Well, I just got in an accident today.


I was driving at 38mph through pioneer blvd (I know how fast I was going because I was coming up to a school zone with kids present and was slowing down...) in Santa Fe Springs, when some kid in a mid- '80's suprah in the opposite direction of traffic made a left turn AGAINST oncomming traffic.

I honked my horn and swerved into the street he was turning into to try and get out of the collision, but he didn't see me and was still accellerating forward when he hit the front left fender and wheel well of my car.


Now my front bumper, frame (in the corner) left fender, wheel, tire, door and the suspension elements of the left front area are either broken, or bent into the body fo the car. Some piece of metal was pushed into contact with the tire, and ended up cutting a groove clear through the treads of the tire.

Not to mention my 2 month old tein flex w/edfc which as far as I can tell is not responding to my edfc and his giving me a "failure" message...

So when I get out, his first words were "Why did I have to hit an expensive car..." however when I asked him if he had insurance he said no.


He did have the DMV temporary registration sticker in his rear window with a "7" (for July, to show that he had registered his car, just not received his sticker because they are short on them.)

So I imediately called the cops with my cell. While we were waiting for the cop to arrive, he told me he was going to go to his "house" around the corner real quick to call his mom... I told him that I would tell the cop he fled the scene if he didn't stick around, so he stayed.


During the whole time, the police officer NEVER ONCE scolded, chided, or lectured the kid about not having insurnace.



So I want to know, if there is no penalty for not having insurance... If there is no penalty for not having it, why is it a 'crime' to not have it?



Man am I so pissed =(

 

It's not a crime. The punsihment varies from state to state. That is one of the reasons we have uninsured motorist insurance.

Realistically if he is under-age you can sue his parents for damages. They have home-owners insurance (one would hope) and for things like this.

But honestly insurance is insurance. You buy it so incase you're ever in an accident you don't have to pay out of your pocket. If you don't have you should expect to be sued...and in this case I'm hoping you get a lawyer.

 

y would he need a lawyer. His insurance policy should have coverage for uninsured motorist. His insurance co. will pay to fix the damage and then the insurance co. will start collecting from the kid in the supra. Janus doesn't have to do anything but drop his car off the shop. His rates wont go up, but the rental you get wont compare to the Z. LOL. anyway penalty for the kid os possible suspension of his license and a fine of upto $750 or $1k.

 

Re: suing the kid's parents to tap into their homerowners' coverage-- most, if not all, homeowners' policies in CA have very specific exclusions relating to automobile claims. They will likely decline any defense tendered under such a policy. Nismo33 has it right with respect to uninsured motorist coverage-- it is part of your auto insurance, and your insurance company has a duty [owed to you] to adjust the claim fairly and promptly. Sorry about the accident and hope you are OK.

 

I guess so...

I'm just so pissed at this kid. How can you NOT SEE ONCOMMING TRAFFIC.

I think he was trying to catch up to his friends in the car that made a left turn just prior to him. They had just cleared the intersection as I was coming up to it.


Now I am going to be 3-weeks in a rental that smells like cigarretes and has all the interior panels falling off when I bump them.

 

I was hit by an unlicensed, uninsured driver who ran a red light. The police gave him a ticket, impounded his truck, and let him go. This happened in Torrance, CA, to my Audi (not my Z).

 

Janus
I saw your damaged car on Friday in a parking lot in Santa Fe Springs. When I saw your car, I was thinking maybe your car got hit by a truck backing up or something. I can see your car got damaged pretty bad. The fender almost touch the tire. I feel sorry for you.

 

Hey, I didn't know anyone on this board came by my work!


Yeah, that was my car.

Actually the tire IS touching the back of the fender near where it connects to the door. The suspension arm is bent or broken about 15 degrees off (forcing the tire against the body of the car). A piece of metal has broken and cut through the tread of the tire... and the shaft that conncts my shock to the wishbone suspension piece (whatever it's called =P) is bent slightly at the base...


Anyways I got it towed to the body shop monday morning, but my insurance is dragging their feet (21's century) to send out the appraiser because I didn't want to take it to their in-house bodyshop.

 

you can buy parts from us for the suspension... Tein flex is out of stock until October (late)


But I know where I can get part of a tein flex...

 

I just need the front left shock, if you could Bobbowah, I would be immensily appreciative =P


You've already helped me once, thanks!

 

wow!!! and an S4 too!! sorry to hear about both ur car and Janus.

 

Well, Insurance is trying to nickel and dime me right now =(

They are only willing to pay 360 to replace one of the damaged Tein Flex Shock and Coils =(

Unfortunately, that won't cover the costs of one, let alone the fact that AFAIK Tein only sells their shocks in sets of 4 =/



On a side note, the people here with lots of mods in their cars, Whats a good insurance company to go with who doesn't try to stiff you, or play the "Shell" game with you when you try to pin them down to answer questions in regards to "Additional Equipment" ?


I.E. mod friendly insurance companies?