LIVE AND LEARN: A STORY ABOUT A CAR ACCIDENT

[no_hypocrisy]

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2019, 04:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Learn from me, my friends.

And the lesson is if you are driving on a two-lane road on your side, and there is a trailer next to you (e.g., a landscaper pulling a trailer behind it), DON'T . . . . I repeat, DON'T drive next to it. Even if you're in your lane and the trailer is in its lane.

Because the trailer shifted lanes next to my car and smacked the sh*t out of it. It dented my right front fender and tore off my front bumper.

What I didn't know: trailers don't necessarily go straight. They vacillate; they shimmy. And it's worse if there is insufficient air in any or all of the tires on the trailer.

I got the car back from the auto body repair this afternoon. It really was an accident. Not my fault, not the other guy's fault.

[True Dough]

1. Did you file an insurance claim?

I have to disagree with your assessment. If the trailer left its lane and made contact with your vehicle then it IS the other driver's fault. Were there any witnesses to the accident who can attest that the trailer veered into your lane?

This could be 100% on the other driver and your insurance premiums won't go up.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I immediately called my insurance carrier and reported the accident.

But no, I'm going to pay for it and not file a claim. My auto body guy got it done for $700.

[ret5hd]

2. Some people get irate at tailgaters...

I get irate at those that pull beside me then just hang there. Not talking about congested traffic where there isn't really any choice...just regular highway traffic. What, you want to chat or something? It's almost like someone standing too close to you or something.

[Hotler]

4. You don't want to spend much time beside them in case a recapped tire lets go.

the steel belted cap will bet your car up.

[flotsam]

5. It often is caused by improper loading

[Phentex]

7. I was going to say it's the same with moving trailers...

they shimmy and often the people are inexperienced at both driving and packing it. I get AWAY from them as fast as I can.

[ProudLib72]

6. Sage advice. I learned this a long time ago

Semi trailer took out my front passenger side window and the B pillar. I drove the car for another five years until I traded it in on a new truck. The dealership was looking it over and remarked on the damage to the B pillar. They said it wasn't actually road legal anymore because it had lost its structural integrity.