CLOSE CALL

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:16 pm

Yesterday I finished putting the final touches on the new trim scheme on my 660-12 (to match the 381 that's waiting for its final Accent).

I packed it into its case, left my office, and put it into the passenger side front seat of my beautiful nearly-new Saab Turbo Convertible, which I've owned for seven lovely weeks.

Can you see where this is going?

Two blocks and three minutes from my office in San Francisco, a distracted dingbat housewife in a SUV ran a solid red light. I saw her coming from my left in enough time to stop my car, but she never saw me and kept on coming at around 40 mph.

She took out the entire front end of my car, spinning me around, broken glass everywhere...

The airbags (front and side) did not go off. I was stunned for a good two minutes, but uninjured as I unbuckled and...

Omigod! the Rick!

It survived and even kept its tune. The car, however, which has not even had a first payment made on it, will have a loooong road back before it's in tune itself.

So today I got out both Ricks and played them one after another.

Life is good after all...

(It was hard to keep this from turning into a RANT!)

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:20 pm

Holy cow. Thankfully both your and your Ric are safe and sound. What a scary thing to have happen; you must still be shaking.

Great to hear you are alright!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:37 pm

Sorry to hear about the bingle, Paul and I'm glad that you (primarily) and the Ricks (secondly) are OK. The Saab can be beaten out and look pretty much like new (even though you know it will never be the same!).

You and your prized instruments - that's another story!!

Life's a ***** (sometimes), aint it!!

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:48 pm

I was coming home from a show tonight, basses in the back of my truck, and saw someone speeding up to me while I was stopped at a red light. All I could think of were broken bass necks!! So I watched them slam on the brakes (probably drunk at 2 AM) and I pulled ahead to get myself a little more room. As the light turned green, I got out of there in a HURRY.

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 3:57 am

Time to throw away all those fancy European automobiles and join the SUV crew Phil.

Say goodbye to expression and individuality and become one of the suburban masses. Your 6000lb state of the art box design (the new Range Rover excepted imo) of an autombile that is so cherised by contemporary America may not be close to your heart aesthetically...but it will keep the Rics safe

Not an easy choice to make for us car buffs!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 4:21 am

Anybody know who Drew is talking to? On the offhanded assumption that it could be me, I have one simple word:

NEVER.

(Still biting my tongue so as to avoid ranting...)

Coop: I'd rather be behind a drunk on the highway than in front of one. Much more entertaining and no chance of a rear-ender as he/she mistakes my brake lights for another COORS OPEN sign...

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 4:57 am

LOL...Sorry Paul, typing before the am large coffee intake and still not fully awake...and I,m on EST!! Your replying on PST!

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 5:30 am

Glad you are OK Paul. What a bummer. You've got a great attitude about it and of course the two Rics to soothe your frustration somewhat.

Did it total your car?

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 5:43 am

Glad to know the Rics survived. You survived. The car on the other hand...and the first payment yet to be made. I'd rant. But that's just me.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 6:48 am

Stan, I feel that this is not the place for a rant on stoopid, dimbulb, disconnected-from-reality, cell-phone-yakking-instead-of-driving, ex-flower-child, astral-projecting Mill Valley (read: spoiled) housewives in wheeled battering-rams.

Post-impact, it was two full minutes before I had myself under control enough to exit the vehicle. I slowly approached her. She was talking on her cell phone.

Me (through gritted teeth nearly ground to porcelain powder): YOU RAN A RED LIGHT.

She: (in a small and spacey voice).. I thought I could make it...

Her car had one door bent in. It'll be a bolt-on and paint thing.

Me: Now I have to get home 20 miles on public transportation with my guitar and digital camera.

She: Well, I have someplace to go right now, but I could drop them off at your house for you later tomorrow...

Me: GrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRR....

I waited an hour plus for a tow truck. SF Police do not come to the scene unless there is an injury, not counting stress-related-migraines. She drove off immediately we exchanged information. (Or immediately AFTER we exchanged information, for our American readers...)

As she got into her Battering Ram, she rolled down her window and said:

She: (in a spacey, faraway voice): Metal can be fixed.

Me: GrrrrrrRRRRRRRRR...

I have to pay a $500.00 deductible. My car will take weeeeks to fix, and my insurance does not include rentacar reimbursement. I'm looking at about $1500.00 (one nice 325V59) out of pocket before it's through. My car, which still SMELLED new, fa chrissake, now has a CARFAX report indicating "front end collision", which will reduce the trade-in-value by more than the "deal" I made when I got it. She drives away, and tells hubby when she gets home, to have the SUV fixed please, because she needs it for Wednesday because the Porsche won't be big enough for the Bokhara that she needs to pick up for the reception hall...

Is this irony? Was this a rant?

Thanks. I feel so much better!

NOT.

Bill, the car is not totalled, but repairs will be between 8 and 10 thousand bucks. All because she "thought she could make it".

The positive side: Had I braked a millisecond later, she would have caught the driver's door, and at the 45 or so she was travelling, I'd be dictating this from either a hospital bed or from the Afterlife of Rick Heaven, where every soul wakes up each morning to a different pre-1960 Capri...

Wait a minnit!

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 7:03 am

Well Paul, glad to hear that you and the guitar are ok. Remember, incidents like this are why lawyers exists. Sue! Sue! Sue! Make her pay for everything including a rental car, plus your inconvenience.

I can't wait until California bans using cell phones while driving.

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:30 am

First off, glad you are ok, and your guitar! That is the important thing!

Since she ran a red light, and the accident was her fault, her insurance company should pick up the whole tab. You might not even have to deal with your insurance carrier at all.

I got hit twice since moving to San Fran 4 and a half years ago, and you know, my car got fixed just fine.

I hate suvs sometimes too. Especially since what most people use them for, a minivan is actually a MUCH better vehicle. Sure minivans are uncool, (like suvs are?) but my minivan can haul way more than even the biggest suv. Maybe it cannot tow as much, but how many people really do that?

Did I just rant? Oops.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:35 am

Thanks, John.

Fault will be determined once we've both deposed to our insurance companies, since the police would not come and write out a report. It should come out in my own favor, I hope.

I'll talk to my own agent tomorrow and get the skinny...I've NEVER had an accident since moving to CA in 1979--25 years in LA and not even a fender-bender. But SF drivers are from another planet (with the exception of you, John, of course!!!)

But, yes, the guitars are fine and do lift my spirits a good deal!

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:44 am

Well, I'm not a legal mind but I think one must provide a witness in such occasions. Otherwise it is deemed a 'no fault' accident as far as insurance companies are concerned. Laws may differ greatly in California, it's been 20 years since I lived there but a lot of this stuff is universal.
Just good to know you're okay Paul, considering the circumstances. And it was a unique 'descriptive' narrative you gave of the accident.
Just play them Rics.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:35 pm

Paul, I'm glad you are ok. I used to be on the SFPD. Unless their is blood or you are blocking traffic they don't respond. What intersection was it?

Drive safe and stay well.