Before



A Semi Truck (I believe 10-12 wheeler) side swipes me (even though he claims he never hit me and that I lost control myself) on a local street with a couple of twisty areas. I was in the slow lane and he was in the middle lane. He turns into my lane (probably blind spot) and he smashes my driver's side fender and forces me off the road as I was trying to correct the car as it was going sideways. (The rear end appeared to have kicked out to the right) I got hit while in a very small turn towards the left. I was side by side with him because I remember seeing the steps to get up to the passenger side of the truck and the huge wheel coming towards my fender. I manage to get it straight again but was headed straight for a concrete pole (Note I was almost off the road and by the time i got it straight again I was already off road on a hill with mostly dirt and grass and headed straight for a concrete pole. I hit the pole even though I had braked. I was probably going 30 mph as it was a local street and I was in the slow lane and with traffic in front and behind me. Here is the picture and please give me your ideas of whether or not it appears that that i was hit from the side.




I really wanted to bring the 7 back. What do you guys think the value of it is now? The engine and turbos are still good with the engine being 50k and the turbos are basically brand new since it was bought back in 01 for 3k and since then has only put on about 2-3k miles on it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6327
This one on ebay has an engine that looks pretty bad with 88k on chassis and is already over $3,400 with still time left. I had a crazy idea but Im sure it will not work. I was hoping that maybe the rx7club and its members can "sponsor me" each member giving a dollar. Since there are Thousands of members this might be enough to put the 7 on the road again and I would represent the rx7club by putting some logos or something of that sort. Far fetched idea I know but would be great to see her running again. Thanks for your time.
Jon

 

I assume the pole impact was right at the drivers side headlight? If so, I don't see how the gas cap could be damaged unless you were hit from the side.

Between that, the damage at the back of the drivers side door, and the fender damage, I don't see how the truck driver could protest that he hit you.

It sucks that you got hit though man, I'm glad to hear you were ok. Good luck with the car.
-Jeff

 

if its any consulation, I believe you. I'm skeptical, specially with young drivers in sportscars, but I know you are telling the truth.

Fight it, you got pictures.

 

My sister was sideswiped by a big rig too, but there was undisputable proof of the impact in that there was a round impression from the wheel in her door. It's more difficult to tell from the pictures you posted.

What's the official word from the police and insurance company? Did you have witnesses who saw the accident?

 

First off, be glad you are here typing, a car is just a car when you life is on the line. Second, the car is totaled, if you have insurance get what you can. If you don't go after the truck drivers insurance company. Sure you can patch it up, but it will never ever be the same. Once metal is inelastically deformed, it will never be the same. Pounding/stretching it back into place only further weakens it. Another accident just like that one will not end the same way. Get a new 7, or a new car and let that one go...

 

It has been 2 months and a week. No word from the police. Been down to the station and the main headquarters for the report but nothing. I don't even know if they said if its my fault or not. We have called numerous times but nothing yet. There might be some corrupted cops involved with the truck driver? I didn't mention this before but my dad recieved a call the day of the accident and he claimed to be a "police officer" saying that I should not pursue this case any further and that I had run off the road myself. I have an dent impression on the pillar of my car as well. Yea I had collided with the pole with the driver's side headlight. I appreciate all the kind words guys. I am thinking of getting another 7 and be very cautious and not assume the abilities of other drivers around me. I had an older man, very nice stop by in a Camaro Z28 helping me by calming me down. He might be a witness. But if I don't, Can't the cops just tell by looking at the car what had happened? It clearly shows damage and a big truck like that and he was already in my lane 20 feet from my crash site so he mustve gotten in my lane and already braked because he had stopped. Im babbling out but how much do you think I can get for insurance for a car like this? I heard its KBB but someone else got 24,000 for it by proving to them that its a rare and desired car? Thanks
-Jon

 

My current ride until I get a Rx-7

 

Try to find witnesses I know how hard this must be and Im honestly happy your at least ok. Continue and pursue it!! Good Luck.

 

Really sorry to see what happened...but luckilly you are ok ! the only advice I could give is get a vwery good lawyer !

 

You can fix it... you need time, patience and money. The attached before and after pics may serve as some inspiration. Also, you may want to talk to TurboJeff to see what kind of cost you are looking at (don't ask me - I spent way too much).

MCF

 

And after...

 

Paint transfer and even the slightest damage to the truck will work to your favor. I feel for ya. I know what it's like to wreck these.

It was obviously a frontal impact, so try to argue where you would have gotten the side damage from.

Then sue the crap outta the company.

 

If you want/need to prove fault, you or PI needs to examine truck and car for signs of paint transfer.

 

Bummer man.

 

Does the adverse vehicle/truck have any indication of damage to it's right/passenger side? Does the adverse/truck have any Red paint on the right/passenger side that rubbed off your FD when the impact occurred. Any witnesses? Damage evidence of a collision would help his liability insurance carrier honor the claim.

(I work for a personal Injury attorney office in Corpus. WE received a 115 million verdict against Ford last December. 4th largest in the nation for 2002!!)

Keep me posted!

 

that sucks, hopefully you can get her back up and running, another 7 bites the dust.

 

I cant take anymore of these busted up 7 pictures, please stop...!

 

You can buy rx7speed811's(Austin) silver FD for $5500 or something... he had an engine fire but the rest of the car is sweet. Search there are pics on the board somewhere...

He also lives in SF

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=186389

 

we havent recieved any word from police..I was dazed after the accident and sent to the er so I am not sure about the truck if it had damage. It was a pretty big truck so maybe just a couple of scratches? Anways the police has his info because he had stopped and we are now just waiting for the police to get everything ready...but its taking an awfully long time. My dad told me to get another one and leave this one..but I cant help but to feel like its my duty to put her back up again. There might just be a witness but we have not recieved anything. Any idea of how much a car like this is worth now..engine still runs
-Thanks guys

 

I don't know why this is taking so long. It's been what, 9 weeks now? I was involved in an accident a few years ago where my FC got totalled on Doyle Drive (GG Bridge onramp) by a Jeep driver and from the police report to insurance payout, it only took 3 weeks to complete. I think that the more time goes by, the more things can get fogotten or covered up. If I were you, I'd call the police and insurance company, get the people covering your case on the ball, and try to get this issue resolved ASAP.

 

sucks to hear these kind of stories, but as someone else mentioned, you've got pictures, maybe if you can find a witness that saw the direction you were headed toward the concrete pole (head on), that would really help you with the damage on the side of the car.

good luck with it

 

That sucks dude way ouch. Good luck getting your money and taking the truck driver down. Inconsiderate truck drivers suck.

I was trying to hook a meeting up with Austin myself to take a look at his FD. If things work out. I may pick up myself if the thread author doesn't get it first.

 

do you have comprehensive insurance? if so, your insurance can fix it regardless of fault.

i keep a disposable camera w/ flash in my car for accident purpose. one picture of the rig with your paint on it proves a lot.

police just write the report. the court determines fault. not sure if ca has no fault insurance. in your case, it's hard to prove that trucker is at fault even if you got his truck with your paint. he can say that you bumped into him before slamming into pole - which is less likely than him slamming into you.

Bottom line, get some used fender off of another parts car or get a jdm front end. It doesn't look totalled.

 

From the looks of it your car is totaled and if I was you I would get the insurance company to give you as much money as you can get out of them. Take out all of your good existing parts and then sell them and buy a new fd. It is not worth it to fix an already broken car like that the frame is bent and it will never ever drive the same. It can be fixed but it wont be the same I would just get another one. Sorry to hear it though. At least you are alive.