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

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?

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

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

To the other driver, if they decide for some reason to. To the other driver's insurance company. To anyone at all. 'Coz if you cost them money, they'll want to make it up.

Get them to put it in writing if you can. I got a verbal agreement that obviously never got put into my records anywhere.

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

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh interesting.

I think -- now that I've made some phone calls -- I'm in the clear on this one. I don't have collision insurance. (Wasn't worth it! Car not worth enough!) So it would have to be liability, and the other guy's insurance company is accepting liability (hosanna!).