Sep
8
2009
A Throw Away Society
Author: Marci
After the hit and run
Last week, my car was hit by someone dropping their kid off at the high school. They hit my car, parked in front of my house, and left. Yup. No note, just left. Nearly a week later, I finally took my car in for an estimate. It’s not a new car, but it runs okay. The heater core needs to be replaced, but other than that, it’s a good car. We have collision, so our insurance will cover it. (Do I think it should have to? No. Obviously, the person who hit my car should act like responsible and step forward, but, barring that, it is why we pay the insurance company.) So, I went into the auto body shop today to see what the damage is. It doesn’t look good.
The other car (a 4×4) rammed my car hard enough to push the back wheels 2′ from the curb. As a result, the left, front wheel is slightly tilted inward. (This would explain why the wheel feels like it’s wobbling when I drive.)
Back to the body shop. They looked at the car and shook their heads. It’s not a new car. I’ve had since 97, it’s paid for, it runs, and I can’t see the point in purchasing a new one…until now. If the damage is more than the car is worth, they will total it. My neighbor, who is in the insurance business, suggested that I purchase it back from the junk dealer and have it fixed with the money they give me for the totaled car. That’s a good idea. I wouldn’t have car payments. My insurance wouldn’t increase. My registration would continue to go down. But the car will go to a junkyard when there isn’t really that much wrong with it. In a few years, the transmission will probably go. That’ll be another couple thousand dollars, but I still get 25 miles to gallon on the freeway, and I have a hard time just throwing something away that is still useful. And, yet, the insurance company would be more than willing to do so.
It doesn’t make sense to put more money into something than it’s worth. I understand this, but, in my mind, I have a hard time justifying sending a perfectly good car to a junk yard. Yes, it’s been damaged, but it can be fixed, and it makes me wonder just how many cars have ended up in the scrap yards just like mine. They have plenty of life left in them, but the damage exceeds the value, and they are deemed not worth fixing.
My last car I sold to someone who could use it. This one, I may not get the chance. So, do I follow the dictates of a throw away society and get a newer car (if mine’s totaled), or do I buy my car from the scrap yard and fix it with the money my insurance will provide?
I guess, until I know what will happen, no decision will be made. I’m just hoping my car can be saved.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
That is an interesting idea. I can’t see the point in making car payments if salvaging your current vehicle is a possibility. With the economy the way it is, anything that saves you money is a good thing.
The temptation to purchase something shiny and new is always there -especially when you’re given a valid reason to indulge. If I were in your place, I would do as your neighbor suggested.
It’s possible I’m just cheap. lol
September 9th, 2009 at 7:37 am
you sure it wasn’t a kid driving to high school? That would be my guess, because MOST adults will take responsibility. It’s the kids thinking Oh Sh*T that cause the problems!
September 9th, 2009 at 9:50 am
It could be, Teresa, except that there was a kid sitting in the passenger seat too. In California, it’s illegal for someone under 18 years of age to drive another person under 18 years of age around. That doesn’t stop it from happening, of course, but if they are caught, their license can be revoked.
Of course, a hit and run in this type of situation does seem more like the MO of a younger driver. If that’s the case, we may be able to get the parents aware of the situation, and the kid would be in deep doodoo. Not that I want them in deep doodoo, but when you drive a car, you assume a certain responsibility. If you aren’t willing to assume that responsibility, you shouldn’t drive. Harsh, but one of the many lessons in life.
The middle school posted on their Yahoo parents group. The high school security is on the look out for the car. I hope we can track the culprit down. I’ve just found out the high school also has a Yahoo parent group. Hopefully, I can get it posted there too. The viral spread of this information may be what gets us the info we want.
I’m still up in the air about the car. When looking at the Kelly Blue Book value of it, in it’s current condition, it’s not much. (sigh) If the repairs are an extra $1000 above it’s value, I don’t know whether I’d be able to justify keeping it. At the same time, the cost of buying a new car far exceeds keeping this one.
As I said, we shall see.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:15 am
OMG! I’d have been so mad. Let’s hope it can be salvaged. It sucks to have your car paid for, then end up having to get back into a loan because of someone else’s recklessness.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I know, Shannon. I know. We’ll see. I could be imagining things.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:31 am
This really stinks, Marci. I actually got hit from behind about a month ago with the baby in the back seat. I was stopped at a light and someone on the phone came up behind me and hit me. Then they took off and didn’t stop.
Luckily, for us, there wasn’t much damage.
Difficult decision for sure!
I hope you are able to work it out without much money.
Renee
September 9th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Ouch. Do they just let you take a check and total it for collision purposes? Here in Colorado the process of buying it from the junk yard is terrifying. You get a salvage title, which means it has to be re-titled, re-inspected… We totalled a car a few years ago due to hail damage and we just took their check and drove a car that looked more like a golf ball. State laws vary, of course. As for the hit and run driver – it’s one of life’s simple pleasures when I get to arrest one. They’re all jerks.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
That’s infuriating, and disappointing that people shirk their responsibilities and have no manners. I’d let the car go though. The newer the car the better the safety features, and you don’t really know what’s going to go next on that car. It could end up costing you a lot more.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Sometimes life likes to shake us up…and not always in a kind loving fashion. Have been a student of that school, my friend, and burned the “t”. *snicker*
But it will work out. Always does, one way or another. Plus I have complete faith you’ll figure it out. Just remember, what goes around comes around.
{{huggs}}
~D~
September 10th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I feel your pain, Marci. Two years ago I was a victim of hit and run. Strange thing was, there were plenty of witnesses to the accident, including me, but no one got the license number. I was out $200 for the deductible and without my car for weeks. You feel frustrated, angry, and violated. It’s sad.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
It’s very disappointing, Maggi. I’ve calmed down now, but I am still hopeful we’ll find the person who hit my car.
Shaking me up. Well, there’s been a lot of that lately. LOL Wait until you hear the next part of the saga, Debi. LOL
Not surprising, Dee. We don’t always think to get the license plate numbers. The cops told me that with a good description of the car and the first two license plate digits, they could probably find the owner, if not the driver. The owner’s the one responsible anyway, right. So, the next time you see something like that. Just aim for the first two digits and a good description. The make of the car would probably help too. The fact that this person drops their kid off at school narrows down where they live.
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