Fred's Myth
Nonhyphenated American
Helen Waite is the consultant you need to visit.I need your help please. I hope this is the right section for this type post.
One day as I was getting into my Tahoe, I saw the ups truck parked Up the street in front of the house catty-corner to mine. He was parked to the right out of my driveway and slightly up hill with front facing downhill.
I looked in both side mirrors and review then began backing out my driveway using my drivers side mirror to watch the edge of the driveway. I had clear site to the street.
There was a collision between the rear of my vehicle and the rear of the UPS truck about 20-25 feet from the end of my driveway.
I pulled forward a couple of feet, got out and yelled for the driver. He came out the side door - not drivers side- with a package. I said I just backed into you! He said I know, what do you want me to do about it? I said I want you to fix my truck. He said he needed to call his boss.
I said I’m not expecting a package. He said it’s for the house across the street.
I asked why didnt he park in their driveway? He said he couldn’t fit in it. (Other UPS drivers have and that driveway was empty)
My driveway is wider but not two lane wide.
He was backed in at a slight angle, front tires slightly turned down hill with drivers side of truck on the edge of concrete.
My Tahoe was along the opposite side and the UPS truck could not be seen in my drivers side mirror.
I took pictures of everything including the package addressed to neighbor across the street.
He called his supervisor who was very rude and a smart Alec when I spoke with him.
I told him what happened. He,the supervisor said his drivers don’t park on the street so that didn’t happen. He said his drivers are required to park off the street even in driveways and it sounds like it was my fault. I told him I didn’t want the driver to get in trouble but even if I couldn’t prove the driver was backing in the same time I was backing out, the driver wasn’t even delivering to my house. He said oh he’s going to be in trouble.
He then said, so what you want is for us to not park in your driveway anymore? I said no! I want you to repair my bumper. He laughed and said he’s send so one out to take pictures later that day. His driver needed to get back in the road.
A young man,
I was furious and told him go ahead. I thought no way was this going to be my fault.
Rather than go through a fight I finally chose to pay my own out of pocket but couldn’t right away because it was going to be about $1400. Next thing I know UPS has filed against my insurance for $300.
I talked with adjuster, gave my statement and they sent appraiser Which was within $100 of estimate I had.
My insurance deemed me at fault. The driver said he was already parked in my driveway and in the back getting the package for across the street. My female adjuster screamed at me and asked what if the driver had been behind his truck and I had hit him. She was very sympathetic to the UPS driver possibly being reprimanded.
Because of this $300 claim that I disagree with, my insurance premium has gone up $53 a month.
I can’t prove the driver was backing- the appraiser from the ins company said from the angle of the damage he had to be backing while I was but I can’t prove that and the driver says he was parked.
Does UPS instruct drivers to park where they want?
We’ve seen this driver park on the street throughout the neighborhood several times since.
Am I just out of luck here?
Thank you if You read this far.
If you want to complain about the driver, go to Helen Waite.
