My van got an owie.
Ok so here's the long version:
I was on my way to work enjoying the beautiful weather - yes it was SNOWING when I came to the corner of RT53 and Army Trail Rd in Addison IL.
This intersection has a left hand turn light for all 4 corners since it is near the expressway and is used by UPS since their facility is near it.
As I approach the intersection my light turns green, at this point I might be going 20 mph at the most. As I get closer to the intersection a car traveling south turns in front of me on to Army Trail Rd.
Now I am at the intersection traveling North and I see another car coming straight at me so I slam on my brakes to stop but that does not work. He hit my vehicle hard enough to bend the front wheel and make it un-driveable.
I attempt to get out of my car but my door will not open so I have to basically force it open. I check with the other driver and make sure he is OK. He said that this is the first accident he has been in in 70 years - he was born in 1936.
After we talked for a few minutes I attempt to call the Addison PD because of the accident and he said that he heard you should just exchange information and contact the police later but he does not want to leave me at the scene by myself. While I am trying to contact the PD an Addison fire department vehicle drives up and makes sure there are no injuries and contacts the PD.
I called the little lady in my life and ask her how much she likes the van - she asks why and I tell her the story.
After the police arrive the officer wants us to move our vehicles out of the intersection - I point to mine and tell him that it won't be able to be moved. He mumbled something then called a tow truck. He has me sit in the back of his car to warm up since it is starting to get colder.
Now I have to contact work and let them know that I will not be there on time - I left home early so I would be on time for a change, that will not happen again in the near future. My co-worker says that she will send someone to pick me up - cool I can now get to work when I am done. The nice police officer asks me where I work and I tell him where I work and that it's in Itasca - but he missed the last part and confused my company with a different one with a similar name.
When the officer puts in the other drivers plate number it comes back to a Honda not a Lincoln which is what the other driver is driving. After further investigation it appears as if the DMV might have sent the incorrect plates and his correct plate number is entered in the system.
I let the officer know what happened and what the other driver told me and then he went to get the other drivers story. I see the tow truck pull up in the gas station parking lot with my vehicle on it and the officer lets the driver know that I need to get somethings out of it. I go and get my lunch, the car seats for the boys and a few other things. The tow truck driver gives me a tow sheet with my vehicle information and we put the items in the back of the patrol car.
The other driver has been let go and the police officer is going to give me a ride to work. As he is driving towards my office he pulls into a shopping center and I hear him on the phone telling someone he is dropping me off at the wrong place. I kindly let him know that I do not work here and let him know where I do work. He says that he is very sorry he got the places mixed up but he can not leave Addison so he drops me off at Best Buy.
He was very polite about the mix up and I told him it was not an issue - so I take my things into the entrance to Best Buy and contact work. My co-worker says that the other shift went home as it is now after 8pm and they leave at 7 - 7:30pm. Now we are both thinking of how can I get to work.
I call the insurance company to file a claim and see if they can help me. I file the claim and then they let me know that they can authorize a rental car for 24 hours. The rental car can be extended by someone in the claims office the next day. I ask her if they use any rental car companies and she says no - just call one and give them the claim number.
Work calls and lets me know that they are trying to think of how to get me to work. He will try to contact our old boss who was let go in November. I try to call an old co-worker who lives near my location and he says that he is snowed in and suggests calling our old boss.
My co-worker calls back and said that our old boss will pick me up and take me to work. I call my lovely wife and let her know what is going on and that my old boss will take me to work and she says "The boss who was let go in November is going to give you a ride to work" - I said "Yes". He is a wonderful person to go out in the snow and drive me to work - he even offered to pick me up in the am and drive me home.
I get to work lugging my lunch, 2 car seats, and a few other items and then I call a rental car company to see about getting a vehicle to drive so I can get home which is approx 30 miles away. The company I call looks through their system and tells me that 99% of the vehicles they have are "Sold Out" due to the holiday. Oh Great now what?
I call my oldest brother who was let go from my company in November and talk to his wife. I let her know what happened and ask her if I could possible borrow her car until I can get a rental car. She said no problem that they would pack up the rug rats, I mean children, and drop the car off tonight. I let her know that if she wants to wait until the am it will not be a problem as I will be here all night. She said that she would rather drop off the car tonight than get up very early in the am - Yes now I can get home.
I get home the next morning and the insurance company is on the line so I explain what happened and give them a recorded statement. I also call the other drivers insurance company and start the claims process with them.
On Friday the adjuster calls from my insurance company and gives me a rough estimate to fix the vehicle and tells me I need to get the vehicle out of the tow yard asap. I let him know I am waiting for the other insurance company to get back to me so he said he will hold off on the estimate.
I call the other insurance company and they tell me they are closed for the holidays but that I need to get my van moved to mitigate my damages because they will not pay excessive storage fees. I tell them that I am waiting for them to tell me what they are going to do about the damage to me van. I will have to wait until Monday.
I call a friend who gives me the name of a repair shop when I can have my van towed and I call then but they are not answering their phone - probably closed for the holidays. I call my insurance company and leave a voice mail message for them to call me regarding my van
I call the tow yard because I have to get a few things out of my van. They tell me what I need to gain access to my vehicle so I take it to them. When I get there the guy says that my insurance does not list collision so I can not get to my van. I tell him the bank owns the car and collision is required. He tries to call my insurance company but they do not answer. I go outside and call my insurance company and get everything straightened out. I am finally able to get the few items from my van that I need.
Now my left are is starting to bother me so I call my insurance company and the lady says to go see my doctor, who is closed to the holiday, and give them my claim number.
So I am now waiting for Monday to hear from the other drivers insurance company, the body shop and to call my doctor to get a check up got my left arm. I am also hoping that the rental car companies will have a vehicle for me to drive.
In case you are wondering what the van looks like now - here are some pictures:
