I think I just might wring his neck.

My son called this morning and said he'd be late because he hit a boat.

Inner fender crushed and pushed into the engine. That would be the engine we just replaced. Looks like the entire front end has shifted to the drivers side. Great. Probably not fixable without major surgery.

The boat was shoved off the trailer and into the back of the tow vehicle and the trailer snapped in the middle.

They wrote it up as his fault even though the boat trailer had no brake lights and the tow vehicle lights weren't visible.

Needless to say he's not real happy right now.

Least he didn't hit the boat while it was floating in some water.....

I would fight that write-up ASAP !!

fasted58 wrote: I would fight that write-up ASAP !!

Word.

Probably called "following too close"

Follow the two second rule.

"Failure to assure clear distance". In Ohio clear distance is defined as something like "you should be able to stop under any circumstances, including inoperable brake lights."

Michigan is the same way. My son got a ticket when he rearended an SUV last year. Cop told him it's automatic when you run into the back of another vehicle. There aren't any acceptable excuses.

He can try to fight the ticket but it will be tough. Just because something is there doesn't mean you can hit it. Even if its not supposed to be there.

That sucks. I know all about junking a car with a brand-new engine. It's a real treat. At least your son is (presumably) okay, other than shaken up?

Hire a traffic lawyer. Let him decide what the law is.

Dang. At least your son was well enough to call you! As that volkswagen commercial says, you can only wring his neck if he's ok!

in the middle of a snow storm, AT NIGHT, i pulled out in front of a prius that was driving around with her lights off. she totalled my e30. still my fault.

belteshazzar wrote: in the middle of a snow storm, AT NIGHT, i pulled out in front of a prius that was driving around with her lights off. she totalled my e30. still my fault.

Lights off for extra battery range obviously.

Toyman01 wrote: Inner fender crushed and pushed into the engine. That would be the engine we just replaced. Looks like the entire front end has shifted to the drivers side. Great. Probably not fixable without major surgery.

Wow, that really sucks! Is the engine damaged or just "kissed"?

The boat was shoved off the trailer and into the back of the tow vehicle and the trailer snapped in the middle. They wrote it up as his fault even though the boat trailer had no brake lights and the tow vehicle lights weren't visible.

I hate to say it, but it DOES sound like it was his fault. He had to have been hauling to do that much damage, and one should be able to tell if traffic ahead is slowing down, lights or no.

An aside, given the horrible lighting installs/trailer maintenance I've seen, it's probably best practice to assume that any given trailer has faulty lights and brakes.

DeadSkunk wrote: Michigan is the same way. My son got a ticket when he rearended an SUV last year. Cop told him it's automatic when you run into the back of another vehicle. There aren't any acceptable excuses.

Yep, like it or not that's pretty much how it works. You have to be far enough back to stop under any circumstances.

belteshazzar wrote: in the middle of a snow storm, AT NIGHT, i pulled out in front of a prius that was driving around with her lights off. she totalled my e30. still my fault.

No DRLs? Maybe we should sue Toyota for that and the stuck accelerator?

it's your son's problem.. let him figure it out.

That boy... How many times has that poor car been hit now?

Glad he's OK.

Maybe this one scared him a little bit.