CRUNCH

[cjsmith]

I'm fine, I think, except for a broken fingernail. So's the other guy.

I was northbound on Mary, heading to work, and a guy on the other side of the street just... made a U-turn. Too bad for both of us that I was there! I pulled to the right and slowed as much as I could, but we hit anyway. I couldn't open my door afterward; got out the passenger side. Both cars could still drive, so we went to his house a couple blocks away and exchanged all the appropriate info. He was very polite about it. We were both pretty shaky and we commiserated on how this wasn't a terrific start to the day.

My guess is they're probably going to total mine. A 1989 Toyota Corolla isn't worth much by the book. At least I can drive it while I look for another.

I *suspect* it's technically his fault -- double yellow line, plus U-turns don't have right-of-way anyway -- but I'm not sure that truly matters to either of us at this point. We're healthy, we're not dead or in critical condition somewhere or injured in a way that won't heal; we'll have fully functional cars again at some point; neither of us is making this any harder for the other than it needs to be. All of that seems pretty darn positive to me right now.

Comments

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

Glad it wasn't worse!

Susan

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes indeedy. I'm also very grateful the guy isn't being a confrontative jerk. So many people would be.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Eeep!!

I'm glad you're OK, at least.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. PITA having to go buy a car, but Oh Well.

[ame-chan.livejournal.com]

Ack! **crunch** indeed.

Glad you are okay. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Annoyed at the prospect of car hunting, but if that's the worst thing that happens to me in my life I'll be okay.

Re-read this comment in a day or two, when you're not still shaky

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

I *suspect* it's technically his fault [..] but I'm not sure that truly matters to either of us at this point.

May not matter to you, but it will matter mightily to your insurance companies. Keep in the loop with them, and if you can get them to swear that they won't make any payouts without your knowledge, so much the better. ('Coz they'll do what they need to, to "close the case". And then, if you cost them money, they'll raise your rates....)

Re: Re-read this comment in a day or two, when you're not still shaky

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely it'll matter to them. Make payouts to whom without my knowledge?

What genderfur said!

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

Also, don't let them low-ball you on the value of your car! If you need someone to vouch for you, remember I'm in the biz.

Re: What genderfur said!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thankyouthankyouthankyou...

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Oy. Glad you're okay. Mary is one road out there I hate driving on anyway.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Huh - I've always liked Mary. Right now, though, I admit I'll probably be a bit unnerved on that road for a while.

[tryslora]

Ouch! Glad you're okay.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *shakey shakey*

[ashiegrrrl.livejournal.com]

Eeek! Glad you're okay!

*hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *hugsback* *shake shake*

[the-fantum.livejournal.com]

.. this is not a good excuse to have to replace your car .. just thought you would like to know that more subtle rationalization is needed. I've used, "New tires are $160 each!"

Glad you are okay

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHA! I suppose I could use the rationalization "It sure is a pain in the butt to crawl in the passenger side all the time". :-)

[rampling.livejournal.com]

Phew! So glad you weren't harmed too!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I should whine a lot because I broke a nail. ;-) ;-)

[ken_r]

"What they said." Glad you're okay.

Kind of annoying about the car, though.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Amen; I'm glad I'm okay too. About the car, yeah, I didn't need one extra item of stress right now, but then -- it WASN'T raining and I'm NOT recovering from surgery or sick with something and I'm NOT about to leave for a big road trip... things could be worse. :)

[bigredpaul.livejournal.com]

i'm very glad it wasn't serious, but i'd caution you to be mindful that some types of injuries don't show up immediately, especially in the verterbrae. my unsolicited advice is to get checked out if you feel anyway sore or still. soft tissue injuries can be very unpleasant if left unchecked...

but be well.

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

Get into a chiropractor even if you *don't* feel any discomfort. Neck injuries really don't show up for a day or two.

Oh yes! And try not to make any big decisions for a day or so.

[erikred.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're all right!

Fault will become an issue when it comes to whose insurance is paying for which, so make sure you press the point. Good luck with this.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sounds like (from the phone call I just ended, with the other driver's insurance) they'll be accepting liability. Not that it will cost them much. My car's worth close to zilch.

Poor little baby car :-(

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Glad you are OK. Stuff like this can be scary even when the results are minor damage.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It sure rattled me! The other driver and I, while exchanging information, admitted to each other that we were both quite shaky. :)

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

Its good that you are ok!!!!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! A little muscle-achey - time to see the chiro - but no serious critical damage. THANK GOODNESS.

[redgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ouch -- glad nobody was hurt! In NYS, it is illegal to do a U-turn on a double yellow line...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I too am very glad it was as minor (?) as it was. We both walked away.

I've been ticketed here in CA for a U-turn on a double yellow, but CA is in most cases very permissive about U-turns. He might have been completely legal.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

I'll be a third on the 'get yourself checked out medically' front, hon. The last thing you'd want is some sinister, painful and difficult to diagnose problem to show up yeasrs from now affecting your life forevermore.

Oh, right.

Glad you're okay-ish. *hug*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Aw, I wasn't using this body anyway ;-) -- seriously though, good point. I am very grateful that the rest of me is functional and I want it to stay that way. :-)

[hot-turkey.livejournal.com]

Kudos to you for maintaining a positive attitude. Do get that medical check, just in case. U-turns are legal in California, albeit with some little-known restrictions -- but driving in front of an oncoming vehicle is never right. *hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It was sort of driving into the side of an oncoming vehicle ;-) but yeah, it didn't work out all that well. :-)

Definitely will get myself checked out. I feel a little muscle-achey now, and I know darn well what that probably means for tomorrow.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

Gak, I'm glad that you're all right.

Ferrari time!

I, like America, feel that you need a Farrari.

America needs more hot blondes in sports cars.

[shoutingboy.livejournal.com]

Glad you're okay! And, yeah, I'd say this is an open-and-shut case. When you make a u-turn, it's your responsibility to make sure there aren't any cars where you're heading, especially if you're doing it in the middle of the block. (It's legal to make a u-turn over a double-yellow-line--those lines mean "don't pass", they don't mean "don't turn"--but it definitely increases the burden on him to make sure it's safe.)

If you were drunk, he might be able to make the case that it wasn't his fault. Otherwise, I think you're coo'.

[ericainohio.livejournal.com]

Eek! I'm glad everyone was OK.

I know how it is - even though it all turns out as well as these things *can* turn out, it sure rattles your cage for a couple of days, eh?

Take could care of yourself. ((Hugs))

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It sure did rattle me. I think I'm currently in denial -- after all, the car can be driven, so everything's fine, right? Gah. (Typing this response while on hold with the insurance company...)

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Walking away from car accidents are a very good thing, VERY! Glad you're okay.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes indeedy! I am very relieved it wasn't worse.

[rfrench.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Got your phone message, too. Glad you're OK! That's pretty weird, making a U-turn in the middle of Mary. Scary.

I don't see how there can be any doubt it's his fault. Having had an at-fault accident 10 years ago, I know you want to press the fact to the insurance company that it's his fault. My rates tripled after my accident, and that will matter more with a brand new car to insure. Give AAA a call ASAP, if you haven't already. They need to know about it from you first. I don't suppose you used one of those nifty new phones you have to take a picture of the accident site?

Also, don't forget that the DMV requires that you report the accident to the DMV within 10 days if the amount of damage to anything is over $750. If you don't report the accident, the penalty is having your license suspended.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oooooo, thank you for the DMV reporting reminder. I would have forgotten that one. I will make a report there -- it's CERTAINLY over $750. I'll remind Mr. Silver 2001 Honda too, as the last thing he needs right now is any further penalties to deal with.

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I'm so very glad no one was hurt.

(Poor little Toyota.)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Me too... and yeah, I'm going to mourn that car. It's been my buddy for seventeen years. Only my family and Rob have been in my life longer than that!

[jupiter29.livejournal.com]

Ouch, that sucks. Sorry about the accident. It is definitely not a good start to the day. Or an end for that matter. My last accident happened on my way home from work, I just couldn't stop in time. Tiny little dent is his car and a little scratch on mine. We didn't even make a report, though I gave him a check to cover the damage. But it just sort of numbed me out, I finished driving home and didn't even tell Kim about it for two hours until she actually asked me how my day was. And then she kicked my ass. :)

Anyway, I'm glad you're okay. And just for a laugh, I completely missed the title and that this post was about an accident. I thought you were posting about a broken fingernail. And then I got to the part about the other guy and I thought, "How did CJ break some guy's fingernail??"

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yikes. You're right, it sure doesn't make one's day any better to have something like this happen. I'm glad your accident was so minor. Even mine, really... car's unhappy, but nobody got carted away in an ambulance.

Hee hee, I love the interpretation! I always pick random strangers on the street and accost their fingernails!

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

*hug* I'm just glad you're ok.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. So am I, man, so am I. (Achey now. Time to find chiro before this solidifies overnight.)