on her phone while driving anymore.

Getting mad at an accident does no good for anyone. Making sure everyone is safe is your first priority and keeping calm and rational at the scene are critical to keeping it safe. Save the blame game for the police, your insurance companies and, if necessary, your lawyer. Few people choose to hit another vehicle yet it happens many times a day. Poor driving behavior by at least one of the vehicles involved is usually the cause and all of us have exercised a lapse in good judgement at one time or another. Being accident free for a long period of time has a certain amount of luck involved, imo. Most of us have experienced a sphincter tightening moment or two when we knew luck was on our side.

truckguy82 · October 3, 2019

14 hours ago, dukedkt442 said:

This is why I hate people. Pursue her and her insurance company for everything you can...rear Enders are no fault no question. Stupid isn’t illegal but stupid should pay, hopefully enough to bankrupt her.

Trailer trash/ghetto mentality

UofMz71 · October 3, 2019

32 minutes ago, dieselfan1 said:

You don't think that's tailgating at 80 mph? No wonder you got ass ended.

That's what's wrong with the younger crowd these days especially women. They haven't a clue. To big of a hurry.

If someone is 2 or 3 car lengths behind me even at 70, I move over. I don't want you on my ass period.

Look in your mirror next time someone comes up on you. Bet they are under 25.

BTW

I don't think there is anything to gain by " bankrupting her"

Jesus Christ she's 20 years old. What do think your going to get?

2-3 car lengths is amble space to slow down at 80 mph, unless you're not paying attention. Im always paying attention to my surroundings (from riding motorcycles), but only so much I can do.

I don't want to bankrupt her, it was a comment from another poster.

6 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Getting mad at an accident does no good for anyone. Making sure everyone is safe is your first priority and keeping calm and rational at the scene are critical to keeping it safe. Save the blame game for the police, your insurance companies and, if necessary, your lawyer. Few people choose to hit another vehicle yet it happens many times a day. Poor driving behavior by at least one of the vehicles involved is usually the cause and all of us have exercised a lapse in good judgement at one time or another. Being accident free for a long period of time has a certain amount of luck involved, imo. Most of us have experienced a sphincter tightening moment or two when we know luck was on our side.

I agree. I did make sure everyone was okay, but adrenaline was high and I was already grumpy from an eight hour drive. Like I said, accidents happen, and maybe I should have been more calm about it (not like I was screaming and yelling at her). Hindsight is 20/20.

mookdoc6 · October 3, 2019

12 hours ago, tmo said:

Lol, so you want to “ bankrupt” someone for a fender bender.. maybe a little worse, but no one was hurt... again bankrupt someone for bumper damage... if they are drinking and driving and kill someone.. sure that’s a different story.. sue the hell outta them for negligence.. but accidents happen.. no need to Ruin someone’s life when insurance can pay.. that’s why we have it.

I take it you and that co worker don’t speak..

Guy is probably 23 or so and with an attitude like that and sheer ignorance you can bet his day will be coming....and humbling it will be for the lad!

NCPGMC · October 3, 2019

14 hours ago, dukedkt442 said:

Yeah I don't care her reason, none is good enough to justify infringing on someone else's property and lives. It's not excessive; what the moron did is excessive. Fortunately, it doesn't sound like OPs passengers were hurt; if they were I guarantee you wouldn't be singing that sympathy tune. If a person is stupid enough to cause an accident they need to pay dearly.

Coworker opened her door into my truck causing $1700 body shop estimate, I found out a few days later; I filed a police report for her leaving the scene of an accident.

Wow...just wow...you seem to be a very angry, vindictive person...just listen to yourself..."If a person is stupid enough to cause an accident they need to pay dearly." People don't intentionally cause accidents by definition (accident=unintentional). If she intentionally crashed into the OP then yes, go about the courts to find a remedy; otherwise, it is what it is and that is why people have insurance. Do it make you feel like a real man to file a police report on someone? Do you really think the police are going to waste resources "investigating" the "crime" of dinging your door? Do you really think the DA is going to prosecute this person (if they are every even charged)? No and No. You are the person clogging up the courts and wasting the police's time with nonsense that should be resolved in a civil manner between two parties. Good Grief...

16LT4 · October 3, 2019

12 hours ago, CamGTP said:

Makes me want to think that if he was the one that caused an accident that he would try to go after them for something because after all it's their fault for being in his way.

Actually I wouldn't cause an accident; there's no such thing as an "accident," vehicles don't magically crash themselves. The overwhelming majority of accidents are entirely preventable, and human error should not get off scot-free. Resorting to "letting insurance" pay for it is such an asinine excuse, as the rest of us paying, accident-free drivers have to still subsidize that resort. If it wasn't for stupid actions made by stupid humans, we wouldn't need insurance at all. Pay attention to what you're doing and you won't cause an accident. Property cannot be replaced, despite the fallacy to the contrary, at least not perfectly; some property is irreplaceable. Excusing someone of "making a mistake" shouldn't depend upon the extent of the damage that they caused, because the potential is always there. Don't like it? Don't wreck my property.

That co-worker does, in fact, talk to me, and has never been nicer. What the police did with her is not my problem, nor do I care, but I can promise she'll be careful the next time she opens her door to not allow the wind to take it. I've since sold that truck, because it was ruined in my eyes and never be the same; paint and body work made it completely worthless to me.

dieselfan1 · October 3, 2019

2 hours ago, UofMz71 said:

2-3 car lengths is amble space to slow down at 80 mph, unless you're not paying attention. Im always paying attention to my surroundings (from riding motorcycles), but only so much I can do.

I don't know where you learned to drive but 2 - 3 car lengths is 40 -60 ft.

I was taught to leave 1 car length (20ft) for every 10 mph. That's 160ft at 80 mph. I myself don't think that's enough space. At 80 mph you are traveling 117 ft. per second.

You can stop in 40 - 60 ft going 80? Or even slow down to 50? I doubt it.

Reality check please.

That's just dumb.

I wouldn't be any closer than 10 - 12 car lengths going 80.

Why does everyone need to ride each other's ass?

Where's the fire?

Dumb.

Anyone over 50 care to chime in?

16LT4 · October 3, 2019

15 minutes ago, NCPGMC said:

Wow...just wow...you seem to be a very angry, vindictive person...just listen to yourself..."If a person is stupid enough to cause an accident they need to pay dearly." People don't intentionally cause accidents by definition (accident=unintentional). If she intentionally crashed into the OP then yes,

She INTENTIONALLY neglected to pay attention, therefore INTENTIONALLY caused the accident. If she "hydroplaned" as stated, she INTENTIONALLY exceeded a safe speed for the road conditions, INTENTIONALLY followed at an unsafe distance, especially for her response time. If she was on her phone, she was INTENTIONALLY chose to disregard everyone else's safety, putting everyone she's ever passed in danger. Accidents don't just "happen."

The neat thing about injury is that often it won't surface until weeks, months, or even years later, and no one should ever have to face such a life-ruining event on account of someone else's neglect. I've seen far too many people killed because of someone's "accident" and poor choices.

OP, glad no one in the truck is damaged... keep on it though to make sure.

HeySkippyDog · October 3, 2019

She INTENTIONALLY neglected to pay attention, therefore INTENTIONALLY caused the accident. If she "hydroplaned" as stated, she INTENTIONALLY exceeded a safe speed for the road conditions, INTENTIONALLY followed at an unsafe distance, especially for her response time. If she was on her phone, she was INTENTIONALLY chose to disregard everyone else's safety, putting everyone she's ever passed in danger. Accidents don't just "happen."

The neat thing about injury is that often it won't surface until weeks, months, or even years later, and no one should ever have to face such a life-ruining event on account of someone else's neglect. I've seen far too many people killed because of someone's "accident" and poor choices.

OP, glad no one in the truck is damaged... keep on it though to make sure.

When you intentionally hit someone's car on the road, I hope they have no mercy on you.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727A using Tapatalk

NCPGMC · October 3, 2019

28 minutes ago, dukedkt442 said:

She INTENTIONALLY neglected to pay attention, therefore INTENTIONALLY caused the accident. If she "hydroplaned" as stated, she INTENTIONALLY exceeded a safe speed for the road conditions, INTENTIONALLY followed at an unsafe distance, especially for her response time. If she was on her phone, she was INTENTIONALLY chose to disregard everyone else's safety, putting everyone she's ever passed in danger. Accidents don't just "happen."

The neat thing about injury is that often it won't surface until weeks, months, or even years later, and no one should ever have to face such a life-ruining event on account of someone else's neglect. I've seen far too many people killed because of someone's "accident" and poor choices.

OP, glad no one in the truck is damaged... keep on it though to make sure.

I guess for your sake don't ever drive in AL, MD, NC, VA, or Washington D.C...They are all contributory negligence states where if the defendant can provide any evidence that you were even 0.01% at fault you get nothing...Driving 80 mph would be enough...You are probably the reason for tort reforms in so many states and you are probably the reason so many slip-and-fall ambulance chasing lawyers have a job...Have you ever sneezed while driving? Bet you took your eyes off the road when you did it...throwing rocks in glass houses...