My new 4runner got hit

L

Loki

New member
So I recently moved to an area where there are ALOT of retired folks...many of whom should not be driving a motor vehicle. I've been dodging swarms of senile old folks for a while now and had quite a few near accidents due to their erratic driving.

So I've been doing this for 4 months now and finally one got me. This guy was about 90 years old and was trying to make an illegal left turn out of a gas station. I was behind him. People started honking at him when he tried to make the illegal left (there was a median in the center of the road he would have had to cross) so he freaked out, threw it in reverse and backed right into my new 4runner. I had to chase him down because he didnt realize he hit me.

The runner is screwed up pretty bad and I'm getting pretty annoyed that I have to dodge these people like it's a game of frogger whenever I take my truck out. Shouldn't there be some sort of age limit on drivers licences?
:(

btw...the old guy begged me not to call the cops and said he wanted to keep it off of insurance. i'm guessing he's played bumper cars before...

just venting. happy holidays!
:)
 
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Sorry to hear it. Did you call the cops?, I certainly hope so, next time he'll probably kill someone.
 
After working for GEICO---report the accident! It may be very hard for you to get the money from him...and your insurance company can deny any future claims if you do not report it. It will not affect your insurance (at least it shouldnt!) and it will only protect you and allow you to get the repair done right. Please Please Please trust me on this. I have seen too many of these things go bad. By the way--report it to the police AS WELL as the insurance company.
 
Sorry to hear about your accident. At least you walked away from it. DEFINITELY report this to the police and insurance as everybody has said here. I also live in an area that contains many senior citizen developments. I have my share of close calls too.

Just to give you an example of how important it is to report this, ten years ago, I was a passenger in my mom's 4 month old Avalon. We were stopped at a red light and all of a sudden, a 1985 Lincoln rams into our Avalon at 35 mph. We get out and it was an old lady. The kicker was that she told us she doesn't have time for this because she is late for her doctor's appointment. She then was cursing at us. We called the cops and it was important that we did. In the end, she got her license revolked because she was a threat to the other drivers. In addition, her insurance gave us a hard time with paying for the repairs even with a police report. Oh, and her defense was that we shouldn't have stopped at the red light because she needed to get through.
 
I'm sorry to hear about your accident.

I too think you should report it. By reporting it, maybe he'll realize the consequences and responsibility of operating a vehicle and it just may help make the world a safer place. I know that sounds like a speech given for a teenager, but it applies to anyone who operates a car. By not taking the time to look behind him when backing up, he could have hit a pedestrian who could have been crossing behind him.

I hope everything turns out for the better for you.
 
Definetly report. Otherwise it will turn out to be your fault. The old guy can say that you hit him from behind (how many times have you seen someone hitting in reverse)):
 
Definitely report it. The guy may have been begging you not to and promising to make good but that could quickly change.
 
dcampen said:
Definitely report it. The guy may have been begging you not to and promising to make good but that could quickly change.
Click to expand...

Yes next thing you know he will be saying you hit him and without a Police report it will be a he said you said.

Don't take chances.....it will bite you in the ass everytime.
 
1st let me say, lets get off the old people can't drive thing, I was watching something on TV and it had a bunch of drivers, the 90 year old guy was just as good as the 25 year old and then their was a few people around 30-40 who could not drive for shit, the 3 best drivers where 70, 90 and 25.

Where supppost to respect our elders not lock them up in old homes everytime 1 gets into a fender bender, with that thinking all teenagers should not be allowed to drive;):

Lets try an suppress our youth with knowledge we have yet to gain and not insult our older Yota members the where better cause where younger.

Now onto the accident, if you report it it will be marked on your insurance, not that it goes against you but the insurance knows you where in an accident, have several of those and they can drop you just for the fact that your always involved in an accident and your a high risk that they may eventually have to pay out on.

But if it was just a guy who backed into you don't get all bent out of shape, you did follow him so the truck is obviously fine minus the bumper damage, take a chill pill and give the guy a day or 2, most of these older people are loaded so if he gives you a grand or 2 to get your truck fixed and you walk away with 200 bucks in your pocket be happy.

Im 25 and accidentally back into a guy at the gas station, no damage but shit happens and with these new plastic cars you look at them and they dent, he's probably still has the mind set that you back into someone you bumped them and move on, older cars could do that.

Your gonna feel like everyone is out to hit you, get some POS and watch the road open up and how much less you care:)
 
EDGE said:
1st let me say, lets get off the old people can't drive thing, I was watching something on TV and it had a bunch of drivers, the 90 year old guy was just as good as the 25 year old and then their was a few people around 30-40 who could not drive for shit, the 3 best drivers where 70, 90 and 25.

Where supppost to respect our elders not lock them up in old homes everytime 1 gets into a fender bender, with that thinking all teenagers should not be allowed to drive;):

Lets try an suppress our youth with knowledge we have yet to gain and not insult our older Yota members the where better cause where younger.

Now onto the accident, if you report it it will be marked on your insurance, not that it goes against you but the insurance knows you where in an accident, have several of those and they can drop you just for the fact that your always involved in an accident and your a high risk that they may eventually have to pay out on.

But if it was just a guy who backed into you don't get all bent out of shape, you did follow him so the truck is obviously fine minus the bumper damage, take a chill pill and give the guy a day or 2, most of these older people are loaded so if he gives you a grand or 2 to get your truck fixed and you walk away with 200 bucks in your pocket be happy.

Im 25 and accidentally back into a guy at the gas station, no damage but shit happens and with these new plastic cars you look at them and they dent, he's probably still has the mind set that you back into someone you bumped them and move on, older cars could do that.

Your gonna feel like everyone is out to hit you, get some POS and watch the road open up and how much less you care:)
Click to expand...

I really wasn't trying to insult anyone. It is a statistical fact that elderly drivers cause a disporportionately high number of accidents due to reduced faculties. Since elderly drivers are literally everywhere where I live, it's a problem for me. Just as it would be a problem if there were a gazillion new drivers around me every time I take my car out. Here's some links I found from a quick google search btw:

http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/Releases/News/2001/February2001/Drivers.html
http://www.irmi.com/Insights/Articles/2004/Olson10.pdf
http://www.smartmotorist.com/eld/eld.htm
http://www.drdriving.org/elderly/

I like old people. Since godwilling I'll be one at some point I'm all for a fair way of dealing with the situation...but I do think after a certain age people should be required to take yearly drivers tests.

Anyway, I didn't report the accident to the police or insurance. I know I should have. Some kid rear ended me a while back and even though it was his fault, my insurance company raised my rates.

Honestly I also felt bad for the guy. Yeah he could screw me over and say I caused it but oh well. Sometimes you get screwed when you try to do something nice I guess but that's life. I'm willing to accept the risk. It wasn't alot of damage; just a minor fender bender.
 
Last edited:
EDGE said:

Your gonna feel like everyone is out to hit you, get some POS and watch the road open up and how much less you care:)
Click to expand...

I'd rather be dragged by the ankles naked over hot pavement behind a rabid horse than drive a POS....I exaggerate of course ;): ... Driving a nice vehicle is one of the things in life that makes me happy. I can deal with dodging bad drivers. Small price to pay.
 
Anyway, I didn't report the accident to the police or insurance. I know I should have. Some kid rear ended me a while back and even though it was his fault, my insurance company raised my rates.
Click to expand...

I don't think you should have let him get away with this. I'm one of those people that always tries to fair to others and in this situation I think you should have reported it strictly on the basis that this old man might endanger someone one day...

its just dangerous....
 
Hey glad you're ok. Normally I'm sympathetic to people but in this case I'd turn the guy into your insuarance company. It'll start a record (If there isn't already one) of him getting into accidents. If he gets into enough of them, his INS may drop him or raise his rates to the point where its not affordable for him to drive any longer and thus get him off the roads/sidewalks. I'm not trying to be mean and I have mucho respect for my elders, but once they get dangerous then they need to take the backseat and let someone else drive.

Just think what kind of accident he may get into in the future. Today he reverses into you, tomorrow he actually hurts someone...

Just my opinion so take it for what its worth...
 
As I said, I think you should report this to your insurance company but not because I have any opinions about letting the guy get away with it or getting the guy of the street etc. No, you need to report this to your insurance for one reason - to protect yourself. As someone else mentioned, if you do not report this to your insurance company and a month from now the guy claims that you were at fault and sues you, your insurance company will completely wash their hands of any responsibilty to help you in this matter and if there is any judgement against you they will refuse to pay.
 
Pilots can't fly commercial airliners after their 60, makes you think;):

Always hope it works out for the best and Karmas a bitch:D

I also agree with the stats on the silver sneaker members and the problem with them is the AARP, I've seen some wicked accidents, it's not uncommon for a barge on wheels to fly through a store front or parking lot cause the driver hit the gas instead of the brake:o
 
EDGE said:
1st let me say, lets get off the old people can't drive thing, I was watching something on TV and it had a bunch of drivers, the 90 year old guy was just as good as the 25 year old and then their was a few people around 30-40 who could not drive for shit, the 3 best drivers where 70, 90 and 25.

Where supppost to respect our elders not lock them up in old homes everytime 1 gets into a fender bender, with that thinking all teenagers should not be allowed to drive;):

Lets try an suppress our youth with knowledge we have yet to gain and not insult our older Yota members the where better cause where younger.

Now onto the accident, if you report it it will be marked on your insurance, not that it goes against you but the insurance knows you where in an accident, have several of those and they can drop you just for the fact that your always involved in an accident and your a high risk that they may eventually have to pay out on.

But if it was just a guy who backed into you don't get all bent out of shape, you did follow him so the truck is obviously fine minus the bumper damage, take a chill pill and give the guy a day or 2, most of these older people are loaded so if he gives you a grand or 2 to get your truck fixed and you walk away with 200 bucks in your pocket be happy.

Im 25 and accidentally back into a guy at the gas station, no damage but shit happens and with these new plastic cars you look at them and they dent, he's probably still has the mind set that you back into someone you bumped them and move on, older cars could do that.

Your gonna feel like everyone is out to hit you, get some POS and watch the road open up and how much less you care:)
Click to expand...

:bs:
Do a search on the highest insurance rates in the state of FL.

You think you dodge them in Delaware try driving in south FL.
most elderly people have slow reaction times and are a hazard just like young drivers are cocky and take chances and are a hazard.

OH yea and old people are loaded and love to just hand over $$$
Please.Most old people are cheap and hold on to there money like grim death:D

Thats why I said if you don't report it I could see him saying "that young kid hit me who are you going to believe me or some young punk". cover your ass and do the right thing and report it.
 
Definitely report it

You might think you are doing him a favor by not reporting it, but the next person he hits might not fare as well as the 4runner. imagine if you were walking behind him when he did that. If he is physically capable of driving a car (vision, reflexes, hearing), he'll get a rate hike in his insurance. If he is not physically able to drive a car safely, you may just save someone's life (not to mention his if he runs someone over)...
 
Yes older people are in a higher risk and many of them should not be driving but Loki did already say he was involved in 1 accident that was not his fault and his insurance was raised, if he reports another accident his insurance can go up again.

Even if it's not your fault you where still their and the insurance company will consider you high risk, my X-gf got into several parking lot accidents, not her fault but the other drivers gave her info when they reported it to the insurance company and she became a high risk customer and they dropped her, and this was from morons who backed into her while the car was parked, so she got higher rates and was not even driving the actual car and they dropped her.

Insurance companies will look for every reason to raise your rates, if insurance was so great to the consumer then everyone would not be like lets not report this;):
 
Mine got hit too

Something simiilar happened to me, just a couple of months after I had purchased a set of bumper guards (not full grille guards) from WAAG. The other driver wasn't elderly; she just got flustered trying to make a left turn out of a parking lot when someone in a lot on the opposite side of the street did the same thing she was doing and got into the turn lane a little ahead of her. She was surprised and backed up just a little too far, and hit my bumper guard (WAAG calls the front ones "front runners").

She bent up the bumper guard and pushed it into the plastic of the bumper, but the guard has wide steel flanges that are padded, and it did no damage to my vehicle. The result was $325 to replace the bumper guard rather than maybe $1200 for a bumper replacement and repainting. After talking to her insurance company I just ordered the same bumper guard and installed it myself. They wanted the damaged one from me and I was glad to give it to them.

We didn't report it to the police (It happened in a parking lot and I think they wouldn't have even responded) but I did report it to her insurance company.

It all worked out ok, and I was glad I reported it. I don't think she reported it to my insurance company, and my rates haven't changed.

As for senile drivers, I was hit by one of those 11 years ago, while stopped in a center turn lane. The woman was actually using the turn lane as a traffic lane, and had passed some folks in the real traffic lanes. She clearly shouldn't have been driving, and was going to get an "evaluation" as a result of a recommendation by the responding police officer. But that's a whole other story, and has nothing to do with 4Runners.
 
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