Stopping at Red Lights

[zer0ss]

So, I lurked these forums for months contemplating the purchase of a 2012 V6 auto. Until one weekend, I couldn't take it anymore. I made the plunge. I've been perma-grinned since. Purchased June 10th.

I've had a bunch of ups and downs in this past month. My cat died on the 8th. I purchased this car on the 10th. Tint installed on the 12th. My father passed on the 16th... with his passing I've busied myself with taking over the family estate and working on my Camaro when I'm not at work.

Removing and painting the taillight bezels, plasti-dipping the plastic rim on the "steelies", painting the engine cover. Purchasing an intake (lost by Fedex, but Jason at Juiced has me covered), an exhaust, and a catch can (something this forum educated me on), and miscellaneous trim pieces (sills and kick plates). Demanded a raise at work and got it, even though tomorrow at 10am they are announcing a 10% workforce layoff... Slowly readjusting to reality as it is now.

And today, a hot and clear summer day, I left work early to sort out the cellphone contract. I stop at a red light. A second or two later a screech, and in the rear view, a truck bumper grew larger and larger. I casually glanced out over the dash and braced. Boom. Driven clear into the intersection, we finally stop. I wave toward the gas station next to us and he follows. He doesn't have the registration and I see the plates are dead (03/12) and hands me an insurance card expiring in '07. We were casual about it, even throughout the officer's visit. No one is hurt beyond bruises. The ode reads 1100 even. The cop says I can go, the other drivers bumper has been driven into the tires and requires a wrecker. It's a Ranger XLT.


The damage doesn't look too bad, I hope just a new rear will solve everything.


My worry is any frame damage that may have been caused.


I never got mad, just depressed about it, just another problem to solve. So, any wreck-perienced members out there? I need to know if I should wait on the police report or start getting estimates, or should I use my insurance pay the 500$ deductable and get that money from him (I'm told my rates won't be effected because of a no-fault accident)? Police report will be available Friday or next Monday.

I'm truly amazed at how well she took the hit, all lights are functional, trunk still latches solid. But the entire rear has been pushed down and inward to the point the rear part extending into the tire wells have flared out on the passenger side and buckled inwards on the driver's.

In the end the other driver did say, "Of all the cars to hit, I had to hit the nicest one around." But he did also say "the problem was I hit a Chevy" and "if I was in my Mustang I coulda just whipped around you."

I think the other reason this was so long winded is that, I've spent a lot of nights as of late on these forums (insomnia). The wealth of knowledge is amazing, the vendors are just a phone call away, and the members care about their car's as much as I do.

[Linker239]

Sorry to hear about it, I hope you get her fixed as good as new real soon and get that Permagrin going again!

[SnowVert]

I'm sorry to hear about this, it sounds like you are having a horrible month. You did the right thing by getting the police to respond to the scene. I would advise to contact your insurance company, they will handle it all from here on out. That is after all why we pay them.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[_Nick_]

That's really unfortunate. I doubt any frame damage was caused. From the pictures, you'll probably just need a new bumper cover and all the components underneath.

BTW, that truck is a Silverado.

[JohnnyBfromPeoria]

Hope things turn around for you. I'll bet you just need a new rear bumper.

I'd small-claims-court the guy that hit you for the damages, if that's a possibility in your state. Did the cops haul him or his vehicle off?

John B.

[zer0ss]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBfromPeoria

Hope things turn around for you. I'll bet you just need a new rear bumper.

I'd small-claims-court the guy that hit you for the damages, if that's a possibility in your state. Did the cops haul him or his vehicle off?

John B.

The cop left before I did. I tried helping the other driver bend his bumper back into place to avoid needing the wrecker, to no avail.

Originally Posted by _Nick_

That's really unfortunate. I doubt any frame damage was caused. From the pictures, you'll probably just need a new bumper cover and all the components underneath.

BTW, that truck is a Silverado.

You are correct. I think this may be a truck that was in the lot, same color, but the other driver's truck was a Ranger, and the bumper of that Silverado isn't folded in like the other driver's was. Sharp eye, sir.

[PM Designs]

I see a silverado not a ranger in the reflection.

[heRS]

Sounds like you've had some real highs and lows, here's to a quick camaro recovery and future good times.

[zer0ss]

Originally Posted by PM Designs

I see a silverado not a ranger in the reflection.

Quite right. Edited first post to remove any false accusations towards the perfectly innocent Silverado.

[snaphappy]

I know it was a terrible accident, but I totally dig your tail lights! What kind are they? You have a gorgeous car!

[zer0ss]

Originally Posted by snaphappy

I know it was a terrible accident, but I totally dig your tail lights! What kind are they? You have a gorgeous car!

It's a stock 2012 2LS. I think they just caught the light just right in that photo. I'm kinda glad with the heat index here it was 111 over the weekend and I didn't feel like melting as I put on my MRTv2.0 exhaust. I don't think they would have been damaged, but, with my luck as it is right now, I'd hate to find out I have frame damage and they'd point a finger at my mods and fabricate some fantasy world in which it voids a percentage of my warranty. (Delusional: yes, but Lady Luck hasn't showed me any favor for a while.)

[06_warrior]

Man sorry to hear of your recent events. Atleast you can still drive it and use it until it goes to the shop to get fixed. Looks like cosmetic damage but make sure the insurance company checks the trunk for alignment and closure and both doors so they close correctly and line up right.

I've had my cat for 8 years. She was my sons but when he moved out she stayed with me and she's my little buddy. Same thing for my dog who was my youngest sons until he moved to his moms and i ended up keeping him since he couldn't bring him with him.

Good luck and let us know when it gets fixed.

[CWI]

Mine got clipped in a parking lot last year. Had to replace the rear facia, lower valance, trunk lid, tail light, reverse light and trunk stripes. It came to $3000. Nothing else was affected, luckily no fender work.

Hope you come out OK on yours.

[zer0ss]

Originally Posted by 06_warrior

Man sorry to hear of your recent events. Atleast you can still drive it and use it until it goes to the shop to get fixed. Looks like cosmetic damage but make sure the insurance company checks the trunk for alignment and closure and both doors so they close correctly and line up right.

I've had my cat for 8 years. She was my sons but when he moved out she stayed with me and she's my little buddy. Same thing for my dog who was my youngest sons until he moved to his moms and i ended up keeping him since he couldn't bring him with him.

Good luck and let us know when it gets fixed.

It may sound weird, but I think my cat's passing softened the blow for everything else. It was the start of the whole snowball down the slope. He was 10, I found him two days old abandoned, hadn't even opened his eyes yet. Bottle fed him for the first month, he ended up being allergic to the enamel of his teeth (who knew that was possible). Only had his fangs left when he was a year old, and still loved hard food. Tough and faithful, I don't think he knew he was a cat. Slept on my pillow every night for 10 years. Don't think I'd ever find another like him anywhere.

Yeah, I'm a big softy.