Rear Ended Yesterday

[MiniGene]

Yesterday was my daughter's 16th birthday.  My son and I hopped into my wife's 2016 Mini Cooper S and headed to Party City to pick up large number "1" and "6" shaped helium balloons for her.  We had just stopped at a red light behind two other cars at where the freeway transitions to a normal road.  After sitting there for a few moments we heard the sound of loud screeching tires.  I glanced into the rear-view mirror JUST in time to see the front end of a 1995 Nissan pick up smash us!

My son and I were okay, but it was quite a jolt.  I only had a bit of a headache from the back of my head slamming into the headrest.  With the volume of the bang and how forceful it felt, I thought the rear was going to be toast.  I was certain that the entire arse end of the Mini was going to be completely caved it.  I've attached a picture and it doesn't look that bad!  The other dude's pick up didn't handle it so well.  His front end was smashed in and he wasn't able to drive away.  I should have taken a picture of his but didn't think to at the time.

I was nearly about to activate "dick-mode" when I got out of the Mini but calmed down when I thought it probably wasn't worth getting too excited about.  Luckily, the guy did have insurance and he did apologize.  He said that he "didn't see the red light."  I should have asked him if he saw the three rows of stopped cars across three lanes...but I already knew that answer.

Fast-forward to this morning--started the claim process and have an appointment tomorrow morning to have it assessed.  I'm thinking the rear bumper will have to be replaced and the dent in the tailgate will have to be repaired.  That's all that I can see without digging, they'll probably find more. 

We've only been in southern California for 3 months and this already happened.  This has convinced me that when I do get my Bonneville registered and start riding it, I am taking full advantage of the lane-splitting laws.  I'll be headed to the front of every stop light.  If I had been on my motorcycle I know I would have had some injuries. 

[94touring]

Glad you're ok!

[MiniGene]

Glad you're ok!

Thanks!  I was impressed at how well the Mini took the hit. 

[Willie_B]

There is a good bit of impact absorbsion stuff behind the bumper cover that did it's job quite well.

Glad you both are fine and the car did what it was designed for.

[BruceK]

Glad you are okay.   The MINI did its job and protected you guys - almost looks untouched.  Hope there is no hidden physical damage to you and your son.

[gr8kornholio]

Glad y'all are ok. Heads up for SoCal drivers.  Worst in the country hands down and I've been everywhere except the northwest.  Especially if it rains. Roads will be slick and all the idiots on summer only or bald tires will be the ones still speeding and then wrecking. 

Lived in Colorado Springs 5 yrs close to 2 bad accidents.  San Diego 18 months almost in 6 bad accidents. 

[MiniDave]

Modern MINIs are strong cars, unlike our favorite tin cans! Glad you're both OK.

[jeff10049]

Also glad you guys are OK.

I own an RV shop and we set cars up to flat tow behind RV's Minis are some of the easiest because they are stout remove the bumper core and bolt on the tow bar base plates to same studs done!

Other small cars are a PITA with all the added brackets even cables to try and maybe not have it rip the front of the car off.

Minis have thick sheet metal and are built like a brick shit house compared to say a Honda or Toyota small car.

I recently painted our 2004 mini and was impressed with the rear bumper set up when I had it apart a safe car for sure.

[ve9aa]

Gene,

I think of this every single time I am at a stop light, whether on the Harley, MINI or Mini.  82.gif

He was likely texting or updating his Facebook status.  15.gif

Sincerely glad you're OK.  Cars can be fixed.  O0

p.s.- we don't have the luxury of lanesplitting here in NB (couldn't on the Road King anyways) but if I had a 'Bonny in Cally', I'd be all over that for sure.  77.gif

[drmini]

Glad you're ok, but also glad it was a MINI instead of a Mini.  Damage would have been much worse, to the car and the passengers.

[MiniGene]

Thanks for the kind words, fellas! 

Here's an update:

The total damage was a hair over $3K.  Body shop had to replace the entire rear bumper (outer and inner parts of it), replace the exhaust tips and some heat shielding, and fix and repaint the rear hatch. 

The other guy's insurance called me on Halloween to tell me that they had accepted fault so I now know my deductible won't be out of pocket.

Just received a text this morning from the body shop, they said they were all done and will be calling soon to schedule pick up!  My wife will be happy.

Stay safe out there!!

[MiniDave]

That was quick service.... 77.gif

Body work is expensive these days!

[MiniGene]

It was fast (and expensive) service.  The repair looks great.  The good thing was since they had to repaint the rear hatch the wear marks from my wife's previous British license plates are now gone!

Now....to work on recouping my deductible!

[MiniDave]

I thought since it wasn't your fault you didn't have to pay the deductible?

[BruceK]

Yeah, shouldn't be transparent to you?  Meaning your insurance company goes after the Nissan's insurance and you have no more to do, right?  And nothing comes out of your pocket either.

[MiniGene]

I could have gone about it two ways:

1. Work directly and completely with his insurance.

or

2.  Initiate a claim through my insurance and they work with HIS insurance to get their/my money back. 

Because I have a pretty good relationship and history with my insurance, I went with the latter.  The one condition was that I would have to come out of pocket initially to pay my deductible.  I called my insurance Monday morning and within an hour I had a call and an appointment for the next day at the body shop.  A week later, the car was done and looking great!  This is my wife's pride and joy (after her kids and then me, of course) and so getting her back in it quickly was important.  You all know the saying, "when the wife aint happy..."

Another reason I chose not to interface with his insurance was because the CHiP who responded didn't take a report, I was afraid the whole thing was going to turn into a "I said, he said" situation and delay the repair.  However, if I had been strapped for cash or didn't want to get the car back ASAP, I would have probably tried to work directly with his.

[BruceK]

CHP didn't make a report?  Because they couldn't monetize the incident?   You can be very sure they have the time and inclination to produce documentation on stuff where they can charge money. 

[MiniGene]

CHP didn't make a report?  Because they couldn't monetize the incident?   You can be very sure they have the time and inclination to produce documentation on stuff where they can charge money.

Yeah, I bet!  This was my first accident in California (or at all for that matter) and as soon as we got the vehicles to the side of the road I called to report it.  I thought that was standard everywhere...  The CHiP kind of acted like he didn't understand why I called to report it as there were no injuries and we both had insurance.  I guess here in this state it's not required to report as long as there are no injuries and you can exchange info without fisticuffs.

[94touring]

Can you still have a gentleman's battle and everyone gets to go home afterwards out there?

[Willie_B]

In Georgia, unless there has been an injury or a accident report is required by one of the drivers, then all that's needed is to swap insurance info. But take lots of photos BEFORE moving any of the vehicles just in case.

[MiniGene]

Can you still have a gentleman's battle and everyone gets to go home afterwards out there?

I'm not sure.  I wasn't wearing my handlebar mustache when it happened so it didn't occur to me at the time. LOL