Just had my wifes car backed into - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

Have you ever had one of those chains of events that only needs one thing to have changed to stop the end result?

My friend had a Mazda dealer tell him that he'd need new rear brakes soon. We moved our Mazda out front and I swapped the Camaro for his Miata so we could work in the garage. It turns out he didn't need brakes at all (1/32" worn, if that) and we switched back. My wife was getting quite hungry and wanted me to go get dinner. No problem, I'll take the Mazda and then I can put it back in the driveway when I return. So far so good....

About 1/2 way to McDonalds, I was thinking that I should have driven the Camaro since it wasn't blocked in the garage, but I hadn't.

I get to the drive through and pull up behind a couple cars. Then I hear a "pop". I check the mirrors and a black 2004-ish Grand Am had backed into the corner of my bumper with her bumper. I got out, walked up to the window and advised her that she hit my car. She didn't seem to believe me, but she couldn't leave because I was in her way (which is how she hit me). She looked at my car and started to blow it off, then she saw the red paint streaks on her black bumper and was convinced. I called and tried to get an officer to take a report, but they were busy and said they'd be here in about 2 hours. No thanks (when I left, my wife was getting so hungry that she was going to start feeling ill soon).

One of the two of them hustled the 4 small children (all 5 and under) from the backseat (no car seats) to the inside of the McDonalds play area and came back out. I asked if they had an insurance card, "no". Do you have insurance? "no". Can I get your name and address? They spoke in Spanish for a while and finally gave me a cell phone number and a name. But they couldn't remember their address (which is why I wanted an officer to respond). So, I took the tag number off of the car, a description of the car, the time, date and location and wrote it down. I'll give it all to my insurance company and let them fight it out with the person the car and tags are registered to. By the time this is all finished, I'll probably have to fight with my insurance company to cover it and get them to try to locate the driver to get their money back. I'm just frustrated that people don't pay the least bit of attention, they don't know where they live (yea, right) and they understand everything I say, but don't seem to speak any English.

[/rant]

Note to self, learn Spanish. I've been thinking that for a while, but I guess I should finally look into doing something about it.

trackbird View Member Profile	Sep 23 2007, 12:02 AM Post #1
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	Have you ever had one of those chains of events that only needs one thing to have changed to stop the end result? My friend had a Mazda dealer tell him that he'd need new rear brakes soon. We moved our Mazda out front and I swapped the Camaro for his Miata so we could work in the garage. It turns out he didn't need brakes at all (1/32" worn, if that) and we switched back. My wife was getting quite hungry and wanted me to go get dinner. No problem, I'll take the Mazda and then I can put it back in the driveway when I return. So far so good.... About 1/2 way to McDonalds, I was thinking that I should have driven the Camaro since it wasn't blocked in the garage, but I hadn't. I get to the drive through and pull up behind a couple cars. Then I hear a "pop". I check the mirrors and a black 2004-ish Grand Am had backed into the corner of my bumper with her bumper. I got out, walked up to the window and advised her that she hit my car. She didn't seem to believe me, but she couldn't leave because I was in her way (which is how she hit me). She looked at my car and started to blow it off, then she saw the red paint streaks on her black bumper and was convinced. I called and tried to get an officer to take a report, but they were busy and said they'd be here in about 2 hours. No thanks (when I left, my wife was getting so hungry that she was going to start feeling ill soon). One of the two of them hustled the 4 small children (all 5 and under) from the backseat (no car seats) to the inside of the McDonalds play area and came back out. I asked if they had an insurance card, "no". Do you have insurance? "no". Can I get your name and address? They spoke in Spanish for a while and finally gave me a cell phone number and a name. But they couldn't remember their address (which is why I wanted an officer to respond). So, I took the tag number off of the car, a description of the car, the time, date and location and wrote it down. I'll give it all to my insurance company and let them fight it out with the person the car and tags are registered to. By the time this is all finished, I'll probably have to fight with my insurance company to cover it and get them to try to locate the driver to get their money back. I'm just frustrated that people don't pay the least bit of attention, they don't know where they live (yea, right) and they understand everything I say, but don't seem to speak any English. [/rant] Note to self, learn Spanish. I've been thinking that for a while, but I guess I should finally look into doing something about it.

GlennCMC70 View Member Profile	Sep 23 2007, 03:21 AM Post #2
Veteran Member Group: Member Posts: 2,688 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Ft Worth, TX Member No.: 8	i think i would have called the cops back and explained you have some non-english speaking people who hit your car. they have no D/L, they don't no where they live and they don't have insurance. some cop would have met his non-existant "quota" for the month and hauled off some illegal aliens, or someone who most likely has warrents for previous "accidents". your way too nice a guy Kevin.

trackbird View Member Profile	Sep 23 2007, 03:28 AM Post #3
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	QUOTE (Glenn98ZM6 @ Sep 22 2007, 11:21 PM) i think i would have called the cops back and explained you have some non-english speaking people who hit your car. they have no D/L, they don't no where they live and they don't have insurance. some cop would have met his non-existant "quota" for the month and hauled off some illegal aliens, or someone who most likely has warrents for previous "accidents". your way too nice a guy Kevin. I considered it. Then I remembered that I'm insured out the wazoo (probably too well). I'll call them, let them deal with it as uninsured/underinsured motorists and their batallion of lawyers can do their best to make these peoples lives hell. Besides, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry..... [/David Banner] And, the officer who answered the phone advised me that they probably wouldn't take a report on private property, but they'd send someone out if I really wanted them to and wanted to wait. Seemed like an easy waste of 2-4 hours, so I got what info I could and went home. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)