I can't believe this happened. This morning as I was making a left turn into the parking lot where I work, I got hit on the passenger side by a big Hyundai (sp?) sedan which was also making a left turn into the parking lot on the other side of the street. That is, until he changed his mind at the last minute, took his foot off the brake, left his turn signal on, and banged into my side. Yes, I know that it's technically my fault and I'm really p*ssed at myself but there's nothing like watching someone come at you and see that they're NOT even looking at you. He continued looking to his left, where he was considering turning, until the impact caused him to finally face forward again. I discovered afterwards that he was from out of town and wasn't sure if he was turning into the correct parking lot.


ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my first accident. Ever. Mrs. Peel didn't even have a single DOOR DING on her (after almost 2 & 1/2 years) until this. My question is ---- I'm waiting to hear from the insurance adjustor. Can I choose my own body shop? My insurance agent knows a really good one in my city. I realize that they'll have to order a new door from BMW/MINI but I DO NOT want to have to take it to the dealership in Palm Harbor.

Anybody had any unfortunate but similar experiences?

Lee Ann (a sad, sad day )

 

Poor Miss Peel. Poor Lee Ann. I dread the day this happens to me.

 

Most insurance companies will let you choose body/repair shops. The only thing they may bicker is OEM vs. aftermarket parts. Also, whether to replace or repair parts. Sorry to hear of your accident.

 

That sucks, man. Drivers around here are total a-holes, especially the farking tourists! They all need to GO HOME and STAY THERE!

You can take it anywhere you like, repairs are up to you.

 

Thanks for the sympathy! I need it right now.

Lee Ann

 

Awwww...so sorry Lee Ann, about Mrs. Peel. Keep us posted on how it goes with the repairs.

Clover

 

Lee Ann, sorry to hear of your misfortune! Good luck with speedy repairs.

I'm having trouble visualizing what happened; you can't both have been making left turns into the same parking lot if you were traveling in opposite directions. He must have been contemplating a right turn, correct?

 

So sorry to hear about Mrs. Peel.

I don’t think the MINI falls in the same category as Honda/Ford/GM or any of the other mainstream autos out there. I can’t think of anyone selling aftermarket parts for MINIs. When I had my accident the local body shop ordered all the parts directly through a MINI dealer.

 

Just a warning: when I had a parking lot hit and run, my insurance company (Amica) told me that I didn't have to use one of the body shops on their list. So, I didn't; none were close. Then, when the repairs still weren't satisfactory to me after two attempts, Amica basically told me I was SOL, because I hadn't used a "guaranteed" body shop. Of course, no one had mentioned this wrinkle to me when I first inquired. So, make sure you know exactly what you're getting into with the repairs! If you're a perfectionist (sounds like you probably are), not any shop is going to cut it.

I told Amica that I was going to switch insurance companies over this, but it turns out I'm lazier than I am vindictive.

 

Awwww....bummer!! I always hate reading thread like this...

When we got rear ended in Scooter, our insurance let us use the body shop of our choice. We spent several days getting recommendations from others before we made the final decision. And they did a great job....Hope you find a good one too...:smile:

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

You certainly have my sympathy, as well .

I hope I have as much good luck as you did keeping free of door dings, my MINI is only 3 months new and you better believe I'm minding my karma, for just this reason.

I have drawn some criticism from boy-racer friends, when I habitually wait to make sure that the oncoming guy who's signaling "really means it", before I make a turn in front of him.

The guy shoulda been watching where he was going, FFS. As for your being at fault, it's little consolation but at least WE know what really CAUSED this unfortunate mishap (and it wasn't you, it was the last split second when he "changed his mind" and kept coming).

Here's my personal "yeah it was technically MY fault, BUT..." story:

I think an old "chevy" spectrum that I drove once long ago had suicidal tendencies anyway, but I rear-ended a little white honda once, and I still maintain that I WAS "paying attention"... Driving along @ the posted speed limit of 35mph, I look ahead and see the road is completely free of other traffic (it was a Sunday morning, 530am). I look down for a second or 2 maybe, and while my eyes were diverted, the honda pulls onto the road from the right (from a driveway maybe?), pulls into my lane (the far LEFT lane) and just STOPS!. So I look up and it was already too late to stop fully, but what on earth was this lady thinking??

Tatt

 

Sorry to hear about Mrs. Peel - my M Coupe, Steed, sends his best wishes :smile:

 

Oh no! sorry to hear about Mrs.Peel.

 

So sorry to hear about your misfortune. I hope your doing ok (mentally) and also hope Mrs. Peel is repairable. Hang in there!

 

All Minis have the beauty & tendency to attract "others" That guy is also one of 'em Obviously, his right-brain & left-brain couldn't work well with each other ; he probably had Mrs Peel in a corner of his eye , his foot was ready 2 go left , but his hands decided 2 go meet Mrs Peel...


May you (Lee Ann) & Mrs Peel get better pretty soon!

 

I have 21st Century, and the deal they had was if you used one of "their" body shops 21st paid them directly. If I chose another shop, I had to pay and would be reimbursed after the fact. I had a Mazda at the time (93 MX-6 V6 for those keeping score at home), and the dealer was on their list. I got the feeling that pretty much any decent shop was on their list, though.

Good luck to you.

 

Sorry to hear about Mrs. Peel!!! I unfortunately have been right there with you before when I was hit from behind last year. My insurance company (State Farm) told me I could either go to any body shop I wanted. Nick Alexander MINI recommended me to a body shop right down the street from their location who did an excellent job.

Lukcily they were State Farm cerfitified (or whatever the call it) and they could make all the insurance decisions right there without waiting for an adjuster to come out and review.

Good luck and keep us (your support group) updated!

 

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and support! :smile:

My insurance adjustor told me this afternoon that I can choose the body shop. I figure that they'll have to order actual MINI parts since they really aren't 'interchangeable' now, are they?

Someone asked earlier about clarification of the accident. The other driver and I were facing each other in the left lanes of a four-lane street (on a very busy University campus) when we both tried to make left hand turns into parking lots on opposite sides of the street. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure where he was going and began to coast forward (with his left turn signal still going) and went right into my passenger door. His front bumper didn't look too bad. The end result is that I turned in front of him, regardless of whether his signal was on (and he was looking to his left.)

Sigh. I can't wait until Mrs. Peel is 'perfect' again. I feel like I broke her right arm.

Lee Ann

 

Soooo sorry to hear about the bang up!!! That is my worst fear about driving is someone hitting me. Hope everything goes ok and Mrs Peel gets back on the road real quick.

 

Well, it took over 3 weeks but I got Mrs. Peel back today from the body shop
and they did a terrific job! You can't tell anything ever happened to her. They had to replace the passenger door and some things inside the door like the window sensor. Their paint job looks first rate. It looks like a perfect match to the body of the car. They guarantee their work for the life of the car. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this shop. The only reason it took as long as it did was because they had to wait on the parts to be delivered from Palm Harbor.

Now, I just want to put this behind me and keep her SAFE.

Lee Ann

 

Well you must be happy as you posted the same thing twice
Glad to hear all is good

 

I know and I didn't mean to do that!
I tried to delete the second post but
I couldn't figure out how to do it.

Lee Ann (still very happy about Mrs. Peel!)

 

So glad things worked out! My MINI was in a wreck once upon a time, too. Tough little bugger.....I love it all the more for it.

 

Hurray for Mrs. Peel! (And I deleted the duplicate post, sweetie.) Could you post some pix for us? I'd love to see how she looks since her "makeover!"


Clover

 

Eeek sorry to hear... Hope you get the car back to perfect ASAP.