Went to pick up my Daughter from school today and the craziest thing happened. I was sitting in the lane in front of the school in a designated parking spot when I felt my truck get bumped up and forward. Looked in my mirror to see just the outline of the roof of a car and knew what happened. The lady had hit me in the rear at low speed but had hit me! Upon getting out of my truck and looking to see what got hit she started assaulting me with vulgarities and saying I was at fault due to my receiver sticking out of the hitch. I had hauled a buddies trailer to get fixed Mon and never took the receiver back out so it was still mounted in the hitch. The ball mount section had actually torn through her bumper cover and popped over the top of her bumper and cracked the grille in about 4 places on her 99 or 00 Honda accord. My first thought was this lady is off her rocker but when she demanded my insurance and registration info I new she was crazy. I kept asking how it could be my fault when she hit me and she kept claiming that it was due to a part hanging off my vehicle that couldn`t be seen. I`m still trying to figure out that one...big shiny chrome ball on a black thick piece of metal. It finally got to the point of my explaining that my truck is within the parking lines and she had to cross 3 ft over it to hit me. When I pulled the cell phone out and gestured for her to use it to call the police as I would like her to explain this to them her attitude did a 180. I then proceeded to call the 911 myself and she grabbed her child and left in a hurry in the process.

With the help of another parent who witnessed the whole ordeal I filed a report to save my self from future claims from this person claiming I did damage to her vehicle. The officer thought it was pretty amusing after hearing the story and mentioned if she does try to file a report there would be a leaving the scene of an accident issue of some sort on her part. This was the first time something this strange has ever happened.

BTW.. Ford held strong and only damage I received was the paint scraped off the bottom part of receiver and some plastic scrapings in the thread of the ball.

Makes you wonder about people nowadays??

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2000 F150 SC, XLT, Bright Red/Silver 4x2,Auto, 5.4, 3.55LS,CD, sliding rear window, Tow package,Captains chairs,Remote Entry, Ford Bedliner, molded splash guards,Stainless step bars and bed rails.
FM40 single in/Single out the side.Clear Corners just installed.Pretty much stock now but waiting for performance mods to include FIPK,,Superchip, new wheels/tires and new audio.

 

LOL in my 98 F-150 I got rear-ended three times! Same deal, always under 5 mph... never any damage to mine but always extensive damage to theirs... and everytime they yelled at me like I was crazy, LOL. Most damage i ever incurred was a white scratch in my hitch. I told her she'd be replacing my hitch or I'd call her insurance company. She said "how much does a hitch cost?" I said "about $40" (it was actually about $15) and she gave me two twenties and drove off... LOL

 

A lot of people leave the hitch just to protect there trucks from people like that

 

Here's my stupid accident story, it happened about twenty years ago.

I was driving my '72 Mustang and had to make a hairpin turn to go from one road to another and did so at the proper turning place. There was a parking lot that you could cut through also. After I made the turn I came upon the exit point for the cut through and wham, I was hit by another car. The police came and gave the other driver a ticket for failure to yield the right of way. The cop supeanoed(sp?) me for the court date and said that I should call the other driver the night before the court date and see if she paid the ticket. When I called the night before the woman said, very loudly, that she was going to court to fight the ticket. So, I went to court and waited for four hours for the the case to be called. The judge asked the cop to describe the situation and he did. Then he turned to the woman and asked here to give her side of the story. She said that it was not her fault because the other driver(me) did not have my lights on, it was approaching dusk at the time of the accident. The judge fired back a quick question to her asking if her lights were on and she responed no. The judge's next words were $15 plus court costs.

I wasted a day off and didn't even get to talk in court.

 

That reminds me of the time someone rearended my 71 Cutlass(less than 5mph) when I stopped for a yellow on a left turn. They got out and actually tried to tell me I backed into them !! I looked back and saw the 3 foot skid marks behind the front tires,and looked them in the eye. They said"aw f@@@k it!",and got back in there car ,,,,98

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98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
Yokahama AVS/ST's
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Stillen Quad light air dam, sweet!!
Euro taillights
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
[b]Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
Viper alarm
On the way/wheels,tires, etc..etc.......
the monochromatic boogie is done,cool!.
Come see my new pictures@ www.my-f150.com

officialtomwaits.com
reverendhortonheat.com

WOW,what a cool site!

FENDER GUITARS ROCK!!!
Had to take the picture out,it was way too out of date,,,,98

 

The law anywhere is, if someone hits you from the rear, whether or not you have a hitch ball, they are at fault! The fact the woman left, shows she knew she was in the wrong!
Case Closed!

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99 F150 SC,5.4L,4x4 ORP,TTP,Gibson Single Side Cat-Back Exhaust System,Airaid,Duraliner Bedliner,Lund Bug Deflector Shield,SmittyBilt Outland Sport Bumper Guard in SS,Two KC DayLighters Off Road Lights,Two Eagle Eye Off Road Lights,A.R.E. Cab High Bed Cap,Valentine Radar Detector,ICOM 2M/70CM Ham Radio,R.F.Concepts Linear Amplifier,2watts in,170 watts out,Diamond SG Series Dual Band Antenna.

 

I95,
I knew she was in the wrong and at fault. The way she was acting I decided to cover my butt by getting a police report. Can see it now with the police at my door asking why I backed into the lady and left the scene or some other screwy story she might have dreamed up. She wrote my plate down after I refused to hand her my insurance and reg. info, guess she thought she would get somewhere with the number
She must have thought with her verbal assault that I would be intimidated and be stupid enough to claim responsible and pay to have her car fixed...NOT!!! She knew she was in the wrong and high tailed it the second I dialed 911.
I wonder if she will show up Thurs and what attitude she will have then??

 

Problem #1. If she was that close to you that she hit your ball mount, it means she was damn near up underneath you! Had it not been there, she would've been. Problem #2. You were parked. Witnesses to prove it. Problem #3 (for her) She left the scene of the accident before police arrived... that's hit and run. Just happened to my buddy in Massachusetts a few weeks ago.

3 Strikes, and she's out!

I can't speak for your local regs, but I know any cargo that sticks out beyond the bumper in MI is supposed to have a red flag on it. I'm not sure about trailer hitches, though. MI only allows 4 feet behind the bumper too, though I've never heard of it being enforced.

Long story short... My mom got rear ended at a standstill by a Windstar doing about 45... pushed her E-150 into the Chevy Celebrity in front of her, but the hitch absorbed all the impact... $8000 damage to the less-than-a-week-old windstar, and the fuel relay was tripped on the Celebrity... My mom drove the van home with a scuff in the front chrome (not even down to the metal), a scratched up ball mount, and a scuff in the rear door an inch high and the width of the right door where the hood of the windstar buckled on it... never even touched the rear bumper at all!! Also, leaving the hitch in stops people from backing into me in the parking lot at work... some of those a-holes park by feel.... the hitch makes a good protector, if not a good deterrent.

-Joe-


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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners, Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard, Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way) Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console, Bully Stainless Steel Trailer hitch drawbarw/ 2" stainless steel ball.
List of planned mods: Clear tails, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain.

 

Some people, I'll swear.

I have got to tell you my story.

Ok..here it goes, it's a little "long-winded", so bear with me.


March of '99, I sold my '97 Kawasaki ZX-7R motorcycle and traded my '93 Lumina Z34 in on a brand new '99 Honda Accord LX Coupe. It was my first new car. (Had to sell something I loved to get it - my bike). In May of '99 - just 2 months, and 5000 miles later, a friend and I were driving around Clearwater beach on a Sunday checking out all the sites (women). We were on our way to a popular hang-out called Sheppard's. Anyway, I'm driving in a parking lot at the end of one end of the beach to go turn around and go to our destination. As I'm exiting the "circle" I have to stop quickly because some a$$wipe in a Z28 decided he would go around the circle one last time instead of just exiting the parking lot. This meant that the 98 Eclipse in front of me had to stop quickly as well. In order for the Z28 to make the U-turn successfully, it had to back up slightly. The Eclipse then decided to back up as well. Now, keep in mind, there is a line of about 15 or so cars behind me (all stopped) watching these idiots. The 18 yr. old girl in the Eclipse started to back up and the Z28 made the U-turn. Then, the Eclipse decided to do the same thing...she backed up even further for some strange reason. I didn't even have time to get my 5-spd Accord into Reverse, all I could do was lay on my horn. She stopped, and looked back at me. Saw me there, and gave me a courtesy wave. She then proceeded to further back up. The stupid a$$ girl hit me in the right front corner with her left rear corner. There was no where for me to go. She pulled up a little, and backed itno me again. The car behind me was about 1 foot off my tail. She looked back at me, then pulled forward to the side so we could "exchange information" - translation: yell at her at the top of my lungs calling her every name I could think of. She willingly admitted fault at the scene, and allowed me to copy all of her information. I saw no need to get police involved at this point since no one was injured. I did neglect to get any eye-witnesses. (Oops). I went home later that day and on my way home, I stopped by the local PD and grabbed a police report. I filled it out (along with a rough sketch of the incident) and called her insurance company to start the claim. This all happened on Sunday afternoon. I called her house that evening to speak with her parents. By the time I called her parents, she had already conjured up a story that I rear ended her and that they were going to file against me. I was obviously furious at thi point. I calmly explained what actually happened, but her father wouldn't even listen to my side of the story. They called their insurance company (remember now, I started the claim and filed the police report) and lied to them and said I hit her. I had no witnesses other than my friend in the car (who was considered and interested party and couldn't be used). This ordeal went on for almost 3 weeks. Since Florida is a "No Fault" state, her insurance company refused to pay damages. I reluctantly filed a claim with my insurance company in the hopes they would battle it out and make them pay for my car. It was Progressive (mine against State Farm (hers). Both ins. companies refused to pay the other. They considered it a "wash". I had to pay for mine, and she had to pay for hers. Basically, I got screwed. It ended up only costing me $125 to get the front bumper repainted. Not even close to my deductable at the time. But, since I filed the claim my insurance is now $340 more per year...even with my new carrier.

Moral: Call the police to the scene of ANY accident, no matter how minor. AND...ALWAYS get at least one uninterested party as an eye-witness.

Here's a few pictures of the damage...in case you care.







Last one...promise.
Good as new...


------------------
--Lariat4WD--

2000 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Flareside 4x4 Lariat
5.4L;auto;3.55LS;Black/Silver;ORP;remote keyless;floor-shift 4wd;Class III;AM/FM/SingleCD
Mods so far:
Lund X-Terminator bug shield; Vent Shade Vent Visors; GTS headlight blackouts; Westin Black step bars; Pendaliner bedliner; Genuine Steel Products (Longtek Engineering) black Safari Grille Guard; GTS Tail Blazer II Slotted taillight covers; Clear corner lenses; under hitch backup lights; 2 KC Hilites Daylighter 6" 150W black round off-road lights; Cranked torsion bars to level truck; Removed lower factory striping; Replaced factory gold & maroon ORP decals with silver; 2 Polk Audio EX10 10" subs under rear seat; Sony XM754HX amp; Viper 300ESP alarm
Pending
Replacing factory gold/maroon Lariat decals & upper stripes with silver & black
Wish list:
More lights; Flowmaster 40 Series single to dual exhaust w/ 18" SS tips out back; Optima red top battery; Remote starter & Prox. sensor; In-dash TV/CD/DVD/AM/FM head unit; Build house w/ huge garage with a drain and a lift.

Please Visit My Web Site (Updated Daily) and Sign My Guest Book

[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-01-2001).]

 

I also got rear ended by an accord, though it cost me $1100 to fix. The funniest part was it was claimed as a 'no fault accident' because he slid in the snow. He tried to make a right hand turn but slid into me because of slush, the right turn he tried to make was 30ft before me, in a paking lot with 10mph.

Tell me how the hell you slide 30ft, do $1100 worth of damage to a truck, and it be 'no fualt'. Try speeding and not paying attention. So my insurance went after the guy and go all my money back for me.

 

lariat4wd,
That scenario was running through my head at the time and thats the reason I went ahead and called the police. The way she was acting I decided to protect myself with a witness against what you had to go through.
I didn`t want to get that nice bill for all the damage to hers when she was at fault after she possibly made up a lie to put me at blame somehow.I don`t know if she could have gotten the info she needed from my plate to do it but I wasn`t waiting to see.

Insurance company(S.F) is loving me for the next 3 yrs as wife had an accident in her yr old car due to a freak winter (and a LARGE pine tree hit at 45-50mph) last yr in NC and the car was a total loss. Seems like my rates went up enough to cover the 16,000 loss they paid out.OUCH. They would just love another claim on my policy my fault or not.


The only other incident I ever had with a hitch sticking out was with a visit from my Mother. She stopped by one day after I bought it and pulled her van a little too close behind me and bent her plate in the front. Bless her heart she was more worried about my truck than her 2 mth old van. Got out the screwdriver and hammer and the plate was good as new. Didn`t have to worry about a police report on that one

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2000 F150 SC, XLT, Bright Red/Silver 4x2,Auto, 5.4, 3.55LS,CD, sliding rear window, Tow package,Captains chairs,Remote Entry, Ford Bedliner, molded splash guards,Stainless step bars and bed rails.
FM40 single in/Single out the side.Clear Corners just installed.Pretty much stock now but waiting for performance mods to include FIPK,,Superchip, new wheels/tires and new audio.

 

I have had several run-ins with hitches.
I used to be a lot attendant a long time ago, and when walking between two parked vehicles rather fast, you don't tend to look down at the rear bumper area. All I can say is....OUCH!!! I have permanent indentions in my shins from this. Not once or twice, but several times over a 4 year period. Not that I am stupid, just always in a hurry when I worked there. Never thought about looking down there. Always look now.

[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 02-01-2001).]

 

Good thinking 2000FordStyle. Why is it that school pick-up zones bring out the worst in women. The drive ruthlessly. 'Everyone else is to blame for my actions' seems to be the new phylosophy in life!
I keep my hitch in the reciever always and consider it a part of the vehicle, sorry if it bends the car that may hit it!
Saw an awful site earlier this year when my Harley riding friend brought home her new 2000 Silver Corvette and ran into the the hitch in the back of her own Yukon. Cracked the fancy tag they put on the front of vette's and cracked the plastic bumper cover right on the point. Stands out like a light in the dark. Can't pick at her about though because she is a self-defense trainer for the police academy in our state and will hit every pressure point on your body before you realize she is beating the crap out of you. O'yeah a stun gun hurts like sh8t. I'm 6-4 250lb and she's my body guard!

 

Hey 2000fordstyle, how's your neck? The nerve of some people. If some lady hit me and then started swearing at me I'd tell her where to go and call the cops. How'd you keep your composure?

 

btr,
My necks fine as she didn`t hit me with much force.I didn`t even spill the Mello-Yello I was drinking. I think she caught me off guard at first and when I saw my truck was fine and her car wasn`t it made it easier to stay calm. It was a little harder when she shifted the blame to me but I also knew my daughter was somewhere in the pack of kids there and needed to stay calm with her as well as the other children around. I`m sure if it had been on the road somewhere and I was alone I probably would have lost it a little more. My kids have definitely calmed me down in the last 10 yrs