First accident (DOT reportable) PICS ADDED
 

Well today in Pittsburgh, Pa i got my first official DOT reportable accident and it was a tow away.

It should be a non-preventable since i was not going and was waiting to complete a left hand turn.

Here is how it happened:
I was waiting to make a left turn in the appropriate turn lane and this FFE driver decided to make a VERY. VERY wide right hand turn and hit my right hand side of my tractor. Not only did he hit my tractor but he fled the scene. I think he didnt know he hit me.

There was considerable amount of damage to my right side mirror and practically tore off my hood as well. I do have pictures and will post them up when i get home.

I decided to call a wrecker becuase i was not able to clearly see the right hand mirror. It cost $550 total for towing to their yard, dropping off trailer and than taking my truck to the KW dealer for repairs.

As stated in my poll, was calling the wrecker an appropriate move?

thanks for your help

Re: First accident (DOT reportable)
 

are you sure he hit your Right Side?
I'm just trying to figure out how that happened?
you were in a Left turn lane at an intersection?
the FFE driver was making a Right Turn?

In any event, there are ways of "temporary" fixes for mirror problems--like removing your "sissy" mirrors from your hood--and duct tape them over the cracked one, the older "west coast" style mirrors you could have removed the driver side--placed it over on passenger side temporary--and just stick your head out and look( and use the wide angle mirror) or specify what the problem is to "road service" and they could easily send you out one with a repair truck.

The issue is a mirror alone isn't considered "disabling damage" --- now if the Tow-truck operator is an honest/ nice guy and just "escorted" you in, and filled out and billed accordingly---then you're ok---
If the police didn't call a wrecker, there were no fatalities, no injuries, no property damage over $1,500. Then all you have to worry about is ---will
your company "stick it to YOU" for costing them $550.00 tow bill and use it
as a "device to impact your MVR" for the purpose of retaining you longer.

Did you call the police??

See if this helps.

Nick was in a left hand turn lane. FFE comes up along the right side of Nick's truck going the same initial direction approaching the intersection.

FFE swings out to the left to make his right hand turn.

Crunch. Damage to the RHS of Nick's truck.

Back to the original topic.

IMHO since you felt the truck was unsafe to drive after the accident and you were unable to make repairs in a timely manner to make the truck safe enough for your comfort then calling a wrecker was warranted.

Thanks, yes now I see the visual now, it was all the talk about taking a hood off that had me thinking different....so that was a very..very bad FFE driver and a very wide button hook right turn---because I've never seen left turn lanes on any single lane streets---only double lanes---that FFE driver could
have also ran over someone in the Right lane. That's just crazy driving....Tijuana Taxi Style

sorry for the confusion. I was in the left hand turn lane and the FFE driver made a WIDE right hand turn. he swung his truck hard to the left in attempting the right hand turn


here are some pictures that i took. i did call the police and i believe i found the trailer that hit me.

http://nickbtubas.googlepages.com/home

click on the images to enlarge them...

total repairs were $1300


p.s. i know the truck was/is dirty but i'm hoping for a dry spell in the snow we have been getting.

Images altered to protect the innocent

Did he hit you with the side of his trailer or did he catch you with the "trailer swing" as hew was turning ?

I see a lot of drivers with their tandems all the forward and they swing wide for right turns and cut back sharp and just about take out the vehicles that are in the lane next to them. Even if I'm running empty or have a light load I keep the tandems back a little because of that damn trailer swing. 8) 8)

Certainly taking pics and calling someone was a good move.

It's all documented now, "tail swing" is something to think about, I learned my lesson 20 years ago. :oops:

he swung wide and in the process hit my mirror and my hood.


I took pics and called the cops. The officer at the scene was very down to earth and made me feel at ease.

Well Holy Shit! Sorry man, guess I need to change my vote---the pictures are worth a 1000 words----yeah, you NEEDED to call a wrecker.

just got the mirror and what the Frack!

The condition of the hood was enough to warrant a tow. How would you know what condition the radiator was in, until a shop checked it out, with the hood knocked off like that. Radiator could just as easily been damaged too.