One for the books.
Welp, the ol’ New Beetle got smacked on the freeway today. A gray Mustang lost control on the lane left of me (me number 4, it on 3), started swerving about. I had just slowed because the truck ahead of me hit the brakes and had no safe out. For a split second it looked like it would go left and hit someone over there, then it returned to my sideview mirror’s field of vision heading straight for me. The 45-degree impact on the left side, rear passenger’s panel, sent both our cars, locked together, spinning 360 degrees, ending with us both on the number 5 lane, the Mustang in front of me.
Left side of my car looks absolutely horrible and one of the wheel spokes is chipped. The interior cabin has an intrusion at the point of impact behind me, but everything on my dashboard looked all right except for the steering wheel, sent horribly out of alignment and my left arm aching from the strain when holding it while spinning.
I’m okay, the driver of the Mustang’s okay (and fully insured). Car’s in the shop waiting for the claims adjustor. I’m just glad the frame didn’t get unsettled, no liquids are leaking, and the engine continues to purr.
Been 15 years since the last accident, which was in my ‘69 Beetle and a Cadillac hit me from behind. This was worse, seeing as the engine of that car, being in the rear, took all the damage. I managed to drive it 5 miles before it finally gave up, which was enough to get to pick up my sister at her school and coast into a gas station.
Now I get to see how well my insurance company will treat me, the no-fault driver. Odd little thought: the damage estimate is right about the same amount as all my monthly insurance payments put together. Go figure.
Post edited 10/29/05 11:06 AM by paultakeda
Subscribe by RSS
Chombi Said,
October 29, 2005 @ 5:15 am
One for the books. – Glad to hear you are OK Paul. Hope you get your car fixed and on the road again soon!
Chombi
YupOldBull Said,
October 30, 2005 @ 7:01 am
Glad you are Ok……. – Very sorry to hear about your accident and glad you are Ok. It is a real shame, cars are never the same after a bump like that. Any consideration of letting it go at this point? You would never recoup all the “”Mods”"…..but you could get a new one.
My defensive cushion used to be 20 yards. Now that I am older it is 50 yards. (And the guy behind me usually tries to keep pushing me closer!)
However, you don’t have much control when they “”aim”" at you, as in your case.
Too manys cars, too much speed, too many inattentive drivers.
297 Said,
October 30, 2005 @ 11:14 am
One for the books. – It’s not all that bad — the damage is primarily cosmetic. Engine was purring just fine afterward, so I’m not worried about it. But yeah, it’s never the same because you’ll always see in your mind’s eye the damage it sustained.
No plans to give it up. It’s here to stay. If it comes ot it, I’ll get a new car and keep the NB as a project.