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OUCH! My poor baby.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Godiva, Dec 1, 2005.

  1. airportkid

    airportkid Will Fly For Food

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    I have to apologize up front because my first reaction to Godiva's account of the accident was to laugh outright at the cascade of errors, misperceptions and escalating actions that went BANG against a sharp final pitard of irony.

    I am sincerely sorry the episode has such severe repercussions for what should have been a trivial encounter, and I hope Godiva's renewed Prius comes out of the shop better than it was when it left the dealer's lot - and that any actual financial costs turn out to be relatively trivial.

    Meanwhile, as far as fault, this is evil gods toying with human frailty, and neither Godiva nor the truck driver can be blamed for anything more serious than being human.

    First, the truck driver sees he might be beat by an opposing Prius onto the northbound leg, so he keeps his speed up and, from the sound of it, virtually cuts Godiva off getting through the turn. He's only got a YIELD sign - no reason to stop - but neither does he yield: he abandons courtesy and zooms into the turn ahead of Godiva.

    Godiva feels slighted (she should, considering she believes the truck ran a stop sign); the truck driver feels a little guilty for his discourtesy (as he should).

    Godiva completes the turn right behind the truck and decides, in an all too human way, to express her pique at being cut off. Does she fire the 55mm cannon mounted between the ICE and the ignition module and blow the truck into the next county? No, she's a decent person: she simply toots the horn a tart blast. She does so in the hope that the truck driver will be made to feel guilty for cutting her off.

    What she (and anyone else in the same situation would also) fail to take into account is that the truck driver ALREADY feels guilty, so all the horn blast does for him is escalate his feelings to new heights, driving him to do something completely unexpected and dangerous: stop in his tracks. Not pull over and stop, which is what a normally rational mind would have done - get out of the road and out of the way if you're going to stop - no this guy's feelings have overwhelmed his good sense and he stops right in his tracks, knowing he'd "done wrong" back there at the turn and now he's gotta "defend his honor."

    Except the LAST thing poor Godiva expected was that the truck driver would actually react to her horn, and certainly not by stopping abruptly dead in front of her, so WHAM BANG crunch goes the Prius and they are into ACT 2 and its hilarious dialogue.

    If there's a"jerk" in this comic-opera it's the truck driver, to my mind, but I can't see blaming either driver for the accident because it was the inevitable result of people reacting in what they perceived as small, appropriate ways to the situation: she honks, he stops. What could be more innocuous?

    Next time, they get the cannon, eh Godiva?

    What you should do is peddle this story to a sitcom screenwriter - it'd make a great centerpiece in just about any sitcom out there (much better than 95% of what passes for humor in most of those shows) - the royalties might be enough to buy a fleet of Priuses!

    I wish you the best -

    Mark Baird
    Alameda CA
     
  2. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    Hey signboy, mind if I drive in front of you and stopped suddenly just on a whim?
     
  3. koa

    koa Active Member

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    Godiva doesn't mention she was at a stop sign, just that she was turning left. What sounds stupid is the placement of the yield sign. Who is the truck driver suppose to yield to if he doesn't have to stop? Usually on-coming traffic has the right of way to someone doing a left hand turn, so at this intersection it's opposite of that? Even if Godiva had a stop sign who is the truck driver suppose to yield to? I don't think I've ever seen this arrangement. It seems to make more sense to have just one stop sign on the vertical part of the T and that's it, or go with three stop signs. Maybe someone screwed up painting the road.
     
  4. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Actually, I did not honk at him out of anger. I honked as a warning to 1. let him know I was there (and please don't hit me) and 2. let him know he was running what I thought was a stop sign.

    I don't know about you but in a residential area with (at the time) no cars coming I don't stomp on the gas pedal from a stop, I just let the car roll before I give it gas. The guy probably didn't know I was moving into the intersection, he probably thought I was still stopped at the stop sign.

    There's a curve from his side and he was going at a good clip when he reached his yield sign so he had very little time and probably figured he was clear to turn.

    Since I was starting into the intersection, he should have yielded. But he probably couldn't tell I was moving.

    All in all it's a very bad intersection. There should be a three way stop there, or at any rate a two way stop, especially given the curve on his side of the road. The stop sign is on the upper right of the "T" facing into the center, the yield sign is on the upper left of the "T" facing center and the leg going up to the center has nothing at all. So I'm assuming the yield is in case the left hand T people want to cross straight across the top, they then yield to the people going "up" the leg (who would turn either left or right). Like I said, all in all a very stupidly marked intersection. I can't really fault the guy, but I don't feel like I'm to blame either. I thought I was warning the guy that he was driving dangerously by running a stopsign.

    I probably wasn't going more than 10-15 mph when I hit him. Which is why the amount of damage my car has is a shock. He only lost a taillight. My front right corner is all smashed.

    And yes, the last thing I expected was for the guy to stop in the road because of my honk.
     
  5. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    I am sorry about your Prius! :( You are not at fault for using your horn! Hang in there and let us know how it comes out.
     
  6. craigcush

    craigcush Member

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    No matter how many assumptions, explanations or reconstructions are discussed here the fact is we were not there.

    I look on the posting here to be supportive, offer HELPFUL advise and not make the poster regret making the post in the first place.

    I make an exception for signboy...

    IF signboy is not a troll, someday his karma will call. What a shameful rant!
    At first I thought he was 14 years old but looking up his other thread below, he said he was old.

    His other post is similar:

    http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=13035&st=0

    "I am amazed at how gullible so many here are to be so smart."

    All he did there was antagonize as well.
     
  7. ltu1542hvy

    ltu1542hvy New Member

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    To Godiva,

    My condolences on your troubles. I hope for you that your car will come back in perfect condition and that the financial troubles won't be unbearable. The most important thing to come out of this is that nobody got hurt (if that is correct). Cars, after all, can be fixed or replaced. Please keep us posted on your progress.
     
  8. daronspicher

    daronspicher Active Member

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    That's probably enough damage that you needed to get the police to fill out a report of some kind.

    What does the police report say? "Act of God accident", or "Prius owner caused it" or "Truck owner caused it".... Who did the police access the cause to? I think they need to do that for the insurance company maybe.

    and secondly,

    Did anyone get a ticket.... Failure to yield right of way, following too close, etc..?

    Who did the police decide was the stupid guy/gal?
     
  9. Signboy

    Signboy New Member

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    I don't know about other states, but here in Florida ALL rear-end collisions are the fault of the person in the rear. They were following too close. Maybe it is different in other states.

    As you guys continue to coddle this WRECK-CAUSER it makes it worse. One writer offered "condolences" for the wreck.

    Maybe I should try to rob a bank, get caught and then whine on here.

    Maybe in other states it is OK to whack someone in the rear end for being rude.

    I was not trying to start a fight in any way. However, flipping people off, honking, swerving toward them and all things like that are evidence of immature drivers.

    You guys continue to drive like that if you wish. We need more jerks on the road in hybrid cars. There is already enough in pickup trucks.

    Two facts:

    1. She escalated the incident by honking and follwing too close.
    2. She followed too close.

    Had she simply slowed down like an adult and let it go then her car would not be a heap of metal now.

    There are ALWAYS consequences for bad behavior...adults know that.
     
  10. koa

    koa Active Member

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    Signboy, I think most states including Fla, when someone rear ends someone it's the driver in the rear that is thought to be at fault. I rear ended a lady at a red light. We both had stopped for the red light (sort of like a T with us both on the vertical turning right), when the light turned green she went into the intersection and for no reason stopped. I started to go at the same time she did, I took a quick glance to my left and when I looked back saw that she had stopped and bumped into her. I broke her taillight and offer to pay for it, she refused and said she wanted to talk to her husband. Police were called and we both made statements. Later that day I got a call from her husband saying he wanted three days of pay for his wife. I said talk to the insurance company. So began my year long experience with being sued for her back and neck injuries (she was able to meet all the dollar thresholds and had doctors to back up claims), loss of her job, couldn't sleep with her husband any more, etc. They wanted around $75,000+. This went to a two week jury trial.


    Signboy, If you were that lady how much do you think the jury should award you for being rear ended?
     
  11. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    I got a call from the other guy this morning. Very nice guy. Too bad. This will get messy with the insurance company.

    1. He has a lot more damage than was apparent in the dark. His rear driver quarter panel is pushed forward and the mudflap rubs the tire periodically.

    2. He has no collision with his insurance. Why would he? The truck is 12 years old and is paid off.

    I can see my insurance is going to give both of us problems. I told him to call my company and find out what body shop near where he lives is one of their approved ones. And I said I'd be calling them on Tuesday to make sure I was assigned an adjuster and I'd be calling on Friday to make sure my car had been inspected. At that time I'll ask what is going on with his truck as well.

    And if the insurance starts to get messy I'll just tell them point blank....I've paid you for over 25 years. Fix both cars and you'll still be way ahead not only in the money I've paid you over the years but in the interest that money has made sitting in your pocket. He's not an uninsured driver, he wasn't drunk and I have both collision and comprehension enough to cover both of us.

    He's in the Navy and will be out of town from Tuesday Through Saturday of next week. But his cell phone has an answering machine. He's in the process of moving from reserve Navy to active duty Army so is out of town a bit. I asked him why and he said the Navy wouldn't make him active duty because he was 14 days too old and wouldn't make an exception and the Army would. I then said, that's because they're not making their quotas; you know they'll send you to Iraq, right? He said it depends on what company he's assigned to; it may be one that's already gone and come back. Still, I worry for his family. I would hate to go through all this and then hear his name on the news in a few months.

    And yes, I am ignoring signboy.
     
  12. idaten

    idaten New Member

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    Godiva,

    The insurance companies usually let 'ya get away with one accident, unless you were doing somethign really grievous.

    Fixing yours won't be a problem - it'll come out looking like new, and most likely will stay that way for the life of your car, which hopefully will be a long, long time. I'm a magnet for bad drivers - i've been hit like half a dozen times (i'm waiting for an '06 next month - my last car was smashed by a semi on the freeway. My first thought was 'Gee, surprising to be alive right now, and, later, guess its time to buy that Prius).

    The quality of the repairs always surprises me. The only sorry episodes were many years ago and really cheap shops, where the paint faded differently many years later. Take it to a good shop, and don't worry about it.

    The first person to run into me was a 17 year old kid, and the lesson he taught me was far beyond the damage. I was about 30. He was responsible, apologetic, and had more grace than I showed in forgiveness. He shocked the heck out of my wife and I be sending a gift certificate for a nice dinner out by way of additional apology. I often think back about that when I'm in a situation where I'm at fault, and over the years, I've bought a lot of those dinners.

    Rick
     
  13. Signboy

    Signboy New Member

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    Govida,

    Ignoring me is fine. Your friends are doing a great job standing around in a circle and telling you what you want to hear.

    Your title of your post is "I REAR-ENDED..."

    Maybe you and your whiny friends here could better handle this by changing your story to "HE JAMMED HIS CAR IN REVERSE AND RAN INTO ME. WHAT WILL I DO?"

    You have yet to take responsibility for your actions.
     
  14. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Well, this will certainly be a test of an insurance company I've done business with for almost 30 years. I don't do business with companies who don't practice good business. Cheating and avoiding contractural obligations would be big on that list.

    Dinner is a nice idea, and I don't think fault has anything to do with it. I'll bet this guy hasn't had a chance to take his wife out to a really nice dinner on a reservist's salary.

    Like I said, I wasn't angry and didn't scream or yell or call him names. He was quite calm when he got out of the car too. We both behaved friendly and civilized. I don't think this will get ugly, except if I have to press my insurance company to "do the right thing". I've taken it all surprisingly well. I'm not so worried about my car as I am upset at my "loaner".

    I've borrowed my old car back from my sister to use. She bought it for her son, who is taking his driving test this Monday. But he's taking the test in her automatic, not the stick, because he's not as comfortable in it. This car is haunting me. I sold it to her, but then had to drive it to get the upholstery redone after the car wash people steam cleaned the leather and it split and shrunk. I had to go to small claims court to get them to finally pay. I thought after that was done I would never have to drive that car again. But here I am, having to drive it for a week. I have an orthopedic cushion and a lumbar support to help get me through the week. I just hope my car won't take too long to repair. The body shop said they can get parts local in 24 hours and from LA in 1-3 days, so it's just waiting on the insurance inspector to give the green light.

    As for the other guy's car, his repair won't be as expensive. Even if they have to buy a quarter panel, they be buying from a salvage yard, not new. And it may not even need a new panel. It may just need all of the clips/hinges replaced to put the pieces back in alignment.

    One thing this will allow me to do is detail the old car with what I learned at the Meguiar's workshop. I am going to work on the car with Scratch-X and Color-X. I did a few scratches this morning and WOW, that stuff really works. It will look even better when I return it. I'm going to take before and after pictures.
     
  15. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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  16. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

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    O.K. WHO LOCKED MY POLL!!!</span> :angry:
    (If it was an attempt to lock out the replies - I’m all for that - but it also locked out voting in the poll.
    If that was indeed the intended result, may I remind you that it was posted in FHOP?!
    That, and the fact that I was locked-out from replying to Godiva’s posting of “It was an accident. Get over it.â€

    To which I was going to reply:

    This was only meant as a lighthearted joke. Sorry if it offends you. I was only trying make light of what happened to your post, not your situation. Absurdity as a form of humor sometimes comes across the wrong way.
    (So Godiva . . . did you vote? ) I didn't.:p


    Please, at least unlock the Poll!


    <span style=\'color:red\'>[Update: The locking of the poll was inadvertent, and the poll is now open. The poll was meant as an inditement against the absurdity to which this string has swung. Godiva was looking for some commiseration with others who have been involved in what can only be described as an ACCIDENT . . . not to be skewered by fellow PriusChatters.]
     
  17. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Intersection of Cardinal Road and Cardinal Drive in San Diego, CA 92123

    I have dial up. Way too slow to do your google map search.

    I was on Cardinal Road facing east turning left to Cardinal Drive to head north.

    He was on Cardinal Road heading west turning right to take Cardinal Drive to head north.

    There is a sharp turn on his side which makes seeing the intersection "last minute".

    It is a residential area.

    Intersection of Cardinal Road and Cardinal Drive.
     
  18. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    No, I didn't vote.

    I think there are instances in life when it isn't anyone's "fault" and I am tired of the American obsession with "blame" and litigation.

    You want to assign fault? The City did a stupid, incompetant job of placing roadsigns at that intersection. The insurance adjuster taking my statement even asked me "Why is there a yield sign there?" And I couldn't come up with a very good answer. Maybe they were short of Stop Signs that year and didn't want to spend the money?
     
  19. koa

    koa Active Member

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    Yoo Hoo Signboy,

    If you rear-end someone at night because he doesn't have is lights on it's your fault?

    Someone parked on the side of the road suddenly pulls out in front of you and you rear-end him. Your fault?

    Someone runs out of gas on a curving stretch of freeway, doesn't pull over and just sits in their car to call AAA, forgets to put on emergency flashers or turn signals, you rear-end him. Your fault?

    ALL?
     
  20. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Gak, that's entirely too many red birds in one place. Which way
    is north on the .gif? How far does cardinal *road* continue?
    How could you both have been on cardinal *road* if cardinal *road*,
    *drive*, and *lane* all converge at one spot [as it looks like here]?
    What's the expected traffic flow around the offending intersection,
    i.e. who's supposed to yield to who, at least on paper?
    .
    If it's any help, and it probably isn't at this point, I try to not
    not make any assumptions about what anyone else is going to do, and
    make my own actions very deliberate and low-transition-rate [that
    is to say not necessarily *slow*, but clear and predictable]. That
    has saved my butt [and bodywork] more times than I can count, and
    while it gets me honked at on some occasions where someone else is
    *assuming* I'm going to whip my turn and then I don't, but in a way
    that they have ample forewarning to *not* accelerate hell-bent into
    me. No biggie, I'm out of their impatient, little-head-driving way
    soon enough and life goes on. And of course people do weird and
    abrupt things right in front of me sometimes but usually I've
    anticipated that they *are* going to do that and have already
    adjusted accordingly.
    .
    It's sort of hard to explain -- the "defensive driving" moniker
    doesn't quite cover it, and I haven't come up with a better term.
    And one of these days it may fail me in an inescapable situation
    anyways; nothing's foolproof.
    .
    _H*