Car Wreck: Rear End Collision After Work
At about 6:15 p.m., I was en route to Super Target when I was rear ended underneath the Loop overpass. I was in the turnaround lane, pulled forward, stopped to yield right of way to a blue sedan when a twenty four year old driver in a late model gray Ford Focus slammed into my right passenger bumper. She pushed me forward, thankfully not into traffic. The impact must have been no more than 15 mph.
The driver of the Focus seemed legitimately sorry, and scared. I went into shock myself not even asking her why she slammed into me. We didn't call the cops because no one was injured. Though later on, I did come to regret that decision as I was the one writing and filing the police report for the insurance claim.
She drove off after we exchanged info. I pulled over to the right side of the frontage, but managed to drive to Panda Express about a quarter mile away to get out of heavy traffic. Dad came and helped me cut the piece of bumper digging into the rear tire so my car was drivable. Then it began raining so we drove the thirty yards up to Panda Express for dinner and soda. Lots and lots of sugary Pepsis.
For reference, here's what to do should this happen again:
1. After the accident, take measures to I.D. other party involved. I actually took my phone and began snapping photos of her car as I thought she was going to flee. Also exchange insurance card info and driver's license info. Take photos of documents for future recollection.
2. Get witness info. People are dicks in 6 p.m. traffic. No one stopped to assist, in fact one person honked us out for blocking the lane.
3. If car is inoperable, call for a tow. Have a mechanic in mind as the tow company will charge for storage or you'll have to pay for two tows if the car is taken home, and again when it's taken to the mechanic.
Be ready to leave it in parking lot until you find out what the insurance will cover for repairs shops.
4. Call for help, have an Uber account ready. State Farm has roadside assistance, use the app or dial the 1-800 #.
5. If the police aren't involved, be ready to file a report at the police station. They will hand you a paper wanting the following out of both parties involved: names, DOB, insurance policy numbers, expiration dates, car make/model, license plates, driver's license info. They will also want a narrative of the incident as well as a drawing of the place so know streets and directions. I typed a report and drew the scene on the back of the report sheet. (I did this the day after at the nearby station).
6. All insurance companies were closed as the accident took place on a Friday evening. I called my agent for info, who advised me to contact the other driver's insurance to file a claim. I would only file a claim on my insurance if the kid was uninsured or had really shitty insurance.
7. After contacting the other driver's insurance, get eligible repair facility info, schedule appraisal appointment for repairs. I called on a Monday after and went to the repair shop the following Thursday. The damage was $1,400-ish and repairs will begin on Aug 28.
8. Call insurance again after appraisal appointment to get reservation number and info for car rental.
I'm stuck on step 8 so this is going to have to be continued.
The driver of the Focus seemed legitimately sorry, and scared. I went into shock myself not even asking her why she slammed into me. We didn't call the cops because no one was injured. Though later on, I did come to regret that decision as I was the one writing and filing the police report for the insurance claim.
She drove off after we exchanged info. I pulled over to the right side of the frontage, but managed to drive to Panda Express about a quarter mile away to get out of heavy traffic. Dad came and helped me cut the piece of bumper digging into the rear tire so my car was drivable. Then it began raining so we drove the thirty yards up to Panda Express for dinner and soda. Lots and lots of sugary Pepsis.
For reference, here's what to do should this happen again:
1. After the accident, take measures to I.D. other party involved. I actually took my phone and began snapping photos of her car as I thought she was going to flee. Also exchange insurance card info and driver's license info. Take photos of documents for future recollection.
2. Get witness info. People are dicks in 6 p.m. traffic. No one stopped to assist, in fact one person honked us out for blocking the lane.
3. If car is inoperable, call for a tow. Have a mechanic in mind as the tow company will charge for storage or you'll have to pay for two tows if the car is taken home, and again when it's taken to the mechanic.
Be ready to leave it in parking lot until you find out what the insurance will cover for repairs shops.
4. Call for help, have an Uber account ready. State Farm has roadside assistance, use the app or dial the 1-800 #.
5. If the police aren't involved, be ready to file a report at the police station. They will hand you a paper wanting the following out of both parties involved: names, DOB, insurance policy numbers, expiration dates, car make/model, license plates, driver's license info. They will also want a narrative of the incident as well as a drawing of the place so know streets and directions. I typed a report and drew the scene on the back of the report sheet. (I did this the day after at the nearby station).
6. All insurance companies were closed as the accident took place on a Friday evening. I called my agent for info, who advised me to contact the other driver's insurance to file a claim. I would only file a claim on my insurance if the kid was uninsured or had really shitty insurance.
7. After contacting the other driver's insurance, get eligible repair facility info, schedule appraisal appointment for repairs. I called on a Monday after and went to the repair shop the following Thursday. The damage was $1,400-ish and repairs will begin on Aug 28.
8. Call insurance again after appraisal appointment to get reservation number and info for car rental.
I'm stuck on step 8 so this is going to have to be continued.