Once again I must apologize for my delay in posting dear constant readers, especially as the great day approaches.
On Monday of last week my beloved 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV was hit in my oldest daughter's school parking lot. I had just pulled into the lot to pick her up and out of the blue a new Dodge SUV backed into my right front fender while I was still moving, albeit slowly.
The Lincoln was jolted to a stop as the tow hitch on the Dodge jammed into my tire and the SUV’s back bumper coming into contact with my RH fender.
Exiting my car I was initially relieved to see only minor damage, close inspection showed a crease in the fender near the apex of the fender flare. The Lincoln’s decorative belt line moulding protecting the rest of the fender from harm.
As I was now blocking the school parking lot I attempted to move my car, no luck both front wheels refused to move or steer, looking underneath I could see severely bent steering components…my heart sank.
I was in shock from the accident and at the fact that my old friend who had carried me around for some 16 years lay mortally wounded. I felt the tears welling in my eyes.
My Lincoln never let me down through summer heat or the worst winter storms, I knew ever inch of that car having sweat and bled to keep her running. The thought that she may be a “write off” made me sick and I realized how much of me was in that Lincoln. It wasn’t just another old car, it had become an extension of myself, a little care worn and patinaed but still sleek and elegant. ;)
In a daze I called “J” to pick up our oldest daughter and take her to her swimming practice. I exchanged insurance and licence information with the woman who was driving the Dodge SUV, a teacher at my daughter's school as it turned out.
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| note angle of wheel |
Adding to my misery was that the Lincoln unlike the rest of my fleet only had liability insurance, no collision. I would no doubt be out of pocket for the repairs and was not currently in a position to afford them even if I did the work. On top of everything I was scheduled to leave for Montreal in less than two weeks and this was the last thing I needed.
In Ontario we have no fault insurance (each insurance company looks after their policy holders regardless of fault …if you have collision…and then battles it out behind the scenes). I called my broker but he wasn’t optimistic even though the accident wasn’t my fault.
I called CAA to tow my car to a body shop I trusted, the tow truck driver was very nice and gave me a ride home from the shop. I think he was trying to pick me up as he offered to tow any of my cars for free in the future.
The next step was to go to the accident reporting center and get an official police report. I drove to nearest centre in Oakville in my Seville, see it pays to have way more cars than you need.
At the accident reporting center I was chided for not driving my car there to show them the damage. I explained that the accident had rendered her undrivable. Well then you should have it towed I was told. OMG, it would have cost a few hundred dollars to have it towed from Burlington to Oakville then back!
By this time it was nearly eight pm and the shock had worn off to replaced by anger at the obtuse eaucracy I was now battling. Finally they agreed to send a police officer to confirm the accident damage. I was told to drive back to the bodyshop and wait for an officer to meet me there. Surprisingly one turned up quickly but as he had never done such a report (?) told me to go home and wait for a call from the police the next day.
I left the Lincoln looking forlorn in the body shop parking lot. I was so upset I couldn’t sleep, heart sick at the loss of my old friend.
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| accident scene |
Stay tuned for Part 2.
