What If My Vehicle Is Nondrivable? MINIMIZING DAMAGE AFTER A COLLISION
In this column, Andy shares some of his knowledge on property damage so you can better understand how the process works. Last month, I shared with you the importance of minimizing damage to your vehicle after a collision, even when it wasn’t your fault. I talked about what to do if you can safely and legally drive your car away from the scene, but what if you’ve evaluated the situation and determined that your vehicle is not drivable?
company, the insurance company tells her she’s responsible for the excess storage fees incurred by leaving her car in the tow company’s storage yard for so long. Through the lens of the insurance company, Sam didn’t mitigate or minimize the expenses related to towing. Most insurance companies in the D.C. metro area say that 7–10 days is a reasonable amount of time for a driver to pick up their car before they are responsible for paying out-of-pocket expenses for storage fees. After picking up your car from a tow company’s yard or having it towed from the scene of the collision, ensure you don’t take on other expenses. In some states, it’s illegal to leave a disabled vehicle parked on the street, so if you live in an area where towing is your only option, ask a family member or friend if you can store your car in their garage or driveway while you’re waiting to have it repaired. Even if your car seems drivable, it may not meet the legal safety requirements for driving on public roads — for example, if one of the taillights is out — and it is best to have these issues fixed before you drive it anywhere. 5. Peel plantains and cut into long 1/4-inch slices. In a large frying pan over medium heat, fry plantains until soft and golden, about 2–4 minutes per side. Place on paper towels to drain. 6. Assemble casserole by arranging 1/3 of the plantains in a single layer in baking dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese and half the picadillo mixture. Repeat these layers ending with a layer of plantains. 7. Beat eggs with 2 tablespoons of water. Pour over casserole and shake to distribute through the layers. Sprinkle with extra cheese. 8. Bake for 20–30 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. • Dash of dried oregano • Salt and pepper to taste • 1 medium potato, peeled and cubed small Pastelón • 4–6 ripe plantains • 1 recipe yield picadillo • 2 cups shredded cheese (I used cheddar and Monterrey Jack) • 2 eggs • Vegetable oil, for frying • 1 teaspoon adobo • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder If you’ve been in a collision and are unsure what to do next, give our bilingual office a call. I am happy to speak with you.
In this scenario, it’s still your responsibility (again, even if the collision was not your fault) to minimize the expenses related to towing and driving the car. Let’s turn to our driver Sam again. In this collision, Sam’s vehicle was towed because the damages made that vehicle unsafe to drive. In the first several days following the collision, Sam doesn’t get around to picking up her car from the towing company. Another week goes by, and she finally goes to get it. Because Sam has waited so long to pick up her car from the tow
PICADILLO & PastelÓn
Ingredients • 1 pound ground beef • 2 heaping tablespoons sofrito
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) canned tomato sauce • 2 tablespoons Spanish olives, chopped Directions Picadillo 1. In a large frying pan, brown ground beef over medium heat. Add sofrito and sauté for a few minutes. 2. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, adobo, garlic powder, and oregano. Season generously to taste with salt and pepper. The flavors should be robust. 3. Add potatoes, reduce heat to low, and simmer until potatoes are cooked through, about 15–20 minutes. Pastelón 4. Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish and set aside.
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