My accidents very memorable.
#1 - about 3 months after getting my first car in 2001, about a year after getting my license - I back my 1985 Rx-7 up into my girlfriend's step-dad's F-150 while trying to make a get-away after he caught us less than fully clothed
...
Needless to say I stopped to assess the damage (I never even got out of the driveway), I had smashed in the tumbler for the hatch, dented the rear under the hatch window, and broken a couple plastic molding pieces... Her step dad came out and drove off pissed without saying a thing to me... I was terrified... I found out later that I had done NO DAMAGE TO HIS TRUCK, not even a scratch...
I am still with this girl today, and she and I are getting hitched in a couple of weeks
. Her step-dad and I get along well now if you are wondering.
One of my friends does amazing bodywork, didn't report this one to the insurance company.
#2 - about a year after the first accident - following my girlfriend (same girl, in the same 1985 Rx-7) and I look down to change the radio station, when I look up she had come to a dead stop in her 1989 Buick (she missed the turn she was going to take). Thank God for video game reflexes - I turn the wheel a 1/4 left and lock up the brakes, Spin 180 and miss her back bumper with my back bumper with a few inches to spare (don't ask me how I managed that, I probably couldn't repeat it if I tried
) and slide a few more feet back up over the curb on the other side of the road and hit my passenger side fender on a concrete barrier, denting it a few inches. We are both facing each other and have the same "I can't believe that just happened!" look on our faces. Like the first accident, I drive away, no insurance call and get my bodywork buddy on the horn to fix the latest crackup.
#3 - March 2004 - After an Ice storm - before the roads had been sanded in my 2002 Toyota Corolla S. I left for work 45 minutes early so I could take my time. Going down an icy back road, around a corner my front wheels break loose and I start sliding around the corner... right into a telephone poll and mailbox. I don't have a cell phone at the time, so I walk to the next door neighbor's house (there was a big scary German Shepard in front of the house whose mailbox I hit) and telephone my mom to get down here and call the wrecker to haul my ride away. Within moments a police cruiser rolls up as I am assessing the damage of the accident and goes through the motions (are you okay son? what happened here?...). I had peeled back the fender like it was a banana peel and once the auto body shop got hold of it, they found a whopping $6000 in damage to the suspension and framework (the insurance company had estimated the damage at $2000) and the car wasn't totaled, thank God. It took a couple weeks to repair, but then it was like new again.
#4 - Driving on Main street in a nearby Town 2006 - 2002 Toyota Corolla S (same as #3 above) - My girlfriend was in the car with me for this one. I go around an SUV (still on my side of the yellow lines) that is taking a right onto an intersecting street and an 50+ year old woman pulls out from that side street right in front of me. I T-bone her going at least 30 MPH (that was with the brakes locked up and a tremendous amount of rubber being left behind). She shocked, I'm shocked, my girlfriend is shocked, we pull our cars over and the old bag can't get out. I had fused her car door with the B pillar and had to yank the door open for her. I tried to keep my cool, and asked her if she was okay and for her insurance information and waited for the police show up. I'm thinking to myself "wonderful, a 23 year old kid and a 50+ year old woman get into an accident of the above description, who is at fault..." Well thank the Lord I stayed on my side of the road (the tire tracks I left behind were a clear indicator of where my car had been) because after the cop checked out the scene he said "I'm sorry ma'am, but any insurance company is going to find you at fault because you pulled out into the main flow of traffic when it was unsafe to do so, the young gentleman (he called me a gentleman!
) was on his side of the road when the accident happened and you had a stop sign, indicating that you go when it is safe to proceed. Here is your citation. Have a nice day. Her insurance picks up the tab and I drive away with $2000 worth of damage. They insurance company can't total the car (because it was worth $2300 at the time
) and I still drive the Rolling Lemon today.
None of these have ever been against me (the two that were reported) and the icy road #3 accident? I had to go to a hearing and provide information to get that one taken off my record (just had to provide a few articles from newspapers that had statements from state troopers saying that the ice caused about 97 accidents that day).
So I consider myself lucky and drive much more defensively than in the past. Always pay attention!!!! It will save you and others lives!
I do believe you get almost a sixth sense when you have been driving for several years, I attribute it to experience
.