The Fickle Finger of Fate...

The Wreck

Last month, November 18th, I was driving to work like any other Tuesday. I was yielding to oncoming traffic, as per the sign, at a major intersection, as I do five days a week minimum, when my car was rear-ended. Now, obviously, I am fine but my car was seriously damaged. Don't get me wrong, I have been driving it for nearly a month, albeit with my teeth clenched and my fingers crossed, waiting for the rear end to fall off. Finally today, after nearly a month of telephone tag with the insurance agent, I got an estimate, $3,145.97. Sounds bad. Gets worse.

[See Pics Here]

According to the nice fellow who gave my car a cursory exam which amounted to the equivalent of "turn your head and cough" and lasted all of three and a half minutes, this is probably enough to total my car.

Yea!

A Total Loss

I spoke with the insurance agent, finally, and it appears his assesment mirrors that of 'Bubba' the body jock. Apparently a ten year old car with over 160,000 miles is not worth much... unless it is your only means of transportation to work on the other side of town.

For now, I am to continue on with my life until somebody figures out how much a large hunk of metal, plastic and rubber is worth on paper. So, like my bumper, I am hanging on.

For those of you who do not know... when repairing a car is 75% (or more) of the 'value' of the car, it is a total loss. This means that rather than pay the repair bill, the insurance company will essentially buy the car from you for the value of the car (before the accident).

Maybe I'm being a little 'glass half empty' but I asked the insurance guy, "How does this help me get to work", to which he replied, "Oh, we're gonna pay you. We are buying the car."

Again, I asked,"How does this help me get to work". If, as he said, they take possession of the car that they purchase from me, I still have no vehicle. I also have no money and horrible credit. Do I even have to mention the fact that I still have bills, it is a week before Christmas and, oh yeah, I am supposed to go out of town next week.

On The Limp

What would happen if I took my busted ride and went on the lam? Let's face it, the car is doing what I want it to do. The insurance company wants to take it away. How is this beneficial to me?

I understand that they are offering to pay book value for a car that is, well, less than, but with lousy credit and no transportation, I will be forced to take the first P.O.S. (used vehicle) that I can find, for whatever amount the insurance company deems my car worthy.

If I thought driving the ten year old Oldsmobile that I originally bought for my ex eight years ago was a drag, well I can hardly wait to roll up in my 'new' twenty year old Yugo.