I never thought I'd be starting "the classic thread" like this, but I just totaled my 2004 350Z Roadster. Sadly it was all my fault.

I was driving in the downtown Denver area to meet a potential employer for an interview(he gave me directions that aren't even possible to follow), so while I was trying to figure out how the heck to get there and turning back, I got caught up looking for where I was supposed to be going instead of where I was at. Never saw the red light, just heard the tires of the Audi A-4 Squeeling, looked to my right, just before He royally T-Boned me. The impact shoved me over a couple lanes off the road and into a retaining wall.

So the right side is smashed in and the left front part of the car is smashed in from the wall.

Miraculously no one was injured. The Audi driver was joking that he was looking for a new car anyway.

I assume it will be totaled, but may not find out for a few more days.

I have to appear before the judge on this for the ticket. Anybody know if I NEED a lawyer for something like this. I didn't realize you had to appear before the judge for an accident in Denver.

Anyway my dream car is no more, that REALLY hurts. But as I said thankfully I don't have a guilty conscience for jacking up someone's life!

 

hey man stuff happens, same thing almost happened to me...I was reading my g/f's phone's navigation because I was lost in the area and ran a red light. to my left was a pickup going right into me but i swurved right than cut the wheel left to get the tail end to whip to the right. I pulled it off but than I was heading sideways for a wall and managed to stop right before the curb w/ no damage what so ever. Good luck hopefully you'll get another Z

 

thats sad. goodluck and be careful the in the future!

 

Sucks man , just dont make the same mistake twice. You and the other were lucky this time.

 

Same thing almost happened to me (running into a four way stop sign). When you're unfamiliar with the area, stuff like this happen.

 

that's a shame. sorry to read this

 

I almost ran a red light down in NJ two weeks ago. Also unfamiliar with the area, and it was a weird intersection. All these cars pulled out in front of me and I wailed on the horn, only to realize I was wrong. Doh!! So embarrassing, but nothing happened thankfully, besides me looking like an as$.

OP, glad you were okay. Might not have been so lucky if it was driver side impact. Ouch. Do you plan on getting a new Z, or on to something else?

 

Thanks for the well wishes guys.

I would definitely like to get another Z. Two things with that. I should end up with about $8,000 extra after the insurance so that will help the bank account. Starting over in my business puts a financial strain on me right now.

But I would probably get a new 2007 Roadster(I really wanted the new engine and transmission upgrades anyway!) However, I can't find ANY Daytona Blue Roadster's that aren't AUTO!

Any one know of one in any of the neighboring states of Colorado or even IL and TX I would travel to pick one up.

Won't know for sure for a few more days if they total it, but it's hard for me to imagine them trying to save it!

 

pics?

 

You mean you weren't trying to drift? It wasn't the cops fault? You weren't doing 130 in a residential neighborhood? What is the Z community coming to??

 

Seriously thanks for an honest story. I drove right though a f*cking red light in my Tacoma a couple months ago after getting into it with one of my customers.

Left turn arrow turned green and I went straight. One of my only driving f-ups, but no accident.

Sorry about your loss. Hopefully you'll come back with your 07 350/G37 pics.

 

sorry to hear, you probably wont need a lawyer present on your court date. He will be just wasting your money. More than likely the judge is going to give you a wreckless driving charge for running a red light and causing an accident. Wreckless driving in Florida is 6months no liscense and a year probation. I dont know about Denver, but it steep down here. (pretty much the same discipline action as street racing) Good luck with things.

 

No one was injured. That’s important. You were cited for failing to observe a traffic light? No sure why you need a lawyer.

 

Highly doubt he'll get a reckelss driving charge. It was an accident, it will just end up in a fine, not a loss of driver's license. I would suggest you just get a traffic lawyer (the ones who usually handle speeding tickets and such, they should be everywhere, just get a good one) or represent yourself. It's pretty sikple, your version should just be that you did not see the red light. I doubt you were even speeding when it happened.

Same situation happened to a friend of mine and he was t-boned after running a red light. Ticket fine and insurance handling later, he still drove and never had his license revoked...and that aint the first time his a$$ was in an accident. So no worries, unless Denver is crazy strict.

 

You got a second chance, man. Make good use of it.

Good luck!

C.

 

Very sorry to hear about your ZR, Starchecker. It really goes to show how being distracted and in a rush really increases your risk of an accident. No one is immune from this!

From your description, the deformable body of the Z gave it up to save you from major injury. Did you have side impact airbags and if so, did they deploy? Was the other driver injured in any way?

Depending on your driving record, you may or may not want to hire an attorney. Being honest and upfront with the judge may really pay some dividends here, but getting some legal advise before you go to court wouldn't be a bad idea. Sorry- I have no good suggestions for a local traffic lawyer.

 

This is 1 good reason you should have invested in getting a model with Navigation. Or bought 1 yourself. I no longer have to look for street signs, I just listen my Fairlady directions.


Seriously though thank god your alright. Sorry to hear this. Since you ran a red light, and caused an accident yeah you may need a lawyer.

 

u r super lucky that u n other driver are fine. I mean it hurts to tatal ur z, but it will hurt way more if someone got serious injured or die.

i don't think u need a lawyer for this, is not like u got into an accident for racing then crashed.. I spent so much $ on lawyers after I got my Z and found out I don't need those professional liar half of the time!

 

Sucks man. I hope it works out for the best and thankfully no one was hurt. An old lady ran a red light and totaled my firebird (also no injuries). It's what got me into the Z.


More before and after pics in this thread

 

Your right, when I read the thread title that's what i was looking for, but this was just an accident that could happen to anyone. We all have made some driving errors. If you are lucky you just get embarrassed, if you are unlucky your Z goes to the boneyard. I'm glad you weren't hurt and good luck finding the new Z. How about the new Nismo Z?