"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
10/31/2016 at 23:41 • Filed to: Story
3
29|
"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
10/31/2016 at 23:41 • Filed to: Story | 3
| 29 |
We have a c-clamp holding the radiator off the fan so the fan can spin, and so the car can, you know, run.
Well, I did it. I actually did it. I managed to kill my so-called invincible Chevrolet TrailBlazer. OK, that is not entirely true, but I did manage to smash my car into the back of another. But that is just where the wild story begins.
I’ve been holding off on telling this story, which started October 19th, for a couple of reasons. First, I was not too sure how the situation would turn out, and I was not too sure on how people would react to what happened. Thankfully, I now know the financial outcome of the ordeal and I realized that it does not really matter how people perceive me.
What Happened?
Pretty simple, really. Marissa, a friend of mine that I am quite jealous of as she owns a brand new Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler, and I were going over to downtown Apex, NC to grab a bite to eat at a local Mexican restaurant that we are quite fond of. As we are approaching downtown Apex, the driver of a light blue Toyota Camry slams on their brakes, and I don’t have a lot of time to react and I slam into the back of it. One second my car was practically* showroom fresh, and the next it was two feet deep in the back of a Camry. Great.
We pull in the gas station parking lot located right next to the location of the accident and we both exit our vehicles. I, a 16 year old driver who has never been in any sort of collision in my entire life, was now responsible for one. Needless to say, I was scared. Scared to what my mother would say or do, scared that the insurance company was going to jack up our already astronomical rates, and scared how much the State of North Carolina was going to fine me for damaging two cars. I was most scared when I saw who exited the Camry: the librarian at my school.
After it was made sure that Marissa, the librarian, the librarian’s daughter, and I were all completely safe and sound from the incident and we exchanged information and called 911. She admitted to me that she was looking down, and when she looked up she was coming super close to the vehicle in front of her and had no choice to brake suddenly and very hard. She apologized for doing that and felt responsible (you will see where this plays in later) for everything that happened. I, the person that technically caused everything, felt responsible because I, you know, caused everything.
A few minutes later, a kind officer representing the Apex Police Department rolled up, assessed the damage, asked us a few questions, and proceeded to slap me with a $238 ticket. Not such a kind officer, after all. He decided that I was riding too close to the Camry and that the accident was, “easily avoidable,” even after the librarian and I decided that it was completely unavoidable and we were surprised that she did not run into the car in front of her and that nobody ran into me. Either way, I had a ticket that I had to pay. Handshakes and final apologizes are exchanged, and we all go on our way.
A few days later, we get a call from the librarian’s insurance provider, State Farm, informing us with some great news. She has taken full responsibility of the accident, regardless of what the cop ruled, and is willing to pay for any damages caused to me or my vehicle, no questions asked. This means that my insurance rates will not go up and I will only have to pay $188 in court fees, because the ticket will hopefully be waived as per State Farm’s recommendation.
Last Tuesday, we took the TrailBlazer to a local body shop to receive a repair estimate. Remember, my car is worth about $2,750 considering age, mileage, and condition. The estimate? $5,300.35. Oh yes, that extra 35 cents totally matters. All joking about the price aside, it’s totaled. My car is done for.
The State Farm adjuster came out the next day, and he has deemed it totaled as well. We have not received a financial offer from the insurance company yet, but we are hoping for enough to at least aid the purchase of a replacement of my pride and joy, the absolute love of my automotive life, my 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
So, what’s next? You will see very shortly, as great things are just around the corner.
* Yeah, no. It is not in the best shape. The A/C doesn’t work, the radio doesn’t really work, the sunroof doesn’t really work either, it shifts hard into 2nd, it idles rough when cold, causing the car to vibrate. Speaking of heavy vibration, it uncontrollably shakes at 75 MPH. So good riddance.
NinetyQ
> Jack Does Cars
10/31/2016 at 23:48 |
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Take whatever they give you and get something that has less mass (lower center of gravity would be nice too) and stops better.
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Jack Does Cars
> NinetyQ
10/31/2016 at 23:49 |
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Oppo is going to like the potential replacement. A lot.
aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
> Jack Does Cars
10/31/2016 at 23:51 |
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This one time I forgot my car has the turning radius of an aircraft carrier.
It happens.
Spridget
> Jack Does Cars
10/31/2016 at 23:52 |
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Sooo you’re finally getting a new car! At least there was some positive outcome from this.
JGrabowMSt
> Jack Does Cars
10/31/2016 at 23:53 |
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I’ve been in your shoes a couple of times, but there was less insurance involved, and more out of pocket.
It sucks. Regardless of the outcome, it’s not an experience anyone quite wants to be in.
How are you though? Regardless of speed, damage or final ruling by any third party, everyone experiences and processes this stuff differently. I’ve had “jersey bumps” and I’ve had a car get totaled (didn’t need insurance to point it out either, car was completely disabled and wasn’t moving anywhere). I’ve walked away and been fine from a couple, and I walked away from driving for the better part of a month as well. No one ever teaches you how to cope with it, and honestly Experience can be a shitty teacher.
V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
> aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/31/2016 at 23:55 |
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My S classes turning radius is more of an orbit really.
TheTurbochargedSquirrel
> Jack Does Cars
10/31/2016 at 23:55 |
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Miata? Didn’t your parents ever tell you that peer pressure is bad?
Jk you can do whatever you want in terms of cars.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
11/01/2016 at 00:00 |
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Meh. just make the peasants move.
CB
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 00:02 |
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Hope you’re alright! Cars can be replaced, but people can’t. Glad everyone involved was able to talk it out, though.
unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 01:29 |
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Cop sounds like a douche canoe for the ticket even though the librarian claimed fault.
DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
> unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
11/01/2016 at 02:16 |
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I always though it was automatically your fault if you rear ended someone like that. Sounds like the librarian is a very generous(?) person.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 04:31 |
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accidents happen! move on.
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 05:34 |
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I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Have fun in your search for a new car now that you have so many options.
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Jack Does Cars
> DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
11/01/2016 at 08:04 |
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She is fantastic. I have always loved checking out books from her.
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Jack Does Cars
> unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
11/01/2016 at 08:04 |
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She claimed fault after the ticket was issued.
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Jack Does Cars
> JGrabowMSt
11/01/2016 at 08:06 |
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Thankfully, I am perfectly fine both mentally and physically, as is my friend and the librarian. I’m now driving my mother’s Chevrolet Equinox,
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Jack Does Cars
> CB
11/01/2016 at 08:07 |
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Thanks, we’re all good. You’re right, and I think about how lucky we were everyday.
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Jack Does Cars
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
11/01/2016 at 08:09 |
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I’m going very PNW with my decision. Not what my father calls a PNW car, but a real PNW car.
Oh, speaking of, my father and stepmother are currently in Germany. Does she still work at Ozone, I forgot what my father asked when I called.
jkm7680
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 08:11 |
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Shit sorry to hear
But for the future, don’t call 911 unless someone be is hurt or there’s imminent danger. The non emergency line is best.
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Jack Does Cars
> jkm7680
11/01/2016 at 08:15 |
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Thanks, it’s all good. And you’re right, I should have called the non-emergency number. I was just so frazzled from the incident that the first thing I could think was, “911,” and I acted upon my instincts.
FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
> jkm7680
11/01/2016 at 09:36 |
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This is true, but hard to remember in the moment. The last time I got rear-ended everyone was basically fine and all three cars were able to be moved off of the road, but everyone’s adrenaline was still pumping and all we could think of was 911. That’s why they use a simple number that we’re all taught from an early age. After nearly an hour when no cop had showed up, I was calm enough to call the non-emergency number to ask if he was close. Turned out we were all so frazzled we had told him the wrong intersection a mile down the road and he got there, didn’t see us, then turned around.
jasmits
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 10:01 |
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Subaru?
Flyboy is FAA certified insane
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 10:37 |
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Sad that it’s gone, but what all was damaged that resulted in $5300 worth of damage?
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Jack Does Cars
> Flyboy is FAA certified insane
11/01/2016 at 12:57 |
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Hood, both fenders, bumper, headlights, grille, plastic support pieces for the wheel wells, radiator, fan, fan shroud, metal support pieces for the front end, battery box, battery support bar, and a few other things underneath the car. Along with paint in labor, the estimate was $5,300.
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Jack Does Cars
> jasmits
11/01/2016 at 12:58 |
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Maybe. Maybe not. Think fancy Subaru.
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jasmits
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 13:15 |
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...Audi Allroad, some variety of Volvo/Saab wagon?
oh wait, fancy Subaru, Saab WRX-clone the name of which escapes me??
I’m from Portland, temporarily living on the east coast and things that are common at home in the PNW that I miss seeing out here are Subarus, Swedish wagons, and pre-2000 Toyota 4Runners(making my clean second-gen with Oregon plates a real unicorn while it was very run-of-the-mill back home).
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 16:26 |
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She does, but she is currently out for a while for a surgery (in Germany).
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> Jack Does Cars
11/01/2016 at 16:27 |
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Oooh, if you get a Saabaru, I’ll be jealous. Those are pretty rare, but I see them up here from time to time. Saabs are also pretty PNW, so it’s almost like merging all automotive aberrations for the area into one car.
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Jack Does Cars
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
11/01/2016 at 19:29 |
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Yeah, he said that they’ll be back on the 15th. He rented a Jag XF and got it to 115 MPH on the autobahn, which is mighty interesting if I don’t say so myself.
The vehicle that I’m looking at is a variation of a vehicle that they used to own. It is more Swedish than a Saabaru, as well.