My OperaHit and Run
Monday, April 11, 2011 3:59:47 PM
The editor had his car (the Saab without the FONZ sticker) parked at the easternmost legal parking spot on the north of the 900 block of M Street a week ago Friday evening. The one closest to Modern Liquor. Sometime that night, this happened:
The editor saw it about 7:30am on his way back from One Cup Saturday morning. A contractor working on 901 M said it was OK at 9:00 or so the night before. He noticed it Saturday morning. He said he's learned to look at cars parked at corners. A lot of them seem to have been recently sideswiped as the drivers start their turns too early.
The right side turn thingy and the panel had some damage:
The interesting thing was that, because of springines of modern side mirrors, the debris was thrown backwards:
The editor called 911. (311 is a waste of time, but the editor called anyway.) Officer Leo of 3D took the details, and gave a case number.
The editor then called the insurance company. Travelers.
The lady on the phone was clear, thorough, and very professional. The editor picked the Falls Church Auto Body Shop. Turns out there is a little Travelers office right there. Showed up at 9:30 and was out in a rental by 10:30-11:00. The rental was a Chevrolet Malibu. Typical rental car. The editor doesn't have a problem with them in places like Phoenix, where the roads are straight and wide and parking spaces are ample. In DC, it's like piloting the Queen Mary on a slalom run. Work.
By Friday morning, the editor retrieved his car. Like new. Said an extra thanks or two to the Travelers people. The are courteous, efficient, and very, very coordinated.
The editor saw it about 7:30am on his way back from One Cup Saturday morning. A contractor working on 901 M said it was OK at 9:00 or so the night before. He noticed it Saturday morning. He said he's learned to look at cars parked at corners. A lot of them seem to have been recently sideswiped as the drivers start their turns too early.
The right side turn thingy and the panel had some damage:
The interesting thing was that, because of springines of modern side mirrors, the debris was thrown backwards:
The editor called 911. (311 is a waste of time, but the editor called anyway.) Officer Leo of 3D took the details, and gave a case number.
The editor then called the insurance company. Travelers.
The lady on the phone was clear, thorough, and very professional. The editor picked the Falls Church Auto Body Shop. Turns out there is a little Travelers office right there. Showed up at 9:30 and was out in a rental by 10:30-11:00. The rental was a Chevrolet Malibu. Typical rental car. The editor doesn't have a problem with them in places like Phoenix, where the roads are straight and wide and parking spaces are ample. In DC, it's like piloting the Queen Mary on a slalom run. Work.
By Friday morning, the editor retrieved his car. Like new. Said an extra thanks or two to the Travelers people. The are courteous, efficient, and very, very coordinated.
