This Just In....Drunk Driving is BAD

by 12 replies
16
As if you needed a reminder.

Just got back from the body shop where my former Dodge Durango sits waiting for the final tow to the scrap heap for recycling. Pics will come shortly.

Cliffs...loaned keys to the vehicle to my neighbor because her car needed brake lines. She invited two family members to her home, who got drunk and proceeded to steal said keys from her, and take the nearly indestructible vehicle on a joyride on the highway, hitting an RV trailer, then the side guardrail. This all happened at about 7am Thursday while I was sleeping!

The damage all happened on the front left side...frankly I'm thoroughly amazed anyone sitting in the passenger seat is still alive, much less walking.

As for me, I am completely beside myself about this....and wishing I could rip their faces off for not only damaging my vehicle, but putting others lives at risk in the process. Fortunately, my insurance is covering this...so I should be back up by the end of the week.


#off topic forum
  • You need better neighbors...or neighbors with better quality relatives.

    Is your neighbor going to loan you her "fixed" car so you have something to drive?

    I would be so angry - at the neighbor as well as her stupid family.
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [2] replies
    • I'd be very angry at myself for loaning my car to someone who didn't pay for it.

      I own a vacuum cleaner store. Fully 90% of the expensive service that comes through the door starts with "I loaned this to...."
      • [ 4 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
    • Let me put it to you this way....I have a taxicab for wherever I need to go for the time being, though admittedly I loathe have using it.

      I'm hoping they cut me a check this week, and I'm already salivating the deals I keep finding on craigslist...it's about the only think keeping me sane right now.

      Trust me, lawsuit is incoming, and I'm going to try and get in on Judge Judy so you have some laughs at the morons expense. The very best thing I can do is embarrass them on national TV.
      • [1] reply
  • I just never let anyone else drive my car. Period. Learned the hard way and am done with other people damaging my stuff and then leaving me stuck with the bill for it. I'm especially watchful over guys that are not mechanics but want to "help out" and pop the hood open without my permission. When you catch them it's always "I was just............" and my answer is to shut the hood and say "no you are just not".

    You got me on a very sore subject.
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I didn't trust mechanics - for good reason. I used to go to two different fix-it shops to get a diagnosis and estimated - then take the car to a third shop and tell them "it's either blah-A or blah-B - not sure which" - worked pretty well as they thought I knew what I was talking about. I didn't.

      I don't loan my house, my car or my dog - everything else is negotiable.
  • The thing is - not to add insult to injury but is your insurance rate going way up for this? You may not be told until you go to renew your policy next time.

    I just switched insurance because after 10 years with mine and never a claim or ticket - I had a very, very minor incident (I side-swiped a wooden beam in my carport) resulting in a transfer of paint and an almost invisible dent.

    As a result, they DOUBLED my insurance rate.

    So I kicked them to the curb and switched insurers -- no doubt I am paying more than I would have to because of the incident, but it is just the principle that counts.

    Thanks for the reminder never to loan my car to anyone.
    • [1] reply
    • Patrician, do you not have an "accident forgiveness" policy whereas your premiums will not increase after your first claim?

      I have always paid extra for this policy, just to be safe. I also live in Canada, so I don't know if this is an option for US residents.
      • [1] reply
  • I have heard that insurance companies deny claims if you let a high risk driver
    borrow your car.

    I stopped letting people borrow my cars after:
    Mom complained about some slight imperfections

    brother left the ashtray full and "did not know what happened"
    to the missing tail pipe

    and sister let her high-risk driving boyfriend drive without telling me.
    (The boyfriend always speeds at least 15 over the limit, lives in the
    mountains and still manages to hit a deer about every year. Perfect
    candidate for deer piss for hunters.)
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