I cannot believe how inattentive some drivers can be. We had just left a Dr. appointment for Allison and were on the way to the pediatricians. We decided to stop at Taco Bell along the way and get some grub since we were not expecting to be home anytime soon.
Anyway, I pull into the left turn lane, blinker on, and am waiting for oncoming traffic to let up enough for me to enter the parking lot. As I am doing this another lady is getting ready to turn right, out of the parking lot, to merge into traffic. Well... it didn't quite go that way.
As soon as I started turning towards the driveway, I see the other driver begin to move slowly, I thought they were going to do the traditional, skoot by the back bumper move to sneak into traffic when they really shouldn't. I made eye contact with the driver, saw them moving, thought everything was fine, for a moment. Next thing I know, this driver is coming right at my front passenger door. CRUNCH!!!
Allison shrieks as the other driver hits our truck in the right passenger door and front fender. Overall it was a slow impact and just barely shook the vehicle, but it was fast enough to cause at least $1k worth of damage. So, I stop the vehicle for just a moment in the road, the other driver backs up, we get out, I tell her we need to move out of the road so we both move into parking lot.
I'm thinking to myself "This isn't too bad, just call the insurance companies and it'll be resolved" Why is life never that easy? Turns out the other lady had no insurance, and she told me she could not afford to pay and it had just lapsed. Wonderful! She then starts to hint and allude to "wanting to just take care of this" I'm assuming to not get the authorities involved, call insurance, etc, etc. Well, that isn't happening. First, bcause it's against the law, second because how am I to expect her to pay me for the damages if she can't pay her own insurance?
So, I tell her the police are on the way, she boogies on out. Police arrive, are a bit surprised the other driver left but placated enough because we exchanged information. He tells us he doesn't want the information and hands us an accident report. I take that home and begin filling it out with the information the lady provided to me. We're almost done!
Not quite, the lady calls me the next day begging to "work this out." I don't think she was particularly pleased when I told her I was legally obligated to report the accident and that she was as well. Oh well, I am not going to pay for the choices and mistakes she makes in life. I feel bad that she might be struggling financially and all, but I'm also not going to pay for her mistakes in life.
So, all in all, nobody got hurt, the baby's car seat didn't budge, mom got a little frazzled and we're going to have to get the car fixed. It was an adventure, but not one we could not recover from easily. Just going to have to take the time and deal with the insurance company for the next month or so. Sorry I do not have pictures to post of the damage, it was pretty minor and I didn't want to bother with it. I know, I'm lazy!
