Well, the other night I was driving home from work, and an 80 year old man fell into a diabetic coma, crossed the centerline, and was coming head-on at me. I was able to avoid a direct head on, but he hit me on the left, on a 45 degree angle, just behind the headlight and all the way down the side. The force pushed me into the curb on the right, and it peeled the tires right off the rims. The cab and rear axel took the brunt of it. The bracket that the rear leaf spring sits on is all twisted and the axel is pushed all the way back to the rear of the wheel well. The bottom of the cab is crushed, I couldn't open the door. The body shop guy said it has extensive damage, possible total, but not likely.

The older gent was taken away by the EMTs, he looked confused, but didn't appear hurt. When the EMTs loaded him into the truck, the crew knew him. He doesn't take his medication as he should, and they have transported him in the past.


I am a little sore, but otherwise nothing happened to me. I was looking forward to seeing how my truck of 3 months would do in the snow, but I never got the chance. I am supposed to hear late today from the body shop with an estimate, and if they will total the truck out. BTW - It's a 2002 FX4, Reg cab, long bed, 5.4 - I got such a sweet deal on this truck, I should have known it was too good to last. I'm going to arrange a rental as soon as I hear how long they will have the truck.

Has anyone here had a major hit to the cab itself? Are there replacement sections that can be welded in, or do they replace the whole cab?

Thanks for listening - I am so bummed I can't even tell you. I will keep you posted on the body shop results.

Jim

 

It doesn't seem to take much to total out a vehicle any more. With the new designs incorporating crumple zones, it's difficult to make major repairs and still retain the designed safety factors.
My neighbor's teenage daughter was hit recently in her Saturn. They damaged the RF fender, cracked the windshield and peeled the skin off the passenger door. My neighbors says it looks like they are going to total the car. I was dumbfounded to say the least.

 

Hey Jim,
they built 800,000 of them in 2002.

They only built one of you.

 

On one hand I wish they do total it, I cant see how they can fix some of the damage without replacing major portions of the truck. On the other hand, I got a very sweet deal on this truck, it has all the features I wanted, and until the other day, was thrilled everytime I drove it.

I was shocked when I got out of the truck right after getting hit, I couldnt believe how much damage was done. It didnt feel that bad to me.

The police said if I hadnt turned hard at the last second, it would have been a head-on, and the other driver likely wouldnt have survived. I am glad I didnt need to meet Mr. Airbag

 

Time to get a little cash back from the Insurance industry, if you know what I mean

Oh yeah, and that sucks dude.

 

Please don't read this the wrong way, but it sounds like God put you there for a reason. Perhaps He still needs the older man around for something important and He put you there to save the old man's life instead of nailing him head-on. Raoul is right too, there's more trucks out there but only one of you. Glad you walked away.

 

Sorry to hear about your accident jimk-nj. Glad you are ok but sounds like the truck didn't fair so well. Rocky is right, it doesn't take much to total some vehicles these days. There are a few whose windows are so pricey they will total the vehicle if more than 2 windows are broken in an accident. I hope they'll repair your truck but it sounds to me like there could be frame damage which is not only costly to repair but can be scary if not done properly. Keep us posted.

 

I know people like that old guy who do not take their diabetic drugs, don't do blood tests, and drive like they are drunk from a sugar high/low, wiping out everything in their path.

Looks like you saved him, so he can do this same thing another day. He should have no license, or atleast only drive a Ford Festiva so he can do less damage to people.

Now, it does take a day to start hurting sometimes. ahem.

 

I'd be furious if my new truck got tagged like that. F getting it repaired, sue the old fart for a new truck. If he's not monitoring his blood sugar properly he shouldn't have been driving. *$(@! old bastard.

 

EXACTLY!

jinjimbob hit it on the head... this guy was impaired!

 

Had a similar incident where an older guy (father of one of the guys I work with) plowed into a bunch of people at a bus stop. I really wish there were more strict licencing guidelines for all drivers especially very old or those with known medical conditions.

 

Personaly, I think they should each have their own account. There's no way all three of them can agree every time. I know their opinion always misses the mark as far as I'm concerned.
(ok, sometimes I do agree with bob)

 

Good point Raoul

The truck can be replaced....but you cant. Glad to know your both alright...that's what's important, BUT, I'm still sorry to hear bout your truck man.

 

My dad got broadside by some guy like that in his 01 jeep (they did not total it) but the cops said they wrote the guy a ticket a week before the incident. Then the dude took it to court to fight it and lost, Judge wrote letter to SOS to revoke driving privileges. That accident marked 3 in a week for us.

 

First I am so sorry to hear about this…

Second, I agree with dzervit sue the old basturd, sue him for so much money that he will NEVER be able to drive again. He is like a drunk driver which means he has NO personal responsibility.

He is extremely lucky he didn’t hit a mother with her little 6 year old daughter with her because he may have killed them both.

Sounds like someone is sending a message to get this moron off the road. If it was a medical condition like a heart attack that couldn’t be avoided then I could understand but this moron has been picked up a few times for having a major brain fart.

To bad they don’t charge him for attempted manslaughter since that is exactly what he did by not taking his medication. He may be old but DON’T feel sorry for him because, like I stated, next time he may kill an innocent victim and it very well could be a child.

GET HIM OFF THE STREETS FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL!!!!!