Losses and Lessons: Cool Nova ices outdoor A/C unit
VEHICLE INVOLVED: 1967 Chevrolet Nova
WHAT WENT WRONG: Little mistakes can create big problems in the blink of an eye. The owner of a 1967 Chevy Nova pulled his car onto the street in front of his house so he could adjust the idle. He pulled the emergency/parking brake and stepped out, not realizing that he failed to shift the car into park position. The Nova slipped the brake and began moving forward – fast enough that he wasn’t able to get back inside – and the car jumped the curb and crashed into the neighbor’s outside air conditioner.
DAMAGE/LOSS: Fortunately no one was in the Nova’s path and no one was injured. The car and the A/C weren’t so lucky. The crash caused $3,180 of damage to the A/C and another $1,500 to the Nova, which needed its bumper re-chromed and hood repainted. Hagerty paid both claims.
LESSON: The majority of accidents are the result of human error. Always double check to make sure that you’ve shifted your car into park before you exit the vehicle, and whenever you work on your car, consider the worst-case scenario before the work begins. When it doubt, ask a friend for help and double team the job.
