be careful out there

[Iahawk]

was hit head on in my car today...everyone ok. Happened in my neighborhood a few blocks from home in a 25 mph zone. I was approaching a stop sign and the other car was turning right onto my street, coming towards me. He seemed to take the turn at full speed and took the turn wide and hit me square on. Surprisingly my little '06 Vibe came out a lot better than I would have imagined.

After the accident I wondered what would have happened if I was on my bike? Would I have been able to swerve to avoid or would I have been hit head on?

Kind of scary to think about. Be safe out there, keep your head on a swivel and have an escape plan.

Ride safe, guys.

(pic attached of car that hit me. Note his location on the street..US..we drive on the right side)

[randyo]

airbags deploy ?   

god to hear you're ok

[Iahawk]

no airbags deployed in either car. My daughter had to remind me that I was able to come to a complete stop and hit my horn before he hit me. My bumper rode on top of his so his car suffered more damage. Mine really doesn't look too bad but I'm angry at the thought of it being totaled (which it likely is).

Front plastic piece that covers the bumper and grille is bad and the hood doesn't latch, thinking core support is pushed back a bit. No radiator damage but I haven't been able to really examine the car yet. There is very likely something bent behind the bumper structure.

The car is 20 years old with 221K miles. I'm pretty sure the repair cost will exceed value. I don't want to accept a check for $2500 and hand over my car, that is a losing situation. I also don't want to have my car get hit and not repaired..also a loss. I shouldn't have to lose in this situation but I fear I will.

I'd be willing to find a used front bumper cover in a junkyard and install it myself if it means keeping the car. Guess I'll learn more this week about what their insurance is willing to do, as well as getting a repair estimate on the car.

Most disappointing was seeing my daughter crying in the car after the accident, afraid of losing her car that we worked so hard on fixing it up for her.

[Ruffus]

Fixing up again might be the way to go. Insurance will pay for, not for your work though, but then you know what you have.
AND: Most important, makes your daugther smile again.

[randyo]

once upon a time, I had an '81 BMW 320i (E21) over 400k miles, I loved that car, fun too drive, I was on vacation, my son was using it, got rear ended. Other driver's insurance didn't want to give anything for a car with 400k, maybe closer to 500, I had some pictures, receipts for recent shocks and tires, best I could do was to get them to $1k. The adjuster didn't care the condition, just kept harping on the mileage. I couldn't replace it for that. It was a fun car, economical too, routinely got 35mpg,

[Neil955i]

Just glad you & daughter are OK Hawk!

[Stig / Major Tom]

Oh shoot Hawk!
That was that Pontiac Vibe that you'd done so much work on!
Yes, very glad you all were OK!

Police report? Impaired or distracted driving charge?
Anyway - glad you guys are OK!

Goofiest head-on I've seen, my son's really cool first gen Scion XB was totaled while parked at the curb, middle of the night. The next morning the police discovered a front license plate stuffed in the grill of the Scion....and followed the fluid leak down the street straight to a closed garage door!
Even Perry Mason couldn't get that kid off!

Traffic - at my age, it is the #1 reason I ride before sunrise.....and out into the boonies!
Stig

[Iahawk]

Oh shoot Hawk!
That was that Pontiac Vibe that you'd done so much work on!
Yes, very glad you all were OK!

Police report? Impaired or distracted driving charge?

Stig

driver was 16 year old neighbor kid that lives 2 houses away. Just a young, inexperienced, stupid kid with a friend in the car driving too fast and not paying attention. In my entire driving career I have never seen someone driving so fast in a 25 mph zone that they take a right turn and swing it so wide that they hit a car in the oncoming lane. 

I have spoken with both insurance companies and am waiting for a copy of the full police report. I'll be getting repair estimates tomorrow.