Rear ended!

[JNYLTN5.4]

We were waiting for the traffic light to change and WAM.We were hit by a ford ranger driven by a teenager looking for his cell phone.He didn't even brake until he hit me,and after he hit me I hit the truck in front.He had a reciever hitch it did alot of damage!A sad day! Here are some pictures,

https://claims.geico.com/ThirdPartyClaims/(gztmw22tth3y3jefcmmxdf55)/Temp/187109090_P_1.jpg:(

https://claims.geico.com/ThirdPartyClaims/(vk3o50npkxfcqj55gh2xucvu)/Temp/187109090_P_4.jpg

[bluesvt]

Pics did not work but sucks to hear man. Damn cell phones, if you can't see or reach it don't worry about it till your stopped! :throw:

[BC Lightning]

link no worky

[Chris94L]

It works for me. OUCH!!

[Alpine]

Damn sorry to see that. :throw:

[L8 APEX]

What really sucks is hitting the guy in front of you. You can never have enough room in front of you in any driving situation. Best wishes with the repairs.

[TP Derrick D]

Link worked for me also. Man, I feel your pain. had my smash-up-derby moment about a month & a half ago.

[my2002lightning]

Damn! Sorry to see such negligence happen to a fine L, a True-Blue at that. I feel very fortunate that something like this hasn't happened to mine.

Good luck with this!

Ronald

[PUMP]

I feel for you:eek: Cell phones in use while driving is one of my real rants:flaming: Anyone who thinks that trying to manage a moving vehicle while multi-tasking is an idiot. Maybe the state should add dialing a cell phone while parallel parking to the drivers license test. That way most people would fail and we would have fewer idiots on the road.

[Lyfisin]

Every time I see an L wrecked, it just give me a little hurty place inside.

Glad to hear you're ok and I'm sorry to hear of the accident. :(

[dboat]

I guess it could have been worse. Sorry about the damage.. how long you going to be out of commission?
Dana

[RSVT]

same **** happen expect mine was an under aged driver he was only in 7th grade driving, i should kicked his little ass, haha j/k

[Razor]

Somebody post pics please! Link no work 4me.:confused:

[my2002lightning]

https://claims.geico.com/ThirdPartyClaims/%28gztmw22tth3y3jefcmmxdf55%29/Temp/187109090_P_1.jpg

https://claims.geico.com/ThirdPartyClaims/%28vk3o50npkxfcqj55gh2xucvu%29/Temp/187109090_P_4.jpg


Somebody post pics please! Link no work 4me.:confused:

[03LightningRocks]

That sucks. Fricking cell phones!!!!! I would bet that cell phones play a part in a large portion of wrecks these days. I would vote for an anti-cell phone while driving bill in a second.

[Tex Arcana]

Fix the pics!

[Tex Arcana]

That sucks. Fricking cell phones!!!!! I would bet that cell phones play a part in a large portion of wrecks these days. I would vote for an anti-cell phone while driving bill in a second.

It's been proven in many circumstances. The problem is people lie about being distracted, then try to lie their way out of the accident by blaming someone else. :hammer:

I'm with you, tho: cell phone usage should be banned, unless with a hands-free speakerphone or headset; and even then, I'm not too keen on the idea. Army studies have shown that when speaking, a human mind is using about 40% of its capacity, and that usage affects motor control areas the most. :nono:

[bluesvt]

What was the guy driving that hit you? silver chevy 1500??????? I know a kid in Sherman and he is a .... ...

[bluesvt]

It's been proven in many circumstances. The problem is people lie about being distracted, then try to lie their way out of the accident by blaming someone else. :hammer:

I'm with you, tho: cell phone usage should be banned, unless with a hands-free speakerphone or headset; and even then, I'm not too keen on the idea. Army studies have shown that when speaking, a human mind is using about 40% of its capacity, and that usage affects motor control areas the most. :nono:

Myth Busters have even proven this.

[SILVER2000SVT]

You guys are killing me. I hardly ever get political but this struck a nerve....

Sure there are some people that don't have the ability to talk on the phone and drive at the same time but those few idiots probably shouldn't be driving in the first place. Do you really think it's right to restrict they entire population because of the few. This is socialist mentality. It took decades for the Soviet Union to fall but now we are trying to create one here in our own country. Big brother and the nuisance laws are snowballing and this country is going down the crapper very quickly because there are so many people who actually encourage more and more laws to "protect" people at the expense or everyone elses rights. Before you know you won't be able to take a crap in your own bathroom without government restrictions.

I'll admit that I also get a little unnerved when I see somebody driving while on the phone and they aren't paying attention and they just continue and continue to talk their entire trip, but what if you need to take an important phone call? what if it's for only a few seconds? Do you think the officer who gives you the ticket is going to distinguish between you and the other guy who abuses the privilege? I've heard some people say just to pull off the road. That's much more dangerous because you are causing a traffic hazzard. I saw a Grand Prairie cop doing this the other day, everbody was swerving to get out of the way of the cars who had to slow down while he was pulling over and then others were swerving to clear the ajacent lane when he was parked. Yea, really safe.:rolleyes:

[Mark #2]

Thats sucks, even though I can't see the pics either.

And related to that comment...Is it against the law to get a certain kind of job while driving?
We need a study to determine if that is more distracting than cell phone use.

[bluesvt]

In response to Mark, Yes. A cell phone is less distracting, the other probably takes 80%+ of concentration or relaxation. I first start to notice a drastic drop in speed then lane changing. :tu:

[Beaudee]

The kid that hit you is responsible for the guy you hit also.I have been there.I keep a big ass trailer hitch on my truck for the same reason.:D

[Mark #2]

In response to Mark, Yes. A cell phone is less distracting, the other probably takes 80%+ of concentration or relaxation. I first start to notice a drastic drop in speed then lane changing. :tu:
I found that setting the cruise control and staring directly at the dotted lines helps. J/K;)

[bluesvt]

Cruise on my old Cheby did not function properly. Not to mention I could almost give a 180 deg. turn on the wheel before anything happened. :D

[Aggie Mom]

Sorry about the truck, but I hope are you okay??

[Mark #2]

Sorry about the truck, but I hope are you okay??
Thanks for bringing this back on topic, "I apologize right there".

[wesman]

You guys are killing me. I hardly ever get political but this struck a nerve....

Sure there are some people that don't have the ability to talk on the phone and drive at the same time but those few idiots probably shouldn't be driving in the first place. Do you really think it's right to restrict they entire population because of the few. This is socialist mentality. It took decades for the Soviet Union to fall but now we are trying to create one here in our own country. Big brother and the nuisance laws are snowballing and this country is going down the crapper very quickly because there are so many people who actually encourage more and more laws to "protect" people at the expense or everyone elses rights. Before you know you won't be able to take a crap in your own bathroom without government restrictions.

I'll admit that I also get a little unnerved when I see somebody driving while on the phone and they aren't paying attention and they just continue and continue to talk their entire trip, but what if you need to take an important phone call? what if it's for only a few seconds? Do you think the officer who gives you the ticket is going to distinguish between you and the other guy who abuses the privilege? I've heard some people say just to pull off the road. That's much more dangerous because you are causing a traffic hazzard. I saw a Grand Prairie cop doing this the other day, everbody was swerving to get out of the way of the cars who had to slow down while he was pulling over and then others were swerving to clear the ajacent lane when he was parked. Yea, really safe.:rolleyes:

Jason,

Most laws are in place to protect the masses from the ignorance of a few, this would be no different.

--wes

[wesman]

Sucks this happened, however there is a silver lining. Looks like they owe you a Heat Exchanger, time to upgrade on their dime :)


--wes

[my2002lightning]

More legislation - that's the answer.;)

Ronald



That sucks. Fricking cell phones!!!!! I would bet that cell phones play a part in a large portion of wrecks these days. I would vote for an anti-cell phone while driving bill in a second.

[L8 APEX]

In Texas you are responsible for the vehicle in FRONT of you, not the person who started it all. It is a failure to maintain that space on your part that causes you to hit them.

[bluesvt]

That does not make sense to me though. I am not saying it is wrong, but I have seen a moving car push a parked car for a good distance in an accident. Well over any distance you would stop behind another car. If that is the case on roads with higher speeds I am going to stop about 3+ cars behind the guy infront of me. :rolleyes:

[JNYLTN5.4]

His insurance is taking care all of it.He hit going about 40-45 mph.I have never been hit so hard.Wife was taken to the hospital.We are both ok.The rear bumper and LH of the bed is also damaged.$6,500.worth of damage so.May be more after they start taking it apart and find some hidden damage.I think the ranger was totaled .There was oil,trans fluid and coolant ever where.

Thanks for caring Guys
John

[03LightningRocks]

More legislation - that's the answer.;)

Ronald

Yes.....in this case it is. You must be one of the doofuses I see driving around talking on the phone with his head up his ass.

[03LightningRocks]

You guys are killing me. I hardly ever get political but this struck a nerve....

Sure there are some people that don't have the ability to talk on the phone and drive at the same time but those few idiots probably shouldn't be driving in the first place. Do you really think it's right to restrict they entire population because of the few. This is socialist mentality. It took decades for the Soviet Union to fall but now we are trying to create one here in our own country. Big brother and the nuisance laws are snowballing and this country is going down the crapper very quickly because there are so many people who actually encourage more and more laws to "protect" people at the expense or everyone elses rights. Before you know you won't be able to take a crap in your own bathroom without government restrictions.

I'll admit that I also get a little unnerved when I see somebody driving while on the phone and they aren't paying attention and they just continue and continue to talk their entire trip, but what if you need to take an important phone call? what if it's for only a few seconds? Do you think the officer who gives you the ticket is going to distinguish between you and the other guy who abuses the privilege? I've heard some people say just to pull off the road. That's much more dangerous because you are causing a traffic hazzard. I saw a Grand Prairie cop doing this the other day, everbody was swerving to get out of the way of the cars who had to slow down while he was pulling over and then others were swerving to clear the ajacent lane when he was parked. Yea, really safe.:rolleyes:


I could use this same line of logic to argue in defense of driving around while having a good stiff drink. Just because some people can't maintain control doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to drink and drive... ;).

LOL...the really funny part is that cell phones have only been around for maybe 10-15 years for the main stream folks. I wonder how we ever survived without them...:cool:. I am actually amazed that society as a whole managed to get where we are without cell phones.

Truth is...most folks are using the cell phone for bullsh!t reasons such as finding out what's for dinner and when the old lady plans to be home.

[Beaudee]

In Texas you are responsible for the vehicle in FRONT of you, not the person who started it all. It is a failure to maintain that space on your part that causes you to hit them.They must have changed the law then,i was in a chain reaction and the initial hitters insurance covered the vehichle i hit.My last recks,(my wife) still waiting to get my deductable back (250 BUCKS) from the hitter not having insurance.@ least your o.k. they can always fix your truck.My wife has bad luck with vehichles,this one made me cry,i loved this car 02 Ram Air T/A. http://www.talonclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1364&d=1111180920 Yes its bent i half.Direct hit in the drivers door,wife walked away with a sore hip.

[Tex Arcana]

You guys are killing me. I hardly ever get political but this struck a nerve....

Sure there are some people that don't have the ability to talk on the phone and drive at the same time but those few idiots probably shouldn't be driving in the first place. Do you really think it's right to restrict they entire population because of the few. This is socialist mentality. It took decades for the Soviet Union to fall but now we are trying to create one here in our own country. Big brother and the nuisance laws are snowballing and this country is going down the crapper very quickly because there are so many people who actually encourage more and more laws to "protect" people at the expense or everyone elses rights. Before you know you won't be able to take a crap in your own bathroom without government restrictions.

I'll admit that I also get a little unnerved when I see somebody driving while on the phone and they aren't paying attention and they just continue and continue to talk their entire trip, but what if you need to take an important phone call? what if it's for only a few seconds? Do you think the officer who gives you the ticket is going to distinguish between you and the other guy who abuses the privilege? I've heard some people say just to pull off the road. That's much more dangerous because you are causing a traffic hazzard. I saw a Grand Prairie cop doing this the other day, everbody was swerving to get out of the way of the cars who had to slow down while he was pulling over and then others were swerving to clear the ajacent lane when he was parked. Yea, really safe.:rolleyes:


It should strike a nerve, because it's the ignorance and abuses of the majority that are causing problems for the few. (Yeah, that's gonna cause a sh!tstorm, but roll with it for a second).

EVERYWHERE I look when I'm driving, I see some damn fool with his or her phone stuck in her ear. They're yapping away, most times about absolutely NOTHING, they're trying to drive at higher-than-posted speeds while yammering, changing radion stations, CD songs, entire CD collections, all the while stuffing some MCDonald's artery-cloggers down their pie-holes--and let's not forget the hausfraus who're doing all that while whacking at the kids in the back seat. All while doing speeds that will turn their cars (and the cars they hit) into balls of tinfoil.

It's become an epidemic. Once upon a time, people with cellphones were the minority, and considered it a privelege to use them while driving, so were (hopefully) safer about it. Nowadays, everyone and his mother has a phone, and thinks they can yap on it whenever they want, including while navigating a multi-tonnage missile. Considering the average intelligence and capabilities of these people, it's NOT a good combination.

Like Rock's said: it's a case of bad apples spoiling it for the rest of us. Problem is, there's more of them than there is of us.

I consider myself a good driver--a damned good one. I don't drive faster than the conditions, and I maintain control over my vehicle at all costs--including spilling coffee all over myself. When I first got a cellphone, I wouldn't talk on it unless I had a headset hooked up; today, I have a bluetooth, and I still won't use the phone unless the bluetooth is connected and working. And if I'm having a conversation, and something happens that demands my attention and coordination, I tell whoever I'm talking with to hold on a second, and I focus on handling the vehicle.

The REAL problem here is the sad state of driver training in this nation. It suck rotten eggs, and it's getting worse. There are attempts to improve things, but it's slow going; in the meanwhile, people die on a regular basis because they aren't really capable of handling their vehicles, and then compound that error with the error of talking on a cellphone, wiping out what little coordination they had to begin with by flapping their jaws.

AutoWeek did stories on this very problem recently. Did you know that in one year alone, the same number of teenagers died in auto accidents, as the total number of soldier have died so far in Iraq??

Yeah, that's pretty sad.

A lack of driver training is the primary cause; allowing distractions while driving is another cause, and cellphones contribute mightily.

And since the majority of people won't use common sense, it ends up ruining things for the few of us who do.

I hate the idea of yet another law, too; but as long as things remain the way they are now, it will happen. :(

[Tex Arcana]

LOL...the really funny part is that cell phones have only been around for maybe 10-15 years for the main stream folks. I wonder how we ever survived without them...:cool:. I am actually amazed that society as a whole managed to get where we are without cell phones.

I say the same thing when I hear people talking about "how hot it is", "it's too hot to go outside and <insert activity here>", and "oh, it's too hot for little Timmay to get some exercise." :rolleyes: I grew up without a/c in my home, and back in those days, a/c was more a luxury than a necessity. Humans got along for millenia without so much as a heater or a/c unit, why can't they now? :hammer:

Personally, I think this reliance on wireless technology is going to backfire when sunspot activity increases, and we are all going to have to go back to wired technology, at least for a short period of time. :rolleyes:

[WA 2 FST]

The REAL problem here is the sad state of driver training in this nation. It suck rotten eggs, and it's getting worse. There are attempts to improve things, but it's slow going; in the meanwhile, people die on a regular basis because they aren't really capable of handling their vehicles, and then compound that error with the error of talking on a cellphone, wiping out what little coordination they had to begin with by flapping their jaws.

AutoWeek did stories on this very problem recently. Did you know that in one year alone, the same number of teenagers died in auto accidents, as the total number of soldier have died so far in Iraq??

Yeah, that's pretty sad.

A lack of driver training is the primary cause; allowing distractions while driving is another cause, and cellphones contribute mightily.



Amen. I agree 100%. I remember having to take a written and a real driving test with a DPS officer when I turned 16 (back in '83). I remember getting docked 8 points for being 2" too far from the curb when I did my parallel parking. The DPS guy whips out a measuring tape when he opened the door and says, "Sorry, you're 2" too far from the curb. You just lost 8 points." I also got docked for "coasting in neutral"... I had a 4-speed car. My father (who had died ~8 months prior) had taught me that technique b/c he felt it saved gas (maybe it does, maybe it doesn't). Anyway, the point is that it was a _real_ test of _some_ skill level, even if it was not particularly difficult.

By '90, there were no more real driving tests. It's all written, and its easy.

My son is nearly 12. He will be driving before I know it. He will have some good instruction (from me, and he will go to a real driving school... something else that is no longer required).

What's absurd is that there are many more drivers (especially here in our locale) today than there ever have been... and yet somehow the govt requires less training. Less training to perform a task which has life-altering implications if you perform the task in a below average way... sometimes even if you are doing it all right, too. This makes me shake my head.

[Tex Arcana]

Amen. I agree 100%. I remember having to take a written and a real driving test with a DPS officer when I turned 16 (back in '83). I remember getting docked 8 points for being 2" too far from the curb when I did my parallel parking. The DPS guy whips out a measuring tape when he opened the door and says, "Sorry, you're 2" too far from the curb. You just lost 8 points." I also got docked for "coasting in neutral"... I had a 4-speed car. My father (who had died ~8 months prior) had taught me that technique b/c he felt it saved gas (maybe it does, maybe it doesn't). Anyway, the point is that it was a _real_ test of _some_ skill level, even if it was not particularly difficult.

By '90, there were no more real driving tests. It's all written, and its easy.

My son is nearly 12. He will be driving before I know it. He will have some good instruction (from me, and he will go to a real driving school... something else that is no longer required).

What's absurd is that there are many more drivers (especially here in our locale) today than there ever have been... and yet somehow the govt requires less training. Less training to perform a task which has life-altering implications if you perform the task in a below average way... sometimes even if you are doing it all right, too. This makes me shake my head.


I've been meaning to get extra copies of that issue, so I can give them to family and friends with kids that will eventually be driving, and hopefully that will help them choose to send their kids to proper driver-trianing courses, instead of tossing them on the streets to kill themselves and each other. :hammer:

[my2002lightning]

There is a wonderful new invention now-a-days called the BlueTooth.:cool:;) I've used it rather extensively while driving congested DFW and HOU while conversing with plenty of people with no hazard or worry as the L is none the worse for wear.

Just drive responsibly.

Ronald



Yes.....in this case it is. You must be one of the doofuses I see driving around talking on the phone with his head up his ass.

[Silver_2000]

Amen. I agree 100%. I remember having to take a written and a real driving test with a DPS officer when I turned 16 (back in '83). I remember getting docked 8 points for being 2" too far from the curb when I did my parallel parking. The DPS guy whips out a measuring tape when he opened the door and says, "Sorry, you're 2" too far from the curb. You just lost 8 points." I also got docked for "coasting in neutral"... I had a 4-speed car. My father (who had died ~8 months prior) had taught me that technique b/c he felt it saved gas (maybe it does, maybe it doesn't). Anyway, the point is that it was a _real_ test of _some_ skill level, even if it was not particularly difficult.

By '90, there were no more real driving tests. It's all written, and its easy.

My son is nearly 12. He will be driving before I know it. He will have some good instruction (from me, and he will go to a real driving school... something else that is no longer required).

What's absurd is that there are many more drivers (especially here in our locale) today than there ever have been... and yet somehow the govt requires less training. Less training to perform a task which has life-altering implications if you perform the task in a below average way... sometimes even if you are doing it all right, too. This makes me shake my head.
One of my technical customers is the owner of All Star Driving School - (http://www.allstardrivingschools.net/)

He really tries to teach the kids the right stuff

:ron: I learned to drive in a 3 speed car in 4 inches of snow. Mom took me around the neighborhood 4 or 5 times - we pulled in front of the house and Dad was standing their ready for me to drive him to work on the other side of the city - 25 miles away .. :eek: :eek: :eek2: :eek2:

[WA 2 FST]

I took a DD class there many years ago. Thanks for the link, Doug.

[Tex Arcana]

There is a wonderful new invention now-a-days called the BlueTooth.:cool:;) I've used it rather extensively while driving congested DFW and HOU while conversing with plenty of people with no hazard or worry as the L is none the worse for wear.

Just drive responsibly.

Ronald

Good job, missed the wave entirely. :rolleyes:

Besides, I've seen you drive when talking on your Bluetooth; and the only person that scares me worse than you is my pal Frank, who has a tendency to take not only his eyes but his entire upper torso off the road to talk with the passenger...:hammer:

[03LightningRocks]

Good job, missed the wave entirely. :rolleyes:

Besides, I've seen you drive when talking on your Bluetooth; and the only person that scares me worse than you is my pal Frank, who has a tendency to take not only his eyes but his entire upper torso off the road to talk with the passenger...:hammer:


:rll::rll::rll: Classic!!!