posted
So as the subject says, I got in a car wreck last night while driving to class. It was my first one, and it was my fault because I rear-ended the other driver. There was heavy rain and a sudden stop, a hydroplane, boom. Everything happened so fast, I can't remember the lead up, I just remember trying not to hit the car and not having time. Insurance purposes, of course, require that *somebody* was at fault, and I know the stopped car wasn't the responsible, and I'm still the one with the ticket. I was already driving pretty slow because of the rain, the other car was driven by a single passenger, and we were both unhurt. Well I'm a little sore now, but nothing broke and the other driver was unharmed. I'd feel even worse if she was injured instead of just the cars.
But I'm just so upset for so many reasons. I've never even gotten a speeding ticket, and this is my first citation. My car didn't take incredible damage, but it's so old they might still total it because of the whole cost of repairs. That means I get a new(er) car, which my parents have to foot the initial loan for until I can afford to pay them back.
It sucks - my parents have already given me so many things and now because I didn't hit the brakes fast enough, I'm back to asking them for even more. While I'm glad there was no question of them paying for the car, I feel even worse that they feel like they have to - and they do, because I can't afford the cost of a new one, and I need the car for work now, and for an eventual post-grad job (which will now have paychecks going to my folks to cover the car payments). I hate living in such a car-intensive state.
I'm still upset about a lot of things - things like, I was seriously considering skipping the class last night and staying home because of the bad weather and because I *hate hate hate* that class. But I've missed it before, and I didn't want to get behind no matter how bad it is. If I'd done the "wrong" thing, I wouldn't be out a car, the insurance rates, or a non-sore back...and to top it off, I *still* missed the class because of the wreck!
-------------------- "One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings." -- Diogenes
"Vote Republican! We won't burn you at the stake for your religious beliefs or slaughter your family and steal your land." -- Ramblin' Dave Posts: 3555 | From: Florida | Registered: Feb 2002
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-------------------- And always remember....when life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over !!!!! Posts: 521 | From: St. Louis, MO | Registered: Mar 2006
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And don't be too hard on yourself.. that's why they call them accidents! I know after the fact it's so easy to say, "If only I had....." or, "What if....", but don't let that get to you.
As for the new car if they total yours, can't you look for a cheaper car? As in < $1000?
posted
First things first, I'm glad that you and the other driver came out of it unharmed. As I'm sure you know, things could have been so much worse.
That said, I'm sure your teacher will understand you missing class given the circumstances, and I'm sure your parents will be happy to give you whatever help they can to find you a reasonably priced used car so that you will be able to have transportation.
But what I feel is most important (apart from you being okay after a car accident) is that you should not spend the rest of your life second guessing yourself or being fearful of driving in wet/rainy conditions. When it's wet, you drive a little slower, you give yourself a little more trailing space between you and the car in front of you, you use caution around puddles... but even using the best of judgment, accidents can happen. Don't let this one accident make you "gun-shy" for the rest of your life.
Take your time if you're still a little jittery, but don't let it consume you.
HUGS
-------------------- They just don't make crazed, beserk robots like they used to. --Sheen Estevez, Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
If I manage to post something swipe-worthy that you would like to make your sig, you may do so with my blessing. Posts: 2486 | From: East Stroudsburg, PA | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Thank goodness you're okay! I agree with PI- adjust how you drive in wet/rainy conditions, don't fear it.
Also, as strange as it sounds, did you ever take classes or have to read the driving manual (that you get from the DMV) so you may have learned how to control a hydroplane? It, along with the other tips you may read about, can come in handy many times. A perfect example: my last car had an antilock brake system. My current one doesn't. Do you know what you have to do to prevent the brakes from locking if you don't have an ABS system? I did, only because I'd read some driving manuals.
-------------------- My mom, about my nervousness with Jeopardy!: "Don't worry about it. Just get drunk and you'll do fine." Blog Just call me Mickey 2 Posts: 3295 | From: Radford, VA/Herndon, VA/Orlando, FL | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Sometimes, no matter what you know or how careful you are, accidents will still happen. A few years ago my SO had an accident like that. It was "her fault", but there was no way she could have avoided it. And, we were very poor at the time, so we also had to borry money from family.
These things happen, so don't be too hard on yourself.
-------------------- I believe I'm growing skeptical of cynicism. MyspaceNWNBoard Posts: 917 | From: Nashville TN | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Well, something that wreck made me realize was that my driving skills need refreshing. I did have to know what to do if the car hydroplaned to get my license, but that was six years ago and I didn't realize until last night that I seriously had no idea what to do. I remember how to activate my ABS (I've done it before), but I know that it didn't activate last night because that car shakes insanely when the ABS goes on. I'll be taking a driving course to get the points off my license anyway, so I'll take the opportunity to refresh - and be very grateful that nobody was injured.
I'm still shaken here, but I was able to drive okay. Of course, it's bright and sunny and clear. The only thing I'm having real trouble with is that my father's car doesn't turn nearly as tightly as mine does, so I'm turning really, really slowly until I figure out how wide it turns.
I have to call my insurance company after work - they want me to give an account of the accident myself. My parents filed the claim because I'm still under their policy until January, but since I was the driver of the car, they won't move ahead with the claim until they talk to me. Got a call from the other driver's agency because they know I'm at fault and they can't move ahead with fixing the other girl's car until my agency moves ahead. She's as bad off as I am without a car. Insurance is so friggin' complicated - but I'm glad I have it.
My neck's been sore all day - I'm keeping an eye on it to make sure it's nothing more serious. My airbag never deployed, but I was wearing a seatbelt anyway, so I doubt an airbag would have done much good if it had worked. I guess if the car isn't totalled, I'll have to have *that* looked at too.
-------------------- "One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings." -- Diogenes
"Vote Republican! We won't burn you at the stake for your religious beliefs or slaughter your family and steal your land." -- Ramblin' Dave Posts: 3555 | From: Florida | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
As the cause of two car accidents in the last 3 years, I can tell you that the most important thing is, of course, that you are okay. But yeah, I was pissed at myself for them. I kept second guessing what I shouldacouldawoulda done differently. But at the end of the day, that is why you pay for car insurance. If you never got into any accidents ever, you'd just be handing them free money.
Keep safe and I hope it all works out for ya.
-------------------- "For me, religion is like a rhinoceros: I don't have one, and I'd really prefer not to be trampled by yours. But it is impressive, and even beautiful, and, to be honest, the world would be slightly worse off if there weren't any." -Silas Sparkhammer Posts: 3239 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Glad to hear you're both okay. (((((hugs))))) Even minor accidents are scary.
-------------------- Me: "He's 19? Uh oh, I bought him a beer." A: "You contributed to the deliquency of a minor in drag!" "Sweet spell check: keeping drunks off the radar since 1995."- IND GodRe-AnimateGreenPorkBush Posts: 3986 | From: Illinois, jealous? | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Update - the estimate from the body shop was $800 short of being declared totaled. Insurance is paying to fix the car, meaning I don't have to buy a new one. So there's one big load off of my mind.
-------------------- "One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings." -- Diogenes
"Vote Republican! We won't burn you at the stake for your religious beliefs or slaughter your family and steal your land." -- Ramblin' Dave Posts: 3555 | From: Florida | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Don't worry, accidents happen. Nobody got hurt, machines can be replaced or repaired and insurance companies take care of the practical details.
You may feel embarrassed about it, but it will pass. Almost all drivers have an accident during their "driving life", so you are not alone.
Find some safe spot and practice emergency manouvers in bad conditions. Since you are in Florida, it's probably not meaningful to tell you to find an icy parking lot, but perhaps there is some suitable site.
-------------------- /Troberg Posts: 4360 | From: Borlänge, Sweden | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Ah, I see this particular issue was resolved, but I still thought I'd mention this.
If you discuss it with your adjuster, many insurance companies will consider requests to not total loss a vehicle, especially if the repair costs are just over the limit. No guarantee, of course, but it's not a guarantee the other way either. Always worth bringing up.
-------------------- Come on, come on - spin a little tighter Come on, come on - and the world's a little brighter Posts: 5595 | From: Columbus, OH : The Soccer Capital of America | Registered: Sep 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Finding Rebochan: Well, something that wreck made me realize was that my driving skills need refreshing. I did have to know what to do if the car hydroplaned to get my license, but that was six years ago and I didn't realize until last night that I seriously had no idea what to do.
Bad-weather driving skills can help you get out of a skid, slide, and other lack-of-control conditions, but once you're hydroplaning you have zero control of the vehicle and you're going to go wherever the car feels like for a little while. The only way to recover is to do nothing; keep the car going straight and slow down your tires by going into neutral or letting off the gas. If you have something solid 30 or 40 feet in front of you, you're going to hit it.
Most of the danger is avoided by making sure your tires are in good condition, though you can hydroplane even with tires in perfect condition. The other part is recognizing when the weather is poor, and driving slowly so that you will be less likely to lose control and so that you will have more recovery time if you do lose control. The last bit is being familiar enough with your vehicle that you can tell when you're losing control. You probably were hydroplaning for a good many seconds before you started to brake, and had you realized the problem *before* you needed to stop, you might have had the chance to slow down and let the tires regain traction before you needed to stop. (Though it's quite possible you would have wrecked anyway.)
quote:I remember how to activate my ABS (I've done it before), but I know that it didn't activate last night because that car shakes insanely when the ABS goes on.
ABS activates when you are using bad braking practices. In this case it probably didn't activate because all four tires lost traction and the car had no idea it was still moving.
Chiming in with the others: Don't worry so much, mistakes happen, nobody was hurt. See what you can learn from the experience and move on. I like Troberg's advice to practice recovery, if only because I know how fun it is to do. (Or, how fun it was, when I had a RWD vehicle in Boston.)
-------------------- Thinking about New England / missing old Japan Posts: 2603 | From: Virginia | Registered: Mar 2001
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I like Troberg's advice to practice recovery, if only because I know how fun it is to do. (Or, how fun it was, when I had a RWD vehicle in Boston.)
