As if you needed another reason to avoid an automatic car wash, here is one more.

Yesterday, the weather was relatively nice, so I decided to go get a car wash. I used an automatic car wash, even though I said I wouldn't. It ended up "free," because I bought a pack of gum first to break a $20.

I drive around to the car wash, and naturally I have a hard time getting on the track. This attendant comes out, and directs me. Finally, I am moving along the track in neutral. I get to the end, and the car stops to be dried. As I am waiting for the sign to tell me to go, I look in my review mirror, and out of the fog comes a truck. WHAM. It rams into me. I shrieked an explicative and drove out of the car wash.

I stop at a gas pump and survey the damage. Two dents in the chrome strip on the bumper. A lot better than I expected. The truck that hit me had tow hooks, so the damage was fortunately minor.

In the meantime, this is my first accident. I didn't know what to do. I decided to go talk to the guy. It's this old man, and as I head over, he is looking at the front of his truck. Again, he had tow hooks, so no damage to his truck. As I am heading towards him, he heads to the door of the gas station to go inside. I change my path and go in after him.

When I get inside, he goes to the coffee and he pours a cup. I realize then that he has no intention of speaking. I ask to speak to a manager. The manager is the same guy who rung me up for the gum. We go outside and he asks me what happened. I tell him and he fills out an incident report. He says their corporate office will call me. Meanwhile, the old man gets back in his truck and leaves. I tell the manager thanks and leave.

When I get to work, I tell everyone what happened. I asked if I should call my insurance company, and my boss said yes. In the meantime, my vice president give me tickets to a Penguins game, which has nothing to do with this, but that was pretty cool. Anyway, I called my insurance company. There was nearly zero hold time, which was really impressive to me. I told the woman what happened, and she got some info. She asked me if I would be available to take a call from an agent, and I said yes.

The agent called minutes after I hung up with the operator. She asked some more questions. Now, if I learned anything from this, it's always get the other person's info. Since it wasn't technically his fault that his truck hit mine, and he was being so elusive, and I didn't bother to try to get it. But now I see what a big mistake that was. Anyway, the agent came out to see me that afternoon at work. I work really far from the city, so that was pretty amazing to me and especially to my boss. She came, and she was really nice, and asked a few questions and took a bunch of pictures. She too thought the damage was going to be really bad. For certain, if he hadn't had those tow hooks, I'd be getting a new tailgate. He hit me surprisingly hard.

Afterward, she was going to give me a printed report, but her printer wouldn't work. Instead, she is going to call me on Monday and she will mail the report. The good part about it all is that the damage is only $183, so I won't have to pay my $500 deductable, and I won't have to pay any of it if the gas station will accept liability. Also, while the car is in the shop, they will give me a loaner, which is really awesome. I'm so glad I picked that option when I bought my policy, I'll never complain about the extra $50/mo over my old car again!

In the meanwhile, my bumper is.... affected. Ugh, it sucks to look at.

Anyway, I just wanted to remind everything that bad things happen in track-based car washes! Just say no!

 

Tough deal, I've never thought about using my rearview while in the wash!

 

Yikes, scary! I'm always paranoid about the car behind me while waiting to dry while taking my commuter through the wash at the local Shell.

 

That sucks. Also, if the damage is only 183 and you're deductible is 500 you will get stuck with the bill unless the gas station pays. The deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance co shells out any dough. At least that's how I understand it. I would think that because it was the fault of the stations equipment, you should try to get them to pay.

 

Well, my insurance company is going to go after them for the money. I will only have to pay the 183, and if the gas station pays up, I'll get reimbursed. The one lady said car washes are hard to deal with, because they like to say that if you go through them, it's at your own risk, so whatever happens, happens.

Edit: Hey, I'm in 3rd Gear! Woo-hoo!

 

first accidents are always tough. it's really confusing, but after getting
hit a couple of times it becomes easy and as long as people are not hurt
its just a hassle and really, nothing much else.

next time, get the other guy's info. take pictures if you have a
camera phone of the damage, their license plate, the guy himself, and
his vehicle. insurance companies love evidence especially photographs.

edit: huh, just saw your post, so you're already doing this...
not that it really matters now, but the other guy's insurance would have
reimbursed you for the $183 even if your deductible is $500 and went
through your insurance to pursue the claim.

 

Sorry to hear about the incident. Was it really the car wash? Or did that guy jump the gun and get onto the track too soon? The gas station might very well try to wriggle out from liability. Either way, it sucks to have your baby dinged up.

I find myself curious who your insurance company is? Sounds like good service.

 

If they say the other guy got in too soon, then they'd have to prove it, probably with video. If they have video they can probably get his license plate number, therefore he could be traced and held liable. Odds of the Monk having to pay the $183, I personally, don't think are very high.

 

Whoa! What a horrible thing to happen to you. I always carry a small camera with me after a woman rear-ended me a few years ago. As in the words of Martha Stewart..."It's a good thing!" It's amazing how much a business owner will bent over backwards to help you when they see you with a camera! Take a few snaps of your poor mini to show us.

 

Another reason why automatic car washes and MINIs don't mix well.

 

Another reason I use the "Laser Wash" when I do the automated thing; it's only one vehicle at a time. Sorry about your mishap.

 

While I certainly hope Monk doesn't have to pay, I'm not so sure that video is their only out. If they have an engineer explain how the track works and prove that it would be inherently impossible for one car to hit another unless the driver were to have done something, that may be all that is necessary. Of course, I haven't seen this track and have no idea if that is the case, I'm just saying...

On the bright side, even if Monk does wind up paying $183 out-of-pocket, all things considered, that is a very inexpensive learning experience as far as vehicular accidents go! It's clear that he's learned a few "lessons" from this incident that will serve him well for the remainder of his driving days.

 

Sorry about the accident but this is interesting.

If the guy never exchanged information, was this "leaving the scene of an accident"? He could claim its on private property and therefore the normal rules do not apply.

IMO, I would have called the police, filed a police report (to protect yourself).

While filing with your insurance company is normally a good thing, realize that whats been done is done. Although its not your fault, they now have on record that you have been in an accident. While it might not cost you more in insurance costs, they still have that on record (which may or may not matter in the future).

The "old guy" (what was he like 40 something?) should have exchanged paperwork ... no excuse for not doing so and hence, the police report.

 

We "old guys" (like 40 something) prefer the more respectful term "GEEZER" when we are refered to by the generation of those we used to diaper on a regular basis.

 

So he didn't exchange info and left, this is wrong, and might be a crime (sometimes private property might be the case in PA I know its not the case where I live also, $$ sets limits, varies by state). Contact your PD ask to fill out a report, to make sure you are legally covered (just in-case the "geezer" or "old guy" doesnt find more damage later and try and come after you for it) In the process tell the officer everything, if they think it is serious enough, they may try to track him down.

I bet that truck's liscense plates were on at least 3 of the security cameras, so getting his info shouldn't be hard at all. And your ins. company will get a copy of the report (with his info) and in the event the station won't pay, they will go after the at-fault driver. HOwever getting acess to the security camera tapes may be a hassle depend upon company policy of the gas station.

 

Well, to clarify, this guy was really old. Small and bent and feeble with thin white hair plastered against his head, and glasses. He was driving a Ford Explorer Sport Trac. I am very familiar with this vehicle. I know the tow hooks are optional. I am really glad he got that option.

Also, the thing with this car wash is A) that guy outside directing the people. Presumably the guy was following the attendant's directions. And B) everyone is in neutral because you are on a track that carries you through. So, I think undoubtedly it is the gas station's fault, whether it's because the guy went in against the attendant's direction (in which case you would think they would shut the thing down) or because the attendant was putting people in too quickly.

Anyway, I am with Progressive. I had Geico until I got the Cooper. My payment jumped from $99 a month to over $300 once I got it. I shopped around, and Progressive was the cheapest at $149. So far I am very happy with their service.

Also, I did not know the guy's insurance would have paid me!

 

Live and learn. The important thing is nobody got hurt and that your MINI will be all fixed up soon.

 

How do you do the lazer wash? I've done that once and the default is 2 ft longer than the car so as it goes around the back all the soap and water never hits the back of my car.

Monk Edsel-
I'm sorry to hear what happened. Thankfully it was fairly minor.

 

Sorry to hear what happened and cost wise it's nice that it wasn't more than that. However, you really should file a police report. An accident is an accident no matter what.

The guy did leave for a reason and as you mentioned he was acting sly. The question is, which one? Didn't care, happen on private property, no insurance?

I would use this accident as a learning experience.