Another "I got in an accident" thread

RPI Geek · 10-23-2005, 07:39 PM

First of all, I don't think that I'll have any lasting damage: I'm ok. I haven't heard anything about the other guy yet. Also, sorry about the long post.

So I was heading over to my girlfriend's place this morning at around 8:30 when the oncoming car just came right on into my lane. He wasn't passing anybody because there was no one in front of him and there was nobody on the side of the road for him to avoid. I was paying attention so I noticed these things. Even though, it happened so incredibly fast that I only had time for about 3 and a half thoughts:

- What's he thinking? He's headed right at me! Well maybe he just drifted into my lane for a second. (I've seen this frequently before and it's what I thought he was doing).
- No, he's just playing chicken, what a dick! Well I'm not going to risk my life for this bull**** (at which point I covered the brakes and pulled over a little bit).
- Oh no, he's not goofing around, I better really go now! (That's when I slammed the brakes and cranked the wheel as far to the right as I had time for).
- I'm not gonna miss - (crunch).

So my wheels locked up on the wet pavement and I only got about an eighth or a quarter turn on the steering wheel before impact. Luckily he only hit about a foot in from the side of my car, so the cars kinda glanced off each other. Both cars turned inwards about 90 degrees and travelled past each other, ending up on the "right" side of the road for each car. The first thing I really saw afterwards was that the EZ-Pass got ripped off the windshield and I thought "holy ****, those things get held on REAL tight! This might be worse than I thought it'd be."

My driver side door wouldn't open so I climbed over, got out, and called 911. By then all the passing traffic had stopped and people were yelling at each other. I didn't have my glasses (they're still in the car somewhere I think - I'm using my previous pair at the moment) but I could read the road sign that was next to me - I relayed this information to the dispatcher.

The other guy seemed to not notice anybody. He didn't respond when the operator asked me if anyone was hurt and I yelled across to him, and he didn't respond to the 2 people screaming at each other 5' from him. When I walked around my car I saw that my wheel was next to my driver side door, face down with a huge dent in it. The only thing holding it there was the brake line. (Sorry but I don't have any pictures yet).

They brought me to the hospital in an ambulance after assuming the worst and giving me a neck brace, where they did a CAT scan and took x-rays of my head & neck. They couldn't fine anything wrong, so they gave me 13 visible and 6 subcutenous stitches for the gash behind my left ear (still not sure what caused that one) and some eye wash because I thought I felt something in my eye.

The police called the room and talked with my mother, and told her that the guy was driving on a suspended license and that they found pamphlets in his car about substance dependency. They also told her that he was undergoing serious treatment because they didn't know what was wrong, but his symptoms (IMHO) were close to either 1) he was on something or 2) serious head injury. By 3pm I was discharged with basic instructions for the neck pain & the eye wash stuff. The ride home was uneventful.

I have bruises on my left arm from the door, possibly whiplash, a cut lip, a periodically bloody nose from the airbag, the cut behind my ear, bruised knees (I seriously could have broken them both if we were just going a little faster), a few minor scrapes on my hands and wrists, and seatbelt hickeys on my hips and collarbone. Nothing broken, no teeth knocked out, nothing likely to get infected.

I know that I'm really lucky, just about everyone told me that they were amazed that I was able to actually climb out of the car. I just thought that I'd post here to, well, let everyone know that my project is on hold for the time being and I don't know what I'll do until I get another car and I check it out.

Drive safely everyone, and buckle up! I'm convinced that I wouldn't be here if I hadn't buckled up.

kevinlekiller · 10-23-2005, 07:49 PM

Nice story , I wish you well.

xdjxklusivex · 10-23-2005, 08:12 PM

damn dude i hope ur okay i just got in an accident with my friend on the 8th we both had to climb out the windows none of the doors would open and it was headon for us aswell we were hella luck we got out witout any cuts but my backs actin up again :-( we need some pics tho :-)

Curiosity · 10-23-2005, 09:07 PM

You left out the important part. How's the car PC!?!?! heheh.
Glad you're OK.

justintime · 10-23-2005, 09:19 PM

Glad you're OK dude. Also glad you buckled up!

You gotta be a real &%^%$@ not to use the seatbelts.

RPI Geek · 10-23-2005, 10:20 PM

Thanks for the support guys

Carputer wasn't installed so it's fine, the the lilli was in the cupholder so i dunno how it is. They wouldn't let me back to my car so I couldn't retrieve anything and the guy who did go back couldn't find my glasses.

arebelspy · 10-23-2005, 10:28 PM

Pics when you can! Glad you're (mostly) okay.

-arebelspy

ACHIEVER · 10-23-2005, 10:40 PM

Glad you're all right. Things can happen real fast, and change everything in you life, or worse, end it. Consider yourself lucky. Could have been different. And anyone who doesn't wear a belt is a real fool.

Good luck and heal fast.

xdjxklusivex · 10-23-2005, 11:32 PM

Quote:

anyone who doesn't wear a belt is a real fool.

i agree that extra 5 secconds it takes u (15 if ur a stupid ***) to buckle up can give u the extra 5 (if your a stupid ****) or 15 more years to live :-)

RPI Geek · 10-24-2005, 10:40 PM

Hosted off my cable modem, be gentle. Also they may not be here in a 6 mos to a year because I'll probably move out.
http://72.226.36.236/images/
#s 22, 32, 40, 46, 55 - are the ones you should really look at if you're interested
#s 20, 21, 27, 36 - give a little more detail
The rest aren't all that great and if you have an aversion to blood don't look at #39 (2 little drops as I climbed out)
No pics yet of my stitches and stuff, we took them an hour ago and I don't know what dad did with the appropriate link cable.

P3rv3rt B3ar · 10-24-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by xdjxklusivex

i agree that extra 5 secconds it takes u (15 if ur a stupid ***) to buckle up can give u the extra 5 (if your a stupid ****) or 15 more years to live :-)

Either i see what i want or want what i see cause i read u handle as exclusive sex

Curiosity · 10-24-2005, 11:11 PM

Do you think it's totalled?

Damn, I feel sick just looking at those pics.

BoyNextDoor · 10-24-2005, 11:15 PM

talk about a civik saving your life... not in a passat... it would'nt have bent like that... not to bash you. no offense. glad you're ok... looking at that is terrible...

greenman100 · 03-03-2006, 12:16 PM

update?

RPI Geek · 03-03-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by greenman100

update?

Nothing huge...

The cut on my head is healed up pretty nicely, I'm going to the other guy's insurance company some time next week to have it looked at and they'll make me a claim settlement. I don't want lots of money, but I won't turn down a small settlement. They contected me, not the other way around.

I got a new car ('03 Acura RSX base model). The car's much nicer than the Civic, it handles better, it looks better. For the CarPC though, the interior is different enough that the custom case I built for the Civic doesn't fit in the same place. I don't like messing around out there in the cold weather, so this spring I'll be bringing what I have of the carputer out to see what I can do with it... The screen is my biggest issue though; I'll probably end up making it so that it can snap in place. I don't really want to lose my head unit.