I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

[ezmobee]

So how much does this suck.......on Saturday I was driving my truck on a road that goes through a pretty dense wooded area. I was going about 40 MPH when WHAM, a giant tree branch fell out of the sky, ripped off my antennae, my side mirror, smashed my windshield (not through but damn near), dented my A pillar, and did a good bit of scraping up of the side of my truck. To make it worse, we were on the way back from picking up our Pacifica from the tire place where I dropped $700 on 4 tires and a state inspection. To make it worse yet, my truck is a 1990 so I don't carry full coverage on it so no insurance money will be coming in. I suppose it could have been much worse, I could have been hurt. But I was pleading the rest of the way home "please don't let there be metal damage" but of course there was.

So I made an appointment to get my windshield replaced. I'm figuring $300. Their estimate was $280. I was pretty happy with that. Well yesterday they tear into it and call me to tell me it was too rusted under the glass and that they won't install a new windshield in it without sending it to a body shop to have the windshield channel rust repaired. That will be an additional $200. It's supposed to be ready tomorrow. I'm sure I'm being massively screwed on that one paying all that money to have some guy do a couple spot welds.

This isn't some beater truck either. Look at this thing! There wasn't a dent or a spot in it! I hope to someday be able to get it repaired fully.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

shame those dang trees.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

If it wasnt for bad luck you would have no luck at all.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Indeed. As if we didn't have a big enough job looking out for deer!

 

[bootle]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Ain't it funny how them tree huggers don't seem to have that problem?
So make nice and start talking to them trees in your neck of the woods.

Sorry about the dent to your wallet.

 

[JB]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

And just who was it that neglected to insure the vehicle properly?

You are a victim of your own decision, ezmobee.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Dang JB, you are really taking this "premeditated negligence" thing all the way aren't you? Unfortunately I completely agree. But let's just say one bad decision often leads to many more bad decisions and that's where we're at. Should I be able to get past this and get my truck fixed back up, I will be adding more coverage.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Body shop just called and said it's done and it's headed back over to the glass shop. Maybe I'll have it this evening. Beautiful weather and I'd really like to go boating tomorrow.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

dont be so hard on yourself Ezmobee....divide the cost to repair by how many months you've gone without collision and see how you made out....maybe its not so bad. If its any length of time it you might have made out. I on the other hand once cancelled my collision and wrecked the vehicle within the first year (first and only accident in my life) Now in retrospect THAT appeared to be premeditated negligence.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Dang JB, you are really taking this "premeditated negligence" thing all the way aren't you? Unfortunately I completely agree. But let's just say one bad decision often leads to many more bad decisions and that's where we're at. Should I be able to get past this and get my truck fixed back up, I will be adding more coverage.

I'm sure that you are still way ahead. You probably would have had at least a $500 deductable anyway. Experts will tell you that unless your older vehicle is something extra-special, you are far and away statistically better off not carrying the comprehensive and collision.

One valuable option, however, depending on the likelyhood of your vehicle being stolen, is theft insurance. It is very cheap.

 

[arboldt]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

You said at least you weren't hurt.

A couple years ago a guy from our church (retired) was riding his Gold Wing when a gust blew a tree limb down on him. We were told he died instantly.

 

[JoeCrow]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

A long time ago when I was young,
Anytime anything bad happened, my mother would say
"See, God punishes you"

So.... Who'd you ****-off?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Doh.......................dbl post...................:redface::redface::redface:

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Sorry for your troubles ezmobee.....................after the dust settles let us know how you fared financially........................inquiring minds.......ya know

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Well just FYI I have a 1995 K2500 and I had to have the windshield replaced in Nov 07 and I was told it was rusty..... they did it with neoprene and got it done.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

It was those damn squirrels tempting to make another commercial that got you

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

I was hoping since the body shop was done with my truck early in the afternoon that the glass shop could have it done today. Unfortunately that didn't happen. So I'll be picking it up tomorrow immediately after work. And I am going to promptly attach my boat and head down to the river. The body shop left an estimate to repair the rest of the damage (I requested it just so I'd know) in the truck so we'll see how bad that is. My new mirror arrived today and although aftermarket, and was only $23 shipped from eBay, appears to be quite nice. The antennae won't be getting replaced any time soon because I have an iPod interface in the truck and never use the radio.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

I would look at the bright side, you now have a project tow truck to go along with that good looking project boat and of course you did not get hurt

 

[MikDee]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Glad you're Ok, ezmobee! Ever hear of sleep apnea, here's what I did to my Clean 96' Sonoma ext. cab. Vortec V6 2WD, drowsy for second at 3pm in the afternoon, a few months back, went off the road, lost control, and hit a tree on my way home, only going about 35mph, totaled it No collision The bride said, "Hey, you gotta put collision on the newer truck" when I got it 2yrs ago, I said " Sure, Ok" then of course never gave it a second thought Needless to say, I'm on a CPAP (sleep apnea) machine now.

 

[Scoop]

Re: I was Smited! And it keeps getting worse...

Hey EZ, Sorry to hear about that. Sometimes the behicle is of more value you as a running vehicle than the insurance would give you.
I has a friend that was driving home from work. A tree branch (More like 1/2 a tree) blew down in front of him. He flip his car and was killed. He had just gotten married 6 months before and had a 14 year-old sun. After his death, I looked up news stories and found out that this happens a lot more than anyone ever suspects.

Mikdee, Glad you have a CPAP. I was falling asleep while driving to work around 50 times one my way in (1hr ride). I would actually fall asleep and have a dream in seconds. I could barely function. My CPAP sure helps. I am sure glad I never had an accident or killed anyone. I didn't even know what a CPAP was until I saw the doctor.​