Not a good day
Today was the first day back in the office after being on-site at the client’s. In addition to the snow, I had mountains of work I was supposed to be doing, and then, on my way to work, I get rear-ended by someone’s who’s just not paying attention. We were at a (red) stoplight on Rt 28 S, and one person was in front of me. The guy in front of me didn’t go right away when the light changed green, so I waited for him to go, unfortunately, the person behind me didn’t. BANG! right into the back of my car. I have no idea how fast they were able to get up to before they hit me, but it felt really freaking fast. The impact knocked my glove compartment open, the “door” to where I keep my CDs (you can put a CD changer in there if you want), and knocked a bottle of juice out of the cup holder. Luckily, my airbags didn’t deploy, but my seatbelt locked, and I’m sure that there’ll be a little bit of brusing there later. Other than that, it was a shock, but no injuries.
I already had to spend most of my day getting this sorted out, but I also had actual work to do. Luckily, I got almost all of it done, and what I didn’t do I was able to bring home with me and will finish tonight. This is the first time I’ve had to call my car insurance for anything since I switched to Progressive, and I have to say that I’m impressed. Before, when someone (else) ran into me, I had to deal with their insurance directly, and I fought them tooth and nail to get my car fixed. Progressive handled calling the other insurance company, contacted me with where to take my car for an appraisal, and all of that. Even better, the appraiser was at the body shop (highly recommended by my boss), as was an enterprise rental “store”. They set me up in a Ford Focus until at least 3/2, when they may need to keep my car longer.
As a side note on the Focus – it sucks! It feels cramped, I can’t feel the road, so I have no idea how fast I’m going or how the car handles. And I’m driving an unfamiliar car on extremely slippery and not well salted roads. It’s just been a bad day 
Tommorrow, I hav to give a presentation at work, then I leave to go skiing up in Deep Creek Maryland at Wisp! At least I can relax for a few days…
Pictures of my poor car are below if you’re viewing the entire article. And I say “poor car” because this is the second accident that this car has been in in the not quite two years I’ve owned it. Neither one was my fault, but it’s still bad.
Here’s to a relaxing weekend!
The damage doesn’t look too bad (famous last words). Most likely, you’ll need a new bumper cover and underlying support structure/energy absorbers — they’re “one use only” and a new trunk lid.
The blatently obvious: When the repair shop is done, make sure you look over the entire rear half of the car very carefully. Things to look for:
1) Look at the new paint versus the rest of the car. It should match perfectly. The best place/time to do this is under bright sunlight.
2) Make sure that all seams and gaps (trunk-to-quarter panels, trunk to bumper, trunk to rear window are even, aligned and look “right”
3) Check for paint over-spray, especially on the windows. Again, this is best done under bright sunlight.
4) Make sure that the trunk opens/closes correctly.
The fact that the repair shop is recommended by someone you trust bodes well. Sorry ’bout the Focus — I’ve rented one and agree, they blow serious chunks.