Wrecked!!

[WYoung]

While going home from work this past Tuesday (Aug 7, 2007) a fellow in a '99 Honda Civic ran a stop sign in front of me. I had time to apply brakes, then smash!!! I pushed him about 26 feet through the intersection while he was mostly under my front end, until my truck let him go. My truck was still running, though I could hear the fan hitting the radiator. I gently accelerated to park my truck off to the side, shut it down, and got out mad #@$%! I calmed down as I started toward his mangled car, and saw that he wasn't moving. His engine was revving at near full throttle, as folks started swarming the scene to render assistance. One guy reached in and killed the ignition, as someone else tried to gain access to the driver - his driver's door wasn't opening. I was just fine; the mass of my truck didn't slow as quickly as his car, and my air bags didn't even deploy. After awhile the fire truck showed up, and cut/pried open his door to get him out. The ambulance came and carted him off. The police cited him with total blame - as they should have. So I waited around through most of the investigation, called my wife to come get me, retrieved my front license plate from the intersection, talked with witnesses, did paperwork, you know, the usual stuff. After a bit I was released, and the truck showed up to haul off my Ram :{ Found out yesterday the claims adjuster estimated just over $4,000. 00 to repair, though I think it will be more. She listed the radiator, transmission cooler, and condenser, but not the turbo intercooler, and I'm sure once the shop tears it down they'll find more. I'm also concerned about frame damage and 4x4 running gear. His car is totaled, naturally, and he is doing fairly well. One of his legs was gouged to the bone by something, he was battered all over, dislocated the bones in his wrist requiring surgery and pins, and I'm not sure what else. Here are a couple of photos from the gallery. I'll upload some of the detail photos if anyone is interested in seeing more of the damage. I'm going to try to get some of his car, too.



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[Crunch]

His engine was revving at near full throttle, as folks started swarming the scene to render assistance. One guy reached in and killed the ignition, as someone else tried to gain access to the driver - his driver's door wasn't opening. I was just fine; the mass of my truck didn't slow as quickly as his car, and my air bags didn't even deploy.

Bummer about your truck, but what you describe above is 100% justification for what you paid for your truck and driving a larger vehicle. Imagine how the other guy would have fared if he had been driving a Mini Cooper, one of those Smarties, or a Prius. Dodge Ram diesel - $40,000. Diesel fuel - $3. 00/gallon. Walking away from an accident caused by an idiot - Priceless!!!

 

[MStrain]

That is too bad about your truck, you gotta work it so your shop can get you some performance parts on the insurance companies dime, like an upgraded intercooler, take it to the shop of your choice, not his insurances shop. I am not really happy that the guy got hurt but it does make me feel pretty good about driving around an 8K truck in a sea of little cars, if you had had a buckstop bumper you would probably just be touching up the paint on it. Definetaly a bittersweet story, get that truck back on the road. I think the insurance is wayyy low on a 4k quote. You want the truck to look like it was never touched, the hood doesn't line up, it may be tweaked or maybe the fenders aren't lined up, don't let them get away with anything, be very picky.

 

[MA2LA]

I feel for ya I was in CT years ago doing some work and on the way back to the hotel a kid ran a red light in a Labaron and i was in my 99 with all my tools in it. I tried to miss him but no luck. He was luck i was able to turn a little before I hit him because if I hadn't it would have been right in the driverside door. Instead it was his driverside fender witch flated out and damn near made a ramp. it was about 6k in repairs and was with out my truck for 2 months. And like you my air bag didn't go off. makes ya wonder what it takes. The best part of the whole thing was a cop was right there at the intersection when it happend. I saw the lights before i came to a stop and thought damn that was quick.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

It looks to be a pretty easy fix. Mostly just unbolt-bolt on stuff; the hardest part would be the radiator support (if it needs replaced)

 

[champspa]

I was in one of those a while back. truck looked about the same . the front differential took the hit and it bent it 7000 plus . didn't touch the radiator but damaged the oil cooler and power steering pump .

 

[bighammer]

Pretty scary stuff. Glad you're OK and he'll live to learn from his mistake.

I always worry about mangling some little car that gets in my way. (even more scary if it were my fault ) My Ranch Hand bumpers are all REALLY rusty and nasty, but still solid. I'm guessing the other car would be my crumple zone and it wouldn't be pretty.

 

[CDonaldson]

Sorry to hear about your accident, glad you are OK and the other guy too.



I'd be REAL picky about the estimate, go over it with a fine tooth comb, have the repair garage make the list as they take the broken stuff off. Then after it was priced out, piece by piece, I'd be looking at things like aftermarket bumper for the same price, better intercooler-again for the same price. Take a close look at all this stuff you could easily replace with those 'goodies' you've been drooling over. Well worth your time and effort. You should get things the way you want them and if better prices out the same, go better.



CD