Lucky Accident

carterchapman

carterchapman

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Mar 25, 2008
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Lake Chickamauga/Marietta, GA/Ft. Myers, FL
Boat Info
2006 Sea Ray 58 DB
Engines
MAN CRM V8-900s, Twin Disc Drives; Onan 21.5 Generator
Trailer Accident.jpg

I was lucky. Minor scratches to the bumper and a totaled Shorelandr Trailer. Luckily the Wave Runner was on it's port at the dock or I would have had it in the car with me! Teenager reaching for his cell phone ringing on the floor of his truck hit me. And then he decided to RUN. Gotta love eye witnesses. It took the police 20 minutes to find where he abandoned the truck. 20 minutes later, he sheepishly walks up to me and says "I'm the one who hit you". I said "I think the Sheriff over there needs to speak with you"...

What do you figure it will cost me to replace my garage kept/no rust trailer - after the insurance company depreciates it...
 

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I'd demand to be made whole. Insurance companies or the kid. Let the judge decide the value of a hit and. Run if necessary.
 
I assume you are okay? I agree that the trailer should be replaced with a new or almost new one. Did he run into the trailer?
 
Ridiculous....glad you were not injured.

I drive through a college town on the way to my boat. The kids are like zombies staring at their phones walking down the sidewalks...... hundreds of them.
 
We'll see. Minor scratches to the back bumper. Maybe the hitch is bent down slightly...the trailer? You see it - it's done. I can't wait to see how little they want to give me for it - and how much a replacement will be!!
 
Hopefully it doesn't turn out to have more to the story and he actually is covered by insurance. Did he give a reason for running?
 
I would make sure you get your vehicle on a lift and have it inspected. You don't want any drive train or frame issues popping up down the road.


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Glad you are ok, as well. You go after the kid for the difference that you'll get from the insurance company. You note, teenager, so I'll guess that the vehicle he was driving was insured and owned by the parents. Small claims court,if they don't pay up on their own. Hope your tow vehicle is ok. The kid is going to have lots of legal fees adding in hit and run/leaving the scene of an accident.
 
Carter, that really sucks but at least nobody was hurt. Any accident you can walk away from is a good one.
 
At this point, contacting the parents and explaining that you had kids that age once and you know the challenges so you would be willing to save them the insurance hassle if Dad will just replace the trailer. Unfortunately, because it was a hit and run and t he police are already involved, it won't save him much of the grief in terms of legal exposure to t he system and a reportable accident on his insurance policy because the state will do it for him.

The $1500 trailer cost will be the least of his worries before this is over.
 
It could have been worse. This guy was waiting to make a left when he go rear ended by a woman. She must have been moving fast. I bet the prop is bent.

 
I was involved in a hit and run about a year ago. It's amazing how everyone's attitude changes when you produce a witness with pictures of the whole thing. Until I got the pictures and a witness statement, even the guys insurance company was denying there client was involved in anything - actually were kinda snotty about it. Apparently before he hit me, I couple saw him driving erratically and even passing a stopped school bus and decided to video it. After that, they all shut up and paid the claim with no issues whatsoever. The police were pretty worthless - told me to turn it into my insurance and forget the whole thing, even after I sent them the video they didn't seem to care.
 
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fwebster said:
At this point, contacting the parents and explaining that you had kids that age once and you know the challenges so you would be willing to save them the insurance hassle if Dad will just replace the trailer. Unfortunately, because it was a hit and run and t he police are already involved, it won't save him much of the grief in terms of legal exposure to the system and a reportable accident on his insurance policy because the state will do it for him.

The $1500 trailer cost will be the least of his worries before this is over.
Click to expand...

You are right. There is some minor damage to my Denali's back bumper and (ugh) the hitch may be bent down slightly. So unfortunately, it's more than the trailer. I was released before the police finsihed all of his citations, but - at age 16 - he already had a previous speeding ticket, he had a passenger in the truck (not allowed for 16 yr olds in GA), and it was his Grandfather's truck. So it may be real messy for him - esp. if they cite him for hit and run or leaving the scene. The Sheriff said he may not get his license back until he's 21...
 
OK, then, just go all "retired guy with nothing better to do than make a project out this" on them. Liability is not a question, kid is liable and it seems you might have 2 insurance companies to "play with" here. The grandfather's auto policy and the kids parents homeowners liability. Just go get estimates for the truck bumper, for replacing the hitch, (bending a receiver hitch won't work because they are DOT certified for a specific capacity) and for a new trailer. Depreciating a $1500 trailer is what the adjustor will do, but he can't answer the questions about where his value comes from since there is no blue/black book for used PWC trailers, nor can he produce a source where you can buy a replacement at his value in comparable condition as the one his negligent insured totaled.

Every time you tell the story of the wreck get in the habit of calling the kid involved as "your negligent insured" or your "negligent son".
 
And my neck hurts a little...I know it will feel a lot better when they cough up my new trailer. My insurance (USAA) is on it as of this morning.
 
I'm surprised at all of you. You wish to wreck this kids entire life over one little indiscretion? Maybe his mom was calling him and he was just being a good son and trying to answer her. You were probably sitting in broad daylight and not concealed so there was no reason to watch for you.

Then there is the fact that you had no vessel on the trailer. How confusing is that? If you're going to pull a trailer at least have something to see on it. I'd run too if I seen you get out of the truck and actually look at the damage. How intimidating you must have been. Big brute!

Then everyone piles on. How insensitive!!

I am really gratefully no one was injured and I'm able to add some sarcasm instead of the alternative.
 
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