Totalled the freaking rodeo today...

[wutamess]

Was driving to go pay a freaking bill and got distracted for a split second looked up and had a car perpinduclar to mine about to make a left turn (from the right to go the opposite direction I was going) right in front of me. I slammed on the breaks, looked up at the lights (they were red) before impact. My bent up hood & the deployed airbags blocked my view of the other car. Luckily I had my seat belt on and one of my little ones was secured in the car seat.

Immediately after impact I couldn't think for a split second and finally figured out to turn the car off. My little one started whining but I knew she was alright. My main concern was to check on the other driver as I'd ran right into him as I broadsided his driver side going about 35-40mph before I managed to hit the breaks with all of about 10 feet to spare.

I get to him and he stumbles out of the passenger side of his car and mumbles, "I had a green light" before he reduces to squirming on the ground not saying anything. After seeing that... I went to grab the little one out of the car seat and took her with me to the other driver. Still squirming on the ground, he looked and stared at her and asked me if she was alright. I explained for the passenger to remain still and tell me what his problem is while I called the police & that she's fine and I'm more concerned about him. He complained of not being able to breath.

Police, fire dept, and ambulance arrives. I call the guys mother as I got the information from him & keep in close communication with her to inform her of what hospital he'll be going to etc.

After everything settles down... The policeman tells me that a witness said that my light was green. By this time my aunt and mother is right there and they thought I was dillusional when i told them that I saw I had a red light. They said that maybe the witness saw better, but I knew I had ran the red light (accidently) & the driver of the other car said that his light was green before he stumbled so I knew I wasn't dillusional.

So I go to the hospital to where they're taking him St Lukes (on the plaza). Get to the emergency room and ask the lady at the desk for the patient. She tells me where he is and how to get to his location (which was weird I could've been there to cause him harm) without asking any quesitons. First words out of the guys mouth were, "how's the little girl?" Once again I assured him that she was fine and that I'm more concerned about him.

His mother comes in and I introduce myself. The nurses take him off to get XRay'd. At that point, (I didn't want to be imposing) I left my contact information and told them to call me if they needed ANYTHING.

Don't know why I went into all this detail but my actual question is... How much will my insurance go up for running a red light, my car totalled (1999 Isuzu Rodeo) & his car totalled (late 80's early 90's Chrysler Lebaron) as well as his medical bills & the money he'll probably get from settlement etc? our driving records on our insurance was spotless.

BTW: Policeman called me later tonight and needed some more information on my daughter. He later told me that the guy had no problems and was released after he was given XRays. That's the most important thing to me as I'd been shaken up all night about it.

My second question is ... how much do you think I would get back from insurance (full coverage) when they total out my car? 1999 Isuzu Rodeo 5 speed manual trans 110K miles. Should I expect KBB prices or should I expect what people are asking for that type of car in the area from cars.com (or other source)? Also, if I feel they're low-balling me (which I'm sure they will) is that negotiable?

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by Inspector

Glad everyone seems OK. Good luck.

Stick with that witness who said you had a green light. That may be important later on........

Well, I would've stuck with the witness if I'd hit a tree or something but in this case it was either him or me and he would've been stuck with everything & that's something else I couldn't have lived with.

[StcChief]

They (insurance company) will sell your car for salvage to salvage yard.

You could bid on it if you have a car broker lic. or know someone who does....

[Lzen]

Glad to hear you're all ok, Roger. Good to know you're doing the right thing, too.

[KCHawg]

State Farm will give you 2 offers, one where they keep the car and when where you keep it. You keep it and the offer is less. I have had this done a couple of times.

[kaplin42]

got distracted for a split second

Driving + Cell Phones = Bad

Seriously though, I'm very glad to hear that your daughter, yourself and the other party involved are all right.

Moral of the story, your next car should be a big 4x4 so you can just drive over other vehicles.

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by KCHawg

State Farm will give you 2 offers, one where they keep the car and when where you keep it. You keep it and the offer is less. I have had this done a couple of times.

How much less and which did you take?
Were they fair in your eyes?
Was it kbb value or the asking price of cars listed forsale in your area?

Spoke with Insurance today and they said that because of the hail damage claims from the storms, it could be upto 2 weeks for the claim to be settled.

Of course I have to pay a $500 deductible which fuggin sux.

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Well, I would've stuck with the witness if I'd hit a tree or something but in this case it was either him or me and he would've been stuck with everything & that's something else I couldn't have lived with.

Just to make sure, most stop lights have cameras on them and they can match the time you were going through with the timing of the lights. They should be able to prove with a legal degree of certainty whose light was green.

[beavis]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

Dont assume your daughter is alright.

I remember having an accident several years ago and felt fine until the next few days, when I started getting headaches and had to go to the Chiropractor for upward of 15 or so visits before my neck and spine finally straightened out. The injury could have been more serious, but wasn't.

However, the bill was over 2600 bucks by the time I was rehabilitated.

I thought I was fine.

Very true. My accident was over three years ago, and my neck still isn't right.

[KCHawg]

Originally Posted by wutamess

How much less and which did you take?
Were they fair in your eyes?
Was it kbb value or the asking price of cars listed forsale in your area?

Spoke with Insurance today and they said that because of the hail damage claims from the storms, it could be upto 2 weeks for the claim to be settled.

Of course I have to pay a $500 deductible which fuggin sux.

The price they offer is wholesale value in your area. ( mine is KC ) the difference in offers was about 200 dollars. I let them keep the car because they wouldn't do a full repair estimate. They start estimating visible damage and if they reach the 'total' amount they stop the estimate. I wanted to know about undercarriage damage but they wouldn't do it. The offers I don't feel are ever fair since I can't purchase vehicles at wholesale prices.

[wutamess]

$6400 assessment with a $500 deductible.
Totalling $5900.

Can someone find me links etc of 1999 Rodeo's within 100 miles of 64138 LS model 5 speed with around 100000 miles on it?

If I find enough vehicles in the area for sale above that price, they'll reconsider and possibly up the ante.

Anyhow... any help would be apprieciated.
I've searched cars.com and autotrader.

[htismaqe]

That's what you get for driving an Isuzu.

Had you been driving a brand-new Tahoe, you would have escaped without even a scratch...

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

That's what you get for driving an Isuzu.

Had you been driving a brand-new Tahoe, you would have escaped without even a scratch...

Always a smart ass around when you DON'T need one.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Always a smart ass around when you DON'T need one.

1) What did you expect when you came HERE?

2) I would argue that you DO need it. Not to belittle your situation, but it's just a car. You weren't harmed, which is far more important.

[Bwana]

Damn dude, I think you had the only '99 Rodeo in the area. I still have access to the on-line information for every Manheim auto auction in the country. I went and checked out the Kansas City Auto Auction
3901 N. Skiles Kansas City, MO 64161 and not one has run that model / year in the month it goes back on the price sheets. I'll keep looking in a few other places for you. 2 or 4 WD, 4 or 6 cylinder and which model, the sport?

[wutamess]

2WD 6 cylinder.