X Car?

[magid]

Rainy. Car ahead stopped for someone in the crosswalk. I stepped on the brakes. The wheels spun, didn't catch on the wet surface, though I wasn't going quickly. I smash into the stopped car. The airbags deploy, leaving a huge cloud of what I thought was smoke in my car. I was scared my car would blow up. Pulled over. Woman ahead of me very nice, a bit shaken, lower back hurting. Not blaming me, but I feel horrible, total shit. She is taken in an ambulance, with back board and neck brace, just to be on the safe side. I feel so guilty about her. Her car's fine, though. Mine is not. The passenger airbag deploying meant that something flipped open to release it, and with such force that it shattered my windshield. Seems like a pretty stupid design... Her bumper was higher than mine, so my front bumper is lightly hurt, but the row of lights above are smashed, and the hood is bent into an upside-down V. It runs, though, so perhaps it will be salvageable (after an infusion of how much $?). I am fine, though shaken (even my still-impressive-though-healing blister remained intact). Had to sign a waiver refusing medical attention. Towed to the shop on call with the police, which is, of course, way out in the back of beyond in Arlington. Called the insurance people - it may be days before I even get an estimate. Have to fill out paperwork, accident report, find the damn title to my car (somewhere in my apt, presumably, but I have no idea where. And I have tons of paper around. Feh. How do I get a duplicate? No idea.), find the info on the witnesses. Deal with repairs to the car. Hope it isn't totalled. Pay for a rental in the meantime. Hope the other woman is fine. Try not to feel totally incompetent when dealing with all the paperwork. Try not to feel guilty. Try not to feel horrible.

And the electorate is stupid.

Can I go to bed yet?
o

Comments

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Ow. I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm glad you're not hurt. I hope the other person is okay. Virtual hugs if you want them. Sorry that due to other obligations I can't offer any more substantial token of assistance or comfort--but it sounds like you've got things pretty much together, though dealing with stuff like this is definitely a nuisance.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I guess things are under control, just hating all the nuisance that will happen. I hate dealing with car stuff. It's compounded by knowing it will not just be time and paperwork but significant chunks of change, too. Faugh.

It's the first time I've crashed since I started driving, and I just need to get over the feelings of inadequacy, stupidity, and worthlessness, just deal with what I need to do.
d

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Today was such the day to stay in bed: shitty weather, shitty news, shitty other stuff. It's not too late to go home "sick."

[magid.livejournal.com]

But you see, I think I'm likely to be "sick" tomorrow....

[bitty.livejournal.com]

As much as I'd love paid employment these days, this was certainly one of those mornings I was thrilled to be at home. Is there anything good about today yet?

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Um. Australian Joe is scheduled to be arriving at Logan in just a few hours?

Of course, that could turn out shitty if he ends up stuck in Chicago or something.

[magid.livejournal.com]

No drought?
"

[gingicat]

Don't know quite what to say, but I hope things are much better than they look, and I'm sorry you had an accident.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I'm hoping things won't drag on for weeks.
I suppose I should look at it as one of the problems I can throw money at (as opposed to the kinds I can't). I keep hoping the woman is ok...
2

[queue.livejournal.com]

Can I go to bed yet?

Yes.

[magid.livejournal.com]

:-)
thanks.a

[scholargipsy.livejournal.com]

Aw, fuck.

I've been there, car accident-wise, and can sympathize with all of what you describe: the guilt (deserved or not), the frustration, the weariness over insurance minutiae. I'm awfully sorry.

Hang in there, and I hope it goes quickly.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
I wasn't thrilled to hear that the insurance adjuster will make it out to evaluate the car in 2-3 days, which of course means it will take time after that to get things fixed (or not, I suppose, but I'm trying to be positive).

I think I have to make a list, to make sure I don't forget any of the things to do...
%

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

*hug*

Go to bed, hey?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Sleeping facilities in my office not so comfortable, so I'm planning to wait until I get home, first.

Maybe I'll even manage to get some work done today, too.

[pinkfish.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear all this, but am glad that you were not hurt.

In an attempt to be helpful, I recently had to get a duplicate of my registration, which can be done either by going to the RMV yourself ($15 service charge), or by asking your insurance agent to do it for you. One of the things I learned recently is that here in MA, it is not expected that ordinary humans ever walk into the RMV (except to have the photo taken for their driving license). All paperwork with the RMV can be taken care of my insurance agents, who usually do this for no fee. So ask you insurance agent about how to get a duplicate title; they will know. The answer is probably "a fee to the RMV; we'll run it down for you".

Good luck. I hope that the day is better after you wake up.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Just called the insurance agent (thanks for reminding me to do that), and she said that to get a replacement title, I have to go to the Copley RMV, and it'll take 2 weeks after that. Of course, their phone is busy, so there's no way to know whether this is correct...

The call to the agent was fruitful in another way, though. I said something about my insurance going up, and she said it would rise only if the accident were my fault. And that it could be appealed, with the weather being the extenuating circumstance. So it is possible I might not be socked with hundreds of extra dollars going to insurance. I hope...
s

Title quest

[magid.livejournal.com]

I checked the RMV web site before heading to Copley, and am glad I did... I need a letter from the bank that wrote the mortgage saying they no longer have a lien on it. I called the bank today, and was told that it could take 5 days for the letter to go out (why, I'm not sure, since it seems to be a form letter with fields filled in. Perhaps Bitty's last evil cow-orker moonlights there...). Then to the registry, give them their form, this letter, and $25, and 15 working days later (3 weeks!) I should have a duplicate title.
It'll happen, just is annoying. There should be some way to have this work more smoothly.

[cellio]

Ouch. Accidents are a pain to deal with. I hope everyone is fine and your car is reparable, and that the insurance guys don't drag this out forever.

I assume you've got collision coverage, so you *should* just be out of pocket for the deductable, right? Does your policy cover the rental car?

[magid.livejournal.com]

The policy doesn't cover rental; last time I looked into it, it was enough more money for a partial reimbursement (up to $15/day just isn't that helpful, around here, anyway), so I elected to pay less. It's not so cheap to rent a car for a week, but not having paid the extra for a couple of years, I might end up out of pocket for about the same amount.

The other part of the cost is how much my insurance will go up.
*sigh*
almost 20 years without a major accident...
r

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Man . . . I wish I had a car to loan you. What rotten timing.

[queue.livejournal.com]

Yes, it would have been much more convenient to smash your car next week. In the future, please inform us at least 2 weeks in advance of any upcoming accidents.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Depends on whether your next family car is acquired by next week, and whether it's automatic, since I *still* don't know how to drive stick (though I have more of a clue than when I was 16....).

Can I put in a standing order for some sort of accident 2 weeks from now? ;-)
n

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

*sigh* What I _meant_ was: what rotten timing for my car to be an X car at the moment. *grump* *wags finger at you*

[magid.livejournal.com]

I appreciate it.

If my car is totaled, I'll prolly be asking you what you found on the car search. (It would be so cool if there were something other than ZipCar to do a car co-op with, somehow.)

Still, this didn't happen last Monday...
"

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Eek! I'm glad you're okay. *sympathy & hugs* I'm sure the other woman will be all right, too. Just remember...this is why we have insurance.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm calmer today than yesterday, so it seems easier to deal with, though I'm still dreading the number of paperwork hoops I have to jump through...