Well, I'm finally home tonight after a very close call.
I was driving home from my office on a pretty well travelled secondary two lane road. The car in front of me put it's blinker on to turn right into a local church. I slowed down. The car in front of me comes to a comlete stop to make the turn. I come to a complete stop as well. BANG!!! From out of nowhere, I get rear ended hard by a Chevy Trailblazer 4 x 4. I drive an Infinity sedan. The Blazer probably knocked my car a good ten yards forward. I get out to look at the damage, and my right rear corner panel is hanging off, my bumper is pushed into the trunk, and the trunk lid is pretty crumpled up. The driver of the Blazer doesn't ask me how I am. All he asks is that he will pay for the damage, and lets not mak a big deal out of it. There is probably close to $5,000 worth of damage to my car. I don't know this guy from Adam, and he reeks of booze. What do I do? I dial 911 and tell him I need an accident report. In the meantime, my neck is getting pretty sore (my head was jerked around on the impact). The guy is pleading with me not to involve the police, but a few things are on my mind - the damage to my car is pretty substantial and I don't know that this guy would ever pay, and second, this guy is drunk behind the wheel on a rainy foggy Tuesday night. The local cops and the county sherriff arrive on the scene with an ambulance in tow. After interviewing me, the police insist I take the ride in the ambulance to the local hospital to get checked out. I didn't want to do this, but they insisted. I'm glad they did, because now I'm pretty sore physically. I call home to my wife to let her know what's going on, and naturally, she's upset. My kids are upset. I get checked out at the hospital, my wife picks me up, and we go back to the police department to get my keys so I can slowly get the car home. The guy who hit me was finally being released a full four hours after the incident, and the police confirmed to me that the stupid SOB was indeed drunk.
Bottom line is this - I am a father of three. I have a great wife. I own a business where I have customers and employees that depend on me. I play in several bands. I am an active volunteer in my community. Some a-hole drunk could have ended all of that tonight. I do not care if this guys insurance goes to the moon, or he loses his liscense from now until Earth collides with Pluto. There is no excuse whatsover to get behind the wheel when you have been drinking. Ever.
Sorry for the long rant. I needed to get that off my chest. Now I have to deal with insurance adjusters and rental cars. Oh joy! To end this on a positive note, I am very thankful that it wasn't worse, and that I am here to tell the tale. I'll be sore for a few days, and that's OK. I'm here and alive.
I was driving home from my office on a pretty well travelled secondary two lane road. The car in front of me put it's blinker on to turn right into a local church. I slowed down. The car in front of me comes to a comlete stop to make the turn. I come to a complete stop as well. BANG!!! From out of nowhere, I get rear ended hard by a Chevy Trailblazer 4 x 4. I drive an Infinity sedan. The Blazer probably knocked my car a good ten yards forward. I get out to look at the damage, and my right rear corner panel is hanging off, my bumper is pushed into the trunk, and the trunk lid is pretty crumpled up. The driver of the Blazer doesn't ask me how I am. All he asks is that he will pay for the damage, and lets not mak a big deal out of it. There is probably close to $5,000 worth of damage to my car. I don't know this guy from Adam, and he reeks of booze. What do I do? I dial 911 and tell him I need an accident report. In the meantime, my neck is getting pretty sore (my head was jerked around on the impact). The guy is pleading with me not to involve the police, but a few things are on my mind - the damage to my car is pretty substantial and I don't know that this guy would ever pay, and second, this guy is drunk behind the wheel on a rainy foggy Tuesday night. The local cops and the county sherriff arrive on the scene with an ambulance in tow. After interviewing me, the police insist I take the ride in the ambulance to the local hospital to get checked out. I didn't want to do this, but they insisted. I'm glad they did, because now I'm pretty sore physically. I call home to my wife to let her know what's going on, and naturally, she's upset. My kids are upset. I get checked out at the hospital, my wife picks me up, and we go back to the police department to get my keys so I can slowly get the car home. The guy who hit me was finally being released a full four hours after the incident, and the police confirmed to me that the stupid SOB was indeed drunk.
Bottom line is this - I am a father of three. I have a great wife. I own a business where I have customers and employees that depend on me. I play in several bands. I am an active volunteer in my community. Some a-hole drunk could have ended all of that tonight. I do not care if this guys insurance goes to the moon, or he loses his liscense from now until Earth collides with Pluto. There is no excuse whatsover to get behind the wheel when you have been drinking. Ever.
Sorry for the long rant. I needed to get that off my chest. Now I have to deal with insurance adjusters and rental cars. Oh joy! To end this on a positive note, I am very thankful that it wasn't worse, and that I am here to tell the tale. I'll be sore for a few days, and that's OK. I'm here and alive.
Unless something is amiss here, since the other driver was at fault, you should be able to get a rental car paid for by the other driver's insurance company for the period that your car is in for repairs. It may not be as fancy as yours, but it will be "wheels". Check it out.
