Got hit by a drunk driver
05-19-2018, 07:44 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Got hit by a drunk driver
Wednesday afternoon, I was coming home in my 2009 crystal red Vette, in the middle lane minding my own business, when I felt and heard a thump. Someone in a large SUV had hit my front passenger fender ... and kept going. I followed her for a mile or so to get the tag number until she had to stop at a light, but then she hit another car, and sped off again. I picked up the police accident report yesterday and it listed her as being "extremely intoxicated" when they picked her up. Not only did she get charged with DUI, but had an open container in the car, and was driving with a suspended license. A model citizen for sure. 
When I looked at the damage, I was surprised how little there was. Nothing was broken, but the paint appeared to be scuffed, and the chrome wheel looked like it would need to be replaced. This morning, I got out the paint thinner to clean off all the rubber that came from her tire, and there was hardly any damage at all. There was no damage to the rim after all the rubber came off, and a little light buffing with polish and some wax and the fender and bumper should be good to go. Had the car been made of metal, both would have to be repaired or replaced
When will people learn not to drive when they've been drinking though? She could have easily killed someone.
When I looked at the damage, I was surprised how little there was. Nothing was broken, but the paint appeared to be scuffed, and the chrome wheel looked like it would need to be replaced. This morning, I got out the paint thinner to clean off all the rubber that came from her tire, and there was hardly any damage at all. There was no damage to the rim after all the rubber came off, and a little light buffing with polish and some wax and the fender and bumper should be good to go. Had the car been made of metal, both would have to be repaired or replaced
When will people learn not to drive when they've been drinking though? She could have easily killed someone.
05-19-2018, 07:50 PM
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Glad to read you're ok. Could have been quite bad. Maybe some judge will throw the book at her----a few months in jail might sober her up in a different way.
05-19-2018, 07:51 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
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Glad you are OK. Man, you are lucky. Hope she gets hers.
05-19-2018, 07:51 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Yeah, it's amazing the world we live in now. I'm still as worried about a completely sober chronic texter as I am worried about a 2.0 drunk.
05-19-2018, 09:44 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'19
If I were you, I would let a body shop that specializes in Corvettes take a look at it. I have a friend who got rear ended at a Chevy car show when the brakes on a classic Chevy failed.
There was a lot of hidden damage. He still doesn't have the exhaust fixed right. One of the tips is longer than the others.
There was a lot of hidden damage. He still doesn't have the exhaust fixed right. One of the tips is longer than the others.
05-19-2018, 09:48 PM
#6
Racer
We have a similiar thread active, riding motorcycles all my life, driving or riding minding my own business is deadly. Usually get cut off atbminimum once a day while commuting. No fender benders on MC
Glad your situation was arrested and the repair was just a cleanup.
Glad your situation was arrested and the repair was just a cleanup.
05-19-2018, 09:57 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Had a lady back into the door on my c5. From the outside didn’t look like much if any damage. Took it to the shop and when they pulled it apart the whole inside of the door was busted up and the exterior panel was fractured. Fiberglass damages real easy.
05-19-2018, 10:25 PM
#8
Race Director
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
At least you're still here to post about it. As you know, it could have been much worse.
Good Luck with the repairs.
Good Luck with the repairs.
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astaggs (05-21-2018)
05-19-2018, 11:07 PM
#11
11 teens die everyday as a result of texting while driving.
General Cell Phone Statistics
The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.
Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to travel the length of a football field.
Texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
Of all cell phone related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity.
94 percent of drivers support a ban on texting while driving.
74 percent of drivers support a ban on hand-held cell phone use.
The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.
Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to travel the length of a football field.
Texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
Of all cell phone related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity.
94 percent of drivers support a ban on texting while driving.
74 percent of drivers support a ban on hand-held cell phone use.
Last edited by R&L's C6; 05-19-2018 at 11:09 PM.
05-20-2018, 06:03 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
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Make it personal, write the Judge a letter, better yet ask to testify. She needs a stern lesson such as losing her “privileges” to operate a motor vehicle...
05-20-2018, 07:27 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
Wednesday afternoon, I was coming home in my 2009 crystal red Vette, in the middle lane minding my own business, when I felt and heard a thump. Someone in a large SUV had hit my front passenger fender ... and kept going. I followed her for a mile or so to get the tag number until she had to stop at a light, but then she hit another car, and sped off again. I picked up the police accident report yesterday and it listed her as being "extremely intoxicated" when they picked her up. Not only did she get charged with DUI, but had an open container in the car, and was driving with a suspended license. A model citizen for sure.
When I looked at the damage, I was surprised how little there was. Nothing was broken, but the paint appeared to be scuffed, and the chrome wheel looked like it would need to be replaced. This morning, I got out the paint thinner to clean off all the rubber that came from her tire, and there was hardly any damage at all. There was no damage to the rim after all the rubber came off, and a little light buffing with polish and some wax and the fender and bumper should be good to go. Had the car been made of metal, both would have to be repaired or replaced
When will people learn not to drive when they've been drinking though? She could have easily killed someone.
When I looked at the damage, I was surprised how little there was. Nothing was broken, but the paint appeared to be scuffed, and the chrome wheel looked like it would need to be replaced. This morning, I got out the paint thinner to clean off all the rubber that came from her tire, and there was hardly any damage at all. There was no damage to the rim after all the rubber came off, and a little light buffing with polish and some wax and the fender and bumper should be good to go. Had the car been made of metal, both would have to be repaired or replaced
When will people learn not to drive when they've been drinking though? She could have easily killed someone.
05-20-2018, 08:06 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
05-20-2018, 08:28 AM
#15
Pro
It seems impaired driving never ends. I guess it can't end when you have to drive to get to bars. It really is a weird world we live in. As if everyone has a designated driver or takes a cab. It just isn't reality. It's wishful thinking that humans will obey laws. It would be nice but it's living in a fairy tale.
I worked 'traffic' solely for two years when I was in law enforcement, involved in special DUI task forces at night during some weeks. It was endless arrests, and quite amazing at the same time how many people think that they can drive the same after a few drinks. Legislators can write all the laws they want to but they are obeyed only by law abiding citizens. For others, they laugh at laws or it doesn't apply to them. Prohibition was a joke, the war on drugs was and is a joke after decades of trying, and you can go on and on. When there is demand, there is the black market, laws be damned. I was pleased with my 25 years in the profession, and I'm thankful there are enough people out there still undertaking the task of keeping us reasonably safe.
I worked 'traffic' solely for two years when I was in law enforcement, involved in special DUI task forces at night during some weeks. It was endless arrests, and quite amazing at the same time how many people think that they can drive the same after a few drinks. Legislators can write all the laws they want to but they are obeyed only by law abiding citizens. For others, they laugh at laws or it doesn't apply to them. Prohibition was a joke, the war on drugs was and is a joke after decades of trying, and you can go on and on. When there is demand, there is the black market, laws be damned. I was pleased with my 25 years in the profession, and I'm thankful there are enough people out there still undertaking the task of keeping us reasonably safe.
05-20-2018, 10:46 AM
#16
Drifting
Considering that the wheel was "touched" at all, I would still take it to a Chevy dealer, or good tire shop and have the alignment checked, and also to make sure the wheel isn't bent While you're at it have the dealer's body shop check out the fender too. I'd do this with my car. Besides, if there's any damage, repair cost won't come out of your pocket!
05-20-2018, 10:59 AM
#18
Team Owner
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You certainly dodged a bullet there!
05-20-2018, 11:59 AM
#20
Melting Slicks
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It seems impaired driving never ends. I guess it can't end when you have to drive to get to bars. It really is a weird world we live in. As if everyone has a designated driver or takes a cab. It just isn't reality. It's wishful thinking that humans will obey laws. It would be nice but it's living in a fairy tale.
I worked 'traffic' solely for two years when I was in law enforcement, involved in special DUI task forces at night during some weeks. It was endless arrests, and quite amazing at the same time how many people think that they can drive the same after a few drinks. Legislators can write all the laws they want to but they are obeyed only by law abiding citizens. For others, they laugh at laws or it doesn't apply to them. Prohibition was a joke, the war on drugs was and is a joke after decades of trying, and you can go on and on. When there is demand, there is the black market, laws be damned. I was pleased with my 25 years in the profession, and I'm thankful there are enough people out there still undertaking the task of keeping us reasonably safe.
I worked 'traffic' solely for two years when I was in law enforcement, involved in special DUI task forces at night during some weeks. It was endless arrests, and quite amazing at the same time how many people think that they can drive the same after a few drinks. Legislators can write all the laws they want to but they are obeyed only by law abiding citizens. For others, they laugh at laws or it doesn't apply to them. Prohibition was a joke, the war on drugs was and is a joke after decades of trying, and you can go on and on. When there is demand, there is the black market, laws be damned. I was pleased with my 25 years in the profession, and I'm thankful there are enough people out there still undertaking the task of keeping us reasonably safe.
The government needs to legislate driving impaired free zones, have signage, and tough sentences for ignoring them ... more laws would definately help. Better yet, instead of the free zones, maybe we could just ban vehicles.