I effed up...

[Rommel]

Earlier today, around 6:40pm, I crashed on the freeway. It was a 4-vehicle collision and I was the last dumbass to crash. I was driving merrily, listening to classical music, when the cars suddenly stopped and I couldn't brake on time. My car skidded for about a second before it smashed into the SUV in front of me. We were going about 40mph, so we were not speeding, but my car is pretty much totaled. :(

The hood bent upwards, the fenders too. The headlights are broken and I'm pretty sure the engine is done. I have no idea where the radiator went. It disappeared.

Given that it was a shitty car, I guess buying another used one will be cheaper than fixing it. It was a 2000 Saturn SL2. Unfortunately, I'm poor and I only had third-party insurance, so freaking Allstate won't pay for it.

Oh well... I guess I'm creating this thread for advice. Do you think it was my fault? Do you think there is a chance the other drivers will pay for my car? Or will I have to pay for everything?

I have very little money saved, around 1k, and I expect to get 2k back from financial aid. If I sell my stocks, I can get around 1.5k in the shitty market, and maybe $500 if I sell my PS3. I think I can buy a used car for 5k....

...but I have no idea how I'm going to pay for insurance once my premium goes up. How high should I expect it to go up? $200? Per year? Month?

So yeah, looks like I'll be walking and taking the trolley for a while. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!

[Deslock]

Money may come and go, just as vehicles. I just thank God you weren't hurt.

You can always buy a new car, crappy as it may be be.

But you cannot buy a new pair of legs if you're crippled, or in a wheelchair.

Life can throw us twists and turns, but I do thank God you weren't hurt.

I've watched as my friends have been buried, never to return. Due to such simple mistakes.

I'm glad that you're okay, and safe and sound.

Count your blessings. You can always buy a new vehicle.

Life isn't always so kind.

God bless you, and I'm glad you're safe.

Take care my friend, and keep it real.

Des.

[Hogezz]

Jaysus! Just as well you're ok... Why don't you just by a car for 1k or 1.5k? Don't panic about the cost of the car. Find out from a lawyer if you are at fault... If you are at fault for your own damage then just don't claim and then your no claims bonus shouldn't be affected and you insurance cost shouldn't go up.

Main thing is you weren't hurt though. Next time try some dutch gabber music ;) jk!

[Zabka]

Generally speaking, in a rear end collision, the driver from behind is normally considered at fault. That would have you responsible for your car and the damage your car directly impacted (not their front, only their rear). The logic is that you theoretically didn't leave enough space between cars while driving.

The impact on insurance rates depends on your driving history and if your state regulates rates. I am not sure if the size of the claim impacts it directly.

It's unfortunate that the accident happened, but lucky you are okay. As for your stocks, the markets are up on the year. Since march, most names, especially those more economically exposed have rallied meaningfully. If you are still underwater in these stocks, it is possible that you either bought in a heated market, your company has stumbled beyond others in the economy, or the stock is just considered a late cyclical and has a rally yet to come. This thinking all changes after a month when year end approaches and different strategies are deployed for next year.

[Rommel]

Generally speaking, in a rear end collision, the driver from behind is normally considered at fault. That would have you responsible for your car and the damage your car directly impacted (not their front, only their rear). The logic is that you theoretically didn't leave enough space between cars while driving.

Yeah, that's what I thought. But I mean, I couldn't break on time because the car in front of me slammed the brakes for half a second before he smashed into the next car, so I never saw any brake lights until it was too late, and then my car skidded. I should've left more space though, you're right.


Anyway, who determines who is liable? Is it the insurance companies or the Highway Patrol?

[Brocman]

Civics are usually pretty cheap when sold used. They can handle a TON of mileage and usually last a long time. I think most people sell ones that are pretty old but in working condition for less than 2k.

Glad to hear your all right though, that must have been pretty nerve racking.

[jmhc74]

Yeh, what Zabka said is correct. Unfortunately you just have to take this one to the chin and move on....yes it might be unfair, but as Deslock said you were able to walk away without injury and injury to the person in front of you.

[thedooku]

Very glad you're okay Rommel. Sounds like the guys have it right so far on the insurance thing. It's shitty, but that's why they always tell you to leave a few seconds between you and the vehicle in front, because you never know when something may cause them to stop.

You shouldn't have much trouble finding a decent used Honda for cheap. There's plenty of cheap cars out there, but most of them are money pits, so be careful you don't buy a lemon.

[cmj75]

Jim and Zab are pretty much right although it depends on the state and what the statutes say regarding"at fault"....each state have different degrees of fault in determining these types of cases....the key is who is more negligent in causing the accident..typicallly when you rear end someone you are regarded as negligent and primarily at fault but that isn't always 100% the case.

on scene gathering of information is critical for this...that is why you should always have a camera available on your car and make sure you get witnesses immediately when it occurs to help the HWP gather their report

[keyser28146]

A few things:

If you CAN, tell your story to a small used car lot and ask if they can help you buy a car from a "used car auction". A lot will do this for you for a fee (usually around $250) and basically all you do is go and pick from about 7000 cars. When one approaches a lane you think you can afford, you tell the guy from the dealership how much you can spend and he bids on it. You can't bid, because only dealerships are allowed on the premises.

I got an 01 Camaro a few years back with a Black Book value of $10,800 for $7,000. Every car traded into a car dealership goes through these places unless they are sold to junkyards, so when you trade in a 15 year old car and it doesn't show up at the dealership's lot, that is why. Car dealerships only have 90 days to sell a used car or they are stuck buying it, so they put them on car trailers and auction every last one of them... that's why you are always seeing car-trailers everywhere hauling cars... they do that to rotate stock and keep the dealership from having to purchase the cars they couldn't sell.

The hole in the system is some of the smaller car dealerships who have access to the auctions will sometimes let you sneak onto the lot when they go purchase and pick up something cheap. REAL cheap. When I got the Camaro I had considered a previous year BMW 330ci for $10,300... that's a STEAL, but I didn't want to deal with the maintenance costs... There will be lots of cars there that go for $300-$500 that the small dealerships will take back and sell for $3000-$4000, because thats the Blue Book value, which means nothing.

As far as insurance, it's going to suck. Sorry, but probably not a lot of good news there... you are probably younger, so even if it WERENT your fault, they would tear you up anyway. I was in a funeral procession a few years back and t-boned going through an intersection and the insurance company charged me, since in NC just about any accident is called a "no fault accident" since the officers want to stay the hell out of it.

Don't worry about it. In three years, it'll be off the insurance and the rate will go back down and it's ok. Don't sweat it... anything can be replaced except your health.

[RageProphetXIII]

Glad to hear you're alright....Well I didn't read everyones thread but I'll assume they will be more helpful then I.

You can always get a scooter or a bike. That is if you aren't having to haul a lot of stuff around.

[keyser28146]

That's a really good point...

[RageProphetXIII]

I own a car and I have a 150cc scooter I paid 1500 for it....too much if you ask me for what this one is. There are better quality ones that would be better priced but at least if I"m just going to school it's what I ride. If I'm with the family I take my car.

[Rommel]

A few things:
If you CAN, tell your story to a small used car lot and ask if they can help you buy a car from a "used car auction".
[...]
As far as insurance, it's going to suck. Sorry, but probably not a lot of good news there... you are probably younger, so even if it WERENT your fault, they would tear you up anyway.
[...]
Don't worry about it. In three years, it'll be off the insurance and the rate will go back down and it's ok. Don't sweat it... anything can be replaced except your health.

@keyser: Good points keyser. Actually, my uncle sells and repairs used cars and he buys them from the auctions at copart.com. I talked to him and he said he could repair my car, but maybe I could buy a new car from copart and fix it. In fact, about 6 months ago, I almost got a Mercedes for $600.

@Rage: I thought about getting a scooter or a bike. My brother drives one to school, and I drive almost double of what he drives (On average, I drive ~100 miles per day), so I will save loads on gas and finding parking spots. The problem is that I share the car with my mom, so I would have to get a car for her anyway.

Anyway, I felt miserable all day yesterday. I told the story to a few of my college friends, and they were like "Oh, it happens to everyone. I've crashed twice going at 85." I was like, wow! And then I checked the CHP website, and I found out that there's a vehicle collision every 5 minutes in a California Highway. At least I'm not alone so I can start feeling like an idiot.

What's gonna suck is that I will invariably get the flu from riding the trolley.

[Rommel]

Well, my uncle had a very quick look at the car. He suspects the damage is not as bad as it looks. He needs to check it more thoroughly, but he says he might be able to fix it for $600. Sweet. That means I won't have to sell me PS3. :)