Unfrickin...ah well, all is going to be okay......ahhhhhh

[jeff kushner]

Yeah, I woke at 1am wondering what woke me since I still felt very drugged from the sleep med...as soon as I lifted my arm I was reminded, "I got hit by a truck" yesterday.

Yup, rear ended by a Sierra king cab. Heck, I JUST got my truck out of the truck hospital a month or so ago! Anyway, here's the story.

Driving home and following a Caddy SUV who keeps braking for no apparent reason x 10mph, then speeds back up so I'm leaving a bit more space than usual. Sure enough at some point they go to a full stop 300 yds behind the car at the red light. Loving ABS, I cram the petal into the firewall & wait.....closer, closer, stopped, whew...BAM...I didn't even realize what had happened as again I began getting closer to the caddy in front of me...then, he must have realized what was going on as he jetted out of my way, so I didn't hit him....then he just, drove off....

My truck took it fairly well, God bless the trailer hitch! His truck was not driveable and seemed to fair worse....but he also slammed the front of his truck, not the rear.


The guy who hit me was 100% straight up as he had already filed a claim with his Ins co even before I called them. They sent me an Acknowledgement of Claim & a list of repair facilities. I can take it anywhere....what do you guys think about letting Ford touch it? I can always call the place near me who did the Dump truck repair. FYI- It has never been to the dealer for anything so my computer is still a virgin...highly unlikely if I take it there..lol

Sometimes, things suck, like this situation BUT, it could have been life changing and so far, it isn't. Just a few calls and a couple of trips somewhere will make it all resolved......yeah, it's okay.


Note the one pic..see how far that red light is? Why did they stop here? LOL
jeff

 

[Trainmaster]

Jeff, you did well. I'm going to put that trailer drawbar in mine today.

Around here, most Ford dealers send out their body work to independent shops. If the dealer does the work themselves, you MAY be assured of getting OEM parts. If the last place did a good job, you may want to stick with them.

Thank God again for protecting you.

 

[HawkX66]

Sorry to see that Jeff! Glad you're ok. Seeing how it's not on your dime I'd hit the dealer (no pun intended...lol). Like Eddie said, they usually farm out the work depending on the dealer, but it's always held to a higher standard being a dealer. Going that route you have someone to complain to if things aren't up to your standards. Good luck!

 

[Plati]

Geez. I'm also glad you made out ok. Didn't a dump truck try to run you over recently? You're like a cat with 9 lives. Maybe 2 cats.

I recently read an article about trailer hitches in an accident. In an accident like yours the energy is directly coupled to the frame (as opposed to being absorbed) and transmitted forward. Not good for occupants and the vehicle. I'm gonna keep mine out when not used for that reason.

I don't know much about collision repair but dealers seem to always try to make the vehicle as close to new as they can ... Inflating the price but in this case that might be good.

I'm very risk aversive driving . When I encounter a driver doing something like that, I get the heck away from them as soon as I can. I'll pull into a parking lot if I have to.

 

[HawkX66]

Geez. I'm also glad you made out ok. Didn't a dump truck try to run you over recently? You're like a cat with 9 lives. Maybe 2 cats.

I recently read an article about trailer hitches in an accident. In an accident like yours the energy is directly coupled to the frame (as opposed to being absorbed) and transmitted forward. Not good for occupants and the vehicle. I'm gonna keep mine out when not used for that reason.

Just a heads up. The hitch assembly is the actual bumper on our Expys so it's always going directly to the frame.

 

[Plati]

Just a heads up. The hitch assembly is the actual bumper on our Expys so it's always going directly to the frame.

Not sure what you mean? That's what I said, right? If the hitch isn't in the receiver ... There will be some absorption of energy by bumper etc before engaging frame?

https://www.mylegalneeds.com/faqs/how-trailer-hitches-impact-rear-end-collision-injuries.cfm

Wait, maybe I'm reading this the wrong way. Just having a trailer hitch increases risk ...

 

[HawkX66]

Not sure what you mean? That's what I said, right? If the hitch isn't in the receiver ... There will be some absorption of energy by bumper etc before engaging frame?

I was talking about the receiver. Sorry about that. Honestly I can't see from a physics standpoint how the hitch/ball would make a difference to the vehicle. Maybe to the car/truck that's hitting it.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Get a dash camera! Next time you can just plow into the guy in front of you and they get arrested for false statements to the police and insurance fraud.

 

[HawkX66]

Get a dash camera! Next time you can just plow into the guy in front of you and they get arrested for false statements to the police and insurance fraud.

Nah, you're at fault if you rear end someone. Pretty much no matter what.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Dash cam footage is awesome

 

[Munkiebunz3]

Nah, you're at fault if you rear end someone. Pretty much no matter what.

Only if there is no evidence to show the other driver at fault. Seriously dash cams have caught a bunch of insurance fraudsters because they brake for no reason.

 

[Trainmaster]

In New York we have no-fault insurance. Your own company pays for your damage unless you're legally parked or you are rear-ended. If you are hit in the rear, the hitter is at fault. Why do you think people slam their brakes at tailgaters?

 

[stamp11127]

Well Jeff I hope you fair better than I have with the same type accident I had, being rear ended in my Acura MDX.

This August will be 2 years since it happened and I still have sharp pain occasionally trying to walk. Knees killed me for a year, so much I couldn't reposition myself once in bed. Getting up from a seated position was interesting and super pain full.

And like yours the tow ball/hitch took the brunt of the impact.

 

[HawkX66]

In New York we have no-fault insurance. Your own company pays for your damage unless you're legally parked or you are rear-ended. If you are hit in the rear, the hitter is at fault. Why do you think people slam their brakes at tailgaters?

We had no fault in Michigan too. Hated that crap... Very expensive. I believe in most states if you rear end someone, no matter the situation, you're at fault. Brake checked or not. I've seen cases where someone is rear ended, hits the car in front of them and they're still found to be at fault. I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on tv, but my FIL is. He's worked for a few big insurance companies over the last 50 years. We've discussed that before.

 

[Munkiebunz3]

In New York we have no-fault insurance. Your own company pays for your damage unless you're legally parked or you are rear-ended. If you are hit in the rear, the hitter is at fault. Why do you think people slam their brakes at tailgaters?

If you can prove that you rear ended the person due to their actions such as witnesses testimony or a video, you will not be at fault. Get educated. Get a dash camera. It's now your choice to be a willing victim of fraud. I'm done.

 

[HawkX66]

If you can prove that you rear ended the person due to their actions such as witnesses testimony or a video, you will not be at fault. Get educated. Get a dash camera. It's now your choice to be a willing victim of fraud. I'm done.

I'm a wolf my friend, not a sheep (victim). Unfortunately some states (which I'm sure you can attest to) don't care about what's right and wrong when they're creating laws. Those cameras can also easily backfire on you too. I'm all set with giving Big Bro another tool. Just sayin'....

 

[1955moose]

Jeff, glad your ok. My 85 Mustang got rear-ended back in 87. It took awhile for me to get normal again, and I was hit by a small Nissan pickup. Times like this, aren't we all glad we drive these heavy SUVs.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[jeff kushner]

Thanks guys....Take a good look at his truck....yeah, I really like trailer hitches and if God forbid, the frame got bent, it will be fixed or replaced I suppose but to me, it beats getting the entire rear end crushed in.

I look at this stuff differently than many others apparently. I don't go through life trying to cover myself or stressing over "what if's". While dash cams are great ideas, I can't get twisted worrying that some fool is going to "get over" on me. I just don't. Remember, I'm the guy that left his home unlocked while he went to Belize last Fall and Jamaica the year before<LOL>. LOL...heavily insured means never worry about stupid crap. I figure that since we as responsible adults have to insure everything we own, then get some mileage for those payments and stop worrying, so I do.

I feel VERY fortunate upon hearing Mooses and Stamps long rehab time. I already had an appointment today for PT for my back/migraines so hopefully, she'll make this feel better too.

Nine lives? I have used at last count, 27 and I didn't include the Dump Truck incident since it really wasn't a close call. I told Kerry that I think I have 31 lives.....but I'd sure hate to use #28 and find out it was the last one!!


jeff

 

[cmiles97]

Wow that's some bad luck. 2 accidents back to back? Wow. Just be glad you weren't on one of your motorcycles instead.

 

[Adieu]

Why do you think people slam their brakes at tailgaters?

Because they think an electric wheelchair is ghetto posh???

Idk that always baffled me... except reaaaaally high mass stuff like big rigs...who, otoh, NEED to keep their accident count low to keep on eating...


Who knows...