Recently I was involved in a minor fender bender with a very nice lady. Since the car incident harkens to things taught in childhood, I would like to unofficially say this blog is brought to you by the letter "I," the word "fault," the number "17" and your local insurance agency.
Two days after the accident I was contacted by the insurance agent that represented the other party, Mrs. X, involved in the case. After the accident, Mrs. X was very apologetic, and, I had thought, assumed all fault. She even gave me a card inscribed with "I'm so sorry, please call me." After a short roadside powwow I agreed to go get an estimate as she wanted to see if this could be resolved without an insurance claim.
After the initial estimate came from the specialty body shop, the scenario took on a second life -- not to be confused with the online world of the same name. This was real and inescapable. I was at the shop when the owner called Mrs. X to give the repair estimate. As I sat in the office, I couldn't hear her end of the conversation, only that of the kind Cuban-cigar smoking man who had just netted a new client.
"No, not $1,700, it will cost $17,000 to fix his car. Yes, I know it looks like a small dent in the front, but the car is fiberglass and the whole clam, she'll needs to be replaced. Ok, I'll tell him to expect a call from your insurance company." Side note--Lotus received an exemption in 2005 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allowing them to sell cars for three years sans bumpers.
While on the phone with their insurance agent two days later I began to get uncomfortable by the questions that seemed to suspend fault of their client. Didn't they get the email I sent to Mrs. X and her husband that listed, point by point, what happened along with accompanying photo of my car?
Apparently not.
Now the insurance agent wanted to get my "recollection of the events that led to the accident." I had to control myself. Yes, I was very frustrated since my car had most of the damage, but I was convinced, clearly, that it wasn't my fault. Mrs. X's Mercedes SUV practically drove over my car, not into it, and her behemoth of an automobile was unscathed.
I took a deep breath. "Have you talked to Mrs. X?"
"No, I talked to her husband and wanted to get some answers from you before I talked to my client. Can you tell me what you were doing when the accident occurred?"
"I was eating lunch."
"Please be more specific. And you don't think this may have caused the accident? "
I couldn't bite my tongue fast enough to keep the sarcasm from escaping my lips; "No. It didn't cause me to lose control of the vehicle. Concerning my discerning palate; I was eating a vegetable Panini with Grand Cru Gruyère from Roth Käse, marinated baby artichokes, oven-roasted tomatoes, spinach and olives pressed on sourdough with a balsamic dressing. But more importantly I wasn't inside the car at the time. I was sitting outside at a restaurant when your client backed into my parked car."
"Oh. Ok. We'll confirm with Mrs. X and get back to you."
After Mrs. X confirmed the chain of events, but not the sandwich type, the insurance company was very nice and accommodating. They confirmed the estimate was expensive but on par with the damage sustained and the kind of car involved.
I felt very bad for Mrs. X. I had no clue how expensive something so 'minor' would end up being. I couldn't believe it myself. I could have fathomed $1,700, not $17,000. As the saying goes, "that's why we have insurance."
The unfortunate thing is, look at your insurance card. Turn it over. Mine says:
If you have an accident, do not admit fault. Do not discuss the accident with anyone except your agent.
Really?
Isn't this the opposite of what we're taught as kids? When more than one child is involved in a dispute or accident don't we demand "the truth" or "who did this" with the threat of a time out? Maybe adults need a time out until one admits culpability. Look at the news -- why would kids admit fault when all their role models do otherwise?
"Regardless of this accident's cause, we feel in our hearts a need to help--now--even though the answers we all seek are going to be weeks, if not months, away. If it is determined that we were responsible for the cause of this incident, we will take accountability."
--PG&E on the gas explosion that killed at least 4, injured 50 and destroyed over 40 homes.
A report released by BP today concludes that decisions made by "multiple companies and work teams" contributed to the accident which it says arose from "a complex and interlinked series of mechanical failures, human judgments, engineering design, operational implementation and team interfaces."
--BP Report on Causes of Gulf of Mexico Tragedy
I can only imagine hearing a kid say, "If it's determined that I'm at fault at a later date." Wow. Sad.
When the incident occurred it was obvious that Mrs. X was at fault. She readily admitted and apologized for the small, yet costly, damage. When the insurance got involved the matter became cloudy as the repair cost escalated. And this attitude is reflected in the way many large corporations respond to tragedies. It's a confusing message when we attach a price tag on culpability.
Especially to our kids.
Follow Todd Greene on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Todd_Greene
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