Head on with a cop!

[HOT_WASABI_JUNKIE]

So I'm driving on the back roads behind my house. I have my new GF in the passenger seat and we are just going to Starbucks and I wanted to take the fun route there rather than the paved road. I'm coming around a blind turn that I've mastered the fishtail on and "bam".. A SVPD black and white is coming around the same turn. I slam on my breaks and so does he. His car stops on a dime and mine grinds to a halt into his brush guard- battering ram on his front bumper. It's a very surreal feeling to get in a car accident with a cop. We get out and check damage and he calls the highway patrol to make a report and half the police force shows up to stand around to see the big show.I think the funny part for me was with all those cops not one asked me if I'd been drinking! I had 4 cocktails on the beach about 5 hours before and a big meal so I was most likely under the limit but seems like something a small army of cops might ask? The other funny thing, a cop called me yesterday, 3 days after the collision and asked me my insurance policy number. I gave them all my info including that and no one wrote it down? I must admit the cops were very cool, probably nicer than if I got in a fender bender with a civilian but I was a little surprised by the lack of police work they did regarding me smacking into one of them head on!
So my beloved VX is at the body shop with an estimated repair cost of just under 3 grand. The front driver side cladding was compromised and my front fender will need to be replaced. They were able to find new parts for everything and I had full coverage on my car and the cop car of course as well. I guess I was hoping for a bit of advice or helpful hints about dealing with the body shop as far as things to look for and be aware of from other members who have had front end body work. Any thing I should be looking out for?

[LittleBeast]

I would suggest not admitting on a public forum that you were under the influence while driving. I am not a police officer but we do have members on the force here. I also would suggest never driving if you have had something to drink. I have lost family members to A-holes like you that think just a drink or two will not impair your driving. If you know me I never call names, but this is one thing I am passionate about and I would definitely get in your face in person on this one. No excuse for having a few drinks and driving, grow up and do not post your shortcomings/illegal activity on a public forum.

[HOT_WASABI_JUNKIE]

I had a few drinks at noon.. The incident was like at 7 o'clock at at night and I had a big dinner and did not feel the least bit impaired. A good half day had gone by so I don't think alcohol was a contributing factor in this crash or I'd hope a small army of cops would be able to assess that! It must have been the pound of cocaine I snorted after I smoked some joints after the glue I was sniffing after dinner!

[TheGanzman]

I had a few drinks at noon.. The incident was like at 7 o'clock at at night and I had a big dinner and did not feel the least bit impaired. A good half day had gone by so I don't think alcohol was a contributing factor in this crash or I'd hope a small army of cops would be able to assess that! It must have been the pound of cocaine I snorted after I smoked some joints after the glue I was sniffing after dinner!

See - THERE's your mistake! If you had just had a shot of heroin before you left, you would have been all calm, and not tried to take that corner like a hotshot! Let this be a lesson to you!

[nfpgasmask]

That almost happened to me on a trail once, except with a Sandrail and not a cop. We missed hitting eachother by an inch or so....

Bart

[LittleBeast]

It is really sad that you think that driving under the influence of anything is a joking matter. Maybe one day your perspective will change, I hope it will not be because of the terrible consequences of driving impaired, but I am glad your true feelings about driving under the influence have come out due to your joking tone and immature approach to a serious and illegal activity. One day you might grow up, I hope it doesn't take a death by a drunk driver in your family to do it, but sadly it seems that it might.

[vt_maverick]

A nonfactor apparently worth mentioning in a "Wow I may have gotten away with it" manner. Totally not a big deal at all, which is why I mentioned it. But why are you mentioning it? I mean it's not a big deal - but let me joke about it some more.

As for advice: I assume your VX isn't driveable? If it is you should let multiple body shops assess the damage, and if it isn't there's not a lot you can do other than to take it to a different shop after the repairs are done to make sure it was done correctly.

[HOT_WASABI_JUNKIE]

See - THERE's your mistake! If you had just had a shot of heroin before you left, you would have been all calm, and not tried to take that corner like a hotshot! Let this be a lesson to you!

I agree... But seriously I was sober at the time of the accident.I had 4 of those little club cocktails on the beach that day, ate a subway sandwich down there, and then a big sushi dinner a few more hours went by then got in my car. I was not stumbling or slurring my words and I was sober as a judge at the time of the crash. At least 6 hours had gone by since my last drink and I had lunch and dinner. The cop taking the report was close enough to me to smell alcohol if I was emitting it, but I was shocked he did not ask me " have you had anything to drink today ? " I would think that would be a standard question and I would have gladly took a field sobriety test if asked. I also agree with the previous post that drunk driving sucks and kills people and think drinking and driving is a serious crime! Did I have drinks earlier that day.. Yes.. Was I impaired at the time of the collision... No

[tom4bren]

I'll not comment about driving under the influence. I don't do it & I don't condone it. I'll take your word that ALL effects had worn off.

I'll also not comment on fish-tailing around blind curves ... just doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Let me guess - it's the first time you've EVER seen another vehicle on that road.

I will wish you good luck on your repairs. The only thing that I'll comment on is that the replaced cladding will probably not match the old. May want to check to see if insurance will pay for any kind of restoration process on the plastic to get them to match.

Before it goes to the paint booth, see if you can inspect the repairs & look particularly at the interface points (like hood to fender, & door to fender seams) to make sure they are all straight and true.

I'm guessing that they'll inspect the frame for bending & perform an alignment. If they don't, insist on it.

[BigSwede]

You can, on average, metabolize about a drink an hour. So in the circumstances you describe, you probably were not impaired...by alcohol anyway. Not sure about the sushi.

[circmand]

I was once in a vehicle accident with the small town's mayor. He pulled out in front of me when he had a stop sign and I did not. The cops never even questioned who was at fault, the mayor was not pleased.
On the other subject of driving under the Influence. You should not do it. Because by the time you fdeel it you are way pass the legal limit. I doubt you had any effects left but the DUI laws as opposed to safety all all about revenue and political appeasement of a powerful voting bloc. You want safety pass the DUI law sure, but also distracted driving with cell phones that studies show are just as bad as DUI. Pass laws against driving tired or eating while driving or reading and/or watching TV. Require old people who have had an accident (or anyone really) since they last renewed their licenses to retake the entire test to see if they should still be driving. Require people who buy an RV to get a license for the 34 foot vehicle and tow car they have never driven before. Why do motorcyclists need a special license but Rvers do not? Speaking of motorcylists require a helmet if they expect medical treatment after an accident. How about seat belts on school and metro buses? All of these things factor into safety but only a small segment of people who can be made out as scapegoats are the ones paying. I hate for anyone to lose a family menber to a drunk driver but would you feel any better if it had been a teen on a cell phone or an old person who should no longer be driving? But politicians do not want AARP on their butts so let the old people who cant see past their hood still drive.

[JAMAS]

I had 4 cocktails on the beach about 5 hours before and a big meal so I was most likely under the limit but seems like something a small army of cops might ask?

I believe there was a misreading/misunderstanding that is causing all of this hullabaloo....I added what I believe to be the misread phrase in red

There are several things that factor into the alcohol metabolic rate, but I think its usually its roughly 1 hour to 1 drink for the inebriation to go away.

I could be wrong, but that's my educated guess.

[Osteomata]

Well thank god we have identified an entire area of human behavior that is off limits to joking, and pointed it out in a deeply moralizing manner.

[circmand]

Well thank god we have identified an entire area of human behavior that is off limits to joking, and pointed it out in a deeply moralizing manner.

One area, You cant joke about women, blacks, or any minority, You cant joke about the rich, the fat, the stupid, or the unemployed, Also dont make fun of old, the children, or the mentally disabled. Its wrong to make fun of criminals, religion or politics. Hell except for white males and smokers and the Nascar you cant make fun of nothing

[FlyingV77]

you also forgot about the weight of the person. that 1 drink 1 hour rule, also states per 100 lbs of the person. or thats what the TABC says.

so if your 200 lbs, you can in theroy have 2 drinks per hour...

as for any advice, claim it was the cops fault and say you have back and neck pain. cops are always driving distracted, and often drunk.

have fun with your potential winfall!