Hit-and-Run

So here’s a story of a good company that could have done the right thing, but didn’t.

The scene:                 Saturday morning, almost noon.  Traffic is a snarl in downtown Boston, and a well-timed paving project cuts Boylston Street from 3 lanes to one.

The action:                 A 20-ton white truck wants the open lane. And apparently doesn’t see the 1,500-pound red Honda hatchback 5 feet below it.

Visual:                        The world is a big white hulking thing, coming closer.

Sound effects:             Metal on metal. Mirror snaps.

More Action:              Truck driver takes off. Followed by a call to the company.

On the surface, Miller Pipeline does all the right things (after all, its driver could be cited for a hit-and-run.). The VP of ops calls back, expresses what seems like genuine concern, and promises to do the right thing. (Also swears that the driver will lose his job, which is absolutely not the goal, and certainly not the point of it all.)

But by Monday morning, the urgency is dead. No one calls when they say they would. The only person charged with contact is the guy in ‘claims’ who – give him credit – answers his phone.  He says they asked the driver, and he said he didn’t hit anything. (Q: How does a driver of a large and noisy truck ‘hear’ something that lasts 2 seconds if he didn’t see it in the first place?)

The outcome: When I told them to check his hubcap, they went radio-silent.  Of course, they handed to insurance; that’s what insurance is for. But how about the driver who bolted?

So, it’s costing me $500 to get the car fixed – and the likelihood of steeper premiums next year. That just feels wrong. And another ugly lesson in human nature: it’s easy enough to pay lip service to doing the right thing, but when the rubber meets the road – or in this case, the wheel meets the door – it’s just as easy to pass the buck.

Anyone listening over there at Miller Pipeline?  

And one disappointed customer, of course, tells 10 more. At least.

   - Posted by Amy Bermar

Comments

[Danielle DiGiovanni]

Kudos to you for not getting scared during the accident.

My 1st car accident ever was due to a Mac truck driven by a very confused driver on a road that isn't zoned for trucks.

I was driving a minivan and the truck tried to make a sharp turn next to me. The trailer knocked in the glass on the windshield, and both drivers side doors.

To this day, I'm still afraid of trucks and hate being next to them when I'm driving.

The driver of the truck was shocked I wasn't hurt (as were the paramedics who quickly arrived on the scene). His insurance company was so glad that they weren't having to pay for hospital bills that, in addition to the car repair, they paid to have my scratched glasses replaced.

I hope that this post helps to get you reimbursed for the damages.