Adding to my collection of dents. UPDATE: w00t!

[GonneVille]

Got sideswiped on my exit ramp around 5:15pm today. Coming home with some food, got off on my exit, which always starts backing up at rush hour. Traffic today was stopping about 2/3 of the way down the ramp. Usually around 5:15 to 5:30, the traffic turning right on my road splits down the right shoulder, and the left-turns take the regular lane. Well, traffic was just starting to do that when I pulled on the ramp, so I couldn't immediately take the left side up to the top. So I stayed centered in the lane til he moved over, then went a little left to clear him as he pulled right, and CRUNCH...the dingleberry behind me cut left and tried to pass me and whacked into my drivers door and skipped off onto the left shoulder.
I've got minor damage to the door skin and fender, and scrapes on the bumper cover. The side mirror is gone, but the housing doesn't seem harmed. The worst of it is the left front wheel. It's scraped to hell, and the center cap is smashed. With those wheels being discontinued, this is going to be a major problem.
The other guy did stop, and I've already talked to his insurance. He was cited for failing to maintain a continuous lane. I should have the police report in a couple days.
His car is in a lot worse shape than mine. It's a mid-90s Honda Accord, and the right fender is totally caved in, and so is the leading edge of his passenger door. His hubcap is smashed, his mirror is torn off. I'm pretty sure his door is totally stuck...
Anyway, pics. Lousy pics, but still, pics.







And his car:

[gonzo4191]

geez la weeze, looks like your gonna run up the price on that gen 3

[petraman]

The only thing I can say right now is...

I want some Cane's... mmmmmm....


Glad you weren't hurt and hope everything works out for ya, Brian!

btw, this would be a pretty sweet look...
http://www.tiredealersites.com/konig2/d ... &wid=28291

[GonneVille]

geez la weeze, looks like your gonna run up the price on that gen 3

AW, CRAP!! Dude, I keep forgetting that stupid thing! You got PM.

[GonneVille]

The only thing I can say right now is...

I want some Cane's... mmmmmm....


Glad you weren't hurt and hope everything works out for ya, Brian!

btw, this would be a pretty sweet look...
http://www.tiredealersites.com/konig2/d ... &wid=28291

Actually, Cody(who else?) showed me these a while back: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelClo ... sort=Brand


If the rim is bent, or can't be recoated, I'll get his insurance to cover a new set. I really like the way my current rims complement the car, thought. Those little oval cut-outs echo he grille and tails nicely, almost like they were designed for the car.

And how did I know you'd spot the Cane's bag? It was cold by the time I got home, darn it, and it doesn't microwave well...

[Bonneville92V688]

*dang*, that really sucks to see your PA in that condition...mainly because yours was the first S2 L67 i've ever driven.

Mmmm... Cane's. Last time I had Cane's was when we went to the Columbus Zoo last year. Their chicken tenders are excellent, as well as the dipping sauce....dang...good thing I got food in the oven.

[RJolly87]

Admit it, you were mad at the guy and tried to put him in the wall

[GonneVille]

Well, today started off in a nearly spectacular manner.

Adjuster calls at 7:45 to let me know he'll be here at 8:00(I asked him to call ahead). He shows up at 8:10, then sits in his car for TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES making phone calls. When he finally does haul his ass out of the car, he's polite enough, apologizes for making me wait, goes to work inspecting the car.
After about ten minutes, he says that from his appraisal, they'll probably end up totaling out the car. My reaction, of course, is, "You have to be joking." He tells me that they'll have to replace both door skins and the fender, on top of replacing the mirror and trim strips. I tell him, no, they don't have to do that, the door is simple hammer and dolly work and a little filler to smooth out the finished product, the fender is literally a matter of pushing it back by hand, and the back door is five minutes with a block of wood to bend out the edge that is turned in slightly. He again says no, they have to do a lot more work than that.
So I let him know I worked for a year doing time-to-repair estimates, I know exactly what kind of labor is going to be required, and I know that there is no way the door skin would have to be replaced, and there's no way I'll accept the car being totaled when I have several thousand dollars in new performance parts in it.
He looks at me, and says, exact quote, "You're really pushing me."

I came about this >< close to just smashing him in the teeth. Instead, I took a second, got a grip, and calmly told him again that totaling the car is completely out of the picture, I will not accept anything other than the full amount of the repairs, and I ABSOLUTELY will not accept any more of his attitude. He didn't say anything further until he was done, then told me he'd have the office send me a copy of his appraisal. I told him I wanted his card, that made him look extremely unhappy. After he left, I went upstairs and had a nice long talk with the local Claims Manager, who was also VERY unhappy with the adjuster's conduct. I think I'm gonna call the adjuster in a couple days and find out whether his boss called him on the carpet. If it doesn't sound like he got chewed out, I'm gonna file a BBB complaint.
In any case, the agent who is handling the claim is still polite with me, so we'll see.

I think they're gonna try low-balling the value of the car, and writing a ridiculous estimate so they can justify giving me a small payment for totaling it. Not gonna fly, I'll take it to court, produce receipts for the recent mods and new stock parts, and force them to pay out the whole amount of that estimate they tried to screw me with. They pulled up @$$hole mode, and what's even better, after a call to my Dad, he's in @$$hole mode right along with me, and he's much more effective at being an @$$hole than I am, lol.

[00Beast]

That's and insurance company for you. I know you won't let them push you around, though. Get what's fair, not what they want to give.

[GonneVille]

Nationwide denied the claim. Going over to the Courthouse tomorrow to pick up the paperwork to sue the other driver. I called him and let him know, and told him I'd give him a couple days to contact the insurance and try to straighten things out. So I'll call him Wednesday and ask him if Nationwide is gonna pay up, and he'll say no. I'll ask him if he is going to pay for the repairs himself, and he'll say no. Then I'll go downtown, turn in the paperwork, and pay the filing fee.

[RJolly87]

What grounds is insurance denying it on? This kind of stuff makes me sick. What is the purpose of having insurance if they won't pay for crap?

[00Beast]

That sucks Brian. I hate insurance companies for that exact reason. My dad had to really jerk our insurance around with my last accident, as they wanted to skyrocket my rates. Sorry for the guy who smacked into you, but that's not your problem.

[GonneVille]

What grounds is insurance denying it on? This kind of stuff makes me sick. What is the purpose of having insurance if they won't pay for crap?

All the letter said was that they found that their client wasn't liable. They don't have grounds. Their client was cited. He failed to show up for his court date, too. He says he is seeing a magistrate this Saturday to get a new hearing date. So the citation is still floating out there, unresolved. The idea that the insurance company is trying to deny a claim before the citation for the accident is brought to a hearing is absolutely ludicrous. I intend to call the City Prosecutor's Office tomorrow and find out why I haven't received a summons as a witness.

[petraman]

This is bull, dude, at least you're not suing the insurance company. I'd imagine you'll have a better chance suing the dude that hit you. Good luck, Brian!

[98Park]

That effing sucks Brian, the more I read this post the higher my blood pressure got. That is straight up bull, that car is getting back on the road in all its former glory and sooner rather than later. Good luck dude, there's no way they can pull this chicken sh!t move and get away with it.

[01bonneSC]

The insurance company doesnt care that you mod your car tho.

[BonneMe]

How much do you think your car is worth? If they wont accept responsibility, go through your insurance, and then they will go after the other one (and prob get the money pretty quickly).

[00Beast]

I'm with Jason. Insurance companies are good at bullying other insurance companies.

[GonneVille]

I have liability-only, guys, state minimum. My insurance won't do a thing unless he tries to come after me.

BUT, in a fun little revelation, it turns out the other driver works for Nationwide. He's a Total Loss Claims Processor, a *dang* office drone. But, man, does that suddenly shed a lot of light on the attitude I've been getting.
He also lied his nuts off to my insurance company, saying I was behind a semi on the ramp and turned into him as he went past.
There wasn't even a semi ON the ramp anywhere that I could see, and I was firmly in the middle of the exit lane, and moved left to see how much further up the ramp it was to where traffic actually WAS splitting, and he bounced off the left side of my car.

I'm going to tear this guy apart in court.

[GonneVille]

How much do you think your car is worth?

Nationwide says $3380, which is convenient, because that makes their repair estimate JUST over 80% of that value, their cutoff for total loss.
I'd personally estimate $3500 without taking the most recent round of mods into account. I'll produce receipts for the install, and printouts of the PMs with the people I bought the parts from as well as statements of their original value.
Of course, since I'll be suing for damages, not dealing with the insurance for a settlement, the insurance company's policy on modifications doesn't make a bit of difference anymore.