Had My First Accident Today

[Mrs. Wallnut]

After all the years I have been driving I had my first car accident today, and it wasn't even my fault.

I went and got my son from school, he stayed after school to work with his band teacher. Well after I get him I had to go and get some gas and there is a station close to the school that pumps the gas for you and I know a couple of the guys that work there. I pulled in and there was a Dodge Caravan in front of me and I parked about 4 to 5 feet behind him to give the other driver some room. I noticed that the driver was out of the car and went and paid or something and then got back in to the car. Well I glanced down to make sure my wallet was handy and as I glanced back up he was backing up towards me, well not really just casually backing up but he slammed into the front end of our Yukon. It was a pretty good jolt for all of us and then as I get out of the car I tell him that we are going to have to exchange info. The kid looks at me and says "I don't have a license", I look at him and say, "Well then I am calling the cops."

This "kid" begged me not to and come to find out he doesn't have a license because he is only 15 years old. I have no idea what he was doing driving at all. So the police officer gets there and come to find out, I know who he is, so for me things went smoothly. I called Mark right away as his office has a police scanner there and I wanted to let him know that we were okay. The officer took pictures and took information and gave me the report. So I go to move the Yukon to get some gas like I had planned, and I went and turned around as the other car hadn't moved yet because there was no one to drive it. As I turned around I noticed a rubbing noise and once I parked again and the wheels were straight I got out and looked and found that the front bumper of the car was pushed up against the passenger front tire. So knowing that Mark was busy, I called my parents and my dad brought his big pry bar and pried the bumper away from the tire so that I could drive it down to Mark and find out what he wanted me to do. So after seeing Mark I stopped at the local auto body shop and got an estimate. From that little bump, if you would like to call it that, the cost to fix the car is going to run about 2200.00. Called the insurance company was very nice explained everything to me and our options and we talked about the best way to do things. So now the ball is rolling on that.

The kids were all in the back seat and belted in and the little one was strapped into his seat. I am feeling a little sore right now but I think that is because of being tense and upset. But I just think it could have been worse and the air bags could have gone off or I could have been pulling into the lot and had my side to his car.

[smc331]

Melissa,

Glad everyone is ok - sore and tense sure beats the a$$ chewin' that young-un' is gonna get!

take care...

Scott

[cwithboat]

Dear Mrs Wallnut,
I find your discourse suspicious. I cannot believe that there is a gas station in the state of Washington that will pump your gas for you. Did you slip across the border into Oregon?
Glad you are OK

[leehljp]

I know that even little accidents "can" cause injuries, but I also know the tensions can causes as much or more pain.

Take care of yourself!

[Anna]

Mrs. W, I'm glad to read you and the kiddies are okay. I think you handled things really well, and there's not much you could have done to avert that accident. Hope the insurance stuff comes through without much hassle.

[Pappy]

Melissa,

Glad everyone is ok - sore and tense sure beats the a$$ chewin' that young-un' is gonna get!

take care...

Scott

That part of his body needs (or maybe needed) a lot more than a chewin'.

At minimum wage, how long would it take for him to work off your deductible? His parents should pay it, but I think this would be a more fitting solution and maybe teach him a lasting lesson.

Pay attention to those little pains. If they get worse, see a doctor.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Dear Mrs Wallnut,
I find your discourse suspicious. I cannot believe that there is a gas station in the state of Washington that will pump your gas for you. Did you slip across the border into Oregon?
Glad you are OK

I really and truly was at my home town here in the center little part of WA. We have two service stations that still pump the gas for you. One is an actual "service" station with a mechanic and everything, the place where I was at is a car wash with gas and a couple of different don't get out of your car, car washes.

Thanks for the well wishes and if the pains get any worse today or don't go away by tomorrow I am going to go and see the doctor.

And Pappy, if my kids had there way the young man would have been laying on the ground bleeding. My 12 yr. old daughter was so mad she wanted to get out and "kick his ass" she yelled out the window, and her twin, Richard looked at me and asked if we could go home and get the gun and take care of him. Oh and I forgot to add this in the original post, HE IS 15 AND STILL IN THE 8TH GRADE. My daughter sees him when she is going to her band class every day, and my boss's daughter who is in 8th grade knows this kid also.

[lrogers]

Glad you are okay Mrs. W. It's a PITA to have an accident, but the car is just sheetmetal and plastic, it can be fixed. You and your kids are the important parts. As all ready mentioned, paid close attention over the next few days for aches and pains that won't go away of get worse. A long soak in a tub hot enough to make a lobster cry works wonders. Been-there-done-that!

[cgallery]

I guess we're all going to be involved in collisions now and then. Yours is the type we should all be so lucky to have. Does that sound weird? Probably. But everyone was safe and secure, and in the long run, that is really all that matters.

[crokett]

Melissa,

Glad to hear you and the little ones are ok. Also glad no fires started from the pumps. I wonder if the kid's parents knew he was driving? That would make things a lot worse.

[JimD]

Insurance is on the vehicle. The fact that an unlicensed driver was behind the wheel is an issue for who owns and pays for the insurance on the vehicle (assuming the unlicensed driver is not the owner and that there is insurance). It will potentially save you money to handle it with the other parties insurance, at least that is the way it worked for me. If I turned it in to my insurance, it could count against me a little in determining future rates. Working with the other insurance was not a big deal (but it was a major brand). They paid for a loaner and a reputable place fixed my SUV. It was a hassle but I was only out some time (and I guess decreased value but my son is now the owner of that SUV and it is still working well).

We also do not take "settlements" for medical issues. My wife was in a bad head-on 15+ years ago and they offered us money just to sign a release. We never did. We wanted our medical costs covered which was a better deal for the insurance company than the money they offered. My wife's knee has never completely recovered but money would not solve that.

Glad to hear you were not hurt. I had my first wreck in ~30 years several years ago (left turn in front of me and I couldn't stop). My wife has had a couple fender benders, I think one was her fault. One kid totaled an old car of ours he was driving, the other damaged a car at church when she was coming there to babysit for free - doing a favor. I have thus had more experience fairly recent than I wanted with insurance but none of it went badly for us. Both kids seem to have learned their lesson (we made them pay part of the costs, it may have helped them understand why they need to be more careful).

Jim

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Jim,
The way you described is the way we are going with this. I have contacted my insurance company and I was told that they will contact the other insurance company and get things going for us. This way we are not going to have to pay our deductible, at least this is my understanding. I am just waiting to hear what the next step is.

I also understand that the unlicensed driver is the parents responsibility but as I have been thinking about things most of the day and worrying about things, the question I have is, What message is that sending to that 15 year old about driving with out a license. That he will get away with it again or is the parent going to take responsibility and punish this boy for what he did. I was hoping that he would get a ticket at least or maybe worse I guess. I mean I had my family in the car and if something would have happened to them I probably would have been more upset yesterday when this happened.

As it is I am still having some pain in my back just below my shoulder blades and it feels like its muscles. A nice hot shower helped with it this morning. And if it gets any worse then I will go to the doctor. I just don't know how that will work. Do I have to keep track of that for insurance or just pay for that bill?

[Ed62]

Sorry to hear about your mishap, Melissa. But as has been mentioned, the important thing is that nobody was seriously hurt. It could have been much worse. Vehicles can be fixed. It's not so easy to fix human body parts.

Be careful about signing your name on anything until you're sure there is no lingering problem for you. If you see a doc, the insurance company should be notified about that.

Ed

[vaking]

If your Yukon had bumper pushed in the wheel - I'd like to see the tail of the Caravan.

[footprintsinconc]

i am glad to hear that you and the kids are fine. for the pain, i would have them pay so that you can start to go to physiotherapy. dont take the pain lightly, its important that you start taking care of it now as oppose to later.

good luck.