Wrecked on Friday night January 18, 2002
Traveling home from dinner about 7:40pm on the outer loop of 495 near exit 57 for Springfield. Cruising to "Smooth Jazz" in the 3rd lane since the left lane now has to exit at 395 north. This has created a problem for the arseholes who wants to skip the traffic in the 2 right lanes waiting to exit onto 95 south. Now, when they hit their brakes and try to sneak in, chances are someone will be high speeding it up behind them.
I didn't see the car that started the chain reaction but I did see the car in front skidding out of control and into the rear of a stopped vehicle. That Trans Am of mine stopped on a dime, in perfect control without any worry at all. What happened next left me with what I thought was a heart attack. A Ford F150 Twincab skidding into the rear of my Trans Am and an Oldsmobile into the F150.
My awesome '99 Trans Am was trucked off by Redman Fleet Services of Newington due to the bodywork pushed into the left rear tire. The damage appears to be restricted to the rear clip which is pushed down and forward but both rear quarter panels have creases all along them. The exhaust is pushed forward into the suspension. The taillight assembly is angled down and large gaps have opened where the various pieces fit together. Other than some paint chips where the hood and the front clip meet there is only a few scratches on the front where I was pushed into the accident in front of me.
January 19th and Trooper Penree phones with the details of the accident, all the names, addresses, vehicles, insurance details. I report the accident and file my claim with Nationwide Insurance. Thank goodness the driver who hit me is also insured with Nationwide Insurance.
January 20th and Candy drives me to Redman's in Newington where I photograph my car. What a shock seeing it like that, all wrinkled, bent, scratched and dirty with the remnants of the weekend snowfall here and there. I removed all my personal stuff save the bad copy of Hearts greatest hits CD I left in the player and the key for the wheel locks in the center console. In the rear, in their cubbyhole, were the t-top sunshades.
January 21st and I rent a car from Enterprise, who give me a special "Nationwide" rate, then stick me in a bright RED Chev Cavalier with 4 cylinders a very high embarrassment factor . I speak with Orande at Nationwide in a crash interview.
January 22nd and things are happening fast. Scott at Nationwide gives me my claim number. Tom at Nationwide assesses the damage and recommends their Blue ribbon service with Spring Mall Autobody and Enterprise car rental. Joe at Spring Mall Auto Body gives a $3449 estimate, fifteen working days to fix
February 6th and I call Spring Mall about the progress of repairs. "waiting for a part" says Joe "tomorrow, Friday at the latest".
February 12th and I call Spring Mall about the progress of repairs. "wrong part supplied" says Joe "this afternoon, tomorrow at the latest".
February 13th and I call Spring Mall about the progress of repairs. "waiting for a part" says Joe. "tomorrow, Friday at the latest"
February 14th and I speak with Joe, Tom, Scott, Jeff and finally I get a voice mail left by the Nationwide Insurance State Director, Bob, who basically says "it ain't their fault if the wrong part was supplied, $600 bucks car rental period".
February 15th and I leave work early and go down for a look myself. Shock.....
Look what they did to my boy...
February 18th and I show up at the Spring Mall Auto Body at 8AM. I ask to see my car again and then take a couple of pictures. A few heated words with the "manager" and I leave before I explode. A few more calls to Nationwide produce no satisfaction at all. Everyone is in denial.
February 19th FUCKING ASSHOLES.
February 20th and I return the rental car.
March 1st and I inspect the car for the 1st time. Some paint runs under the passenger door, grease on my tires and a bumper fastener is all I can see from the outside. Then the shop asks me for $500. What's up Nationwide? Didn't you pay your bill?
March 13th and I finally retrieve my car.