herveus: (Norfolk and WayPal)
[personal profile] herveus
That was totally bizarre. Here I am driving down the road, approaching an intersection. The vehicle behind me suddenly pulls into the left turn lane and starts overtaking me. With further suddenness, he pulls back into my lane. I have a very good view of the side of his pickemup truck at this moment. There was a crunching noise.

I stopped and got out to survey the carnage. Pickemup truck did not stop. Well, he went a quarter mile down the road and stopped. Behind me was another car. The driver announced that she witnessed the whole thing and offered to stick around. I accepted with alacrity. While I was on the phone with the police, the local police happened on scene.

I got the license number plate of the truck; one cop went down to where he had stopped and invited him to join the party. Mr. Bowie Police Man mediated the exchange of information; I didn't have to speak to the moron. Insurance has been initiated; the car is in their hands already.

Damage is minor, I think, but it may add up. Pictures below the






Date: 2009-09-17 10:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hugh-mannity.livejournal.com
That's not a very civilised thing for him to have done. Poor car!

Hope it all gets sorted out PDQ to your satisfaction.

Date: 2009-09-17 10:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wulfsdottir.livejournal.com
I'm glad you weren't injured, and I hope the other driver was sufficiently insured.

Date: 2009-09-17 11:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-zrfq.livejournal.com
Door, fender, maybe the front bumper. The hood appears undamaged but the pix could be misleading.

I hope this all gets sorted out without you having to resort to a lawyer.

Do you know if the bozo was charged with anything?

Date: 2009-09-17 11:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
The bumper cover is torn in the front. It's a sure thing. The hood appears to be undamaged. Headlight is scuffed up, as is the rear-view mirror. Shrouding in the wheel well is a bit mangled.

We are both insured by USAA. For better and worse. We'll see. Having an independent witness is a big plus.

I don't think the bozo was cited, but I don't know. It was property damage only, with the cars still movable, so the cops are less likely to do anything more than make sure information gets exchanged. Of course, if the bozo copped said something stupid...

Date: 2009-09-17 11:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-zrfq.livejournal.com
I'd have expected a citation for an unsafe lane change, myself. But I'm not from that side of the river.

It is good indeed that you have an independent witness.

Date: 2009-09-18 05:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] weatherman2111.livejournal.com
That is some gnarly sheet metal damage. Well, that dumb asses insurance just went up 500%.

Date: 2009-09-18 02:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
I stayed near or in my car the whole time. The closest I came to the idiot was as he was sideswiping me. This avoided all sorts of opportunities for unproductive intercourse.

The officer may have cited bozo, or may yet work up a citation. I think I'll request a copy of the police report for my edification to see what it may say.

Oh, the lane change into me was across a solid white line as well.

Date: 2009-09-18 06:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cryptocosm.livejournal.com
If the officer didn't issue a citation to bozo, you should complain to his department. It has long seemed to me that police are entirely too blasé about utterly outrageous behavior on the roads, and that this probably increases the incidence of more serious collisions and traffic fatalities.

Date: 2009-09-18 10:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sengokudaimyo.livejournal.com
Not cited? Heck, if not for unsafe lane change, surely a hit and run... he went awful far for someone who hit you. Heck, he might have thought to get away with it for a moment.

Glad you're okay!

Date: 2009-09-21 12:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Well, being in the left lane with no shoulder at the time, he did pull over at stop at the next light, still in sight, and remained there until one of the officers invited him to return closer to the scene. He didn't flee the scene and make himself scarce.

As to the citation, I have no clear information one way or the other. Yet.
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