Learned a valuable lesson

[Brent S]

I had a perfect storm of bad luck that I wanted to share. We bought two new work vans, sold one old one and a car I used for estimating. So I had the auto insurance company reworking our policies. The policy expired on the 20th at 12:01 am. I never got the revised bill until 6pm on the 18th, and it was emailed to me. Of course during all this I was on vacation, camping in Fla. So, on the 20th at 5pm, my daughter in law totals one of our trucks, taking out a $30,000 sign that the county had just had installed. Really, she wrecks 17hrs after the policy expires, and because I was on vacation I didn’t renew it before it expired! Murphy had to have a hand in this! Well, the bad news is the dodge pickup with just 70,000 miles on it is totaled. I did not have comp and collision on it so it’s just gone. The good news is on the 23rd, the day I got back from vacation I paid the insurance policy online. Even though it was paid three days late the policy remained in effect, so at least the sign will be covered. Oh, I guess I should throw in that the daughter in law is fine and walked away from the wreck. So, the moral of this story is to be aware of when your policies are due and make sure they are paid ahead of that time. I was sweating it for a few days there. Some prepper I turned out to be. We are supposed to be the ones that believe in insurance!
Anyone need any dodge truck parts?

 

[Proud Prepper]

I had a perfect storm of bad luck that I wanted to share. We bought two new work vans, sold one old one and a car I used for estimating. So I had the auto insurance company reworking our policies. The policy expired on the 20th at 12:01 am. I never got the revised bill until 6pm on the 18th, and it was emailed to me. Of course during all this I was on vacation, camping in Fla. So, on the 20th at 5pm, my daughter in law totals one of our trucks, taking out a $30,000 sign that the county had just had installed. Really, she wrecks 17hrs after the policy expires, and because I was on vacation I didn’t renew it before it expired! Murphy had to have a hand in this! Well, the bad news is the dodge pickup with just 70,000 miles on it is totaled. I did not have comp and collision on it so it’s just gone. The good news is on the 23rd, the day I got back from vacation I paid the insurance policy online. Even though it was paid three days late the policy remained in effect, so at least the sign will be covered. Oh, I guess I should throw in that the daughter in law is fine and walked away from the wreck. So, the moral of this story is to be aware of when your policies are due and make sure they are paid ahead of that time. I was sweating it for a few days there. Some prepper I turned out to be. We are supposed to be the ones that believe in insurance!
Anyone need any dodge truck parts?

Most policies have a 5 day grace period. Is she still going to be allowed to drive your vehicles?

 

[Brent S]

Most policies have a 5 day grace period. Is she still going to be allowed to drive your vehicles?

I’m thinking of buying her a new pair of sneakers or a bicycle! This is the second vehicle she has wrecked in a year. At least the other one was just cosmetic and involved a tree so was not reported. So two vehicles damaged or destroyed, and an expensive sign trashed beyond repair. I’m going to have to think long and hard on that one. I’d say it’s time my son bought her a cheap car that’s on his own insurance policy..... young girls are dangerous critters.

 

[KateMTx]

Sorry about your bad luck. I don't think I'd let her drive my vehicles anymore either.

 

[Dani]

I'm with Kate on this one. . . no way would I let her drive my vehicle. Heck, I get nervous when my hunny drives my truck. . . (we have different policies) but each of us are on one another policies just in case. He has been in more wrecks than even I know of which I thought 4 , but when asked I never got a straight answer. I have been in 2 which neither were my fault. 1 I was at a complete stop in the turn lane and the other was when someone came over from the left to the center lane after I came over from the right. . . It was only a few seconds different that I was there when I saw her come over and side swipe me. When my insurance agency came out to access the damage, one question he asked was why I didn't move back to the right. . . I didn't have enough time to react to see if the right side was clear. . . . She said it was my fault even though I knew it was hers. She avoided talking to my insurance agency, which my agent said was common for the faulter in accidents. Since eventually it was my word against hers it still went against me since my company had to fix my car and hers fixed her van. Turned out she was a doctor's wife.. . . probably had a lawyer friend. Yes just speculation there.

 

[BillMasen]

She has wrecked TWO expensive vehicles, DO NOT LET HER MAKE IT THREE OR FOUR.

 

[Brent S]

So, just posted my $20,000 truck on Craigslist today for 2000. Really sad. The truck looks kind of rough but it really isn’t too bad though. The problem is to have it fixed professionally will cost 8 to 10k and I just don’t see it as worth it. Years ago I would have done the repairs myself for 1/3 of that cost but I just don’t have time now days. The engine starts and is fine with 70k miles on it and the bed and cab are perfect still. But the bumper, grill, hood and drivers front quarter panel are trashed. Amazed the airbags didn’t deploy or any glass wasnt damaged. Even the radiator wasn’t hurt. But with the drivers wheel mount broken it won’t roll and has to be towed. RIP truck.... I guess selling it to someone that is handy is a lot better than it becoming a lawn ornament.

 

[Brent S]

Oh, and no she is never driving my vehicles again.... haven’t told her that yet though. My son is buying something cheap and it will go on his own policy from now on.

 

[Dani]

Sorry you had to learn your lesson the hard way Brent. . . I feel for you Bro.

 

[user 6493]

So, just posted my $20,000 truck on Craigslist today for 2000. Really sad. The truck looks kind of rough but it really isn’t too bad though. The problem is to have it fixed professionally will cost 8 to 10k and I just don’t see it as worth it. Years ago I would have done the repairs myself for 1/3 of that cost but I just don’t have time now days. The engine starts and is fine with 70k miles on it and the bed and cab are perfect still. But the bumper, grill, hood and drivers front quarter panel are trashed. Amazed the airbags didn’t deploy or any glass wasnt damaged. Even the radiator wasn’t hurt. But with the drivers wheel mount broken it won’t roll and has to be towed. RIP truck.... I guess selling it to someone that is handy is a lot better than it becoming a lawn ornament.

what you need is a truck similar to yours in need of an engine,,,,,buy it and have the engine and tranny from the wreck put in and you are back on the road

 

[Brent S]

Sorry you had to learn your lesson the hard way Brent. . . I feel for you Bro.

I’m pretty good about knowing material things aren’t that important. It helps to vent a little but I’m smart enough to know things come and go in life. As long as you keep on keeping on the stuff is just small stuff.

 

[user 6493]

I have done this many times find a dead body and drop a good engine in it,,,you are in a better spot than I am you know the engine and trans are good,it might cost you $3500 for the whole shooting match

 

[Brent S]

what you need is a truck similar to yours in need of an engine,,,,,buy it and have the engine and tranny from the wreck put in and you are back on the road

Thought about that but this will be someone else’s project. I have several vehicles to drive so this isn’t the end of the world for me by any means.

 

[user 6493]

Thought about that but this will be someone else’s project. I have several vehicles to drive so this isn’t the end of the world for me by any means.

up to you,,sometimes it is best to just move on

my last 2 trucks were dead when I got them I dropped an engine in the first a dodge and drove it for 5 years,,,my current ride needed a engine part replaced at a cost of about $700,,,,I hope to drive this as long as the last,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it's a ford ranger

 

[Maverick]

Been their Brent, bought my youngest daughter a car and at the same time got her own insurance policy. We were done at 11am and off the lot, at 7pm that evening she gone airborne through a telephone pole and landed upside down on a large green telephone distribution box, it took a year for her insurance to cover the damages, they were arguing that the insurance wasn't active, the lady on the phone from the insurance company recorded the accident at 7am instead of pm, it took a whole year to get that straighten out but by then she was already sent to collections and it took another 8 or 9 months to clear that up after the insurance already paid.

 

[Brent S]

Been their Brent, bought my youngest daughter a car and at the same time got her own insurance policy. We were done at 11am and off the lot, at 7pm that evening she gone airborne through a telephone pole and landed upside down on a large green telephone distribution box, it took a year for her insurance to cover the damages, they were arguing that the insurance wasn't active, the lady on the phone from the insurance company recorded the accident at 7am instead of pm, it took a whole year to get that straighten out but by then she was already sent to collections and it took another 8 or 9 months to clear that up after the insurance already paid.

Ouch, even though that sucks as long as she wasn’t hurt bad then the car was just stuff.
I posted the ad on Craigslist yesterday and a guy from Louisiana called at 6am this morning. He will pick it up tomorrow. He had a same color truck he can use the parts from and does body work. I imagine he will make a good profit from this, but am glad someone will get this back on the road.

 

[JackDW]

up to you,,sometimes it is best to just move on

my last 2 trucks were dead when I got them I dropped an engine in the first a dodge and drove it for 5 years,,,my current ride needed a engine part replaced at a cost of about $700,,,,I hope to drive this as long as the last,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it's a ford ranger

grayghost668, I have an 03 Ranger 4x4 (or my daughter has it but still in my name and I maintain it). It currently has over 325K miles and still running strong. She keeping telling me she wants me to install a lift kit so she can go further off-road. I have heard of people going 500k miles or more with those truck. Those are one tough truck.

 

[Mountain trapper]

grayghost668, I have an 03 Ranger 4x4 (or my daughter has it but still in my name and I maintain it). It currently has over 325K miles and still running strong. She keeping telling me she wants me to install a lift kit so she can go further off-road. I have heard of people going 500k miles or more with those truck. Those are one tough truck.

My wife had an '87 Ford Ranger 4x4 when we first met. We put well over 200,000 hard miles on the engine before I replaced it. I think the Ford Ranger is the best small truck ever made. The Ford Ranger diesel 4x4 was also the LTV of choice when I was in Afghanistan.

 

[Brent S]

My son bought her a brand new Wrangler last night.... I told him to get a really good insurance policy for it! He doesn't realize what that’s going to cost just yet with her speeding tickets and an accident.

 

[user 7704]

My mom had a life insurance policy on my brother for 40 years. She came to visit me for about 5 weeks and did not pay the premium.

He died 2 weeks later.

 

[Brent S]

My mom had a life insurance policy on my brother for 40 years. She came to visit me for about 5 weeks and did not pay the premium.

He died 2 weeks later.

Sorry about your brother. Yeah, I was lucky they covered the accident. Most policies do cover for a few more days from the due date but not all of them.

 

[user 7704]

Thank you. He went in for out patient surgery on his thyroid and never made it out.