Car Accident Update: Bought a Replacement!

"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise) 05/12/2018 at 14:40 • Filed to: Camry, Enterprise, New Car

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First of all I would like to thank everyone for their advice and support about my accident. It means a lot to me and helped me to start taking some steps to protect myself legally. I thought I would update everyone since my last post.

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I talked to Steve Lehto about it and we discussed options for moving forward legally. Basically I can’t do anything until I get the ticket removed. Which should be happening at my informal court hearing on the 31st. The video clearly shows that I have a green light when the work van runs the red light and hits me at about 45 mph. This should make it an open and shut case legally. After that I can’t do personal injury because I most likely won’t win since I’m not permanently injured. I got checked out and diagnosed with a sprained neck and back but should be back to normal in a couple weeks. I may be able to do what’s called a mini-tort for up to $1,000 but not until I’ve cleared the ticket.

I also bought a replacement vehicle! Meet my new to me 2011 Camry Le.

Is has the 2AR-FE 2.5L I-4 engine. I bought it with 120,000 miles on the clock from the parents of a kid I went to high school with. It was listed for $6,500 but I got it for $5,400 which is well below the blue book value. The credit union would have given me up to $8,000 to buy this particular car. The owners also threw in an oil change, a car wash token and a free tank of gas! It was supposed to be $5,500 but he gave me a $100 back as long as I didn’t spend it on “drugs, alcohol or women in tight pants”.

I doubt I’ll get a lot of positive feedback on the purchase since its a Camry but I bought it for a specific reason. It was a very good deal, I knew the family I was buying it from and it should be as reliable as my Corolla was. Which is very important to me as I’m a college student who commutes 48 miles round trip to school and work (I also work at the University). This may not be very exciting but I like it and it suites my needs at this time. I think it’s a perfect daily driver and something that I could hold onto even after college is done in a couple years. I might be able to get a fun car then but right now I just have to get through the next 2-3 years. I financed it through my credit union for $5000 and put full coverage on it.

It’s my second Toyota and second car I have purchased myself. It’s the first one I’ve financed which sucks cause the last one was payed off and I didn’t get anything from my insurance. But it should help build more credit.

It’s a noticeable improvement over the Corolla for the following reasons:

It’s much quieter

Is bigger (I’m 6'3" and really appreciate the extra size)

Has greater range 460 vs 360 (It has an 18.5 gallon tank)

While it isn’t as fun to whip around corners it is a much better long distance driver.

The body and interior are in much better shape (No zip ties holding everything together and way less dents, dings and paint issues)

Has more power 169 vs 130 which makes a big difference on the freeway (I don’t have to floor it just to merge or pass)

My Corolla was called the Black Pearl because it was black and we were rewatching the movie around that time. In honor of that new tradition of naming the car after a legendary ship I’ve christened the Camry the Enterprise. It will soon have a matching sticker on the back window.

Since I’ve bought it I’ve done some maintenance:

Spark plugs (definitely original)

Cabin Air Filter (possibly original based on how it looked)

Engine Air Filter

Clayed and sealed the exterior

I also has a squealing issue from the driver rear wheel. It was strange because it was intermittent. I was thinking wheel bearing but it would stop as soon as I lightly touched the brakes. I therefore thought it could be brake related. I’m not exactly sure what was wrong with it but I fixed it by doing a number of things to that corner. I disassembled the brakes to find that the pads where stuck in place to the rotor. There was buildup behind the pads. After removing them I used a wire brush to clean up the shims and contact points of the pads. I them put brake grease on the shims. I also lubed the slide pins which were so stuck that I had to break them loose with a wrench. It was still making a noise without the pads on so I took the rotor off and found that there is a groove in the back that lines up with the backing plate of the rotor. There was rust built up in it so I used the wire brush and a Dremel to remove it. Then I checked the caliper and it was super easy to retract the piston so I figured that was okay. I reassembled everything and it hasn’t squeaked since! I think it would be good to mention that the car has done 2,000 miles in the past two years. So I won’t be surprised if a few more things like this happen. It was their parents car for a couple years and they barely drove it.

I also upgraded the radio to an aftermarket unit with bluetooth and HD radio. I had installed the same unit on the Corolla a Monday and then the accident happened on the following Thursday. Luckily I got to take it before it got scrapped so all I needed was a new faceplate adaptor. I also sprung for a steering wheel control adaptor and installed that so the buttons on the wheel still work! I also wired in the dash cam at the same time so you can’t see the wire.

So far I like it a lot. I’m still getting used to it. Sometimes I’m physically uncomfortable in the seat but I think it’s because of the sprained back because sometimes I’m really comfortable in it.

I’m still overcoming the mental affects of the accident. I have more anxiety than normal when driving especially going through intersections or when it looks like drivers aren’t going to stop. I also have a lot of anxiety when I have to drive a long time (like to and from work/school). I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression already and this has only made both worse. I am working with my therapist and psychiatrist on this though and I think we are starting to make some progress. I am still driving despite how it makes me feel. I don’t think driving will ever be the same to me and it’s changed my style to be more cautious and less trusting on the roads. My therapist is trying to get me to see the positives of me still driving and working through it and is stressing that it still hasn’t even been a month and that it will take time. I trust her and hope she is right. Time will tell but I think I am lucky I wasn’t more seriously injured and that the other driver was okay as well.

Thanks again everyone for the support! I really appreciate it and the fact that this forum exists with such nice people!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 14:45

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no judgement from me, sometimes you just gotta get the car that makes the most sense and sounds like you got a good deal on it too

Captain of the Enterprise > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 05/12/2018 at 14:48

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Thank you! I think it was a really good deal. I don’t think I could have found as nice a car for the money. The credit union would have given me up to $8,000 to buy it.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 14:52

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I can’t judge, I drive a ‘13 CR-V. But you could’ve kept your name as Captain of the Beige Wonder and it would’ve still fit :)

But congrats on getting a new car. Hopefully you get the accident mess sorted out.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 14:53

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No judgement. Just because you’re on a car site doesn’t mean you have to buy an enthusiast car. You’re in college, no sense making big purchases right now. I have a FoST now but before I graduated I had a shit base model cobalt for college (and before that a cavalier coupe). They were base, manual, cheap, and utter shit (actually I loved the cavalier but the cobalt was shit) but they were cheap to run and were just a holdover until I could graduate and buy what I really wanted. You made the right call. Hopefully it all works out for you.

Captain of the Enterprise > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 05/12/2018 at 14:54

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Thank you! It still fit but I don’t like it. The Biege Wonder was what I called the Crown Vic I had. I hated that car for a lot of reasons that include my abusive father going back on deals with it and threatening to take it away all the time. The name reminds me of that so I’d rather change it.

I’ll keep everyone posted on the legal stuff. I can’t wait till that’s over.

Captain of the Enterprise > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 05/12/2018 at 14:55

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Thank you! I think it’s the right call too. I would love to have a fun car but can’t afford it right now. Thanks for the well wishes!

Under_Score > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 14:58

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This is a great update. I hope the Camry works out well for you; my RAV4 has the same engine and it has great acceleration. With the current radio and all, you should be set on this Camry for at least another five years.

Captain of the Enterprise > Under_Score 05/12/2018 at 15:01

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Thank you! I haven’t really floored mine yet but it’s nice that I can do everything under 3,000 rpm unlike the 1.8 Corolla where I had to use all of the power a lot of the time! I think it will be solid and don’t see myself getting rid of it even after I graduate. I would ultimately like to have a daily driver and a fun car and this perfectly fills the daily driver aspect. Which makes me think I;ll keep it for a long time.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 15:02

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When my car got hit three times in ‘16 I almost pulled the trigger on a SE hatch. I’m glad I didn’t because waiting allowed me to have an ST. If I got that SE I know I’d be driving around regretting it, lol. I bet you’ll look back on this and thank yourself in the future

Captain of the Enterprise > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 05/12/2018 at 15:05

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Thanks!

boredalways > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 15:06

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That’s awesome! And no Camry Dent either. Don’t worry about it not Oppo. Think of it this way: thanks to ‘Grounded to the Ground’, it’s at least Oppo-adjacent.

Back when I was in college, I had a ‘85 Plymouth Reliant K, a ‘84 Buick Skylark 4MT (should have purchased that Subaru XT6 instead, but it was red and I prefer subtle), a ‘82 Buick LeSabre sedan, and a ‘88 Ford Tempo, which made me hate Ford even more until 2012.

Captain of the Enterprise > boredalways 05/12/2018 at 15:08

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Thanks! I like it so far and appreciate it being good at what it is. I’m on my third college car. I had a 2005 Crown Vic which I hated and still do, a 2005 Corolla and now a 2011 Camry. I seem to be on the Toyota train for now lol.

boredalways > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 15:15

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Fingers crossed you’ll pick up a 2019 Toyota Supra when you get your first car after college.

Or a LFA.

NojustNo > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 15:17

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Congrats! They are perfect for the purpose you need. Dont let anyone hate on em. I have one as a daily with a 5 speed. I’m as tall as you and corollas were just too cramped. Its a great quiet road trip / commuter car.

Your 2011 has the newer 4cyl which fixed the oil consumption issues of the 2.4. that is a great price for year and mileage.

Tip: most people put shitty no grip tires on. The first thing i did was lighter rims and decent tires and it really helped handling.

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 15:33

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Do you love cars? Do you love driving? Does your car bring you some measure of joy, even if others (including fellow Opponauts) might consider it vanilla, crapcan, useless, overbuilt, underbuilt, pointless, overhyped, or unlovable? If yes, then you and your car are Oppo. Buy a sticker from Dusty Ventures and be proud.

Captain of the Enterprise > boredalways 05/12/2018 at 15:34

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I’ll take either lol. That would be so awesome!

sony1492 > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 15:35

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Shouldn’t you be getting some insurance payout once it’s proven that your not at fault?

Captain of the Enterprise > NojustNo 05/12/2018 at 15:38

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Thank you! I like yours a lot too! Yeah the corolla was a bit too cramped for me.

As for the tires it came with some mastercrafts which are okay but I loved the Continentals I had on my old car. I’m going to ride these ones out for a while since they are still in okay shape. I’ll take suggestions though for wheels and tires! Yours look really nice!

Captain of the Enterprise > Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious 05/12/2018 at 15:58

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Thanks! It does for me. I could use a sticker too!

Captain of the Enterprise > sony1492 05/12/2018 at 15:59

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No I’m in a no fault state and I had minimal coverage so my insurance won’t give me anything.

sony1492 > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 16:20

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Why is that even a thing to have,”no fault”?

Either way, congrats on the car it looks like it will be a solid commuter. If the handling is a little mushy you might be able to source some sport wheels of a similar year for a less mushy tire profile, and it will still look stock.

Good luck!

diplodicus forgot his password > sony1492 05/12/2018 at 16:42

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So you don’t have to take someone to court to get your medical bills paid.

Maxima Speed > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 16:46

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Congrats on joining the Camry family. (Solara owner here). Also

“women in tight pants” how about no pants 

sony1492 > diplodicus forgot his password 05/12/2018 at 16:47

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As far as I’ve seen in California if your not at fault you get paid out for the value of the vehicles damage, it is handled by the insurance companies. You may have to sue for medical reimbursement but from the sounds of it you will need to do that if you live in a no fault state and have cheap insurance anyways. Furthermore you will not get reimbursed for the damages or value of your vehicle so your further up shit creek. (if you have cheap insurance/are poor)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 16:48

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Congrats! There’s nothing wrong with reliable transportation, and that’s a considerable upgrade from a Corolla.

diplodicus forgot his password > sony1492 05/12/2018 at 17:47

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Its my understanding in at fault states in order to receive money for medical expenses the other party has to be proven at fault. But im only really familiar with mi laws where insurance will pay for your medical expenses no matter who is at fault. It’s a lifetime thing to and why our insurance rates are some of the highest in the us. My mom works in physical therapy and car accident patients have no limit to the care they receive. While people who get injured not in car accidents insurance will usually only cover a few weeks physical therapy before they have to pay out of pocket.

https://www.michiganautolaw.com/no-fault/no-fault-benefits/pip-benefits/

But ya if you just have liabilty insurance and get into an accident even if you aren’t at fault then you get no compensation for the car.

I believe if you’re found at fault and your liabilty coverage isn’t high enough you can be billed for damages to the other parties car or a third parties property but I’ma not sure on that.

wafflesnfalafel > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 18:05

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Nice, and great deal there too. Looks super clean. Just don’t get one of those Camry rear bumper dents - you will never live it down :)

Captain of the Enterprise > Maxima Speed 05/12/2018 at 18:10

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Thank you! Works for me lol

Captain of the Enterprise > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 05/12/2018 at 18:10

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Thank you, I think so too!

Captain of the Enterprise > wafflesnfalafel 05/12/2018 at 18:11

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Thank you! I think it was a great deal. I’ll do my best to avoid those bumper dents :)

NojustNo > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 19:59

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Im rolling continentals now too. Have put 20k miles on em and holding up well.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Captain of the Enterprise 05/12/2018 at 20:56

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These are good cars. This is my mom’s - still free of Camry dent disease.

Captain of the Enterprise > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/12/2018 at 22:11

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Thank you!

Future Heap Owner > Captain of the Enterprise 05/13/2018 at 04:45

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I am all about Corollas and Camrys! As fun as cars can be the greatest thing about them is that they get you places, and Toyota sedans do that so reliably. A+ in my book. Also it’s hilarious when they put the little spoilers on them.

Glad you don’t have any long-lasting injuries from the accident and that you’re back driving already. It’ll be a long & tough road back to normal but you’ve got a good start.

Captain of the Enterprise > Future Heap Owner 05/13/2018 at 06:11

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Thank you! I think it’s a good solid car. Thanks for the well wishes and support!

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > Captain of the Enterprise 05/14/2018 at 11:32

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So (speaking from experience) I still think you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer. A lot of auto accident injuries can take up to a few years to really develop and understand what’s ailing you. If a personal injury lawyer specifically tells you it’s not worth it, then that’s fine. Lehto seems really smart, but I don’t think he specifically deals in personal injury.

Also, in NY we’re a No Fault state as well, but as a part of that, it also provides medical coverage up to a certain amount. You might want to talk to your auto insurance about what is available. Physical Therapy or Chiropractor might be incredibly helpful with your healing. (they’ll likely also cover imaging to confirm that you do / do not have herniated discs or other injuries as part of the accident.