Let Me Explain...Backing UP

Have you ever tried to explain to an insurance agent what a "backing accident" means and it falls under the "bobtail" policy? One would think that a claims adjuster, who supposedly deals with policies, accidents, explanations... would understand what I was talking about. I was using English...I think..

How my day started. I was happily snuggled under the sheets, dreaming away. My cell phone rings off the bed, hits the floor with a loud CRACK...flippy part not so flippy now....damn...(memo to me, memo to me....turn off vibration mode). Grab phone, sleepily respond, "hello?" .... .... "hellooo?",.... .... ...

Open eye...... oh..haha.... turn phone around talk into the microphone end. "Hello?"

Driver: "uh..yeah...I just had a backing accident in a parking lot."

Me: "wa?" ... "How'd ya do that?"

Driver: "uh..well I was backin' up, didn't see the tractor behind me..and... the back dual caught the step."

Me: "okaaayyy... so, how bad ja hit 'im?"

Driver: "well, it bent the lower step and cracked the lowbox."

Me: "okaayyy... soooo....get the information, I'll call it in..and call ya back..what's yer cell?".....

So, I get the information and call it in to the insurance agent after grumbling to myself how this Monday is already going to go, and I begin my phone tree experience with Gretchen. After explaining a brief history she begins laughing.
??? Okay..well, even I rate the accident as avoidably stupid..yes... but it wasn't Satuday Night Live funny especially when money and tempers are involved and my temper's pilot light is now starting to get lit..
Gretchen explains that she only gets some information to pass on to the next agent. You're right..I don't think "I" could have explained the entire story to one agent. I should've have expected to break the story into 4 parts and piece it out to 8 different people, therefore efficiently prolonging resolving the claim, but also my phone experience so I can waste all my cell minutes!! It IS Monday... :( ;( >:I ggggrrrr....

After Gretchen, I wait 20 minutes for Liberty. "Hello, Liberty..here's what happened.." and on she passed me through the system to Jack. Thirty minutes later Jack says this is the wrong department (but of course Grey Poupon..it's Monday) and throws me over to Carly. Sigh...okay..now I'm up...no caffeine yet...temper now luke-warm.
"Hello Carly, my driver had a lil' backing incident this morning..what information would you like first so I can resolve this with the other driver?"

Carly: "What kind of accident is it?"

Me: "It's a minor backing incident, fender bender, will fall under bobtail coverage."

Carly: "What do you mean backing accident?"

Me: "It means my driver was backing up and bumped another tractor, cracking the step box and bending the step."

Carly: "So your driver was backing up when he hit another vehicle?"

Me: "Uh... yeah!" (my thoughts: BINGO BLONDIE... DING DING DING..YOU GOT IT!)

Carly: "How fast was he going?"

Me: "Oh..probably about 80MPH..."

Carly asks surprised: "So how did that only cause minor damage?"

Me: "DUH Carly...he was backing...meaning the tractor only does about .5 mph when in reverse"

We go through all the other routine numbers...his insurance, numbers, tractor makes, models, yaddda yadda... and Carly finely comes to the important question. "Was he hooked to a trailer?" Well see...NO because if the driver was hooked to a trailer..then the trailer would have hit the other vehicle..that's why this falls under the bobtail coverage. And of course..what is the bobtail coverage..she asked.

Ya know... I think next time I'm calling my claim into McDonald's...they are used to taking orders!

*WINK

The Magicians Owl