Well, at least the first car accident that I caused and resulted in any type of real damage.
I was somewhat in the neighborhood for work, and I decided I wanted to visit the Cueva de las Manos in Patagonia. It is off the tourist path, which made it rather attractive. I flew into Comodoro Rivadavia, an oil town, rented a car from Hertz, and drove 5 hours to Perito Moreno the nearest town with any type of tourist facilities I could find (to put in perspective how remote this is, about 2 hours before Perito Moreno there were no more radio stations I could tune in). 3 hours further was the cueva de las manos.
I was just 30 km from the cueva, perhaps driving a bit fast at 80 km/hr on a crappy gravel road, and I lost control and flipped the car. I was unhurt, which was very convenient because the nearest hospital was back in Perito Moreno. The car landed right side up, but was somewhat buried in the dirt.
In a somewhat miraculous circumstance, about 5-10 minutes after I flipped, a couple trekking through Patagonia in a van filled with a shovel, towing equipment, and other automotive repair items drove by (I was worried it might be hours before I even saw anyone). We spent about an hour and a half digging out my car and then they towed me onto the road. And the only thing keeping me from driving was a blown out tire, which they took to a nearby town (about 15 houses) and went house to house until they found someone who could repair the tire. Really, I think I owe these people a kidney. Maybe two.
The car was a wreck, but I made it back to Comodoro Rivadavia. I never saw that fucking cueva. I'm absolutely estatic that I flipped a car in a remote region of Patagonia and got out in one piece, without even a scratch.
Hertz wasn't as estatic when I showed up with their car though. They want me to pay for it (the audacity of those people!). If I have to pay, I have to pay, and that is just the way it is. But:
--I don't think my US car insurance would cover this. I checked my policy and the comprehensive is limited to the cars listed in the policy. The only one that might apply is property damage. Does anyone know the answer to this (yes I will check with a lawyer, but I won't be back in the US for a couple of weeks)?
--I've always used my amex corporate card for rental cars on the basis that I know my card covers all rental damage. Since it had never come up, I never thought about this any deeper, but it took about 1 hour after the wreck to think, "wait, this is a personal expense, I'm not visiting the cueva de las manos for work--could this void the coverages". This isn't an expense reporting problem: I just mark these expenses as personal and pay them out of my money. But does that exclude me from the rental coverage? I don't know. Has anyone used a corporate amex card coverages for rental car damages?
Thank God our little Fredo wasn't hurt. :weep:
Now that's a remote part of the world to have such a serious accident. You were really lucky that these other guys appeared. Did you have a radio or satellite phone to contact somebody or were you at the mercy of the elements?
Glad to hear you're ok. :)
Isn't 80 km/hr recklessly fast on a gravel road? Anyway, good thing you're OK.
Quote from: The Larch on September 26, 2011, 07:35:39 AM
Now that's a remote part of the world to have such a serious accident. You were really lucky that these other guys appeared. Did you have a radio or satellite phone to contact somebody or were you at the mercy of the elements?
Nope, I was at the mercy of the elements, and I was absurdly lucky. But the elements weren't that extreme, around 10 C. The winds were severe though. I had enough food and water to keep me okay for a few days, if worst came to worst.
Quote from: DGuller on September 26, 2011, 07:50:01 AM
Isn't 80 km/hr recklessly fast on a gravel road? Anyway, good thing you're OK.
I thought not, but I guess evidence indicates otherwise. Really it was a situation where I started going 50, felt secure at that speed, so upped it to 55, then 60, etc. until 80.
I'm always careful to go slow on gravel roads, because of what happened to a friend of mine in university - he flipped his car by going too fast, with a carful of classmates (a couple of buddies, a couple of chicks he hardly knew). One of the chicks cracked some vertibrae in her neck and was lucky not to snap her spinal cord (no seatbelt, natch).
This lead to a lengthy insurance-related saga ... and my friend felt so guilty about it, he visted her, flowers in hand, every single day in the hospital.
Well, as it turned out, she was in a long, long time, and none of her friends & family really came to visit much. By the time she was discharged, they were an item. They lookeclike a great couple - she was pretty hott.
Only problem was that she was crazy in a bad way, and they had absolutely nothing in common, other than a big old buttload of guilt on his part for breaking her neck, and a lingering lawsuit involving the insurers - his was arguing she should be partly to blame for not wearing a seatbelt, hers arguing he was wholly to blame for shitty driving. The romance ended badly, as one might expect (though if I ever knew the outcome of the legal case, I long ago forgot it). Allegedly, she - bit down on him in an intimate moment, angry at some insensitive stuff he was saying to encourage her to greater oral efforts. Turns out, breaking a girl's neck isn't the best way of forming a relationship.
So don't drive too fast on gravel, or that could happen to you. :P
Well, getting action is a bit of an accomplishment considering he started by breaking her neck. Check that one off of life's to do list.
An unexpected benefit of a developing world rental in a major accident: the car didn't have an airbag. If it did, it probably would have deployed, and I wouldn't have been driving it out of there.
Glad you're okay :hug:
I don't see why the corporate card insurance shouldn't apply.
Sounds like quite the adventure. I obviously have no idea about the terms of your card, but my corporate credit card does include private liability insurance on business trips, so it would cover the car.
Quote from: Zanza on September 26, 2011, 01:39:02 PM
Sounds like quite the adventure. I obviously have no idea about the terms of your card, but my corporate credit card does include private liability insurance on business trips, so it would cover the car.
In the American sense of car insurance, at least, liability insurance wouldn't cover this. Liability insurance covers the damage to other cars that you cause. In US, at least, this kind of accident would be under a collision coverage, which is optional.
Quote from: DGuller on September 26, 2011, 01:48:46 PMIn the American sense of car insurance, at least, liability insurance wouldn't cover this. Liability insurance covers the damage to other cars that you cause. In US, at least, this kind of accident would be under a collision coverage, which is optional.
It's a general liability insurance that covers all damages that I cause (without gross negligence) on a business trip to persons, things or assets up to a million Euro. However, I just looked up the small print and found that they exclude damage to self-driven cars, so it wouldn't be covered after all.
Quote from: Zanza on September 26, 2011, 02:04:27 PM
However, I just looked up the small print and found that they exclude damage to self-driven cars, so it wouldn't be covered after all.
So they only cover Google's robot car?
So, what kind of car was it?
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on September 26, 2011, 02:42:10 PM
So, what kind of car was it?
One with sub-par handling characteristics ?
:P
Quote from: DGuller on September 26, 2011, 01:48:46 PM
Quote from: Zanza on September 26, 2011, 01:39:02 PM
Sounds like quite the adventure. I obviously have no idea about the terms of your card, but my corporate credit card does include private liability insurance on business trips, so it would cover the car.
In the American sense of car insurance, at least, liability insurance wouldn't cover this. Liability insurance covers the damage to other cars that you cause. In US, at least, this kind of accident would be under a collision coverage, which is optional.
e
Would property damage possibly apply to this situation? I checked my comprehensive policy, and it is limited to the cars listed in the policy. Property damage seemed to be the only potential I have to use my personal policy--but I'd guess the answer is no.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on September 26, 2011, 02:42:10 PM
So, what kind of car was it?
A chevy classic--basically a chevy malibu. The choice of drivers everywhere for extreme adventure travel.
I had actually requested a 4 x 4 truck, but it wasn't available until the day after I left. So I made due with what I had.
Quote from: alfred russel on September 26, 2011, 04:08:31 PM
Would property damage possibly apply to this situation? I checked my comprehensive policy, and it is limited to the cars listed in the policy. Property damage seemed to be the only potential I have to use my personal policy--but I'd guess the answer is no.
Very much doubt it. Property damage, AFAIK, is when you are 89 years old, and drive through the neighbor's house while trying to leave your driveway.
Wtf? As they are both on the second page, I think we can assess the activity of my car accident thread and DGullers:
DGullers thread about a minor rear end collision in NYC: 117 posts.
My thread about flipping a car in a remote area of Patagonia: 18 posts.
:yeah: The difference is that your accident was non-fatal, whereas the jury is still out on mine.
DGuller had a 26 year old girl and the possibilty of extortion sex. And perhaps the possibly of a gangland hit.
Quote from: alfred russel on September 27, 2011, 04:13:47 PM
Wtf? As they are both on the second page, I think we can assess the activity of my car accident thread and DGullers:
DGullers thread about a minor rear end collision in NYC: 117 posts.
My thread about flipping a car in a remote area of Patagonia: 18 posts.
His story had a young Italian-American girl on it, followed by vaguely Soprano-like threats. There was much more drama there.
Quote from: DGuller on September 27, 2011, 04:15:18 PM
:yeah: The difference is that your accident was non-fatal, whereas the jury is still out on mine.
Damn, man, both Hilly and me had the same first thought, the girl, and you think about your possible demise? No wonder people think Russians are depressing. :P
Go-go Latin hyper sexuality :lol:
Quote from: alfred russel on September 27, 2011, 04:13:47 PM
Wtf? As they are both on the second page, I think we can assess the activity of my car accident thread and DGullers:
DGullers thread about a minor rear end collision in NYC: 117 posts.
My thread about flipping a car in a remote area of Patagonia: 18 posts.
Jewish controlled media.
:lol:
I made it to the Cueva de las Manos. I drove from Calafate after a rain, and it was easily the most difficult drive I've ever been on. I can't imagine a worse road--the wet sections turned into a deep type of mud that stuck to my boots and trashed the car interior too. You literally could not tell what color the car was. Hertz is charging me for washing the car, which is something I've never heard of before.
Quote from: alfred russel on September 27, 2011, 04:13:47 PM
Wtf? As they are both on the second page, I think we can assess the activity of my car accident thread and DGullers:
DGullers thread about a minor rear end collision in NYC: 117 posts.
My thread about flipping a car in a remote area of Patagonia: 18 posts.
DGuller updated his thread much more frequently.
By now anytime they come see you walking towards them to rent a car this place must shutter their windows and lock their doors :lol:
Quote from: Jacob on October 07, 2011, 04:14:52 PM
DGuller updated his thread much more frequently.
That is because while wandering through Patagonia there isn't internet access.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 07, 2011, 04:11:07 PM
washing the car, which is something I've never heard of before.
Odd. I would have expected you to be the type that washes their car every day.
:D
The score is 188 to 31 now, I'm still keeping more than 6-1 advantage. :yeah: And I'm planning to refill my windshield washer fluid reservoir this weekend, so I will likely squeeze in another page or two of the good stuff there.
Quote from: DGuller on October 07, 2011, 04:27:50 PM
The score is 188 to 31 now, I'm still keeping more than 6-1 advantage. :yeah: And I'm planning to refill my windshield washer fluid reservoir this weekend, so I will likely squeeze in another page or two of the good stuff there.
This weekend I was planning to summit Mount Everest in a Hertz rental, but that thread would probably pass uncommented with all the attention your washer fluid thread would get. So what is the point?
Quote from: alfred russel on October 07, 2011, 05:08:24 PM
This weekend I was planning to summit Mount Everest in a Hertz rental, but that thread would probably pass uncommented with all the attention your washer fluid thread would get. So what is the point?
Well if you got geo-sat internet access with your rental and kept posting, you'd get all sorts of responses I'm sure.
Quote from: Jacob on October 07, 2011, 05:28:11 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 07, 2011, 05:08:24 PM
This weekend I was planning to summit Mount Everest in a Hertz rental, but that thread would probably pass uncommented with all the attention your washer fluid thread would get. So what is the point?
Well if you got geo-sat internet access with your rental and kept posting, you'd get all sorts of responses I'm sure.
It would probably be a good idea for reasons other than keeping Languish up to date. But I also like being disconnected once in a while.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 07, 2011, 04:11:07 PM
I made it to the Cueva de las Manos. I drove from Calafate after a rain, and it was easily the most difficult drive I've ever been on. I can't imagine a worse road--the wet sections turned into a deep type of mud that stuck to my boots and trashed the car interior too. You literally could not tell what color the car was. Hertz is charging me for washing the car, which is something I've never heard of before.
The pictures of the cave look cool. Is it worth a trip? Patagonia is high on my places to go.
What are you doing there anyway? I thought you are in the insurance business so even if you are on a business trip, I would expect you to be in Buenos Aires and not in Patagonia.
Quote from: Zanza on October 08, 2011, 01:47:24 AM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 07, 2011, 04:11:07 PM
I made it to the Cueva de las Manos. I drove from Calafate after a rain, and it was easily the most difficult drive I've ever been on. I can't imagine a worse road--the wet sections turned into a deep type of mud that stuck to my boots and trashed the car interior too. You literally could not tell what color the car was. Hertz is charging me for washing the car, which is something I've never heard of before.
The pictures of the cave look cool. Is it worth a trip? Patagonia is high on my places to go.
What are you doing there anyway? I thought you are in the insurance business so even if you are on a business trip, I would expect you to be in Buenos Aires and not in Patagonia.
I was in Buenos Aires on a business trip, and at first I tried to visit the cueva during a weekend, and then took some time off to wander around patagonia by myself and then with the wife (some time I was going to spend hiking got diverted to the second trip).
The cueva is definitely not worth a trip considering what you have to go through to get there. But for me, it was worth a trip because going through the non tourist parts of southern Patagonia was a major draw for me. Before you do any driving down there, please hit me up for information. It is not reasonable and maybe not possible to drive through sections without a four wheel drive--even the major routes. But the paved parts are in very good shape, and they are in the process of paving everthing so in a couple of years this may be moot.
FYI, the second trip I booked with the help of a travel agent based in Buenos Aires, who set me up with a non four wheel drive and should have known better. Hertz also knew where I was going and didn't speak up. There was a rain that turned the roads into something akin to wet concrete, and sections were submerged. It is a desert, so maybe it would have been okay if it didn't rain, but it did.
I'm going to post in your lousy thread just so you don't cry like a little baby again.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 08, 2011, 05:30:13 PM
I'm going to post in your lousy thread just so you don't cry like a little baby again.
One post isn't going to do it--I'm down by about 160 posts.
Next time run over an extinct/previously undiscovered species or get hit by a hot teenaged mafiosa, does wonder for the post count.
Quote from: Jacob on October 07, 2011, 04:14:52 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on September 27, 2011, 04:13:47 PM
Wtf? As they are both on the second page, I think we can assess the activity of my car accident thread and DGullers:
DGullers thread about a minor rear end collision in NYC: 117 posts.
My thread about flipping a car in a remote area of Patagonia: 18 posts.
DGuller updated his thread much more frequently.
Yeah it is because of this. DGul updated us on every little detail-including his next adventure of needed to get a new tire. We even heard about his discussing it with a store and looking up a tire online! :w00t:
I don't lead an exciting life. :(
Quote from: garbon on October 08, 2011, 06:00:07 PM
his next adventure of needed to get a new tire.
You're on fire today grab. :D
Quote from: DGuller on October 08, 2011, 06:00:53 PM
I don't lead an exciting life. :(
Thanks for stating the obvious, New Jersey.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 08, 2011, 06:02:23 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 08, 2011, 06:00:07 PM
his next adventure of needed to get a new tire.
You're on fire today grab. :D
Verbal bullying is no laughing matter. :mad:
Quote from: DGuller on October 08, 2011, 06:07:16 PM
Verbal bullying is no laughing matter. :mad:
I've always found it amusing.