Accident, a block from my house! Just happened.

[k24a4]

So it's around 7pm and I take a right up my street. My house is two blocks away. There is a black '08 Toyota Tundra up ahead, 20-25 yards or so, he slows and pulls to the left, the wrong side of the street, to drop off a passenger. There is no curb on my street, and it is relatively narrow. With all the snow we've had this Winter driving on it has become a game of chicken.

I'm in second gear going 10-15 mph, having just turned onto the street, and in no hurry. As I begin to pass the Toyota he pulls off, aggressively. All I see is this huge black truck coming into my lane, I lay on the horn and try to get to the right. No dice. I cringe. A few milliseconds later there is the sickening sound of metal on metal. Aww [censored].

So we exchange info. The guy is nice about it. He apologizes 3 or 4 times before we part ways, acknowledges it was his fault, says he didn't see me, which I believe, given that I barely came up to the passenger door. I'm upset, of course, but whaddya gonna do, it happens. I'll fill out an accident report tomorrow.

It was dark but from what I could tell the left side bumper and driver's door have significant scratches, going lengthwise, but to my surprise no dents, although that may change in the light of day. His truck didn't seem to be damaged, of course.

If it is just scratches what is the best course of action? Does the whole door and bumper need to be painted? If so is it best to go through Honda (the car is my '04 Accord)? Ideally I'd like a perfect match. Are some places better than others, and should I look for anything specific in terms of instruments the shops use? It has been a really, really long time since I've had to have auto body work done.

Thanks for any help. It is appreciated.

 

[bepperb]

What color is the car? I wouldn't be too worried on a relatively new car, with common paint colors, that hasn't been repainted before.

But yes, some shops are better than others. I'd ask around. I found a great body shop asking a tow truck driver.

Not only will the immediate area need prep and paint, but also the paint will need to be blended into adjacent panels.

 

[k24a4]

It's silver, specifically, Satin Silver.

 

[brianl703]

When I see a driver stopped in a place they shouldn't be stopped in, such as on the wrong side of the road, I honk my horn at them for two reasons:

1)It clues them into the fact that other drivers might have an issue with the place that they have decided to stop their vehicle

2)It also clues them into the fact that there's another vehicle around, since in addition to not having any clue about where to stop, they often have no clue about looking for traffic when they start going again. (Of course he didn't see you, he didn't bother to look!)

 

[k24a4]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
When I see a driver stopped in a place they shouldn't be stopped in, such as on the wrong side of the road, I honk my horn at them for two reasons:

1)It clues them into the fact that other drivers might have an issue with the place that they have decided to stop their vehicle

2)It also clues them into the fact that there's another vehicle around, since in addition to not having any clue about where to stop, they often have no clue about looking for traffic when they start going again. (Of course he didn't see you, he didn't bother to look!)



Good point, I'll do that in the future. I like it, preventive honking! I take preventive measures with my health, and certainly with my cars, I am after all, addicted to BITOG, so why not with my horn. I guess the lesson is, never assume a driver is paying attention.

The thing is, after taking the Advanced Rider course for my motorcycle licensure 12 years ago, I've seen the light, and have become a defensive driver. I use my signals, keep a good distance between cars whether on the highway or city roads, don't speed. Now some of this may be due to the loss of testosterone over the years, but overall, I do my best to avoid the human weakness of negligence. Ugh, I was going sooo sloooow.

You can manage the risk, but the risk is still there.

Thankfully no one was hurt, although I had the fleeting impulse to ring the guys neck, and while I do like my cars...a lot, they are, after all, cars.

 

[antonmnster]

Since I drive an 08 Tundra at work I can tell you with 100% certainty you can't see Jack sheeat from the driver's seat. The bed is so tall that there are ACRES of blindspots along side, in front of, and behind the truck. Now, he should have checked his mirror. But visibility is really bad.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: antonmnster
Since I drive an 08 Tundra at work I can tell you with 100% certainty you can't see Jack sheeat from the driver's seat. The bed is so tall that there are ACRES of blindspots along side, in front of, and behind the truck. Now, he should have checked his mirror. But visibility is really bad.


Wouldn't it have been dark around 7pm? Another set of moving headlights shining on the road around the truck driver would have been a dead giveaway that someone was there, even if the car was in the truck's apparently enormous blind spot...

 

[lexus114]

how could he not have seen your lights? ^^

 

[k24a4]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
how could he not have seen your lights? ^^


Honestly, I don't think he looked. He dropped off his passenger and was back on the gas. I don't think he heard me honk, either. There was a second or two as he came back into my lane when he could have pulled to the left, but no luck.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: k24a4
Originally Posted By: lexus114
how could he not have seen your lights? ^^


Honestly, I don't think he looked. He dropped off his passenger and was back on the gas. I don't think he heard me honk, either. There was a second or two as he came back into my lane when he could have pulled to the left, but no luck.


My point was that he didn't even need to look for you to see your headlights playing on the area around him. An extra set of light beams on the road off to the right would be a dead ringer that there's a car on your right (or a UFO).

Cell phone? Radio blaring?

Luckily it sounds minor in the grand scheme of things, but I'd be mighty mad. It's even worse when you're a DIYer with an older car that you put a lot of effort into keeping nice. The older it is the more blood, sweat and tears they seem to take away from you by crunching into you.

 

[antonmnster]

This summer I had someone do a double lane-change right into the front bumper of my other work truck, an F350. It was like I PIT'd his car; he spun out almost headon into a freeway wall. The show distracted other drivers and caused another 3-car pileup in the next lane. (394 @ Dunwoody for you locals)

Like the OP, I was shaken by it. I felt bad for the woman who was rear-ended in the secondary collision so hard her seat broke. (She went to the hospital.)

You'll feel a lot better once the other guy's insurance settles and writes the check.

Do yourself a favor and be very careful what you say to their insurance adjuster. DO NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY. NONE!! They will try to twist the situation at your disadvantage. Don't let them!

 

[unDummy]

He saw you. He's just a typical arrogant Tundra owner

I would've called 911, and waited for the local PD to write up a report right there on the spot. Actually, I do for ALL accidents. A police report is usually better to hand over to the insurance agent. And, some might pull the 'denial' or 'hit and run' game. You take a risk not waiting for the local PD.

 

[addyguy]

The fact that this guy apologized, and admitted he was in the wrong, gives him a pass in my book. Most people fight and sream that everyone ELSE is in the wrong but them....consider yourself lucky!

 

[k24a4]

Originally Posted By: unDummy
He saw you. He's just a typical arrogant Tundra owner

I would've called 911, and waited for the local PD to write up a report right there on the spot. Actually, I do for ALL accidents. A police report is usually better to hand over to the insurance agent. And, some might pull the 'denial' or 'hit and run' game. You take a risk not waiting for the local PD.





that is good advice and in the future i'll heed it. in retrospect i should have called the pd before getting out of the car. but i didn't. the guy was apologetic. even while exchanging info there was a voice in my head saying, "call the pd", but i let the guy talk me out of it, and i accept responsibility for that should we hit any "speed bumps" in this process. had the pd come i'm pretty sure he would have written a ticket to the guy for being on the wrong side of the road. That would have compounded the guys worries. In Mass moving violations are on your insurance for six years vs 3 for the rest of the country. What can I say, I had a moment of weakness. Hopefully it doesn't bite me in the bum.

we'll wait and see.

i went to a garage yesterday and their quote was $1015.00. I'm waiting for the adjustment from my insurance via email. There were, in the light of day, more scratches and two dents.

Craig up in the great white north is right, when you take the effort to care for a vehicle it hurts a little bit more, especially when the plan is to hold onto it for a long time. This one I'll keep until it wheezes its way into non-existence...that is, unless I win the lottery.

 

[antonmnster]

I didn't realize the police weren't called. Around here, it's required to call. And getting any money without an accident report would be difficult, even if the fault clearly is with the other party. Interesting!

 

[k24a4]

Originally Posted By: antonmnster
I didn't realize the police weren't called. Around here, it's required to call. And getting any money without an accident report would be difficult, even if the fault clearly is with the other party. Interesting!


Well, I did file a report with the pd the following day.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: antonmnster
I didn't realize the police weren't called. Around here, it's required to call. And getting any money without an accident report would be difficult, even if the fault clearly is with the other party. Interesting!


Around here you're discouraged from calling if your car is drivable and no one is hurt. You're supposed to get your vehicles out of the way and you can get an accident report by driving to a police accident reporting center.

A lot of people's first reactions are to freeze, preserve "evidence" and call the police. This isn't actually what they want you to do unless it's very serious. They want you out of the way...

I was sideswiped while parked by what looked like a bike or small motorized scooter. Scratches, a dent, cracked mirror. I dropped by a reporting center by myself (it was a hit and run), described what I found, showed them the car and got a police report.

I had a spare mirror glass on hand, buffed out the scuffs myself and I think any dent remaining was PDRed. I never made a claim so I didn't get the "adjuster experience".