Friday, September 12, 2008

My First Car Accident!!

It took 28 years (12 of them as a driver myself), and I had my very first car accident on Wednesday! It was rainy and there was mucho construction on the highway and those two things are a recipe for disaster during rush hour. My car was at a full stop and BAM! a 19-year old OU student rams the back of my car. (Another reason to hate crimson and crème if you ask me)…so, the girl gets out of her car - on the highway - and gets into mine and we exchange information. I didn't even get out to look at my damage because we were on the highway--and I'm not dumb enough to get out of my car, but I could see her car in my rear view mirror - hood pushed straight up, so I was worried. She called her dad (who she was talking to on the phone…in the rain…during rush hour…on the highway with construction…when she hit me)…and he didn't want to get the police involved - just make it quick and simple. I wasn't worried, the girl was driving an Acura. She calls me later in the evening and tells me her dad doesn't want to go through insurance, but rather pay out of pocket and that I could choose any body shop I wanted. Fine...
So…the next morning, I take an hour off of work to get an estimate and I scan and email it to her. I have to get the entire bumper replaced, which is over $800, and if the retainer bar is broken as well, that needs to be replaced, which is $200 on top of that. Her dad didn't like that estimate, so he asked for two more. I was irate at the inconvenience of taking time off of work in the first place, so now he's asking me to do it twice more. I went straight to my attorney. She said if I don't have a check in hand that day, then to just go through his insurance. Insurance only requires one estimate and the body shop takes care of EVERYTHING. So, the nice person I am, I went ahead and got another estimate at lunch and it was slightly less than the first (not to mention 15 miles away from where I work!), so the 'dad' agreed to that one. Next the complication of the Body shop comes in. They said that they can only accept cashier's check or money order…and if they pay by credit card, the guy needs to come in himself to sign it. He lives in Heavner, Oklahoma…where the hell is that place anyway?? Then he won't return her calls--his voicemail says "I'm either flying or asleep"…so he's a pilot?? I don't feel sorry for this guy…and I didn't ask for a rental car either, he should just pay up! Before I left work yesterday, I sent him a long, angry email. No more Mrs. Nice-Woman! He called the body shop less than an hour after that email and everything is all set. I’m out of a car for two days…but it's worth it, I'm getting it put back together. Here is a picture of the damage (minor for all of the trouble and stress these people have put me through!!!):

3 comments:

Kelly said...

EEEEEKKK! Car accidents and the people that cause them suck!! Glad you are okay though!

Andrea @ The Miller Spot said...

I can't believe you were in a flippin' accident. No good!!! I'm glad you are okay and the car came through. And you were really nice, by the way. I would have filed.

NduguNStephie said...

I agree... I would have filed.. because I am a lazy ass and just getting 1 estimate would be enough for me to blow a gaskit (sp)!

Did you mention that you had a lawyer to them hehehe!