May 07, 2005
Lucky Us.
You know the old maxim, "Just when you think things can't get any worse, they will"? Silly me, I thought things couldn't get any worse, and of course, they did.
I had just gone to bed last night when there was a horrible noise outside the bedroom on the street-side of the room. At first, I thought it was the trash guys who empty the dumpster across the street at our Bob's woodshop. It sounded for all the world like they had dropped his dumpster while dumping it. Then I realized, I didn't hear a trash truck. Then I heard a car speeding off. Then I realized, there had been an accident.
The Spousal Unit got up and looked out the window and began to hollar.
A driver, speeding and probably drunk, had come off the road into our driveway, smashed the '84 Tempo so hard, it T-boned into the Chrysler and shoved it into the Pontiac. From the looks of things, none of them will ever be driveable and are totaled.
The entire back end of the Tempo is smashed, and the bumper is pulled way out. The frame looks sprung badly, and the trunk is destroyed.
Almost the entire driver's side of the Chrysler is smashed in, and it too is sprung. The trunk is popped and will not close, and the doors are popped as well. The rear on the passenger side is also smashed where it was slammed into the Pontiac.
The entire rear quarter of the Pontiac is smashed in, into the wheel well so it is not driveable either. The hood is popped up an inch, and cannot be lifted or pushed back into place.
The driver of the other car was kind enough to leave his grill as a calling card to let us know he was driving an Oldsmobile. I believe there is also some paint left on the rear of the Tempo, so we may know what color the car was. I'm not holding my breath on them ever finding this piece of shit, but I hope they do.
We are actually quite lucky the cars were parked the way they were, because without them there as an Anti-Vehicle barrier, that moron may have ended up in our bedroom unannounced and decidedly uninvited. At least they sacrificed themselves to keep us from the hospital, or worse.
So, at 4am I am on the phone with the insurance company, filing my claim, and I want to say that the woman at Allstate's call center was extremely nice, very courteous, and very sympathetic. I wish I could remember her name, as she was wonderful.
Anyone in the Indianapolis area know how to fix brakes on a truck? Luckily, my old Toyota pickup was in the back yard and missed the carnage in the driveway, but it isn't driveable until the brakes are fixed and a tire and the battery replaced. Oh, and it needs plated and insured. Anyone think I can do that on $60? I thought not.
At least Social Security is acting quickly to get the Spousal Unit on disability... No, wait, that isn't true either. He has another appointment for lab work for them, so we're looking at another 6 months of that dragging on, too. And then they'll say no and we start that entire process over again.
Is there a lesson in this? Yes. Never, ever say "Things just can't get any worse." They will, in spades.
Happy Mother's Day to me. We have our health, and I have a job. It could be worse.
There's just nothing to say to this except "that just sucks". Sorry some people haven't got the sense the good Lord gave a goose. :/
Posted by: pam at May 7, 2005 06:05 PMDamn! I certainly am sorry to hear about this! My thoughts and prayers are with you...as well as those of my family.
Posted by: RedFalcon at May 7, 2005 06:46 PMSo sorry to hear that, glad nobody was hurt. Hope you catch up with the hit and run driver, maybe we could pull it's head out with a short piece of rope, attached to a low limb. I rank hit and run drivers right up there with child molesters, drunk or not.
Nuff of that, Happy Mothers Day Anyway.
Happy Mother's Day and G_d Bless you, I will pray things improve for you.
Posted by: Leah at May 7, 2005 10:47 PMThat's a nasty way to get rousted from bed. Sorry about the loss, I know what it's like being unhorsed ( without a vehicle). I came down one December morning all of a week after getting out of the hospital to find my truck stolen. Did get it back in less than 24 hrs. but that was a nasty shock. Hope you get a handsome settlement for the damage. I'm glad it was just vehicles that got damaged and not you and your family. All the best.
Posted by: Aqula at May 7, 2005 11:56 PMMama, I'm so sorry to hear of your trouble.
I've had over two dozen beaters and if it rolls, drive it. Gas is cheap, not being able to get to work is what'll cost you.
Maybe, you can find somebody to take the pick-up and a stout chain and use it to pull the dent out of the Pontiac wheel. I do hope providence and G_d's good grace shines on you through all of this.
HOLY SHIT!! I'm just glad that you or anyone else in the family weren't in any of those vehicles when they got hit, hon. Needless to say, I'll be doing some high-level, full-contact praying for y'all.
Wish I could help more...but I'll do the best I can, hon. Sorry your Mother's Day had to turn out so shitty...
--TwoDragons
Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at May 8, 2005 12:15 AMYa know, just a couple hours ago I was talking to a friend of mine about problems in life, and very humbly acknowledged that most of my problems are my fault.
In this case, there are blessings. The car stayed in the street and didn't wind up in the bedroom, etc.
My prayers are with you and I offer the idea that since this was clearly not your fault, everything will work out just fine. A few headaches may arise, but ultimately you will suffer little from this.
Of course that doesn't do much for you now, so in the meantime, I will reiterate that you are in my prayers. Maybe at some point they'll get the asshole. I hope so. Anyone for bamboo under the fingernails?
RWR
Posted by: RightWingRocker at May 8, 2005 02:50 AMMan, that sucks. I know a really good body man 3 hours to your north.%0M
%0M
Hope the rest of your Mothers' Day is better, Mama. Lord knows you deserve it.
Very sorry to hear about it. I am very glad Anna and you did not get hurt. I don't pray, but I do hope everything will work out okay with the insurance and also check with your homeowners, cause the cars were in your yard, Cat
Posted by: catfish at May 8, 2005 12:46 PMSorry to hear about that. It's good and all that you guys are okay, but it still doesn't take away the havoc that the idiot has brought to your lives.
I can change Brake shoes and pad on an 80 Toyota Celica, but I don't know that I'd be much help for a truck. That and I'm in Virginia, 8 hours away. :(
Holy Sh!t Mama! You know though they say things happen in 3's and you lost the vehicles and the the disability issue, hopefully that is all you will have to endure for a while.
I know this will sound odd coming from me, but I will keep you in my prayers. I am just glad the cars were there, I couldn't handle knowing that a drunk plowed into your room.
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by: SlagleRock at May 9, 2005 05:50 AMDamn ,Sorry to hear of your troubles,I am glad you guys did not get hurt as the car can be replaced.
Keep your spirts up things will work out..
I hope they catch the bastard who hit your cars.
Good luck.
Um- having two Toyotas myself, I know a little about their brakes- I redid both ends of my '84 truck a couple of years ago. Your local library should have Chilton's or Haynes manuals which will walk you through the steps, with photos. Parts will, unfortunately, be the sticking point. I don't know how much needs to be done to the brakes, but it's usually a one-day job, even if both axles (front and rear) need work. Best of luck to you. I wish I could be more help, but I'm in Baltimore, and busier than the proverbial one-legged man. God bless you.
Dave
That's horrible. Glad you guys are okay though. You and delftsman are in my prayers.
Posted by: Army NCO Guy at May 9, 2005 11:21 AMDamn, damn, damn, DAMN!
Hopefully they find the scumsucking weasel. Surely it cannot be all that hard?
On a side note: What's up with your Paypal? When I click on it (it needs to be further up on the page, by the way), it says that you aren't registered.
Mama, most importantly it wasn't you or Delftsman who was totaled. About your insurance- ask your carrier if your policy can be transferred to the Toyota. You can do that in some states. About brakes- on your truck they are pretty simple and reasonably cheap. If it's just pads and shoes, you might be able to go to a discount tire or muffler and brake shop, and get it done for under 100.00. Plates? Depends on what your state requires, but it HAS to be cheaper than The People's Democratic Republic of Kampuchea- ooops, sorry, I meant Kalifornia.
Posted by: Bill H at May 9, 2005 05:26 PMHopefully the grill will have the VIN number on it somewhere...
Posted by: LarryConley at May 10, 2005 07:09 AMCheck out Bob's Auto Sales on the corner of Fletcher and College in Indy. Always a cheap beater across the street. email me for the phone number, if you want. Good luck, Mama.
Posted by: jenntenn at May 10, 2005 05:15 PMGood grief ... I hope they catch the jackass -- and that he has insurance.
Posted by: Kate at May 11, 2005 11:34 PMWow! A Toyota pickup. You are one lucky family. There is no more bullet proof vehicle EVER MADE than a Toyota pickup. My 1980 has 546,000 miles and while rusty on the rivets, I have spent a grand total of $980 in 25 years on this little beast and he still doesn't even rattle. Solid as a granite boulder. The only vehicle I am completely certain of, that if I go back country in it, I am coming back. As God is my witness, it still has the original clutch.
You are one lucky family!
(sorry about the other stuff)
Posted by: Jack MacKenzie at May 13, 2005 08:26 AMWell that just f___ing sucks! I hope things are settled quickly and you can catch the bastard that did it.
BTW, you CAN find out who it was that you talked to at Allstate. They keep records of who you spoke to. They have to.
Mac
(Uzi's gun runner)
If Allstate is dragging their heels on paying promptly, just mention that you're going to switch to State Farm for any new vehicle, and maybe the house also. There's such an intense rivalry between the two companies that such a "promise" from a current customer (especially if you've been with them a long time) will generate some heat under their butts.
Posted by: Lloyd Townsend, Jr. at May 28, 2005 12:40 PMfucking with dog
Posted by: fucking with dog at June 20, 2005 10:35 AM