max_stuermer

iTrader: (1)

So yesterday while merging from an on ramp onto a highway, I had a truck literally run up my ***. After I merged onto the highway, I had my foot on the accelerator and proceeded to cruise. Close from half a second to a full second of being on the highway, (80-100 ft down the highway) I look in my rear view to see a truck flying towards me. After he hit me, I proceeded to pull over on the side of the road and get out of my vehicle. I met him half way where he proceeded to call me a stupid bastard and a dumb ****** for pulling out in front of him. Obviously, the guy had a SERIOUS case of road rage. His story was that I pulled out in front of him where he side swiped me instantly after merging. (find it hard to believe since I was not spun out) So I filed a claim, and finished it with that. My dad being retired policemen thought that there was no evidence that either of us caused the incident. He believed this since the back left of my vehicle was struck by the front right of his. It just really pisses me off because not only will I have to pay my deductible, but also my insurance will skyrocket. (I am 19). I will have to replace my trunk, my rear bumper, and my shattered out tail light. Point is, I have to suffer because some trucker had serious road rage. Bullshit. I’m attaching some pictures of my vehicle.

1.3_LittersOfFurry

iTrader: (4)

Sucks man, hope it works out in your favor. The damage looks easily fixable, glad you made it out ok.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Just tell your insurance company your side of the story. Do not converse with his insurance company. Let them figure it out.

max_stuermer

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I am calling the insurance company here in a few hours to file the wreck. But I got VERY lucky. If I would have hit my brakes he would've crushed me. Only reason I made it with minimal damage is because he literally sped up to hit me.

pistonhater

/\
This.

Also, it looks like it is something that can be relatively easy to fix - meaning, without requiring major surgery at an auto body shop.

Having said that, if you are concerned about your insurance rates because of your age - which I actually agree with - you might want to simply pay for the repairs out of your own pocket.

In reality, unless there is something really expensive to repair, I wouldn't bother your insurance company at all. Because of your age they might pull all kinds of cards on you.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Have you thought about talking to an attorney. Might be advisable before you call your insurance company. They might have a few more answers for you that we do on the forum. And they're free for an initial consultation.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

If the truck had side swiped you, then you'd have damage on the side of your car. From the picture, it looks like he simply hit your rear end. Rear-ending accidents rarely end up in favor of the vehicle that's in the back. Unless there is some part of the story that can be represented otherwise, you can make the trucker's insurance cover this because it'll be likely his fault, regardless of him having road rage or whatnot.

monchie

When i saw the title of the thread, i was like...an 18 wheeler rear ended you!? Then, when i read your story, i was like...that is all the damage of that 18 wheeler did to your car? I thought i will be looking at pictures of a total wreck or something. Anyway, were glad your okay and nobody got seriously hurt.

serothis

Not to rain on your parade but, if I remember correctly accidents on highway on-ramps are considered mutual blame unless one of the parties made some egregiously dangerous act.

I imagine this might vary based on location but keep that in mind.

Roidz

Could have been much worse. Good luck!

ken-x8

I thought that the vehicle on the highway has the right of way over one on the ramp.

Ken

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

^That's what I thought, as well

jasonrxeight

when in doubt, put the foot down.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

^Gas or brakes?

RufusVonStorm

It never hurts to file a police report, add a diagram of what happened. Send it over to your insurance co. and they have more to work with when it goes to arbitration.
I got my deductible back this way.

Also, this may sound petty, but in an economy like this odds are the guy will lose his job or at the very least become less favorable to his employer. Good truckers who don't get in wrecks are in demand, truckers who get involved in "incidents" have a hard time finding work.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

from the looks of the picture, tell your insurance that truck rear ended you, you already on the highway NOT just got on the ramp/merging, you also feel some neck pain right now and you will sue him, end of story. dont tell the insurance anything else and dont even talk to the other insurance unless they admit fault. most truck drivers have some degree of road rage and insurance knows it very darn well. So it will most likely in ur favor. And always ALWAYS call cops and wait for them to come. Take lots of pictures and or videos of the scene and damage of his truck and your car.

max_stuermer

iTrader: (1)

I took pictures of the truck AND my car. And yes, cars are supposed to yield to vehicles while on the highway. But while merging, I had determined I could merge without any danger. I was actually ON the highway, not merging at this point. I literally sat there and watched the guy in my rear view run up my ***. The only reason I wasn't crushed like a coke can is because I was accelerating still. He HAD to have sped up to hit me. My foot wasn't touching the brakes at all, and there was no one in front of me.
I also filled out a police report, and that will be used with my insurance company. But like I said, my dad is a retired policemen and he strongly believes this will end as a mutual incident.
Moral of the story, is i'm just FURIOUS that I have to deal with this guys **** because I pulled in front of him. I know it may sound extreme, but I loveeee my baby haha.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

I'm not sticking up for the guy, but this is why it's important to practice DEFENSIVE driving. Not everyone pays attention on the road.
You can't say if he sped up, or was speeding in the first place. Maybe he didn't think you'd pull in, and he was slow to react. Either way, an accident occurred.
Again, I'm NOT sticking up for the guy. I hope you have successful results

max_stuermer

iTrader: (1)

I understand where your coming from. And I appreciate it. My dad is laughing his *** off at me because I am freaking out. Like I said, I am 19 and DO practice defensive driving. Never had a speeding ticket, or been even close to an accident. That's why I got the rx8 in the first place! Some may say 19 is too young for anything to happen. And I agree. But it still grinds my gears to see my dream car with a beat up rear end ;(

ken-x8

18 wheelers are not exactly drag racers...and even if they were, why would he speed up to deliberately hit you?

Sounds like you misjudged his speed and distance (big objects do tend to look slower and further than they really are), plus were not up to highway speed when you moved off the ramp onto the highway.

Ken

tonik

+1


18 wheeler? i can smoke this bitch from on ramp..

i THINK ur too slow or too close when you merge on the freeway..

did you saw the truck in your mirrow (rear/side) before you merge?

max_stuermer

iTrader: (1)

When I reached the bottom of the on ramp, the front of the truck was parallel to the back of my car. So I sped up and gave myself roughly 30 feet in front of him before I merged. I didn't want to come to a dead stop on the on ramp. So I had plenty of space in front of him and was going faster then him when I merged. I maintained that speed until I was hit.

YaXMaN

I read all your post, Max. My question is, why did you maintain that speed if you knew he was coming at you. He can't slow down like you can. Why didn't you speed up or simply move a little to right to give him room to get by? We all don't drive in a vacuum. Everybody screws up now and then. But, it's the blockhead that doesn't adjust that causes many of those type of accidents.

Driving isn't some rules based game where if youre in your lane and youre doing the speed limit, you can just shut your brain off and float on down the road. Too many people do that. Many of the those people consider themselves "good drivers." They are, I think, some of the most dangerous of the bunch.

You'll screw up in your driving career - a few times, you might do something really stupid. When it happens, hope to god that you're around an aware and capable driver that will not only keep himself safe, but you as well by adjusting to your mistake.

max_stuermer

iTrader: (1)

I understand what you are saying. But i'm confused when you said why did I maintain that speed if he was coming at me. I merged on the highway going faster then he was. When I looked up, he was already so close behind me that it was too late to do anything. I'll admit, there could have been things done to prevent this. I could've stopped on the on ramp and wait until there was a 100 foot space in the road to merge in. But when I was merging, I determined that it would be safe to do so. If I wouldve thought different, I wouldn't of proceeded.

ken-x8

I'm confused by that description. Are you saying that an 18 wheeler outaccelerated your 8? How much ramp did you use up increasing the gap from less than zero to 30 feet? And where were you looking before you looked up?

Stuff happens. It takes more experience than you might think to really navigate amongst traffic. Don't freak out - try to learn and improve. I'll bet that in the future you'll do more anticipation and planning on entrance ramps.

Ken