topic Re: Bad Afternoon in Community Chat

Bad Afternoon

Moonchilde — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:45:31 GMT

Do you ever have "what if (I hadn't) gone there at that time, parked in a different spot" etc thoughts?

There's a new restaurant in our local area. I decided to go today, for lunch. Could have been any day, any time, but I went today.

I had a choice of several places to park, but wanted to park in front of the restaurant since I could. Went inside and was having my lunch.

Suddenly, huge commotion outside in the greater parking lot, and people runnning out of the restaurant OMG!-ing.

A woman was having trouble with her car (Lexus SUV) - it was out of control/out of gear and moving out of her control. She was screaming for help. Two guys came running up to help her - and exactly how no one's sure yet, but the car didn't stop and just flat ran one of them over - seriously over. Blood everywhere. Victim not moving. The woman was also injured when the door hit her. She was hysterical at what had happened. Both were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The guy hit appeared severely injured.

The out of control car swung around and came to rest hard against my car. The left rear bammed into my driver's side door right where the door lock is. My heart sank. The whole left side of my car is all bunged and crumpled with huge white gouges made by the car. If I'd been in the car I likely would have had some neck/musculoskeletal owws.

Since both parties were transported, the only info I have until I get the police report is the make, model and lic plate. The CHP said the woman does have insurance. My deductible is $500, and I'll probably have to fork it out before I get reimbursed :-( At least I have car rental insurance. They have to send someone to my house to evaluate repair cost because their nearest facility is over an hour's drive. Lucky me :-(

Yes, I know I'm very lucky I'm not the victim or the driver, I feel horrible about them. I hop to learn if the driver is okay and pulls through. But it's going to be such a hassle.

Happy Monday to me.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Kachina624 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:52:42 GMT

@Moonchilde So sorry your lunch was ruined. I guess it was your day to be touched by the fickle finger of fate. At least the owner of a Lexus should have good insurance. Have you heard anything about the injured man, like on the news? Let us know. I'd never go chasing after an out of control vehicle; wonder what went wrong?

Re: Bad Afternoon

LyndaGee — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:57:08 GMT

I'm so sorry. It's a pain, because you're not at fault, but still you'll have to go to the trouble of getting estimates, etc. A similar incident happened to my parents.

Of course, it's sad people were injured. What a horrible incident.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Bri36 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:57:10 GMT

That sounds horrible - those poor people.

I know it's a hassle to deal with your car, but I would thank my lucky stars I wasn't in it.

Re: Bad Afternoon

wonderfulworld — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:57:54 GMT

What a terrible and upsetting experience. I am glad that you were not injured and I hope those who were are ok.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Oznell — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:59:49 GMT

So very sorry for all that, Moonchilde. Am glad you are physically all right. Yes, do keep us informed about the poor victims. What a kind guy to run and help, and then get seriously injured himself. Heroic.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Kachina624 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:04:02 GMT

@Moonchilde You should have no out of pocket expense. Your insurance company will work with hers and they'll handle it quickly and efficiently. They'll probably send a wrecker for your car. If the frame is bent, they may total it.

Re: Bad Afternoon

tansy — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:08:19 GMT

We travel back and forth from WA to AZ and have driven past many horrific car accidents. The thought always goes through my mind, what if we'd been in this area 10 or so minutes earlier.

I sure hope the victim and the woman are okay. That man may be wondering why he dived in to help:/

Re: Bad Afternoon

september — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:11:00 GMT

What a case of being in the wrong place and having bad luck as a result.

I hope the victim will recover fully. I wouldn't think this would cost you anything, dollar wise.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:11:23 GMT

I often think about what if and so on. I just told my friend today that when I don't listen to my inner voice I regret it. So (even though she wasn't happy) we took my medicine to get filled.

Along those lines do any of you ever relive something you've been able to avoid, just barely?

For instance, the other day I was first in line waiting for a turn light to change and a kid on a bicycle kept coming across the street (against the light). I usually hesitate a second when the light turns before I go. Good thing I did because the kid came right in front of me (within inches of my fender). The car next to me hesitated too and he was shaking.

I started and slammed on my brake and I thought I'd touched his leg with my car but he just kept going and never looked back. I keep thinking how terrible it would have been had I not slammed on my brakes and hesitated. I watched him going down the road and he never waited for the lights to turn, just kept going. It was as if he had a death wish. He was only around 14 or 15 years old!

When something like that happens I relive it and think 'right about now I'd be talking to the police and the kid would be in the hospital....hopefully alive but messed up'.

With you, @Moonchilde you'll probably be doing something and then suddenly it will all come back to you. I think maybe it's our brains trying to make sense of what happened.

I'm just glad you are OK and hopefully everyone else is going to recover.

Please let us know.

Re: Bad Afternoon

happycat — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:12:21 GMT

Glad you werne't hurt. But, that is so scary about the out of control suv.

Re: Bad Afternoon

alicedee — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:14:23 GMT

@Moonchilde Very glad you were not injured, and hope you don't have to pay that deductible.

Hope those hurt will be ok. What a terrible freak accident.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Moonchilde — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:20:04 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Moonchilde You should have no out of pocket expense. Your insurance company will work with hers and they'll handle it quickly and efficiently. They'll probably send a wrecker for your car. If the frame is bent, they may total it.

@Kachina624 I won't ultimately be out of pocket, but it's possible I might be initially. If the woman regains her nerves tomorrow and contacts her insurance company right away and the two companies get together early on, I probably won't be. But the fact that there are three victims with three different insurances (and a lawyer in the case of the victim), and that we all have to wait for the CHP report - it's possible my car could be repaired before there's been serious contact, and in order to pick it up I'd need to pay. I'm not borrowing trouble, and I can pay it, but I'd also be happy NOT to pay it.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Moonchilde — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:33:51 GMT

The nightly news didn't have anything on it (they weren't there on scene) but we'll check at 11 pm. We all hope that the man survives and the poor woman doesn't let it affect her forever. Her injuries appeared to be relatively minor.

Even the CHP officers (young, kinda cute and very nice) said it was very challenging to figure out the exact sequence of events. They'll need to speak to the driver again for sure.

Re: Bad Afternoon

KathyPet — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:34:31 GMT

The accident was clearly her fault so her insurance company pays for everything. YOu need to get her insurance company's name, her policy number, a copy of the police report. You will have to arrange for a rental,car but her insurance company will reimburse you for that expense. Contact her insurance company ASAP. IF your car is not driveable her insurance company will pay to have it towed wherever you want the repairs to be done.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Bri36 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:36:03 GMT

Do they think her car had mechanical problems; if so, Lexus will be sued.

Re: Bad Afternoon

OnlyShopsOnline — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:38:27 GMT

@Moonchilde I have a different spin on this. You said you parked in front if the restaurant. If you hadn't parked where you did, could the car have crashed into the restaurant and injured many people?

I believe that, as part of a larger picture, we are put into certain places for a reason. Sometimes we are really "inconvenienced." But, in the scheme of things, there are more serious things that could have happened.

You may have been "used" today and should feel just a little blessed.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Pearlee — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:39:56 GMT

Maybe the restaurant had video surveillance to help the police figure out the sequence of events and see what happens.

Sadly, there may be some depreciation to the value of your car since it's been "in an accident" so to speak. Hopefully it's just body work which should devalue it much. Thing is you want new and not after-market parts which you may not get. The insurance companies control that. You may have to cough up more for new parts.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Moonchilde — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:45:43 GMT

@Bri36 wrote:
Do they think her car had mechanical problems; if so, Lexus will be sued.

@Bri36, I wouldn't be at all surprised. I would pursue that if I were her. And that could complicate the reimbursement process.

Re: Bad Afternoon

Noel7 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:47:57 GMT

@Moonchilde

Oh, how awful! All of it 😟 I'm glad you weren't hurt, but yes, what a mess to have yo deal with.

I wonder if something was wrong with her car...