I was in Car Accident

[JasonMCG]

This past Monday, Denver faced the wrath of God with a hail storm of that likes I've never seen, even in my 20+ years in the midwest. My car (a Hyundai Elantra) was out in the open as it happened. It was a total loss.

My insurance cut me check, and this past Friday afternoon, I purchased something of a dream car—a 2013 Nissan Juke—fully loaded, with only 26K on it. This afternoon, some insurance-less fuck plowed into the back of it while he was checking his text messages. My new baby, not even 48 hours removed, was towed away on the back of a salvage truck.

I have comprehensive coverages, so my driving future is assured at some point, but the guy that hit me is what I keep coming back to. The entire time we were with the cops and exchanging info, he kept trying to shake my hand, like we were at some kind of understanding. Is there anything I can do to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone in the future? Is there anything I can do to make sure he has insurance in the future?

Also, my back and neck are really starting to bother me, but I declined a doctor visit at the scene. Am I fucked, or can I go in and claim I was in an accident without it looking fishy?

EDIT: Any "car guys" want to guess at the extent of the damage to the undercarriage?

http://i.imgur.com/fbxihPPm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qf20HKSm.jpg

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

Ouch that sucks. I assume that's illegal to not have insurance like it is in most states, right? I've never been in that situation, but that really sucks.

 

[JasonMCG]

Ouch that sucks. I assume that's illegal to not have insurance like it is in most states, right? I've never been in that situation, but that really sucks.

I live in Colorado. It's no-fault state, so you should always have comprehensive just in case.

 

[maxcriden]

I will leave the advice to those more knowledgeable, but I just wanted to say I'm really glad you are relatively okay physically and that the damage wasn't worse. Hopefully you are due for some awesome luck asap. Definitely do see a doctor though, and I'm sure those below will advise you whether to talk to your insurance about that first or not. Feel better soon man!

 

[RangerX]

Sorry to hear that man. You should definitely get checked out by the doctor.

 

[sooperkool]

This past Monday, Denver faced the wrath of God with a hail storm of that likes I've never seen, even in my 20+ years in the midwest. My car (a Hyundai Elantra) was out in the open as it happened. It was a total loss.

My insurance cut me check, and this past Friday afternoon, I purchased something of a dream car—a 2013 Nissan Juke—fully loaded, with only 26K on it. This afternoon, some insurance-less fuck plowed into the back of it while he was checking his text messages. My new baby, not even 48 hours removed, was towed away on the back of a salvage truck.

I have comprehensive coverages, so my driving future is assured at some point, but the guy that hit me is what I keep coming back to. The entire time we were with the cops and exchanging info, he kept trying to shake my hand, like we were at some kind of understanding. Is there anything I can do to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone in the future? Is there anything I can do to make sure he has insurance in the future?

Also, my back and neck are really starting to bother me, but I declined a doctor visit at the scene. Am I fucked, or can I go in and claim I was in an accident without it looking fishy?

No, you are not some crusading avenger. Let your insurance company do what they do, get another car and move on with your life.

 

[Poppy]

did any hail/car parts hit you in the noggin?

im not making light of your injuries! but the thread title called to me

 

[Anion]

I feel like you should call your insurance if your worried about this. You pay them tons for this reason. Pretty sure they will give you the confirmation to see a doc - regardless you should

 

[kiunchbb]

Go see a doctor, if you don't take care of it, it might follow you for a long long time.

 

[Snkfanatic]

Go the Doctor immediately. You filed a Police report, there is evidence of your accident. Talk to your insurance company asap if you haven't.

Sorry to hear about all that OP I bought a brand new VW 3 years ago, and someone smashed into the back of my car at a stop light not 5 months after buying it. I kinda know how you feel.

 

[RS4-]

Glad you're ok, and I hope things work out.

I'm dealing with my fucking neighbors, who don't have insurance and I think they fucking left the country.

 

[antibolo]

My new baby, not even 48 hours removed, was towed away on the back of a salvage truck.

They kidnapped your newborn child while it was still in the car?!!

No wait.

 

[Steel]

That sucks OP. I had a lady with no drivers license and no insurance plow into my (admittedly kinda junky) car before, fortunately her husband with a drivers license and insurance on that car was close enough to get there before the cops did to take the blame.

 

[nampad]

I am sorry for you.

Once again I am happy that having car insurance is mandatory where I live, as well as health insurance.

 

[op_ivy]

Many many years ago i was rear ended. I didn't feel anything for at least a couple days but ended up having whiplash. Pretty sure that's common, to have it start setting in a few days latter

 

[MCN]

More importantly, whose dream car is a Nissan Juke?

 

[soco]

Regardless of the insurance, go to the doctor.

 

[BitStyle]

Definitely go to the doctor, because if you don't and something crops up you won't be able to cover it in relation to the car accident. So even if you're feeling fine so far, you should go get checked anyway.

 

[TheDrizzlerJ11]

I once had neck pain after being rear ended. Went and got a chiropractor to do stuff. But beware! If you make any kind of medical claim expect much higher rates when it comes time to renew. I couldn't believe how much my rates went up.

You can still go to the doc tho. You have time to develop injuries, just because you told the cop you're fine when all that adrenaline was going through you doesn't mean you're actually fine. Insurance companies know this.

 

[QuantumSquid]

I'm glad you're okay, OP. It absolutely sucks that your car got smashed but it could have been way worse; what happened to you kales in comparison to what happened to my older brother when he totaled his car driving late at night because some guy fell asleep and hit him.

Get your neck checked out for sure, you want to be positive you didn't sustain any serious injuries.

Fingers crossed you'll be breckin in the seats of a new car sooner rather than later.

 

[Spoiled Milk]

Just shake his hand, don't be a jerk! Sorry about your car and really glad you're ok, though. Get your neck checked and remember that chiropractic is quackery.

 

[cyberheater]

Describe the individual. In my mind he looks like a white bearded 20 something hipster.

 

[JasonMCG]

I once had neck pain after being rear ended. Went and got a chiropractor to do stuff. But beware! If you make any kind of medical claim expect much higher rates when it comes time to renew. I couldn't believe how much my rates went up.

You can still go to the doc tho. You have time to develop injuries, just because you told the cop you're fine when all that adrenaline was going through you doesn't mean you're actually fine. Insurance companies know this.

This is kind of what I'm concerned about. I've filed two extensive damage claims in last 6 days. Before that, I'd never filed a single one. I might use my normal insurance to keep the car insurer out of it.

 

[brickarts295]

I don't know why but this is what pop into my mind when I read the handshaking part XD

Anyways, that sucks OP. My mom go into a really bad one a few months ago on her 2015 Dodge Caravan. Some woman hit her on the passenger side on red light. My sister was on the passenger side so my mom was panicking like crazy but thankfully nothing happen to them. Insurance wise, it was a nightmare because the woman that hit her tried to pass the blame unto my mother for going green TOO early. But our insurance agents looked at the car and talked to witnesses and concluded that the woman was at fault.

Crazy enough, just a week after the van got fixed some jackass broke one her wing mirrors. *sigh* Not a good week for Mom.

 

[phanphare]

that sucks

I just got rear ended about a week ago and it turned out to be a total loss. 8:50am and the guy who hit me fell asleep at the wheel. was on a major highway that sees some serious morning traffic so he's honestly pretty lucky that's all that happened to him. pain in the ass for me but I'm getting my new car tomorrow.

 

[KurtFehl]

You want to stop talking about this now and talk to a lawyer and follow his advice

You don't know if your battle is over or not

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

You want to stop talking about this now and talk to a lawyer and follow his advice

You don't know if your battle is over or not

Yep. Talk to a lawyer.

 

[mre]

Also, my back and neck are really starting to bother me, but I declined a doctor visit at the scene. Am I fucked, or can I go in and claim I was in an accident without it looking fishy?

Not a doctor, but I do, occasionally, represent plaintiffs in auto accidents. Muscle pain and other injuries from car accidents may not show up until several days after the accident. Go get checked out by a doctor, and let your auto insurance know.

 

[Subpar Scrub]

More importantly, whose dream car is a Nissan Juke?

Glad I wasn't the only one lol

That's shit OP, hope you get it all sorted out and don't get whiplash too bad.

 

[Ecto311]

I'm in Colorado too and got rear ended in springs. They had no insurance either and I got paid monthly till my car was fixed. Not sure there is anything you can do to make them get insurance though. My father in law is with Allstate in Denver and he helped us get something out of it. It's a shitshow all around though. Did go to the dr and they paid for that too but no problems not trying to claim anything happened but the dr made it sound like we could both get paid from it. No issues but like a 20mph hit in the back and I seen it coming so I was prepared.

 

[ScottSullivan]

If the police were called, and he had no insurance at all, chances are he's facing at the very least a massive fine if not criminal charges.

For your Nissan, the pics are a little small so its hard to tell, but from my experience as an adjuster it looks like you likely need a whole new rear body panel, and probably damage to inner structure of the qtr as well.

It could be another total loss even with the low mileage, those costs add up fast

 

[JasonMCG]

More importantly, whose dream car is a Nissan Juke?

The Juke is awesome.

 

[Zoe]

This is kind of what I'm concerned about. I've filed two extensive damage claims in last 6 days. Before that, I'd never filed a single one. I might use my normal insurance to keep the car insurer out of it.

Your normal insurance might deny any claims related to an auto accident.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

My wife was hit by a girl that didn't have insurance and had to visit the chiropractor while at the visits he was like do you want us to try and get some money for lost work. She said yes and a few months later we got a check for like 10k no idea how much lawyers got or if they ruined her life or what.

 

[sunofsam]

The Juke is awesome.

You need to get checked by a doctor, you are delerious!!

 

[Kadin]

No, you are not some crusading avenger. Let your insurance company do what they do, get another car and move on with your life.

What's with the attitude in this response, did they upset you with the idea that they'd like to try and do whatever they could to prevent this from happening again? I get that there really isn't a whole lot the OP can do but your response really comes across like they're just ridiculous for asking... of which I completely disagree with.

 

[E92 M3]

You should be talking with a lawyer.

 

[gamma]

Do you not have to have insurance to register a car and get plates?

 

[JasonMCG]

You need to get checked by a doctor, you are delerious!!

Responses like this are why I love the car so much. It's quirky, I love the compact footprint, it gets good gas mileage, and next to nobody has one. Little things—like how the horn sounds like it says JUKE! when you lock it—make me like it even more.

 

[MCN]

The Juke is awesome.

It's that weird combination of huge on the outside, yet tiny and dark on the inside. And butt-ugly.

 

[Noobcraft]

Sorry to hear that man. You should definitely get checked out by the doctor.

Definitely. Anyone that classifies a Nissan Juke as a dream car clearly needs attention.

Spoiler

Sorry for your loss OP

 

[Jack The Nipper]

Personally for me it's just a car. Obviously get it took care of but don't stress over material things. I know many disagree but people first. shake the the guys hand, have you never texted or used your phone while driving? I'm not letting him go on what he did but if you can show care in him you are doing good imo

People are just more important in my mind than a car. Again, not going him a free pass and not saying you shouldn't care. Just don't care your car more than the gift of life in your and others

 

[Ibuki]

Describe the individual. In my mind he looks like a white bearded 20 something hipster.

Wait have you been to Colorado?

Are you watching me?

 

[Randolph Freelander]

They kidnapped your newborn child while it was still in the car?!!

No wait.

If anything ever happened to Kale Breckin, GAF's vengeance would be swift and brutal.

 

[vacantseas]

I used to work in auto claims for an insurance company. You said you have comprehensive coverage and I realize CO is a no fault state....is that Comp and Collision, or do you just have comp coverage on your vehicle?

As for your injuries, you most likely have MedPay coverage on your policy. It varies on a policy but it usually is $5000 coverage. MedPay will cover any injuries/bills you sustain.

As for going after the insurance-less other driver....you could hire a lawyer, but do you have the money to do that? They're going to take a cut of any of the money you receive. I'd go get checked out and see how serious the injuries are and then see if it would be worth it to go the lawyer route. They can't work magic. Especially if the other driver doesnt have insurance.

 

[Rockandrollclown]

People texting and driving is a scourge. Just as bad as drinking and driving, probably even worse, and its treated as a minor infraction. Hope you're ok.

 

[CSJ]

I've also had a newly purchased car damaged within a day.

Except it was on a boat, I wasn't in the vehicle (I was puking my guts out because of motion sickness) and the person behind me didn't put their vehicle in gear and solely relied on the hand-brake, which is not good enough for bad weather. Their vehicle kept rear ending mine over and over like some mating ritual until a crew member could slide in some chocks.

Took 18 months to get it sorted

 

[zeemumu]

I'm sorry, OP. Go get checked out and wait, I guess

 

[daffy]

Why didnt you shake his hand. Kind of weird if you ask me.

 

[Straight Edge]

I have comprehensive coverages, so my driving future is assured at some point,

I hope you mean collision and not comp.