Crash redux

[judecorp]

This morning we cleaned off the bumper and the back of the car (it was coated in salt) and surveyed the damage. Jen checked in the morning and said there were a couple of scratches and a dent. When I went to check on the way to work, there were at least 6-8 scratches and a good 3-4 dents - most of which are in a circular pattern thanks to something on the crash bar on his SUV.

So frustrating. It's a real eyesore.

So now I guess I have to call him when I go home and tell him there's more damage than I thought, and ask if he wants to come look at it tomorrow in the daylight, and ask him what he wants to do about repairs. I imagine if I take it somewhere they will want to replace the bumper ($$$$) because it's plastic and you can't suck dents out or whatever, but I don't know if he will be willing to do that. Gosh, I hope it's not another phone confrontation because I really don't want to have two in one day (the gym is enough for me, thanks).

I just hate this. I want a weekend where I can just catch up on rest and heal my heart. This weekend is a pretty busy one already, with a mall trip we can't avoid (ugh) but now I have to find time to see this guy and maybe take my car in for an estimate and I'm exhausted already just thinking about it. Sigh.

~//~

Also, I haven't felt the baby move since before I got rear-ended and I would be a big fat liar if I said that didn't make me nervous.

Comments

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

Why is your insurance company not handling this? You don't need this stress. Have your company call HIS company.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I feel stupid calling the insurance company because I left the scene yesterday with only partial information. There didn't look like there was any damage, and it was really cold and dark, so I got dude's name and number and left. Also, my insurance company is a total pain when it comes to this stuff - they want a police report, then the send an appraiser to look at the car, then they tell you some places you can take it, etc.

In a perfect world this guy will just say he wants to pay for the damage, you know? Without any risk that this could somehow affect MY rates.

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

A: That's how insurance companies work, with the report and the appraisal. It's to make sure you get done what needs to be done. If your company is particularly onerous, look into a new insurance company.

B: Trusting some guy who ran into you to do the right thing isn't the best of ideas. He has no motivation to do so other than being a nice guy.

re: B

[etherial.livejournal.com]

Well, it *does* keep his rates down, too.

Re: B

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just wanted to give him the option.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, he seemed like a pretty nice and reasonable guy so I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. I just wanted to give him the opportunity to see the damage first so he wouldn't think I was trying to cheat him or anything.

So he didn't want to see, and just wanted to call insurance, so that's what ended up happening. I just wanted to give him a chance.

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

Glad it worked out for you.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I don't think there is more than $500 worth of damage. I can't imagine this would be $500! When our trunk got dented by a vodka bottle and scratched down to the metal in several places, our insurance company said the damage was $400ish. And that was a LOT worse.

But to call my insurance company I need to have a police report (didn't do that) - heck, I don't even have the guy's license plate number because it was dark and I was cold.

There's not much I could do about my doctor's office. I work until 5 and they close at 5, and my midwife is 45 minutes north of me so it's quite a haul. There'd be no going there until Monday even if I did want to make the trek.

[somerandomchic.livejournal.com]

It is amazing how quickly car repairs add up. And you shouldn't have to pay a deductable if you were rear ended. HIS insurance company is the one that should be dealing with it.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I talked to my insurance company and apparently the deductible is waived if it is not your fault. I also talked to the other guy's insurance company and apparently he reported it honestly, because they were talking about him rear-ending me and paying for things and everything.

Score one for the good guy!

[etherial.livejournal.com]

In MA, it's $1000.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's what the RMV website says. :)

[estrange.livejournal.com]

Do you still have the doppler?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and we will probably check sometime this weekend, even though Jen had said she didn't want to use the doppler anymore because she was worried about effects.

[skatured.livejournal.com]

What kind of side effects? Why would they sell a dopplar if it causes side effects? Maybe just a quick swip to make sure....?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, there are no proven FDA type side effects which is why they are available on the market. There have been some conflicting studies about ultrasound technology and possible brain disturbances or heating of tissues but I don't know if they have been replicated. We just like to be cautious because we've had so many ultrasounds, so why overkill with the doppler, you know?

[lunamoonwmn01.livejournal.com]

Just another vote for "file with the insurance company." Seriously, please take the advice b/c I've done it both ways and you *do not* need to deal with this right now, and it will be a pain in the ass most likely if you don't file. Also agree with calling the dr. to ease your mind. You deserve a break from all this for crying out loud! xoxo

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, I want to call the guy first and see if he wants to just deal with it. I know that if I call my insurance company, I risk my rates going up and I'm really leery about that (we have enough bill problems as it is), and the insurance company is going to want a police report which I also don't have.

Midwife is closed until Monday morning.

[somerandomchic.livejournal.com]

Again, if he hit you, legally your insurance company cannot raise your rates because it is his fault he rear ended you.

I'm sorry this shit is going on it is all such a massive PITA.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I just hate insurance companies and I don't trust them. Not at all!

What sucks is that we have wonky insurance laws here in MA (all insurance companies have to basically charge the same rates) and because of that, we don't get any of the discount providers here (Geico, Allstate, etc.). So we already pay through the nose for insurance. Ugh.

I hate money.

[afullmoon.livejournal.com]

Ugh I am sorry. Try juice to get the baby to move or something sugary like my favorite cake. If not call the midwife even a phone call might help a bit it can't hurt. My doctor would let you walk in and have a nurse do a doppler of the heartbeat. She said it saved many women er trips.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I ate a bunch of sugary things during the day today (sweet yogurt, applesauce) and it didn't work. Maybe dinner.

My midwife's office is closed until Monday morning. We can always try the doppler at home but we're trying not to do that.

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

Oh Jude, I'm sorry to hear all this.

I can understand not wanting to involve insurance. On the other hand, you can get screwed that way -- I did once.

I hope everything is okay -- thinking of you.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we ended up going through insurance - but I gave the guy a chance to come see the car first so he would know I wasn't trying to cheat him. (He declined.) He seems like a pretty nice guy.

Now we wait to hear from my insurance company to see how much they will pay for repair based on appraisal.

[jeney.livejournal.com]

my sister and i got side swiped with i was pregnant the first time. big ol' wreck. the baby was fine, because as it turns out, they are very safe and protected in there. :D

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just worry about the seat belt since I'm carrying so low. I wasn't /totally/ worried because it was really low impact and stuff (and I was wearing a ton of winter clothes besides), it's just one of those worries that pops up.

Give me one month of awesomely normal pregnancy, please!!

[sassywoman.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry things are so stressful right now. Have you heard baby's h/b on the doppler?? Just remember, I didn't feel ANY movement until 22-23 weeks. The movement is really inconsistent in the beginning. *hugs*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we did the doppler quickly on Saturday and heard the heartbeat right away. It seems to be slowing down quite a bit (was 137 at our last u/s) but I thought girls were supposed to have faster h/bs. What's up with that? :)