Another Car Rant and apartment rant (picture added)

[matrix82]

I decided to just let me truck go unrepaired. I wake up this morning, and I find my car has been badly damaged, along with the vehicle parked next to it. A hit an run, either it was black ice or the person was drunk. The back fender pressed in, car moved 1.5 feet. Car will not start. I can't do anything with insurance until Monday, as the office is closed.

The vehicle next to mine had it's bumper almost taken off by the same vehicle. I think what happened was the person was going too fast, hit one car which slowed it down when it hit ours. Made the police report. Lots of broken pieces all around, the truck that hit us is missing a headlight as it left it behind and a chunk of it's bumper.

People drive way too fast through this parking lot, as it is used as a shortcut between two roads. Just last week a man was critically injured as he was struck by a person driving too fast.

I am putting this through insurance, as the car will not even start. I am also considering moving to a new apartment, I don't know what the penalties would be for breaking my lease.

My current apartment has it's noise issue, but there are also other issues like for the last few weeks we've been heavily fighting mold around the whole window frame. I've been cleaning it, and we bought a dehymidifyer which runs most of the time. My husband started to notice I have a cough, which I wonder is from the mold. There are two types a black mold and a furry mold growing along all the windows in the apartment building.

[Natalka]

Aw, shoot - that's crazy! Time to look for a new place to park! Here, we can fill out insurance reports online, and don't have to wait til the next business day, maybe check if you can do that.

About the mold, that's a health and safety issue - if the landlord isn't addressing it urgently, it just might be cause to break the lease, but you'd have to check out things with your provincial rental board.

[matrix82]

Yeah, we are going to start using the back parking lot (the building has two lots), the front lot is used as a shortcut between two streets. It ends up with people racing through. I had avoided using the back lot because my apartment faces the front, but as you can tell. I learned I can't sit here watching the parking lot.

The back lot seems to be less busy. I've verbally asked the super about the mold and was told it would be put on the repair list. I will check it out with the rental board (thank you for that suggestion). I really miss living in a house.

[Lucky777s]

Okay. Let me start by saying that i know nothing about cars but.... back in the day, we had a Ford Probe. When my sister was rear ended in it, it wouldn't start. Had it towed before someone told us there was a reset button in the trunk. Some cars automatically shut down to avoid fires after collision i think. Anyhow. Something to check into. Perhaps a press of a button will at least get it started.

Good luck

[momgoneawol]

Yep, mine had a fuel shut off that I didn't know about so look in the trunk.

[cath007]

I am so sorry you have to deal with those problems because some people are irresponsable and dont honour theirs errors and bad mistakes..

[matrix82]

Nope, not the fuel shut off thing :S.

THis is the damage, and it was moved 1.5 feet. The key goes in the ignition but will not turn.

[ange410]

THis is the damage, and it was moved 1.5 feet. The key goes in the ignition but will not turn.

First of all, I would just like to say WOW, that SUCKS! What a mess to wake up to. I think you are likely right about the driver being drunk. It's that time of year, lots of parties and get togethers, so some bozo who over indulged was probably the culprit.

Second, I once had a similar thing happen to my car in a grocery store parking lot. Came out of the store, damage to my car and it wouldn't start - I could not for the life of me turn the key in the ignition. It was very strange! When the roadside assistance guy showed up, he explained to me that my steering wheel had locked my ignition. Now to be clear, this is not actually what he said, but that is what my non-car brain understood him to mean. So, he had me put the key in the ignition and then asked me to turn my steering wheel from left to right while trying to turn the key. The steering wheel moved maybe 1/100th of an inch in either direction, so not a lot of play there, but sure enough it worked. It was the tiniest of movement in the steering wheel that allowed me to turn the key. Car started, no tow necessary, and I was able to drive home with my groceries. Maybe give that a try?

Best of luck to you!

[CrazyQT]

I hate inconsiderate people. I'm sorry this happened to you. I think if that was me I would just cry.

I agree with the above poster. Put your key in the ignition and tug on the steering wheel a few times then try to start it. My brother is a mechanic and says this happens all the time when cars are in wrecks. It's more of a safety precaution I guess.

[matrix82]

Thanks folks, I will try the above suggestion. It makes me feel a little better that possibly it is just a safety precaution rather than something seriously wrong.

[Shwa Girl]

Sorry to hear about this OP.

About the mold, I don't know where you are in Ontario, but the landlord shoud be addressing this early, not late. It affects you, other tenants and the air system. Can you call the public health department? The public health inspectors may investigate. You may not have to pay to break your lease if mold is affecting your health. The apartment company owner may have to pay you (lawyer up)

Hope you have some resolution by this time Monday.

[matrix82]

The steering wheel turn it and turn the key worked. So the car runs, but it is shaky, and almost feels like the back wheel is uneven, like it's driving over a bump again and again, and the steering if very loose. I don't trust to drive it. I drove it into another spot and that is about as far as it is going until I can get it towed.

[KrazE]

It sounds like the frame has been twisted enough to make the vehicle un-drivable, which is pretty severe, but not surprising considering the distance it was pushed after getting hit.

[nili]

Sorry to hear that pop.

[Insane]

That really sucks! I had my car damaged my first week back from mat leave (went back early too!) My first week's pay back went to the deductible!

It's weird you can't reach anyone at your insurance. Do they not have an emergency number? You should be able to reach someone before monday. If you have the benefit you could be using a rental right now.