UPDATE:
The car doesn't look "showroom new" anymore...
Our son just had his first accident.
I don't really think it was his fault.
Here are the details for those interested in that sort of thing...
Of course, it happened less than a mile from our home, on a major road (SR-113). It's a bidrectional road (one lane each way), 45mph speed limit. He was heading south, just cresting a small hill when a lady in a dark blue Toyota Camry was backing out onto the road to the right of him, and right in front of him. He hit his brakes and his horn at the same time, tried to swerve, but his right front (fender, headlight, bumper) clipped her left-rear. His Sunfire's headlight is cracked, corner of hood bent, fender is toast, and wheel well plastic all shot to hell. The other driver's Toyota's bumper cover was pretty much ripped off, and some side damage beneath the bumper cover.
The fact that the other driver was backing out onto a highway (SR-113) makes her responsible for yielding the right of way, as I understand it, so we will be looking to get his car repaired. We shouldn't even be out the deductible (if it's proven to be 100% her fault, which is the way I see it). Oh, and to make matters worse, the other driver was backing out off of a grassy area. She was trying to pull into her sister's house. It was very dark, she had someone tailgating her, and misjudged and accidently drove of the main road onto the lawn. Personally, I think that freaked her out and she just slammed it back into reverse without looking...but that's just conjecture on my part. I can see why my son might not be expecting to see a car back out onto the road BETWEEN to drive ways several hundred yards apart.
So, our son is bumming because he has been a good, concientious driver...and pretty safe too. He is hoping the car doesn't get totalled...it's book value even on the high-end is only around $5k dealer.
Oh well. No one was hurt.
TJR
