Author Topic: Some kid just totaled my truck. (Read 9665 times)

Pixel_Outlaw · « **on:** April 28, 2009 »

Today while I was eating my lunch inside my house when a 16 year old high school kid rammed into the back of my truck driving it about 15 feet up the street and onto the curb. He said he was reaching down to find a drink on the floor. Honestly I don't know why 16 year olds are allowed on the road. Here is my problem, my truck is worth 3000 dollars (MUCH more than that to me however). The problem is, that his the insurance company will probably call it totaled and take the vehicle and give me the money. 3000 dollars won't buy me a new truck. The second option is to take half of the value and they will let me keep the truck. Just fixing the frame will cost 5000 dollars. That is just to make it roadworthy and not even begin to pull out all of the dents and stretch marks. Here is the kicker, the kid won't really have to get a ticket, it can be payed to be taken off his record. Now I've had this truck since 1990 and it has ran like a top. It was in really good condition too. So as you can see I'm going to pay thousands of dollars either way because of the amount of damage he did. If they take it, I get 3000 dollars not even enough to buy a good truck, if I don't let them take it, they pay 1500 dollars, not enough to even pay for 1/3 of the damage. The truck was parked on the street and nobody was inside it. Take a look at some of the pics in full size mode.

I have uploaded some pics in my facebook account. This is a public link.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005919&id=1534433814&l=8c1905e207

This truck was my first vehicle so it has some sentimental value too. They don't make two color paint jobs much anymore and I really like how solid it was. It is legally my dads but this comes at a bad time, especially with my graduation from community college and me starting a University.

zawran · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2009 »

Sorry to hear about your truck. I agree that its probably too early to let people drive cars at 16. A lot of other countries its 18, and that might even be too early as well. Young kids just doesn't think about the things that can go wrong. They never worry about what might happen.

Clyde · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2009 »

Sorry to hear about that PO dude.

I think it should be 21 when people are a bit more mature. Scooters and Mopeds, could be for a younger age to get some road sense.

Dont they teach people to always have their eyes on the road. If he wanted to pickup a drink, all he needed do is stop the car, and then do it. Over in the UK, if a copper spots you on your mobile, drinking, or with something in your other hand, when you should have both hands on the wheel, you'll get pulled over.

It's a shame to hear about some numpty biffing into your motor dude and not looking where their going. Infairness the kid should pay the price, would be if I were president

I hope that you can fix your truck annoying that it's come at a time when you need to travel; plus this credit crunch / resession has come at the wrong time.

Shockwave · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2009 »

I am just glad that you were not getting into the truck when it was hit.

It's interesting to see how insurance companies go about settling claims in the US though. It would seem to be totally different to the way things work in the uk.

I guess that your only choice will be to take the $3000, taking the $1500 is going to be even more detrimental.

zawran · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2009 »

Yes, I would say take the $3000 as well, because straighten out a car frame is not a good choice.

Pixel_Outlaw · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2009 »

Well my dad knows some good mechanics here that work for cheap because they are friends. He insists on getting it fixed, it is up to him.

Another truck like mine will run about 6000 dollars. The thing that really irritates me is either way it leaves thousands of dollars not payed for his mistake. The truck only had 90,000 miles in it. Not bad for a 1990.

mziskandar · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2009 »

That's really bad especially when your truck are just resting there..

I think his parent/guardian should be responsible for that - he is under 18. In my country, we can only get our driving license after 18 and the insurance should cover both damages and he can be charged on careless driving.

Shockwave · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2009 »

Quote from: mziskandar on April 28, 2009

In my country, we can only get our driving license after 18 and the insurance should cover both damages and he can be charged on careless driving.

Over in the UK your insurance would cover the damage he caused to your truck and your company would have tried to reclaim the costs from the guy who hit your truck. You would have had "market value" for your truck though which would certainly be less than you paid for it.

combatking0 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2009 »

The whole insurance setup in the USA seems to be set against the claimant. You've been paying your insurance premiums for years, and all they can offer is an insufficient sum of money? How do they expect you to continue paying for insurance if you cannot get a new or working truck? It's not a very good business model. Sorry, I'm ranting again.

I'm not really mechanically minded, so I won't suggest you drink plenty of fluids as I normally prescribe for illness or injury.

Pixel_Outlaw · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2009 »

My parents got me a college graduation gift. They still had to pay a couple of thousand. I really don't feel that I deserve such a nice truck.

zawran · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2009 »

That is a nice truck indeed. Such nice parents you have, you better be prepaired to do a few tasks around the house now

mziskandar · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2009 »

Nice new truck! Can I have a peek on the interior? What model is that?

hellfire · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2009 »

A very nice car indeed.
How much gas eats such a thing ( preferably in metric system

) ?

Shockwave · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2009 »

Nice truck Ryan

I think you deserve it, you are a very hard working guy.

Pixel_Outlaw · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2009 »

Here are some photos of the interior.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006693&id=1534433814&l=91bd97c59d

It gets about 13 mpg *in town* according to the owner's manual. The digital reading there is a bit off because I think it does not take idling into account. I'd say the ratio of cars to trucks here is about 1:1.

This means that it is
18.0934295 l/100km

Jim · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2009 »

Ouch! My little 2-seater does about 3x that. Gas/petrol isn't that cheap in America now either is it?
Very nice truck though!

Jim

Pixel_Outlaw · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2009 »

Well gas is currently about $ 3 per gallon.

I have a 22 gallon tank and make about $ 8 per hour. But that is the price I pay for having a half ton truck with a V8 inside. However, this also means that I can haul trailers and such. There are just times when you need the extra engine and truck bed. Especially if you are doing some small construction projects and moving furniture or bricks. I'm just not a car person it seems.

Jim · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2009 »

1US Gallon = 3.785 Litres
That makes it about 80c a litre or thereabouts.
In Aus right now it's about A$1.20 which is about 95c.
What's the price in Britain these days? About a pound? Now THAT'S really expensive!

You're absolutely right Ryan - when it's a tool of your trade you totally have to have the proper equipment. You can barely get the shopping in my car!

Jim

Shockwave · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2009 »

Yes, it's around a pound a litre in britain, it went up to about £1.10 last year, fuel prices here are ridiculously expensive.

mziskandar · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2009 »

Hmmm.. when the petrol price booming up, there will be a lot of people showing their invention on water powered car or other alternative fuel resources for few months..