Hi all. On Wensday The shop completed the job on installing a T350 tranny with Lokar floor shifter, 57 Chevy truck rear end, etc and along came a surprise with some Hwy modifications for me. Drove back into Victoria Thursday morning for breakfast & visit with a group of local car club members and headed back home up US 77. About 10AM & 2 miles out of Victoria it felt and sounded like I hit a road bomb or something. & I found myself & the front bench seat severely tilted back & me looking straight up at the headliner. Dazed & confused I had to fight myself upright as car was still travelling forward. Managed to grasp steering wheel and pull myself & the seat upright and get the car pulled over on shoulder and stopped. I was traveling at 55 MPH in right lane with very light traffic. after just sitting there about a couple of minutes to gain my senses I got out to find a Honda SUV front bumper imbedded in my crunched trunk lit and the Honda almost an eighth mile behind me on the shoulder. Upon looking the trunk lid is really messed up, left rear fender with big ripples as well as big ripples in left quarter panel above and going down in front of the rear fender. Looks like the left quarter panel is a bit forward and door not closing as it should but does latch. I am so stiff & sore I cannot get down to look underneath but I know it did stuff to the exhaust pipes. I cannot see what else it did down there. I did not get a good view from the side in the after wreck photo's but the top radius for fender opening is now several inches higher above the tire than before. Got X rays & they show no breaks or cracks so for now I am just fighting a severe whiplash. the other driver said he was running on Cruise at 75 MPH & had seen me up ahead and got distracted and then saw me again just before impact. I am pretty sure he got ticketed as the Trooper did give him some paperwork. I think I was in a daze the whole time. Got my buddy from Victoria with car trailer and we got it loaded and hauled to my home near Yoakum Tx. I contacted his insurance adjuster from USAA and they are supposed to call and make an appointment to come here to check it out. They have not been able to contact or get any replies from the other driver. Just have to wait and see how it goes on the adjuster inspection. Here are some before & after photo's. J immie.
Gosh! What a shame. If folks would only pay attention. . Glad you weren't injured but don't sign any release forms. Hope you are able to get it repaired and that the other driver had insurance.
Here's to a speedy recovery. Rearenders are a bitch on the kneck/back. Make sure to have scans on your back/kneck done. I didn't believe in chiropractors too much until I needed one. A good one will get your spine back in shape. Even in my OT vehicles, I find myself looking more in the rear view than out the windshield, people can't operate a vehicle for shit.
Sorry about the 46 glad you are O.K. I find myself driving my 53 Chevy less and less because of the way people drive. It is bad enough the people my age (36) playing with phones and driving, but people who are old enough to know better and did not grow up with this B.S. are just as bad!
Glad you made it through. Sorry about your car. With that much damage to your car the Honda must of been about wrote off ?
So sorry...I know everyone says “hey at least your alright” and I will too....but I know like me you’r pissed! Hopefully it was well insured, it repairable, and maybe there’s enough room to fix something else while it’s down Let us know how usaa treats you...
Oh wow! What a bummer. Glad you weren't hurt worse, but please make sure to get yourself checked over real good. Contacting the other drivers insurance and trying to negotiate it all yourself is a high risk move. To the insurance co's and lawyers this is all a game, they're pro's and play it ever day, they'll eat an amateur up for breakfast and spit you out. Having gone this route myself, I've found it's best to find yourself a good bulldog lawyer and let him handle it. Don't worry about the medical bills, in fact running them up as high as possible is part of the game. I know, it sucks, but that's how the game is played. The more damage to you physically the more the lawyer can get from the insurance co, and the better your chances of coming out of this not upside down in the deal, in which you are 100% not at fault. Trust me, they may sound nice on the phone, and when they come out to see the car, but at the end of the day it's their job to screw you for as little as possible. Get a bulldog to do your dirty work for you. Best wishes on your health and for a full recovery, these things can last a long, long time. We don't heal as quickly as we age.
Did the crash knock the damn phone loose from the Honda drivers ear? When I'm cruising in my 37 I fear these nuts way more than drunks. Glad you're OK but get thoroughly checked out.
75 mph and the moron "got distracted"??? Naturally, I hope he recovers from any of his injuries, too. But I can't help hoping he experiences a greater degree of pain than you, also.
A few years back my son and family were headed home from a car show when they were rear-ended on the highway. The other driver wanted to keep the accident "off the books" (red flag #1), refused to share insurance info, (red flag #2), didn't want to involve the police (red flag # 3). When my son reported the accident to his insurance agent he asked "what lawyer do you absolutely hate to come up against in court?", and that's the lawyer my son hired. It took a while but my son got paid in full.
Sucks. Don't sign any medical releases for at least a year, maybe more. Insurance may pressure you. Tell em to pound sand. Nice car, sorry it got whacked, glad you're not hurt bad.
Ouch. Stated value policy? Collect the check and walk away, that's wadded up pretty badly. It sucks, but, you lived to tell the tale, and that's what counts. Buy something shiny with the money.
My advice to you is find the most expensive rod shops in your area ( not collision shops) get at least 2 estimates and be armed with them before you speak with the insurance company , hold your cards close, I had my girlfriend do this years ago... claims adjuster tried settling for 1,500.00 then she brought out estimates for 6k their tune changed.... don’t sign off on the whiplash damages to car and your personal self must be kept seperate
Sorry for your and the Chevy's damages, hopefully both are very fixable... Through the years I've had a number dealings with insurance adjusters on behalf of myself and clients, get those strong estimates in hand. When the Honda's driver's adjuster presents their numbers, depending on the adjuster and insurance company the amount offered may be satisfactory. IF NOT, smile, thank for their time and mention that you have a family attorney on a retainer, and that you'll be passing the settlement figures on to the attorney and his firm for their review. Most insurance companies want to "close the books " in a 45/60 day window. Looking forward to see you & Chevy getting down the road again, glad you kept in Inline... dyno dave
Man,I am glad you didn't get hurt worse,I know it sounds tripe to say but cars can be fixed or replaced but it's the truth. It will take some time but you will get it back on the road and I hope you don't suffer any ill effects. HRP
Sorry to hear of this and hope you and your car get better soon. Please get your police report as soon as you can and read it carefully it may matter at some point.
nobull, just about four years ago my wife and myself sustained injuries and hospitalization after someone drove through a red light after it had been red for over two minutes. Fortunately we were in my wives large Lexus SUV or it would have been worse. SUV was totaled, our Labrador Retriever ran away and was dodging oncoming traffic fortunately she was caught without injury. The person who caused the accident was cited by the Florida State Police for running a red light. I hired a personal injury attorney to represent us. His fee was 1/3 the total fee paid by the other drivers insurance company. In my estimation it was well worth getting 2/3 of something rather then 100% of nothing. Insurance companies are not in the business to give you money if they don't have to. Filing claims against an insurance company is a complicated affair not to mention all the bills we had to pay. I got bills from everyone but the hospital janitor and was even double billed by the ambulance service. Our attorney took care of all the required paper work. Being as the Honda rear ended you he's obviously at fault and you have him by the balls just as we did. I'd definitely get a personal injury attorney to handle your case. You'll come way out ahead in the long run. Gary
Wow, sorry to hear this. You could have been severely injured. The damage looks pretty bad, especially when you consider your description of the quarter pushing forward the door jamb. Insist on a replacement quarter being hung rather than a hammer and bondo job. There's a lot of work there, then there's paint. I'd guess the estimate is well over 10k. They may even write it off as a total and you may be able to negotiate a settlement and keep the car and do the repairs yourself. Then you have to negotiate your physical damages. I agree with thirtytwo; get a couple of your own estimates. You can also ask your insurance co. to send out an estimator.
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