Rear-ended.

[Tiberius Jim]

My car got rear-ended today while I was driving to work. The guy had been riding my tail way too closely prior, to the point where I had given him a gesture to back off. He did so, but when traffic stopped again...he just kept coming. I called Highway Patrol and made a report, then called my insurance. Turns out the guy had just bought the car and hadn't gotten it covered by his insurance yet...so this could get interesting.

The important thing is that I'm okay, and the car did a great job of absorbing the impact. This is good to know seeing as my wife drives this car 90% of the time and will soon be transporting a newborn. The sad part is that I almost rode my motorcycle to work but didn't feel like uncovering it and putting on all of my gear. The car was available, so I took it instead.

My car

The other car

I had my dash cam running at the time (insurance was pleased to hear about that) so I got this video, plus some video of the damage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke9cKvV_puQ&feature=youtu.be

 

[Robert Maxwell]

He definitely got the worse end of it.

I hope you have good uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I do, I have $25k/$50k coverage and the car is only worth $10k.

 

[MacLeod]

It might just be me, but when I get a new car (well new to me at least) I tend to be a bit more careful driving it, until I learn how exactly it handles. The imprtant thing is that you are ok.

 

[Green Shirt]

Good that you are OK. You mentioned that it was a guy who hit you. In my experience, the most aggressive, ignorant, tailgating drivers today are young girls.

 

[B.J.]

Good thing he didn't push you into the Corvette you were behind! Things could have gotten really interesting for insurance then.

Glad to hear you're okay, and it looks like your bumper did what it's designed to do, since it looks like that's about the only damage to your car. Kinda surprised that the other guy didn't have insurance with a new (used?) car. The dealers we went to wouldn't let you drive off the lot unless you had coverage.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Good thing he didn't push you into the Corvette you were behind! Things could have gotten really interesting for insurance then.

Nah, the guy who rear-ended him would just be double fucked. If you're hit from behind and that causes you to hit the car in front of you, it's not your fault--it's the fault of the person who hit you in the first place.

Glad to hear you're okay, and it looks like your bumper did what it's designed to do, since it looks like that's about the only damage to your car. Kinda surprised that the other guy didn't have insurance with a new (used?) car. The dealers we went to wouldn't let you drive off the lot unless you had coverage.

When I bought a new car, I provided proof of insurance but it was very minimal--they didn't do anything to verify it, that I'm aware of. So it's probably really easy to lie and drive off the lot without insurance.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I just noticed more damage than I had previously found at the scene. It's the spare tire well and it's all smashed in. I was looking over the damage one more time and noticed my trunk tray was raised up. I looked under and found this.

This is the other side and what it is supposed to look like.

Rather concerned about how much damage there really is and the possibility of the car being a loss.

 

[auntiehill]

Oh dear! Go get an estimate ASAP. That looks like a very pretty penny's worth of repairs.

You're very lucky you didn't get "accordioned" between the two cars. Not only would the car be completely wrecked but you could've been seriously hurt.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I just dropped it off at the local Progressive service center. They then coordinate with the body shop. The one they are using is one I have used in the past and trust. I'll know on Monday what the estimate is and if it's considered repairable.

 

[Trekker4747]

Hadn't insured the car yet, but he has plates on it? How did he get the plates for it/register the car without insurance? Does California/San Fran not have laws that says all cars must be insured? And what kind of idiot drives a new car, a Lexus at that, uninsured? He's utterly screwed now not only from the collision with another car but he still owes on a car with severe damage on it. Hell, what kind of dealership lets a man drive off with a car that's uninsured?

Anyway, glad you are okay and hope your own insurance covers you well here on this collision, guy behind you sounds like he was a real jack-ass and deserves the world of financial hurt that's about to rain down on him.

He drives a Lexus so figures he's a jackass.

Looking at the damage to the trunk, looks like he must have been going a pretty good clip in order to crumple that much into the car.

 

[Amaris]

Glad to hear you're okay, Flux. I hope everything works out for the best.

Hadn't insured the car yet, but he has plates on it? How did he get the plates for it/register the car without insurance? Does California/San Fran not have laws that says all cars must be insured? And what kind of idiot drives a new car, a Lexus at that, uninsured? He's utterly screwed now not only from the collision with another car but he still owes on a car with severe damage on it. Hell, what kind of dealership lets a man drive off with a car that's uninsured?

When my parents got their used 2007 Ford Taurus, they had to verify full coverage insurance over the phone with the insurance company, and then let the sales rep verify it before they could leave the lot.

As for tags, my parents were able to use their own, from the car they traded in, until they could get everything updated at the DMV.

Anyway, glad you are okay and hope your own insurance covers you well here on this collision, guy behind you sounds like he was a real jack-ass and deserves the world of financial hurt that's about to rain down on him.

He drives a Lexus so figures he's a jackass.

I would love to own a Lexus. A black one, with silver trim. One of these, to be exact:

That is a Lexus LS600, and it's so pretty.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Hadn't insured the car yet, but he has plates on it? How did he get the plates for it/register the car without insurance? Does California/San Fran not have laws that says all cars must be insured? And what kind of idiot drives a new car, a Lexus at that, uninsured? He's utterly screwed now not only from the collision with another car but he still owes on a car with severe damage on it. Hell, what kind of dealership lets a man drive off with a car that's uninsured?

Anyway, glad you are okay and hope your own insurance covers you well here on this collision, guy behind you sounds like he was a real jack-ass and deserves the world of financial hurt that's about to rain down on him.

He drives a Lexus so figures he's a jackass.

Looking at the damage to the trunk, looks like he must have been going a pretty good clip in order to crumple that much into the car.

My guess is that he bought the car private party, which would mean there was nobody to make sure he had insurance before taking ownership of the car. Really stupid on his part, though. All I know is I pay my $500 deductible and then I get it back once either his insurance pays, he pays out of pocket or my insurance shakes it out of him.

If it ends up being totaled I'll be upset, because we aren't quite ready for a new car purchase and we'd be getting back exactly what we owe on my car and not a penny more. Plus, I really like this car and I'd hate for it to go out like this.

I'd say he was doing 30-35 when he hit me. And as you can see, I was at basically a dead stop.

 

[Trekker4747]

Yeah, watched the video. Looked like a pretty violent impact and he must have been going a pretty good clip. Did you suffer any physical injury? (Whiplash?)

If he bought the car from a private party, it does look like older model Lexus, possibly from the earlier part of this century, I'd think to get the tags on it he'd have to prove insurance. Unless, yeah, he just swapped plates with his other vehicle which I assume is illegal or frowned upon when the plates don't match the vehicle. But, then, I don't entirely know how that works when it comes to a person-to-person transfer. I'd assume the DMV would be involved in there somewhere and at some point proof of insurance would need to be shown.

would love to own a Lexus. A black one, with silver trim. One of these, to be exact:

Yeah, they are really damn nice cars and I'd love to own one too though I'll likely never make nearly enough to afford one and, well, even if I could I'm sure I could still get a really nice car with many of the same or similar features for much less. Still, I swear only rich jackasses drive them. But I live in a rich county where a buddy and I say that anyone who buys a Mercedes, BMW or Lexus is required to get the "JCAP" option for their car. (Johnson County Asshole Package) Which removes features from a car like turn signals and causes people to drive like idiots, run lights, tailgate, pass on the shoulder, cut-you-off, stuff like that.)

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I did jam my knee into the underside of the dashboard and I tensed up since I saw him coming, but my knee feels fine and I (so far) don't have any muscle pain. I did mention my initial knee pain to both CHP and my insurance so if I do end up needing to see someone about it, it's a known issue.

Otherwise the car did a fine job of protecting me. If she is totaled, this only strengthened my resolve to stick with Honda.

 

[Trekker4747]

From the way the cars are damaged I'm guessing he was trying to overtake you.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I don't think so. To my left was the car pool lane and he could have gotten into that long before the incident. He pretty much came straight at me. From his earlier behavior my guess is cell phone use. He'd had trouble holding his lane even when we were creeping along in traffic. I was actually close to suspecting him of DUI.

 

[Trekker4747]

I don't think so. To my left was the car pool lane and he could have gotten into that long before the incident. He pretty much came straight at me. From his earlier behavior my guess is cell phone use. He'd had trouble holding his lane even when we were creeping along in traffic. I was actually close to suspecting him of DUI.

Huh, I was just looking at how "unevenly" the damage was, opposite corners of the cars looking like he hit you "off-center."

Anyway, glad you're not (seriously) hurt and hope everything works out for you on getting the damage(s) taken care of.

 

[auntiehill]

.
...
Otherwise the car did a fine job of protecting me. If she is totaled, this only strengthened my resolve to stick with Honda.

Wise move. I had a Honda for over 10 years and the car was 5 years old when I got it. That thing ran like a champ.

 

[FPAlpha]

Good thing he didn't push you into the Corvette you were behind! Things could have gotten really interesting for insurance then.

Glad to hear you're okay, and it looks like your bumper did what it's designed to do, since it looks like that's about the only damage to your car. Kinda surprised that the other guy didn't have insurance with a new (used?) car. The dealers we went to wouldn't let you drive off the lot unless you had coverage.

First thing that went through my mind.

In Germany you can't even register a car until you provide proof you have insurance.

Glad you're ok. I hate tailgaiting and sometimes i itch to slam on the brakes to shock the driver behind me but then sanity restores itself and i think of the million ways this could end even worse.

So just one additional point on the road rage chart.