Ugh. Accident.
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Hi Bernard, I only just got home from a trip so only just seeing this. Please don't be in a rush to declare yourself uninjured. It's very common when in a car accident to go into a kind of shock that wears off slowly, sometimes over a few days. During that time your body kind of puts up a shield that keeps you from feeling much.
I was in an accident last fall, and at first thought I was just fine, physically. Within a week I found out I had severe lateral whiplash, and a few months later a back molar cracked and broke off--the dentist asked me if I had been rear ended, because that was what it looked like, from his experience. It was ten months before all symptoms from the accident were at last resolved. The other driver's insurance took full responsibility and paid for everything, including OEM parts for my nearly new Subaru Forester.
As for the business end of things, you can still file a police report and should, if you haven't already. Was this a hit-and-run? Did the other driver have insurance? It's his insurance company that is responsible, and so your insurance company will probably go after them, since you haven't put in a claim with the other driver's insurance.
You should be entitled to 100 percent coverage for every out of pocket expense you have had, including the cab, the co-pay on the car rental, your deductible, plus compensation for inconvenience and wear and tear on your nerves. I'd even send the a bill for the roses and the prosecca and call it compensation for the anguish their driver caused.
I'm not a doctor or an insurance adjuster, obviously. Just speaking from my own experience in my own jurisdiction. It may be different with your insurance and in your state. If NH has an insurance commissioner, it could be well worth your while to call that office and find out what your rights are.
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BTW, the accident you describe sounds much, much worse that the little rear-ender I had last fall. I mean, it's hard to believe you weren't seriously hurt, especially if the car was totalled. I was hit in the driver's side while driving my Volvo, 45 years ago, very similar to the accident you describe, and found out only years later that I had suffered a concussion.
I'm glad you are feeling okay. Sorry about your car, but boy we all would be much sorrier if it was you that was totalled.
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Bernard, so sorry this happened to you. I have to agree with piqué about injury; it can be hard to know how badly you’ve been injured. The adrenaline kicks in and obscures the trauma.
As others mentioned, the insurance companies have these things down to a science. There’s a back and forth between the parties, all according to schedule. I remember all this from when I was hit by a car in 2020, and was covered by the car insurance my wife had, even though I was on my bike.
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I've been out of action for a couple of days - just checking in and saw - I'm so glad you're still here to discuss - and agree that sometimes in the heat of the moment, we overlook or are unaware of injury. I do hope the car replacement isn't too challenging.
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For a first ever accident (didn't know there WAS such a thing!) it sounds like you were relatively speaking, very fortunate - fitting between those two "obstructions", thank Heaven! Did your airbag inflate?
But you MUST be traumatized from what you described. What a jerk, whether kid or DUI or nutcase - he put you very much in danger, and to a ton of trouble, whether or not you get reimbursed.
My last total (comes of driving older cars) was especially annoying because it was an "oldie but goodie" perfectly maintained CAMRY with under a hundred thou miles, and most infuriatingly, I too had just gotten four new tires. Of course, its intrinsic valuation and the new tires weren't factored into the car's worth. (I've since learned that it's not just Blue Book valuation but a portion thereof - at least with State Farm, 80% Blue Book).
That was the accident caused by an empty trashbin (trash day in an Ides of Mach wind!)
that somehow blew and wound up wrapped around my drivers side wheel. Caused me to lose control. Spun several times, ending up wedged against a tree off the road.I ended up with several broken ribs, a severely undervalued car, and most maddening, I was declared at fault so my premium zoomed up! Even the car behind me hadn't seen the blowing trashbin. I call that an Act of G-d!
Jeez, I felt slight extrapolated trauma just reading about your accident - can't believe you escaped without serious injury (and yes, do check it out!*) So sorry you are going through this.
[*pique, that molar that fell off months after your accident, is almost incredible - especially that the auto insurance covered it ! Good thing that dentist identified its cause]
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For a first ever accident (didn't know there WAS such a thing!) it sounds like you were relatively speaking, very fortunate - fitting between those two "obstructions", thank Heaven! Did your airbag inflate?
But you MUST be traumatized from what you described. What a jerk, whether kid or DUI or nutcase - he put you very much in danger, and to a ton of trouble, whether or not you get reimbursed.
My last total (comes of driving older cars) was especially annoying because it was an "oldie but goodie" perfectly maintained CAMRY with under a hundred thou miles, and most infuriatingly, I too had just gotten four new tires. Of course, its intrinsic valuation and the new tires weren't factored into the car's worth. (I've since learned that it's not just Blue Book valuation but a portion thereof - at least with State Farm, 80% Blue Book).
That was the accident caused by an empty trashbin (trash day in an Ides of Mach wind!)
that somehow blew and wound up wrapped around my drivers side wheel. Caused me to lose control. Spun several times, ending up wedged against a tree off the road.I ended up with several broken ribs, a severely undervalued car, and most maddening, I was declared at fault so my premium zoomed up! Even the car behind me hadn't seen the blowing trashbin. I call that an Act of G-d!
Jeez, I felt slight extrapolated trauma just reading about your accident - can't believe you escaped without serious injury (and yes, do check it out!*) So sorry you are going through this.
[*pique, that molar that fell off months after your accident, is almost incredible - especially that the auto insurance covered it ! Good thing that dentist identified its cause]
@Amanda Thanks, Amanda.
My air bag (car didn't have side air bags) did not inflate and I think it's because I was pushed and travelled sideways.
I got some closure when I went down to the tow company last week to retrieve my license plates and personal belongings from the car. I really liked that little car, and it was good to see the damage again. It made the verdict of 'totaled' more sensible.
AAA has called it a total loss and the amount of the settlement covers the outstanding balance on the loan, plus a couple thousand more. I'm satisfied with that. The car was 11 years old. I had it only 2 years, but still, it had only 83K miles on it.
I'm seriously thinking of leasing now. I am not driving anywhere near as much as I did when I first moved here and it seems to me leasing would alleviate the headache of repair costs and angst about breakdowns.
I'm thinking another Hyundai. Like I said, I liked the one I had and they are affordable. My rental is a Nissan and it is not for me. (Apologies to anyone for whom Nissan is their car of choice. It's a fine car, but I don't like the exterior styling and there are some control layouts that annoy me. Personal stuff.)
Your accident sounds ghastly, Amanda. Glad you are OK. I always hear good things about Camry's.