Contrary to popular belief, I only drank two beers yesterday…the aforementioned 9 AM beer, and then one at dinner (nothing goes so well with a BRC from Miguel’s!).
I am back at work today, having safely navigated the Southern California highways and biways in a rented Nissan Altima that starts up at the push of a button…fancy!
Thanks to everyone for the words of well wishing.
So, now that I’m not still in my post-accident brain fog, here is a brief recap of what I believe happened.
First, my rear driver’s side tire blew out. After my vehicle and the tractor trailer were stopped, and I climbed out of the passenger side door (I’ll explain that in a bit), I looked at the car and, yep that tire was blown. Now I wasn’t sure if that happened as a result of the collision or before, but the more I think about it the more I’m convinced the tire blew before the collision.
In any event, I was in the right hand lane getting ready to exit the freeway when something (the tire) pulled my car to the left. There was a tractor trailer in the next lane that I had nearly passed, but as the car was pulled into that lane, it glanced against the front of the truck and was then spun around so that I was now perpendicular to the lanes, and that was the point at which the tractor trailer collided with the driver’s side of my car. As the tractor trailer started to brake I began to slow down with it as I was skidding sideways on my tires.
So the driver’s side door wouldn’t open, the driver’s side rear view mirror was hanging down, and the driver’s side tire was blown.
Here’s the thing about the tire though, most of the damage to the car was done from the front wheel well to the end of the door, with almost no damage done around the back wheel well. When we were finally stopped, in fact, the back tire wasn’t in contact with any piece of the truck. When I was able to take a better look at the tire it had six, inch long gashes taken out of it spaced out equally over 1/3 of the tire’s surface.
My guess is, I’ll be the one considered at fault. But I haven’t had a point on my driving record since 2001, so it’s really not a huge deal…well, other then the 500 bucks I have to shell out to cover the deductible.
The more removed I get from the accident, though, the more I’m coming to understand how close I was to dying yesterday. It’s really starting to freak me. Especially since, as far as I can tell, it was a freak thing. I wasn’t on the phone, eating, reading, or any of the other dozens of things I see people doing while driving, so it’s not like I could have “done something different” to have avoided it. One second, I’m driving along, the next my car jerked into the side of a semi.
Paul Oakenfold – Dread Rock
Good to know said car hadn’t been flattend.
Usuallly a side wall like that blows when the tire is under inflated with a heavy load. : / A blow out like that would indeed pull the rear of the car to the right, and shift your direction you were moving to the left.
Did the CHP show up, and do a vehicle investigation? Suavo, and Mrs. White would be the ones to ask how a insurance company will “handle” the at fault part. It is what 4 years before marks on your record disapear?
Something to do different? How about replacing your tires, or a rocket boaster cause you know a flying missle to work would be awesome.
As to the neat push button start it is there to save the starter from fools who keep grinding the starter, and it just so happens to look cool.
Well, the tires aren’t even a year old…
Yeah, CHP showed up, but as far as “investigation” goes, I’d say it was minimal at best. The guy took my statement, and the truck driver’s. There was another truck driver who stopped right after the accident and left his number, so the CHP guy said he’d be contacting him for a statement.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to be found “at fault” but the insurance company already told me that I won’t lose my good driver discount even if I am at fault.
State Farm does points in 3 and 6, so after three years accidents are seen as like 1/2 a point.
…Wow. Glad you’re okay!