Have you been in an auto accident?

JeeberD · 04-24-2006, 10:59 PM

I've been very lucky so far and have never been in an automoblie accident (knock on wood). After watching a few of the new VW ads it makes me feel like I'm one of lucky few that hasn't been in a crash. Am I one of the lucky few or are the ads overstating how often accidents can happen?

Draft Dodger · 04-24-2006, 11:01 PM

I have.

don't remember any of it other than waking up in the ambulance and not having the slightest clue where I was. scary.

JS19 · 04-24-2006, 11:05 PM

Funny you mention that VW ad. I've been in 3 accidents, 1 of them being a serious one which was pretty recent. I am not one who is really influenced by commercials, but in my accident the car was struck on the drivers side, similar to the VW Jetta commercial, and it actually has me wondering what would have happened had we been in that Jetta. Not saying im pissed i wasn't in a Jetta, just that when i'm out looking for a new car eventually I might give VW a longer look than I would have.

Lorena · 04-24-2006, 11:14 PM

I've been in 3 accidents:

1 - when I was about 6 years old, we were at a stop light and were hit by a drunk driver. We all faired well, thank goodness

2 - got hit on the side and my window completely shattered on me and the door caved in

3 - minor fender bender, my fault

Franklinnoble · 04-24-2006, 11:14 PM

I've been in one serious accident. Still have scars from it. I was 16.

I've been in two moderate accidents (no major injuries, but significant car damage).

I've been in a handful of fender-benders - rear ended by morons in traffic, that sort of thing.

So, yeah, you're due, Jeebs...

MrBug708 · 04-24-2006, 11:18 PM

Hydroplaned on the freeway and spun it out. Scary stuff indeed and totalled my truck

molson · 04-24-2006, 11:21 PM

I was pretty lucky. I was driving on the highway in the Salt Lake Desert when a giant 18-wheeler, right besides me, decides he's going to go into the lane that I was currently occupying. He didn't see me I guess, I tried to speed up to get past him, and somehow ended up spining around across the highway into a car. Not a scratch on me, though the car was totaled. I still don't really understand how I didn't get smushed, or avoided even flipping the car. To this day, when I pass a 18-wheeler on the highway, my heart races, and I do it damn fast.

TargetPractice6 · 04-24-2006, 11:40 PM

Back in November I was leaving my friend's house on a Sunday morning. I was trying to make a left out of his driveway, but the lane coming from my left was bumper-to-bumper due to the large church down the road in the other direction. A guy left me room to make my turn so I tried to lurch out and peek over the line, but at the wrong time.

A car coming from my right slams on its breaks, but not in time before hitting my passenger side fender. The impact was hard enough to change the direction of my turn even more to left which sent me rolling into the car that gave me room to get out.

Nobody was hurt, but it was sure scarey (and expensive) enough.

caspanky · 04-24-2006, 11:40 PM

One, but not too serious at all. I was going a little too fast on an off ramp when it was raining and hydroplaned a little to the left around the bend. Left front wheel slid into the curb, and bent up the suspension for the wheel, and pinch the wheel against the body. No injuries, except my pride.

sooner333 · 04-24-2006, 11:47 PM

What do you consider serious??? I mean, I was in a borderline situation where I hit a (stopped) car who hit another car. Now, the middle car was pretty much screwed over (probably totaled b/c of its low value) and the front car had minor bumper damage. My car had zero damage. Also, the lady in the front car (not the totaled car, mind you) started to have neck trouble, but looking at her, she only had it when approached by people. She requested an ambulance, but refused to go to the local hospital, saying she would go to another hospital on her own...pretty sure she was faking it.

I would say that it was major if she was really hurt, kind of borderline if she wasn't (just because I had nothing wrong with me...plus, nobody seriously hurt).

JeeberD · 04-24-2006, 11:51 PM

Dammit, I wish I had made this a public poll. Stupid vodka...

Franklinnoble · 04-24-2006, 11:55 PM

Friends don't let friends drink and post about driving?

molson · 04-24-2006, 11:59 PM

And then there was the time a hotel valet driver wrecked my car in Calgary. But - that worked out OK. My insurance company apparently didn't understand the American/Canadian currency difference (which was quite substantial back then), and gave me a check in American $ to pay my repair bill that was in Canadian $. That worked out well.

Eaglesfan27 · 04-24-2006, 11:59 PM

About 3-4 years ago, I was on I-10 driving home towards New Orleans when an A-Hole decided he was going to pass me on my left. He then realized there was a car already to the left of him, so he swerved back, hit the back left end of my car. He then bounced my car into the car in front of me, and I guess the car spun around a bit and hit a few other cars. I've read this in the police report. My car apparently stopped inches short of a rather large solid concrete wall. My car was totalled, and I'm lucky that I wasn't seriously hurt in the accident. The A-Hole who hit me was driving without a license or insurance. Fortunately, I only had a concussion and lots of bruises. Also fortunately, no one else was seriously hurt.

I've also been in 2 minor accidents with no injuries.

JS19 · 04-25-2006, 12:00 AM

It just hit me, this last accident I was in which was a serious one, and the 1st accident I was ever in which has to be at least 10 yrs ago by now, my father was driving I was in the back seat, both happened on the same road just at different ends, and both were no more than 20 seconds from home.

chinaski · 04-25-2006, 12:03 AM

my worst, got broadsided by a station wagon taxi cab going 70. I was in 1976 toyota celica. Broke all my ribs, collar bones, sternum, dislocated both shoulders. completely changed my life. I was a welder at the time, that pretty much ended my blue collar career and put me on the tech path. bought a computer with my some of the settlement money and the rest is history. im oddly glad it happened, the settlement was pretty big and it got me out of welding.

my GF got broadsided by a little truck at a stop light, the guy wasnt even going fast; 25 mph tops. caused her to have TMJ - she was far worse off than i was when it was all said and done. 3 TMJ surgeries later and shes still screwed up.

JeeberD · 04-25-2006, 12:04 AM

chinaski · 04-25-2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

TMJ?

Oh sorry, its the joint in your jaw. Theres a pad that cushions your jaw and it got knocked out of both sides of the joint. The surgery is really spotty and shes now had 3 of them. Its crazy bad, cant eat, cant talk... and i wont even go into detail about how bad the narcotic pain killers wrecked her inners. anyone watch the latest survivor, well its like what happened to the guy who had to go home, but waaay worse. She now has ear cartilage in her TMJ. 3 different occasions now ive waited on her hand and foot for 3 months at a time.

Eaglesfan27 · 04-25-2006, 12:12 AM

Tempro-Mandibular Joint Syndrome is among the worst pain in the world according to some of my patients...

Sorry to hear about your GF suffering with it.

Chief Rum · 04-25-2006, 12:14 AM

Hmm, two major ones, and a semi-major and several fender-benders. One of the majors was my fault, and the semi-major, I was actually a passenger. Most of the fender benders were the other guy (or gal), but I am responsible for a couple.

The one major that was my fault, I was just 17 and driving my little brother home in my Dad's new Mustang convertible. Yeah...ouch. It gets worse. Big van in my way on an unprotected left. Thought it was free. All I saw was a grill before the Mustang was literally lifted and thrown at least a first down away from the point of contact (sideways). Amazingly, my bro and I were okay (just a scratch on my bro's face), and the woman in the Mercedes (yeah, I said it was bad, didn't I?) was stunned but okay. Both cars totalled, I got a reckless driving and a probationary license for two years. Incidentally, more than 15 years later, I can still visualize that view of the Mercedes grill,a nd for that reason, I can't stand those VW commercials. Too real.

The second major, I was driving a 1980 Toyota Celica on the 10 in a heavy downpour when I saw some guy up ahead of me spin out and end up astride my lane. I was a good deal away, but I had to hit the brakes, and I hydroplaned. The guy got lucky, because my tires caught just feet from his driverside door and ended up crumpling his driverside wheel well. The guy said someone cut him off, which made him spin out. CHP said there was no way to tell and even let us take off without reporting an accident (although we were both just driving the cars off of the freeway at that point).

The semi-major (one where I was the passenger), I (about 18-19 at the time) was in the car in a left hand turn lane with my mom, and a drunk in an SUV making a left (going past us opposite direction) just "kept turning", vaulted the island and smashed right into the side of our Nissan Maxima. We were okay (back end of passenger compartment was hit), and the sorry sap got arrested for felony DUI.

Not surprisingly, I'm not really an auto enthusiast.

JeeberD · 04-25-2006, 12:15 AM

Ugh, sorry man...

chinaski · 04-25-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Tempro-Mandibular Joint Syndrome is among the worst pain in the world according to some of my patients...

Sorry to hear about your GF suffering with it.

Its horrible, it killed me seeing her like that. Too top it all off, the guy who ran the light had been in multiple wrecks before and was somehow able to have the lowest form of insurance; in existence. She basically got nothing for a pain and suffering and now to this day is still paying to go to the doctor, out of our pocket.

dont take your TMJ for granted, that sucker rules your world

Mustang · 04-25-2006, 12:20 AM

Hmm.. I've been in a few

1. 16 y/o, Dodge Omni - slid on snow and hit the curb and snapped the wheel off.

2. 16 y/o Ford something (1 week later), going eastbound.. guy pulled out in front of me, I reacted and he clipped the rear passenger side. (His fault)

3. 17 y/o, Dodge Omni - sitting in the parking lot.. car comes rollling down a hill and hit my passenger door. (his fault, car left in neutral) My most humorous... I had just bought that Samantha Fox poster, you know.. the one that was the collage from the 80s and me and my friend were looking at it.. next thing you know. BAM..

4. 17 y/o, Dodge Omni - green light through an intersection, car ran a red light, I saw him and reacted and side swiped him. (his fault, running a red)

5. 17 y/o, Friends Truck - at a stop light, rear ended by drunk driver

6. 22 y/o, Ford Probe - Sitting at a stop light and car broadsides me. I was in a turn lane and he came out of a parking lot and wanted to go into the same turn lane but, didn't see me. (his fault, only going 15 or so. Although, to this date, I have no fucking idea how he didn't see me)

7. 32 y/o, Ford Mustang - Going east bound, 45 MPH and a truck pulls out in front of me.. I only had a few feet to react and totalled my car, air bag deployment. Had bad neck/shoulder pain for almost 1 1/2 years after that and still get occassional flare ups. My worst accident by far.

8. 34 y/o, Ford Mustang - My dumbest accident by far, I cut through a parking lot, didn't have my sunglasses on and a light pole was between me and the sun setting. I clipped it with my front tire but, it did just enough to deploy the airbags and basically total my car.

What I've learned.

1. Seatbelts. They are there for a reason. Use those bad boys.
2. Shit happens.. be on the lookout for idiots.
3. Wear sunglasses
4. 80's poster girls, while hot at the time are now older and not cool.

Chief Rum · 04-25-2006, 12:29 AM

One funny story, though. Not an accident, but it is car thing and happened to my bro.

When we were teenagers (he's a year younger than me), he had this 1986 Dodge Daytona. Wasn't a great car, but it looked good and ran decent. Well one hot SoCal day, he came home from a drive around to do errands. Maybe 10-15 minutes after he got home, he and I were just reading the paper in the kitchen when we saw our neighbor running up our driveway frantically yelling and pointing toward the side of our house. We ran out, and holy crap, my bro's car was literally engulfed in a ball of flame. That's right, a ball of flame in the middle of our driveway. We called the fire dept., and they are around the corner so they got to us fast and put it out. Apparently, some of the rubber in the engine overheated on a hot day and caught fire. The thing was dust, just a husk and a frame with a whole lotta stink and a black circle burnt permanently into the driveway concrete.

That night, a couple of my friends came over and watched the old John Woo Hong Kong action flick The Killer, and my bro watched it with us. There's a part in there where a car catches on fire. My brother just watched the movie, pissed. Pretty funny stuff (and yeah, we teased him, I was a shitty older brother).

sabotai · 04-25-2006, 12:39 AM

3 accidents

The first one, totally my fault. I had my license for about 2 months and took my eyes off the road for a second or two and rear ended someone. I was going slow, so the damage was minor. Rookie mistake, lesson learned.

The second one, I was driving in Philly. I was stopped at a red light at about 11 or 12 at night. Hardly anyone around. When the light turned green, I started to go and someone drove by in the left lane.....except he was a bit in the middle lane (where I was) and scrapped along side me. My side mirror was damaged, and obviously had some nice scratches on the side. The fucker kept driving, though. Funny, because half of his back fender was hanging off. He got the worse of that one.

The last one was about a year ago. It was snowing heavily and I was stopped, about to make a left turn. A guy in an SUV came up behind me, slid, I saw this in my mirror and tried to drive forward, but my tires spun and he rear ended me. He had slowed down enough, though, that it just damaged my fender and nothing else.

And those are my 3 accident stories.

Karlifornia · 04-25-2006, 01:35 AM

I was about 12, and my mom and I were driving 280 southbound, when the car in front of us came to a screeching halt, my mom tried to stop, but slightly tapped the rear end of the car in front of us. We both breathed a sigh of relief, but then BAM! a Ford Bronco skidding sideways rams into the back of our Mustang. Just broke out all the taillights and dented the rear bumper. No bad injuries

When I was 19, I made a left turn from a busy street onto a moderately busy street, a spider was crawling on the interior of my car right in front of me. This was a big, ugly sumbitch, so I felt compelled to kindly escort it out of the vehicle. I rolled down my window, and flicked it out-Or so I thought...I rolled the window back up, and the damn thing is still inside the car. So, I go to roll my window back down, and glance at the spider. BIFF! I rear end a car that was stopped dead going about 25 MPH. I knocked the car to the other side of the road. It was 4 skater kids in a shitty tercel. One of the kids feigned a neck injury.

The other accident I was in was also my fault. I tried to make a left out of a parking lot and missed seeing a BMW that was coming from my left side....he tried to get out of the way, but to avail. I basically just left a little paint on his car. Not really a big deal.

vex · 04-25-2006, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang

What I've learned.

1. Seatbelts. They are there for a reason. Use those bad boys.
2. Shit happens.. be on the lookout for idiots.
3. Wear sunglasses
4. 80's poster girls, while hot at the time are now older and not cool.

5. No Dodge Omni's
6. No Ford vehicles whatsoever.

Franklinnoble · 04-25-2006, 02:07 AM

Man... third car accident I had was a head-on with a Dodge Omni (I was in a big old Ford POS - the Omni didn't do so well).

Those things were accident magnets, it seems.

ice4277 · 04-25-2006, 05:40 AM

I refuse to vote in this poll due to the potential jinx factor.

illinifan999 · 04-25-2006, 06:34 AM

Well I'm being sued for over $100k so I'd say the accident was kinda serious. Although I love seeing the person involved playing basketball with whiplash. Quick healer.

FrogMan · 04-25-2006, 07:10 AM

been in a pretty serious one and a few unlucky smaller ones. The big one was a couple days before prom night in high school, was going to check the place when the party was going to happen, some sort of big field in the country and I didn't do a stop, thinking it was a 4 directions stop. The thing is, it wasn't and the other car was coming at maybe 45mph, hit my mom's Chevette right between the front wheela dn the passenger door. About a foot more to the back and I probably wouldn't be typing this post. The car spun sideways for 270 degrees but I was lucky enough that with the seetabelt, I suffered absolutely nothing, other than some aching...

FM

flere-imsaho · 04-25-2006, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Am I one of the lucky few or are the ads overstating how often accidents can happen?

I've been in two accidents, neither of which were my fault.

In the first, I was in the passenger seat when the driver (who wasn't very good and wasn't paying attention) swerved and hit a parked car at about 20 mph.

In the second, I was rearended by a guy doing about 40.

I've only seen one of the VW ads, but no, I don't think they're overstating it. Until you've been in a car accident, it's hard to comprehend the sheer amount of force involved. It is shocking.

Frankly, if it wasn't so dangerous, I'd be convinced that everyone should go through a simulated car accident before they get their license. Once you've had the experience of the forces involved, you have a different view of driving, in my opinion.

flere-imsaho · 04-25-2006, 08:46 AM

Related to accidents, I've got one really sad story and one really funny story.

The sad story concerns a guy with whom I went to high school. He was a big skiier (downhill) and went on to college in Vermont. One night he's at a party and gets pretty loaded. When he leaves, he decides he's drunk too much to drive, so decides to walk home through the snow and whatnot. On his way home some friends come by and offer to give him a ride. Unfortunately, they're not completely sober either, but it's unclear how much he could tell in his own state. Anyway, long story short they end up sliding off the road and hit a bunch of trees. Since he's not wearing his seatbelt he gets thrown clear and ends up a paraplegic.

Funny story: Dad's teaching me how to drive stick, so we get in his car in the driveway, and I go to start it up. Now, this was on a car that didn't require that you let the clutch out before starting it, so the car's in gear, in reverse. Sadly, just behind the car is a massive 4 ft deep hole that's just been dug for a shed Dad was putting in. So, I turn the keys and the car goes sailing backward into the hole. Dad had to drive it backwards totally into the hole (hole was on a slope) and then out through the vegetable garden. Some exhaust problems, but not a huge deal, although a pretty huge blow to my ego at the time.

sachmo71 · 04-25-2006, 08:49 AM

My accidents:

15 years old. Stole my dad's New Yorker late one night and took it for a spin with a friends. Tooling around an industrial park, not really knowing how to drive, and I smashed into a light pole. Light pole died, but I survived. Sort of.

15 years old. Buddy drives and I don't. We raid his parents liquor cabinet and decide to pour a little bit of everything into a mason jar. Call it "The Blitz". We drink it while driving around. We see a bus parked in our neighborhood. Friend decides to back up to see what it's doing there. Unfortunately, there is a car behind us, honking frantically. We can't hear it because we are drunk and the Judas Priest is just too loud. Turns out, the lady driving is married to the head coach of the SMU Mustang's baskeball team. Oops. She didn't catch on that we were drunk, so we get away scott free.

16 years old. Driving home from summer school. Fellow student changes lanes into my car. He had a 66 Mustang, I had a 75 Impala. I won. He ended up telling his parents that it happened in the parking lot and buying me some liquor.

16 years old. Friends get together to have water balloon war. Somehow, it extends to cars. We ambush the other team from my buddys steel and iron station wagon. He takes off. They give chase. We duck down an alley. I'm watching for pursuit. Guy next to me is watching for pursuit. Passenger is watching for pursuit. Driver is watching for pursuit. Too bad, and he proceeds to smash into someones fence. He continues to drive, plowing the entire back quarter of the fence down. We come down, and he takes off at our urging. Cops are called, and waiting for us as we get to his house. It took a long time because we had to make left turns the entire way...the fender was crumpled into the right wheel.

18 years old. Driving from Austin to Dallas with GF. It's raining hard. GF has the wipers on intermittant. I tell her to turn them on full speed. She refuses. I tell her she can't see. She says she can. They sweep, and traffic on the freeway is stopped about 20 yards ahead. She locks 'em up, we bounce off of the retaining wall. We stop INCHES from the rear bumper of a pickup. I was wise and did not say a word.

There were some close calls as well, but that's a story for another time.

sachmo71 · 04-25-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

I was about 12, and my mom and I were driving 280 southbound, when the car in front of us came to a screeching halt, my mom tried to stop, but slightly tapped the rear end of the car in front of us. We both breathed a sigh of relief, but then BAM! a Ford Bronco skidding sideways rams into the back of our Mustang. Just broke out all the taillights and dented the rear bumper. No bad injuries

When I was 19, I made a left turn from a busy street onto a moderately busy street, a spider was crawling on the interior of my car right in front of me. This was a big, ugly sumbitch, so I felt compelled to kindly escort it out of the vehicle. I rolled down my window, and flicked it out-Or so I thought...I rolled the window back up, and the damn thing is still inside the car. So, I go to roll my window back down, and glance at the spider. BIFF! I rear end a car that was stopped dead going about 25 MPH. I knocked the car to the other side of the road. It was 4 skater kids in a shitty tercel. One of the kids feigned a neck injury.

The other accident I was in was also my fault. I tried to make a left out of a parking lot and missed seeing a BMW that was coming from my left side....he tried to get out of the way, but to avail. I basically just left a little paint on his car. Not really a big deal.

who are you again?

GoldenEagle · 04-25-2006, 08:52 AM

I hit someone when I was about 17. I was turning right in I guess what you would call a turn pike. There was a car which looked like he was driving off. I checked over my shoulder, saw it was clear and took my foot off the break.

The car in front of me was now about 2 feet closer then it was and I hit maybe going 2 MPH. I of course bumped into him. He claimed his neck was hurt and they had to call him an ambulance. I was shocked.

Anyway, the insurance company claimed they investigated fraud but we still got stuck with an increase in insurance.

FrogMan · 04-25-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachmo71

18 years old. Driving from Austin to Dallas with GF. It's raining hard. GF has the wipers on intermittant. I tell her to turn them on full speed. She refuses. I tell her she can't see. She says she can. They sweep, and traffic on the freeway is stopped about 20 yards ahead. She locks 'em up, we bounce off of the retaining wall. We stop INCHES from the rear bumper of a pickup. I was wise and did not say a word.

wow, only 18 but wise beyond his years. Did you end up marrying that girl?

FM

sachmo71 · 04-25-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogMan

wow, only 18 but wise beyond his years. Did you end up marrying that girl?

FM

nope. as you can see, she's a bit stubborn.

FrogMan · 04-25-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachmo71

nope. as you can see, she's a bit stubborn.

that's an understatement

FM

FrogMan · 04-25-2006, 08:58 AM

dola, on first reading, I thought you were the one driving and you asked her to put the wipers on. I thought that was a bit weak on your part. I see you were the strong one there

FM

sachmo71 · 04-25-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogMan

dola, on first reading, I thought you were the one driving and you asked her to put the wipers on. I thought that was a bit weak on your part. I see you were the strong one there

FM

there were times when this would have been possible, but i would just have been showing off.

Toddzilla · 04-25-2006, 09:19 AM

I've been in 2 - one pretty serious, one pretty funny in a karmic way - both in high school when I was 17.

The first accident was pretty bad - after school traffic was fast and furious, and one of the two lanes on the road home was closed. Traffic slowd to a stop, but the asshat behind me wasn't paying attention and hit me at a dead stop doing about 65. Totaled my car, his car, the car in front of me, and damaged the car in front of that one. I messed up my back real bad, spent some time in the hospital, and was on heavy-duty narcotics almost my entire junior year.

Second accident was karma biting me in the ass. There was a big party coming up on the weekend, so I had gone with a pal who's sister was over 21 and we stocked up on Moosehead, 4 cases of it. It was in my trunk and on the way home I was slowing down for a curve and some other dickhead smashed into the back of my car without even slowing down. I was okay and had completely forgotten about the beer when the police showd up and I was walking around my car with him explaining what had happened. Beer was streaming out of my trunk into big frothy pools in the road. The cop looked at me, at the beer, back at me and laughed. "You better get that car cleaned up, son, before you take it to the garage." "YES SIR!"

JeeberD · 04-25-2006, 09:53 AM

Dude, Sach was a little hood!

Raiders Army · 04-25-2006, 09:58 AM

About 3 years ago, I was driving on I-10 when this fucker was driving like an old lady. I needed to pass him on his left so I began to get out in the lane when I saw this car speeding up next to me. I couldn't get out, so I got back in my lane. The guy in front of me slowed down even more, and clipped me with the back left end of his car. He spun around a bit and hit some other cars. Unfortunately, I didn't have my license or insurance with me at the time.

Raiders Army · 04-25-2006, 10:02 AM

This other time I was in Canada and I was coming to an intersection one night. I was going about 45 MPH and hit this crappy Chevette between the front wheel and the passenger door. I spun that car sideways for 270 degrees. The dork who pulled out in front of me didn't suffer any injuries.

FrogMan · 04-25-2006, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

This other time I was in Canada and I was coming to an intersection one night. I was going about 45 MPH and hit this crappy Chevette between the front wheel and the passenger door. I spun that car sideways for 270 degrees. The dork who pulled out in front of me didn't suffer any injuries.

FM

FrogMan · 04-25-2006, 10:04 AM

dola, and it wasn't crappy. it was 1986 and this was back in 1988

FM

Raiders Army · 04-25-2006, 10:04 AM

I also got hit by this 17 year old kid. He hit me from behind with his car going at least 5 MPH and hurt my neck. They had to get an ambulance. I wasn't faking it.

Raiders Army · 04-25-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogMan

FM

OMG! That was you!

WSUCougar · 04-25-2006, 10:08 AM

High school. I'm driving the family Corolla with a buddy in the passenger seat. Red light, VW bug in front of me turning right. Light turns green, we begin to move, VW suddenly stops in mid turn. WHAM! Fender bender, my fault. Turns out someone was in the crosswalk so she had to stop.

My dad grounds me and doesn't let me drive with any friends in the car for 3 months! Grossly unfair! He's an ogre! ACK!

View Poll Results: Have you been in an auto accident?
Yes, I've been in a serious accident	44	35.77%
Yeah, I've been in a fender bender or two	59	47.97%
Nope, I've never had an accident in my car	20	16.26%
Voters: 123. You may not vote on this poll

04-24-2006, 11:01 PM	#2
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	I have. don't remember any of it other than waking up in the ambulance and not having the slightest clue where I was. scary. __________________ Mile High Hockey

04-24-2006, 11:40 PM	#8
TargetPractice6 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lexington, KY	Back in November I was leaving my friend's house on a Sunday morning. I was trying to make a left out of his driveway, but the lane coming from my left was bumper-to-bumper due to the large church down the road in the other direction. A guy left me room to make my turn so I tried to lurch out and peek over the line, but at the wrong time. A car coming from my right slams on its breaks, but not in time before hitting my passenger side fender. The impact was hard enough to change the direction of my turn even more to left which sent me rolling into the car that gave me room to get out. Nobody was hurt, but it was sure scarey (and expensive) enough. Last edited by TargetPractice6 : 04-24-2006 at 11:41 PM.

04-24-2006, 11:51 PM	#11
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Dammit, I wish I had made this a public poll. Stupid vodka... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

04-24-2006, 11:59 PM	#13
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	And then there was the time a hotel valet driver wrecked my car in Calgary. But - that worked out OK. My insurance company apparently didn't understand the American/Canadian currency difference (which was quite substantial back then), and gave me a check in American $ to pay my repair bill that was in Canadian $. That worked out well. Last edited by molson : 04-24-2006 at 11:59 PM.

04-24-2006, 11:05 PM	#3
JS19 College Prospect Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NY	Funny you mention that VW ad. I've been in 3 accidents, 1 of them being a serious one which was pretty recent. I am not one who is really influenced by commercials, but in my accident the car was struck on the drivers side, similar to the VW Jetta commercial, and it actually has me wondering what would have happened had we been in that Jetta. Not saying im pissed i wasn't in a Jetta, just that when i'm out looking for a new car eventually I might give VW a longer look than I would have.

04-24-2006, 11:14 PM	#4
Lorena Unregistered Join Date: May 2004	I've been in 3 accidents: 1 - when I was about 6 years old, we were at a stop light and were hit by a drunk driver. We all faired well, thank goodness 2 - got hit on the side and my window completely shattered on me and the door caved in 3 - minor fender bender, my fault

04-24-2006, 11:14 PM	#5
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	I've been in one serious accident. Still have scars from it. I was 16. I've been in two moderate accidents (no major injuries, but significant car damage). I've been in a handful of fender-benders - rear ended by morons in traffic, that sort of thing. So, yeah, you're due, Jeebs...

04-24-2006, 11:18 PM	#6
MrBug708 Head Coach Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Whittier	Hydroplaned on the freeway and spun it out. Scary stuff indeed and totalled my truck

04-24-2006, 11:21 PM	#7
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	I was pretty lucky. I was driving on the highway in the Salt Lake Desert when a giant 18-wheeler, right besides me, decides he's going to go into the lane that I was currently occupying. He didn't see me I guess, I tried to speed up to get past him, and somehow ended up spining around across the highway into a car. Not a scratch on me, though the car was totaled. I still don't really understand how I didn't get smushed, or avoided even flipping the car. To this day, when I pass a 18-wheeler on the highway, my heart races, and I do it damn fast.

04-24-2006, 11:40 PM	#9
caspanky Mascot Join Date: Aug 2004	One, but not too serious at all. I was going a little too fast on an off ramp when it was raining and hydroplaned a little to the left around the bend. Left front wheel slid into the curb, and bent up the suspension for the wheel, and pinch the wheel against the body. No injuries, except my pride.

04-24-2006, 11:47 PM	#10
sooner333 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Norman, OK	What do you consider serious??? I mean, I was in a borderline situation where I hit a (stopped) car who hit another car. Now, the middle car was pretty much screwed over (probably totaled b/c of its low value) and the front car had minor bumper damage. My car had zero damage. Also, the lady in the front car (not the totaled car, mind you) started to have neck trouble, but looking at her, she only had it when approached by people. She requested an ambulance, but refused to go to the local hospital, saying she would go to another hospital on her own...pretty sure she was faking it. I would say that it was major if she was really hurt, kind of borderline if she wasn't (just because I had nothing wrong with me...plus, nobody seriously hurt).

04-24-2006, 11:55 PM	#12
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	Friends don't let friends drink and post about driving?

04-24-2006, 11:59 PM	#14
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	About 3-4 years ago, I was on I-10 driving home towards New Orleans when an A-Hole decided he was going to pass me on my left. He then realized there was a car already to the left of him, so he swerved back, hit the back left end of my car. He then bounced my car into the car in front of me, and I guess the car spun around a bit and hit a few other cars. I've read this in the police report. My car apparently stopped inches short of a rather large solid concrete wall. My car was totalled, and I'm lucky that I wasn't seriously hurt in the accident. The A-Hole who hit me was driving without a license or insurance. Fortunately, I only had a concussion and lots of bruises. Also fortunately, no one else was seriously hurt. I've also been in 2 minor accidents with no injuries. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

04-25-2006, 12:00 AM	#15
JS19 College Prospect Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NY	It just hit me, this last accident I was in which was a serious one, and the 1st accident I was ever in which has to be at least 10 yrs ago by now, my father was driving I was in the back seat, both happened on the same road just at different ends, and both were no more than 20 seconds from home.

04-25-2006, 12:03 AM	#16
chinaski College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon	my worst, got broadsided by a station wagon taxi cab going 70. I was in 1976 toyota celica. Broke all my ribs, collar bones, sternum, dislocated both shoulders. completely changed my life. I was a welder at the time, that pretty much ended my blue collar career and put me on the tech path. bought a computer with my some of the settlement money and the rest is history. im oddly glad it happened, the settlement was pretty big and it got me out of welding. my GF got broadsided by a little truck at a stop light, the guy wasnt even going fast; 25 mph tops. caused her to have TMJ - she was far worse off than i was when it was all said and done. 3 TMJ surgeries later and shes still screwed up.

04-25-2006, 12:04 AM	#17
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	TMJ? __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

04-25-2006, 12:12 AM	#19
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Tempro-Mandibular Joint Syndrome is among the worst pain in the world according to some of my patients... Sorry to hear about your GF suffering with it. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

04-25-2006, 12:14 AM	#20
Chief Rum Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Where Hip Hop lives	Hmm, two major ones, and a semi-major and several fender-benders. One of the majors was my fault, and the semi-major, I was actually a passenger. Most of the fender benders were the other guy (or gal), but I am responsible for a couple. The one major that was my fault, I was just 17 and driving my little brother home in my Dad's new Mustang convertible. Yeah...ouch. It gets worse. Big van in my way on an unprotected left. Thought it was free. All I saw was a grill before the Mustang was literally lifted and thrown at least a first down away from the point of contact (sideways). Amazingly, my bro and I were okay (just a scratch on my bro's face), and the woman in the Mercedes (yeah, I said it was bad, didn't I?) was stunned but okay. Both cars totalled, I got a reckless driving and a probationary license for two years. Incidentally, more than 15 years later, I can still visualize that view of the Mercedes grill,a nd for that reason, I can't stand those VW commercials. Too real. The second major, I was driving a 1980 Toyota Celica on the 10 in a heavy downpour when I saw some guy up ahead of me spin out and end up astride my lane. I was a good deal away, but I had to hit the brakes, and I hydroplaned. The guy got lucky, because my tires caught just feet from his driverside door and ended up crumpling his driverside wheel well. The guy said someone cut him off, which made him spin out. CHP said there was no way to tell and even let us take off without reporting an accident (although we were both just driving the cars off of the freeway at that point). The semi-major (one where I was the passenger), I (about 18-19 at the time) was in the car in a left hand turn lane with my mom, and a drunk in an SUV making a left (going past us opposite direction) just "kept turning", vaulted the island and smashed right into the side of our Nissan Maxima. We were okay (back end of passenger compartment was hit), and the sorry sap got arrested for felony DUI. Not surprisingly, I'm not really an auto enthusiast. __________________ . . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready.

04-25-2006, 12:15 AM	#21
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Ugh, sorry man... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

04-25-2006, 12:20 AM	#23
Mustang Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wisconsin	Hmm.. I've been in a few 1. 16 y/o, Dodge Omni - slid on snow and hit the curb and snapped the wheel off. 2. 16 y/o Ford something (1 week later), going eastbound.. guy pulled out in front of me, I reacted and he clipped the rear passenger side. (His fault) 3. 17 y/o, Dodge Omni - sitting in the parking lot.. car comes rollling down a hill and hit my passenger door. (his fault, car left in neutral) My most humorous... I had just bought that Samantha Fox poster, you know.. the one that was the collage from the 80s and me and my friend were looking at it.. next thing you know. BAM.. 4. 17 y/o, Dodge Omni - green light through an intersection, car ran a red light, I saw him and reacted and side swiped him. (his fault, running a red) 5. 17 y/o, Friends Truck - at a stop light, rear ended by drunk driver 6. 22 y/o, Ford Probe - Sitting at a stop light and car broadsides me. I was in a turn lane and he came out of a parking lot and wanted to go into the same turn lane but, didn't see me. (his fault, only going 15 or so. Although, to this date, I have no fucking idea how he didn't see me) 7. 32 y/o, Ford Mustang - Going east bound, 45 MPH and a truck pulls out in front of me.. I only had a few feet to react and totalled my car, air bag deployment. Had bad neck/shoulder pain for almost 1 1/2 years after that and still get occassional flare ups. My worst accident by far. 8. 34 y/o, Ford Mustang - My dumbest accident by far, I cut through a parking lot, didn't have my sunglasses on and a light pole was between me and the sun setting. I clipped it with my front tire but, it did just enough to deploy the airbags and basically total my car. What I've learned. 1. Seatbelts. They are there for a reason. Use those bad boys. 2. Shit happens.. be on the lookout for idiots. 3. Wear sunglasses 4. 80's poster girls, while hot at the time are now older and not cool. __________________ You, you will regret what you have done this day. I will make you regret ever being born. Your going to wish you never left your mothers womb, where it was warm and safe... and wet. i am going to show you pain you never knew existed, you are going to see a whole new spectrum of pain, like a Rainboooow. But! This rainbow is not just like any other rainbow, its...

04-25-2006, 12:29 AM	#24
Chief Rum Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Where Hip Hop lives	One funny story, though. Not an accident, but it is car thing and happened to my bro. When we were teenagers (he's a year younger than me), he had this 1986 Dodge Daytona. Wasn't a great car, but it looked good and ran decent. Well one hot SoCal day, he came home from a drive around to do errands. Maybe 10-15 minutes after he got home, he and I were just reading the paper in the kitchen when we saw our neighbor running up our driveway frantically yelling and pointing toward the side of our house. We ran out, and holy crap, my bro's car was literally engulfed in a ball of flame. That's right, a ball of flame in the middle of our driveway. We called the fire dept., and they are around the corner so they got to us fast and put it out. Apparently, some of the rubber in the engine overheated on a hot day and caught fire. The thing was dust, just a husk and a frame with a whole lotta stink and a black circle burnt permanently into the driveway concrete. That night, a couple of my friends came over and watched the old John Woo Hong Kong action flick The Killer, and my bro watched it with us. There's a part in there where a car catches on fire. My brother just watched the movie, pissed. Pretty funny stuff (and yeah, we teased him, I was a shitty older brother). __________________ . . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready.

04-25-2006, 12:39 AM	#25
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	3 accidents The first one, totally my fault. I had my license for about 2 months and took my eyes off the road for a second or two and rear ended someone. I was going slow, so the damage was minor. Rookie mistake, lesson learned. The second one, I was driving in Philly. I was stopped at a red light at about 11 or 12 at night. Hardly anyone around. When the light turned green, I started to go and someone drove by in the left lane.....except he was a bit in the middle lane (where I was) and scrapped along side me. My side mirror was damaged, and obviously had some nice scratches on the side. The fucker kept driving, though. Funny, because half of his back fender was hanging off. He got the worse of that one. The last one was about a year ago. It was snowing heavily and I was stopped, about to make a left turn. A guy in an SUV came up behind me, slid, I saw this in my mirror and tried to drive forward, but my tires spun and he rear ended me. He had slowed down enough, though, that it just damaged my fender and nothing else. And those are my 3 accident stories. Last edited by sabotai : 04-25-2006 at 12:40 AM.

04-25-2006, 01:35 AM	#26
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	I was about 12, and my mom and I were driving 280 southbound, when the car in front of us came to a screeching halt, my mom tried to stop, but slightly tapped the rear end of the car in front of us. We both breathed a sigh of relief, but then BAM! a Ford Bronco skidding sideways rams into the back of our Mustang. Just broke out all the taillights and dented the rear bumper. No bad injuries When I was 19, I made a left turn from a busy street onto a moderately busy street, a spider was crawling on the interior of my car right in front of me. This was a big, ugly sumbitch, so I felt compelled to kindly escort it out of the vehicle. I rolled down my window, and flicked it out-Or so I thought...I rolled the window back up, and the damn thing is still inside the car. So, I go to roll my window back down, and glance at the spider. BIFF! I rear end a car that was stopped dead going about 25 MPH. I knocked the car to the other side of the road. It was 4 skater kids in a shitty tercel. One of the kids feigned a neck injury. The other accident I was in was also my fault. I tried to make a left out of a parking lot and missed seeing a BMW that was coming from my left side....he tried to get out of the way, but to avail. I basically just left a little paint on his car. Not really a big deal. __________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

04-25-2006, 02:07 AM	#28
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	Man... third car accident I had was a head-on with a Dodge Omni (I was in a big old Ford POS - the Omni didn't do so well). Those things were accident magnets, it seems.

04-25-2006, 05:40 AM	#29
ice4277 Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkley, MI: The Hotbed of FOFC!	I refuse to vote in this poll due to the potential jinx factor.

04-25-2006, 06:34 AM	#30
illinifan999 Pro Rookie Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: VA	Well I'm being sued for over $100k so I'd say the accident was kinda serious. Although I love seeing the person involved playing basketball with whiplash. Quick healer. __________________ Chicago Eagles 2 time ZFL champions We're "rebuilding"

04-25-2006, 07:10 AM	#31
FrogMan Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada	been in a pretty serious one and a few unlucky smaller ones. The big one was a couple days before prom night in high school, was going to check the place when the party was going to happen, some sort of big field in the country and I didn't do a stop, thinking it was a 4 directions stop. The thing is, it wasn't and the other car was coming at maybe 45mph, hit my mom's Chevette right between the front wheela dn the passenger door. About a foot more to the back and I probably wouldn't be typing this post. The car spun sideways for 270 degrees but I was lucky enough that with the seetabelt, I suffered absolutely nothing, other than some aching... FM __________________ A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog...

04-25-2006, 08:46 AM	#33
flere-imsaho Coordinator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicagoland	Related to accidents, I've got one really sad story and one really funny story. The sad story concerns a guy with whom I went to high school. He was a big skiier (downhill) and went on to college in Vermont. One night he's at a party and gets pretty loaded. When he leaves, he decides he's drunk too much to drive, so decides to walk home through the snow and whatnot. On his way home some friends come by and offer to give him a ride. Unfortunately, they're not completely sober either, but it's unclear how much he could tell in his own state. Anyway, long story short they end up sliding off the road and hit a bunch of trees. Since he's not wearing his seatbelt he gets thrown clear and ends up a paraplegic. Funny story: Dad's teaching me how to drive stick, so we get in his car in the driveway, and I go to start it up. Now, this was on a car that didn't require that you let the clutch out before starting it, so the car's in gear, in reverse. Sadly, just behind the car is a massive 4 ft deep hole that's just been dug for a shed Dad was putting in. So, I turn the keys and the car goes sailing backward into the hole. Dad had to drive it backwards totally into the hole (hole was on a slope) and then out through the vegetable garden. Some exhaust problems, but not a huge deal, although a pretty huge blow to my ego at the time.

04-25-2006, 08:49 AM	#34
sachmo71 The boy who cried Trout Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: TX	My accidents: 15 years old. Stole my dad's New Yorker late one night and took it for a spin with a friends. Tooling around an industrial park, not really knowing how to drive, and I smashed into a light pole. Light pole died, but I survived. Sort of. 15 years old. Buddy drives and I don't. We raid his parents liquor cabinet and decide to pour a little bit of everything into a mason jar. Call it "The Blitz". We drink it while driving around. We see a bus parked in our neighborhood. Friend decides to back up to see what it's doing there. Unfortunately, there is a car behind us, honking frantically. We can't hear it because we are drunk and the Judas Priest is just too loud. Turns out, the lady driving is married to the head coach of the SMU Mustang's baskeball team. Oops. She didn't catch on that we were drunk, so we get away scott free. 16 years old. Driving home from summer school. Fellow student changes lanes into my car. He had a 66 Mustang, I had a 75 Impala. I won. He ended up telling his parents that it happened in the parking lot and buying me some liquor. 16 years old. Friends get together to have water balloon war. Somehow, it extends to cars. We ambush the other team from my buddys steel and iron station wagon. He takes off. They give chase. We duck down an alley. I'm watching for pursuit. Guy next to me is watching for pursuit. Passenger is watching for pursuit. Driver is watching for pursuit. Too bad, and he proceeds to smash into someones fence. He continues to drive, plowing the entire back quarter of the fence down. We come down, and he takes off at our urging. Cops are called, and waiting for us as we get to his house. It took a long time because we had to make left turns the entire way...the fender was crumpled into the right wheel. 18 years old. Driving from Austin to Dallas with GF. It's raining hard. GF has the wipers on intermittant. I tell her to turn them on full speed. She refuses. I tell her she can't see. She says she can. They sweep, and traffic on the freeway is stopped about 20 yards ahead. She locks 'em up, we bounce off of the retaining wall. We stop INCHES from the rear bumper of a pickup. I was wise and did not say a word. There were some close calls as well, but that's a story for another time. Last edited by sachmo71 : 04-25-2006 at 08:51 AM.

04-25-2006, 08:52 AM	#36
GoldenEagle Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Little Rock, AR	I hit someone when I was about 17. I was turning right in I guess what you would call a turn pike. There was a car which looked like he was driving off. I checked over my shoulder, saw it was clear and took my foot off the break. The car in front of me was now about 2 feet closer then it was and I hit maybe going 2 MPH. I of course bumped into him. He claimed his neck was hurt and they had to call him an ambulance. I was shocked. Anyway, the insurance company claimed they investigated fraud but we still got stuck with an increase in insurance. __________________ Xbox 360 Gamer Tag: GoldenEagle014

04-25-2006, 08:58 AM	#40
FrogMan Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada	dola, on first reading, I thought you were the one driving and you asked her to put the wipers on. I thought that was a bit weak on your part. I see you were the strong one there FM __________________ A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog...

04-25-2006, 09:19 AM	#42
Toddzilla Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Burke, VA	I've been in 2 - one pretty serious, one pretty funny in a karmic way - both in high school when I was 17. The first accident was pretty bad - after school traffic was fast and furious, and one of the two lanes on the road home was closed. Traffic slowd to a stop, but the asshat behind me wasn't paying attention and hit me at a dead stop doing about 65. Totaled my car, his car, the car in front of me, and damaged the car in front of that one. I messed up my back real bad, spent some time in the hospital, and was on heavy-duty narcotics almost my entire junior year. Second accident was karma biting me in the ass. There was a big party coming up on the weekend, so I had gone with a pal who's sister was over 21 and we stocked up on Moosehead, 4 cases of it. It was in my trunk and on the way home I was slowing down for a curve and some other dickhead smashed into the back of my car without even slowing down. I was okay and had completely forgotten about the beer when the police showd up and I was walking around my car with him explaining what had happened. Beer was streaming out of my trunk into big frothy pools in the road. The cop looked at me, at the beer, back at me and laughed. "You better get that car cleaned up, son, before you take it to the garage." "YES SIR!"

04-25-2006, 09:53 AM	#43
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Dude, Sach was a little hood! __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

04-25-2006, 09:58 AM	#44
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	About 3 years ago, I was driving on I-10 when this fucker was driving like an old lady. I needed to pass him on his left so I began to get out in the lane when I saw this car speeding up next to me. I couldn't get out, so I got back in my lane. The guy in front of me slowed down even more, and clipped me with the back left end of his car. He spun around a bit and hit some other cars. Unfortunately, I didn't have my license or insurance with me at the time.