Side track on the car wreck thing....it's about coins...

coppercoins

Okay, so I can't rest and stupidly I sit here in a stuper heap at the 'puter...

To catch those up who didn't see the other thread, I was rear-ended this afternoon on my way to the post office to mail off a few hundred thousand dollars worth of stuff (notes and coins) to their owners. Although it sent me to the hospital for a couple of hours, my wife was driving and uninjured, so the boxes made it back home without incident. I am always REALLY careful with other people's valuables - there was more in the car this afternoon than I generally make in ten years. While that makes me nervous enough, there's really no way around having to transport them across town in the car to the post office to mail them off.

So here's the question for thought and replies...What if the wreck had been more serious (and it could easily have been) and we ended up both needing a trip to the ER. Given the circumstances, who should I have told (and how) about the boxes, and what should I have had them do with them?

Added: And notice that I refuse to call them "accidents." An accident is an unavoidable thing. A meteorite falling out of the sky onto your car is an accident. If these idiots would watch what the hell they are doing, these things wouldn't happen. Four friggin rear-endings (three at the same intersection) by people not looking in front of them while driving is no "accident". More I think about it the more it pisses me off.

kieferscoins

You could have told the police officer who would have taken the coins and put them in his patrol car if the totaled car was going to be towed away. He either would take them back to the police station and lock them up, or take them to the hospital if you asked him to and given them to you there if you were coherent and not undergoing surgery.

They can easily put stuff under lock and key at the PD and I have seen on several ride-alongs with my local police dept. where they have helped people out with valuables at accidents. The officer had a supervisor come and watch him take it to wherever was agreed upon so that there was another pair of eyes and he was not accused of stealing or mishandling the stuff.

Cameron Kiefer

sammydabull

maybe try breaking them up into a few different car loads to be safe? Something like make a trip in the morning (hope you dont get hit) then make two more through out the day just to be safe....I dont think i could put that much in my car without turning my head to see every movement within a 15' radius of my car......

coppercoins

Well, problem with that is that over 90% of the value was to one addressee, split into two boxes for insurance purposes. And oddly enough, the trip to the post office was not only to mail off packages, but to pick up another package worth at least $150K that sits in the registered vault waiting for me.

99.5% of the time when I'm driving I have nothing worth anything in the car...just this once something happens and it really gets me thinking.

So you think taking more trips, exposing myself to more right turn lanes, more drivers, would actually be safer? Not that I'm schitzo or anything, but I have been rear-ended at the same intersection, in the same right turn lane, three times now. Makes me wonder just how safe I really am...heh

Anybody out there placing bets yet? Pretty good odds on Chuck at Battlefield and West Bypass. Odds are even better at the faulted driver being female, as was the case in all four rear-enders I was the victim of.

sammydabull

<< <i>

So you think taking more trips, exposing myself to more right turn lanes, more drivers, would actually be safer? >>




lol very valid point you got there

coppercoins

Oh...and by the way, Cammie...I'll take that advice to heart. I figured the police would be the right people to tell, if I could. Luckily this time I didn't lose consciousness, although I was close.

Nickelback

Regardless of whether or not you were concious the authorities are required to log and tag whatever is in the vehicle - if you're sending material worth that much you may want to consider having the postal service (or a private carrier) pick it up directly from your house or business.

Wekar

I'm happy for you that it wasn't worse, and that your wife was just fine. That is a good question you pose, whom would you tell? For as much as I generally dislike and mistrust the police, if I got into an accident with real valuables in the car, I sure would try and ask the cops if they could take care of it, as I think they're slightly more likely to keep it safe for me than the tow truck company. I'd trust more the EMT's or firemen that showed up, but their job is of course to save my life, and they most likely would not be able to deal with securing my property, that's what cops are supposed to be for.



<< <i>So you think taking more trips, exposing myself to more right turn lanes, more drivers, would actually be safer? >>



I have a degree in Mathematics, but got a C in Statistics, so I can't help you here, except to suggest that when you have that much of value in the car, why not take a longer / different route that has less traffic and less dangerous intersections.

TonedPeaceNut

You could have told the police officer who would have taken the coins and put them in his patrol car if the totaled car was going to be towed away. He either would take them back to the police station and lock them up, or take them to the hospital if you asked him to and given them to you there if you were coherent and not undergoing surgery.

Wow -- you're really trusting of the police. Not sure I would have that much faith in the badge, but then again I worked in the PD's office for several years and represented LAPD for several. All cops aren't as honest as you think.

I'm not generalizing -- there are good cops and there are great cops. But there are also cops that would rob you blind. Try making a report against a police officer and see how far your complaint goes.

Personally I wouldn't leave the scene until a family member/trusted friend arrived to handle the situation. Unless I was dying and then I probably wouldn't care about the coins anyway.


TPN

MORGANHUNTER2

It may be to your advantage to get in touch with the local PD, have a talk with the Cpt. and tell him who and what you are, explain to him the events that have happened in the past and of course recently. IF another accident should happen (pray that you find an alternate route), ask the officer(on scene) to contact a watch commander and advise of the situation. As for having a postal dude come to your house? - I would rather trust a crappy cop before I trust a postal picker- many pkg's get 'lost' and it will ruin you in the long run. also might want to check your own insurance policy regarding the accident- you probably have medical coverage that you can submit a claim for- there is no cap on insurance claims at present, unless you live in a no-fault state like michigan... IMO- you should not be so worried about the money- I think being ALIVE is just a little more important. DEAD is dead- plain n simple.

coppercoins

<< <i>IMO- you should not be so worried about the money- I think being ALIVE is just a little more important. DEAD is dead- plain n simple. >>



Heck - the only money I'm worried about at this point is the value of other people's posessions that I am in control of. As for me and whatever might come of insurance claims, etc...I couldn't care less right now.

earlwbollinger

Well if it was a small town down here in Texas, the police officer may have helped you mail them out.
Otherwise, at least in the larger cities, they carefully inventory everything of value in the car, and then have it towed to the impound lot.
More valuable things can be inventoried and taken in to the police station for storage, but they don't really like that too much as that is for evidence mostly,
thus it makes them responsible for valuables, but if your severely injured, they wouldn't have a choice.
If you are having the car towed to your dealer for repair, then it is between you and the tow truck operator and dealer as to security.
In Fort Worth texas, they are pretty good, the police inventory the car, it gets towed to the impound lot, and the owner or relatives can claim it later.
Since everyone knows the car was inventoried, they sure as heck aren't going to mess with it, as the owner is going to look and see if anything is missing when they come to claim the vehicle.
Of course I am sure there are exceptions, but only a moron or a idiot would want to lose a cushy government job over some item stolen from a car in the impound lot. At least in Fort Worth I can honestly say that I never saw or heard of anyone stealing from the impound lot.
But then that makes you wonder about those idiotic Post Office workers who get caught too.

thebeav

Very scary, for many reasons....
I'm very happy that it wasn't serious, physically or financially. Bumpers can be replaced.

Of course, it could have been worse. You could have been knocked out, your vehicle totaled, and your 1913 Liberty Nickel would have disappeared for 50 years !!!


Hope you heal up quickly !!

Paul

MORGANHUNTER2

CD- whatever this may be worth- had you lost the money that you were sending to your buyers- the first thing is file a report with the police- ie.stolen property report, secondly- contact your homeowners insurance- you most likely will be covered- if you are a dealer, and I don't know you yet- but I would think you would have a million dollar policy to protect you and your assetts.

Think hypothetically for a moment- say you did suffer the ultimate and met your maker- if you have a survivng spouse, she would have been able to contact your buyers and explained the demise- if those folks were not understanding- you'll get to see them in time..

As for the person who hit you- sounds like one of the high risk company's that provide basic coverage for problem drivers, and odds are the limits set by your state is all they have- here in texas limit of liability 25K.

I personally have a $4 mil combined/single limit coverage policy- protects everything I own, cars,truck, boat, house, wife, other property, tools, coins, etc. for as long as I have had this plan- it has paid off 10 fold.

I use to handle insurance claims(many moons ago)- and have been T-boned a couple of times- glad I had the coverage- especially when you spend 3 weeks in a hospital after getting hit by a drunk driver.

I read your other thread as well- your pain has just begun- my suggestion- hot bath or a jacuzzi- no drinkin, take aspirin- it works, and try not to worry about it this weekend- nothing will be done til Monday, call your insurance company and let them handle the chasing down of the other party.

Old saying- don't sweat the small stuff.

Neptune

A meteorite falling out of the sky onto your car is an accident.

Actually, I think that the insurance companies would call this 'an act of God'?

For another thing, that much stuff would have been in my 'trunk', and not on back seat. Then I was wondering - would it be best to tell 'whoever' the true value - or not? I guess it would depend upon who you ended up telling and the circumstances.

You really lucked out - all the way around.

One last comment - I find that my neck tends to hurt more when I am using the computer - or leaning over something. Stooping/craning your neck right now may not be a good idea - in more ways than one. I enjoy reading your posts - but how does that appear to folks who may eventually say that you are just fine (if you aren't) - not to mention that it really DOES add stress to your neck to bend it over. Just be careful with the neck - for both reasons.

MORGANHUNTER2

a meteroite falling out of the sky onto your car is an accident? It's the end of the world.

coppercoins

<< <i>One last comment - I find that my neck tends to hurt more when I am using the computer - or leaning over something. Stooping/craning your neck right now may not be a good idea - in more ways than one. I enjoy reading your posts - but how does that appear to folks who may eventually say that you are just fine (if you aren't) - not to mention that it really DOES add stress to your neck to bend it over. Just be careful with the neck - for both reasons.

>>



Which is exactly why I'm in a tall back chair with neck support, leaning back in the chair with my head supported...and I find it's best with a towel behind my neck. I'm not slouched over a keyboard, that would hurt like hell right now - one of the reasons why sleeping in bed was difficult at best overnight, and sleeping in my recliner didn't help much, but at least gave me a couple of hours of shut eye.

Truthfully, the chair I'm sitting in right now is the most comfortable chair we have, and it doesn't hurt as much to sit here as it does to lay in bed.

wayneherndon

You might consider alternative shipping methods. For example, FedEx and UPS both pick up. Also, I believe USPS will pick up for a fee if it is Priority Mail and Express Mail (Express Mail pick up may be free).

If you regularly handle other's valuables in this order of magnitude, I'd recommend some type of insurance (if you don't already have it). If they were lost, damaged or stolen while in your care, consider where it would leave you and their owner.

Thanks,

WH

PTVETTER

The important thing is that you and your wife are OK.
I know that the coins and currency are a concern of your but, you and your wife are always more important

mgoodm3

The goal of this situation would be to never have to deal with this situation again, because if you're hurt badly, you're at the mercy of the people at the scene and there's not much you can do about it. Secondly, don't go throgh that intersection. I would think the best course is to have the packages sealed tightly without any indication of their worth and hope you get them back.

airplanenut

I agree with Wayne about alternative shipping methods... you could also try Brinks for something of that value. One more possibility... if the packages aren't too large (ie, 5 really valuable coins vs. 500 not-as-valuable ones), put them all in another box and seal it as if it were a Registered package. Then make marks on the tape seals (like the postmarks) so, if there were an accident and the package went somewhere--police station, garage, etc--you'd know if it was opened. When you get to the PO, just open the big box.

Jeremy

Neptune

Hey Jeremy - you are one smart guy! I like that idea.

USPS does pick ups and you can even schedule from their website. You just print the postage - slap in on your box - and schedule a pick up.

Yes, I guess a meteorite would be the end of our precious world.

Take care and don't get hooked on the dope.

coppercoins

Umm...meteorites hit the Earth every day, or just about. I think you folks are getting the meaning wrong by substituting meteorite for asteroid. Meteorites can be as small as a grain of sand and cause no noticeable damage. Most that are found are generally the size of a piece of driveway gravel or smaller, and if they crashed into your car at just the right time, they'd probably go all the way through the car, but would leave a hole looking much like a big caliber bullet, not total destruction.

They are often found in the antarctic, where the black color of the meteorite contrasts well with the white color of the ground. Basically anything laying on top of the ice shelf had to have found its way there after the ice shelf formed...in other words, from above. Most smaller meteorites can be purchased from rock dealers for a few bucks just to have one.

Asteroids, usually a kilometer across or larger, would probably end life as we know it.

Sorry for the confusion I caused.