Today was the worst day of my life in my 18 years on this earth

Balter

So today i am driving my mom's 2006 Audi A4 downtown on the highway. It's stop and go, and i was looking for a specific exit. I probably didnt have enough distance between the car infront of me and my car, but it was about the same distance as everyone else. The lady infront of me slams her brakes very abruptly (not sure why, still do not know) and i smashed the front end of my car into the rear of hers.

The front hood of my car is sticking up and the front end is a write off, everything north of the engine itself is cracked or dented (it's a mess). The back of her car is in pretty bad shape. Anyhow, i get out to see if she's ok, and she starts screaming "No, im pregnant" at this point my stomach just sank (she locked me out of the car, i couldn't help her, it's like she went into defensive mode) so i called 911 and they sent fire, ambulance and police to block traffic and to take a report and see to this woman.

My mother comes from work (not far) but she's on the opposite of the traffic median. So she crosses 3 lanes of highway traffic, hops the median and crosses another 3 (all with the officer watching her) as he is yelling at her to go back. So we have my mother pleading with the officer to let her across to see me while traffic is all stopped watching me in my misery. She was very worried. She wanted to make sure i was alright and everything was taken care of.

The officer escorts my mother to the cruiser and i thought she was under arrest, but he just warned her (guess he understood).

So they said the pregnant woman seemed fine but took her to the hospital for precautionary examination.

Notified insurance, and because i am 18 years old i am sure my insurance will triple or quadrouple what it was before.

I dont know why im posting this, i guess i just feel like venting. Today, was the worst day of my life.

olddaddy

Originally posted by Balter


So today i am driving my mom's 2006 Audi A4 downtown on the highway. It's stop and go, and i was looking for a specific exit. I probably didnt have enough distance between the car infront of me and my car, but it was about the same distance as everyone else. The lady infront of me slams her brakes very abruptly (not sure why, still do not know) and i smashed the front end of my car into the rear of hers.
The front hood of my car is sticking up and the front end is a write off, everything north of the engine itself is cracked or dented (it's a mess). The back of her car is in pretty bad shape. Anyhow, i get out to see if she's ok, and she starts screaming "No, im pregnant" at this point my stomach just sank (she locked me out of the car, i couldn't help her, it's like she went into defensive mode) so i called 911 and they sent fire, ambulance and police to block traffic and to take a report and see to this woman.
My mother comes from work (not far) but she's on the opposite of the traffic median. So she crosses 3 lanes of highway traffic, hops the median and crosses another 3 (all with the officer watching her) as he is yelling at her to go back. So we have my mother pleading with the officer to let her across to see me while traffic is all stopped watching me in my misery. She was very worried. She wanted to make sure i was alright and everything was taken care of.
The officer escorts my mother to the cruiser and i thought she was under arrest, but he just warned her (guess he understood).
So they said the pregnant woman seemed fine but took her to the hospital for precautionary examination.
Notified insurance, and because i am 18 years old i am sure my insurance will triple or quadrouple what it was before.
I dont know why im posting this, i guess i just feel like venting. Today, was the worst day of my life.

 

Look at the bright side, if she claims it was all your fault, demand a paternity test.

Last I checked a woman can't get pregnant from a rear end collision.....

(When times are bad, and life's a curse, cheer up, tomorrow may be worse)

 

 

Enkindu

If you run into the car in front of you it is always your fault.

Period.

Just because 95% of the people driving do not leave adequate distance between themselves and the car in front of them does NOT make it any less irresponsible.

I find your lack of remorse and lack of concern for the woman YOU hit (because of your own carelessness) disturbing, especially since the woman was pregnant.  You don't know anything about the pregnancy either.. many women try to get pregnant for years, and trauma can adversely affect any pregnancy.

What your mother did endangered everyone on that road.  Just because a person wants to get somewhere quickly does NOT give them the right to risk the safety of others, even under "special" circumstances.  She is lucky the officer was lenient.

On the other hand, everyone makes driving mistakes.  Especially when you are young and clueless.  If you want to better understand how serious the responsibility of operating a vehicle is, try volunteering in the emergency room at your local hospital for a few months.  You will start to understand how accidents (and the things that cause them, like following too closely) can destroy lives.

What I would like to hear from you is the following:

"Today I learned an important lesson about both driving and life: that my actions and attitudes have serious consequences.  I am greatly concerned for the woman I hit and I sincerely hope that she will be alright.  Whatever the financial consequences of this accident are for me, this is a small price to pay to learn this lesson.  Things could have been MUCH worse, and in the future I will drive with the understanding that I am operating a potentially lethal weapon."

I'm not trying to beat you up, but you need to realize that YOU are not the victim here.  Realize that EVERYONE screws up.. and decent people admit their mistakes and learn from them.

JiuJitsu

Ohh man what a story!! well on the bright side.. you are okay and that's all that matters right now

Laserwolf

Cause an accident and find out that your mother is out of her mind. Tsk tsk

Thrakk

a month ago I backed out of a driveway and hit a car parked on the otherside of the road

I wonder how much that will hurt my insurance. (he wasn't supposed to be parked opposite a driveway but still it is going to go down as mostly my fault).

That felt terrible. My friend who was in the car asked me something along the lines of "do you feel bad?" - it's like wtf do you think idiot

Balter

Originally posted by Enkindu


If you run into the car in front of you it is always your fault.
Period.
Just because 95% of the people driving do not leave adequate distance between themselves and the car in front of them does NOT make it any less irresponsible.
I find your lack of remorse and lack of concern for the woman YOU hit (because of your own carelessness) disturbing, especially since the woman was pregnant.  You don't know anything about the pregnancy either.. many women try to get pregnant for years, and trauma can adversely affect any pregnancy.
What your mother did endangered everyone on that road.  Just because a person wants to get somewhere quickly does NOT give them the right to risk the safety of others, even under "special" circumstances.  She is lucky the officer was lenient.
On the other hand, everyone makes driving mistakes.  Especially when you are young and clueless.  If you want to better understand how serious the responsibility of operating a vehicle is, try volunteering in the emergency room at your local hospital for a few months.  You will start to understand how accidents (and the things that cause them, like following too closely) can destroy lives.
What I would like to hear from you is the following:
"Today I learned an important lesson about both driving and life: that my actions and attitudes have serious consequences.  I am greatly concerned for the woman I hit and I sincerely hope that she will be alright.  Whatever the financial consequences of this accident are for me, this is a small price to pay to learn this lesson.  Things could have been MUCH worse, and in the future I will drive with the understanding that I am operating a potentially lethal weapon."
I'm not trying to beat you up, but you need to realize that YOU are not the victim here.  Realize that EVERYONE screws up.. and decent people admit their mistakes and learn from them.

 

I do feel terrible about this and i do feel bad for the woman. I had alot going through my head, but i will say my number one priority thoroughout the ordeal was making sure the woman was not hurt and was seen to by paramedics who told me she said she felt fine and appeared fine, pending precautionary tests.

I do not think it is really fair of you to tell me how i should feel - as you were not there, But i do see your point.

Astropuyo

Originally posted by Balter


So today i am driving my mom's 2006 Audi A4 downtown on the highway. It's stop and go, and i was looking for a specific exit. I probably didnt have enough distance between the car infront of me and my car, but it was about the same distance as everyone else. The lady infront of me slams her brakes very abruptly (not sure why, still do not know) and i smashed the front end of my car into the rear of hers.
The front hood of my car is sticking up and the front end is a write off, everything north of the engine itself is cracked or dented (it's a mess). The back of her car is in pretty bad shape. Anyhow, i get out to see if she's ok, and she starts screaming "No, im pregnant" at this point my stomach just sank (she locked me out of the car, i couldn't help her, it's like she went into defensive mode) so i called 911 and they sent fire, ambulance and police to block traffic and to take a report and see to this woman.
My mother comes from work (not far) but she's on the opposite of the traffic median. So she crosses 3 lanes of highway traffic, hops the median and crosses another 3 (all with the officer watching her) as he is yelling at her to go back. So we have my mother pleading with the officer to let her across to see me while traffic is all stopped watching me in my misery. She was very worried. She wanted to make sure i was alright and everything was taken care of.
The officer escorts my mother to the cruiser and i thought she was under arrest, but he just warned her (guess he understood).
So they said the pregnant woman seemed fine but took her to the hospital for precautionary examination.
Notified insurance, and because i am 18 years old i am sure my insurance will triple or quadrouple what it was before.
I dont know why im posting this, i guess i just feel like venting. Today, was the worst day of my life.

 

Look at it like this. Atleast that isn't much of a problem.

Some kid in afganland won't be seeing his father tonight.

Wolfenpride

In a few weeks or a month it'll all be in the past, just rough it out for now.

These things happen, though im sorry you had to get caught up in it.

 

gnomexxx

I promise you, you'll have worse days that that in your life.  Rear ending someone is nothing compared to what is coming up when you get older.

Hope that makes you feel better. 

Balter

Originally posted by gnomexxx


I promise you, you'll have worse days that that in your life.  Rear ending someone is nothing compared to what is coming up when you get older.
Hope that makes you feel better. 

 

Heh yea everyones telling me that. The whole thing keeps flashing back in my head. The poor girl was so upset because she was worried about her baby and i felt so helpless. Then seeing my mother crossing busy traffic on the highway and my heart nearly skipped a beat when i turned around and saw that.

I can definitely say that it was a wake up call for me, and i can only hope this advice sinks in to you guys:

LEAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER CARS - it's not worth it

 

baff

Imagine owning one of those big lorries with the snow plough on the front.

John.A.Zoid

Man I hate people who stick right up your arse cause you know they wont brake in time if you have to come to a sudden stop lo

GoldenDog

Just recognize that your intentions were never bad and go on.  There's no reason to feel guilt for something you didn't intend to do.  Mistakes happen, and no this will not be the worst one.  In another 10 years this won't even make the list. 

outfctrl

Originally posted by Balter

Originally posted by gnomexxx


I promise you, you'll have worse days that that in your life.  Rear ending someone is nothing compared to what is coming up when you get older.
Hope that makes you feel better. 

 

Heh yea everyones telling me that. The whole thing keeps flashing back in my head. The poor girl was so upset because she was worried about her baby and i felt so helpless. Then seeing my mother crossing busy traffic on the highway and my heart nearly skipped a beat when i turned around and saw that.

I can definitely say that it was a wake up call for me, and i can only hope this advice sinks in to you guys:

LEAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER CARS - it's not worth it

 

I never look for the brakes on the guy in front of me.  I always look at the brakes two to three cars up from him.  Never fails

Cleffy

But if you don't tailgate the person infront of you, then how will you draft them?

Forumfall

Shit happens. Some day in the future you will be laughing at that day.

Dekron

Originally posted by olddaddy 
Look at the bright side, if she claims it was all your fault, demand a paternity test.
Last I checked a woman can't get pregnant from a rear end collision.....
(When times are bad, and life's a curse, cheer up, tomorrow may be worse)
 
 

That was pretty damned funny!

 

You were simply following to closely. The rule is to keep a distance of one car length per 10/MPH.

Techleo

     Truthfully your fortunate nothing to bad happened. If the baby had been hurt you were looking at serious trouble. Even jail time. Id look at it as a nice lesson and move on. As for worse coming. You never know. 

daeandor

Everybody has a wake-up call at some time in their life.  It doesn't have to be an accident, or even anything bad, but I have yet to meet someone that couldn't relate a time in their life when they suddenly "got it."  I'm not saying this was your "got it" moment, but at least for now it can be.  Fortunately it appears nobody was seriously injured, or even minor, short of some nerves and some metal and plastic.  Learn from it and make yourself better in some way because of it.

 

My recommendation?  Make sure your friends your age understand how bad the accident made you feel.  Make sure they understand the mistakes you made in driving.  Try to make it so they don't make the same mistake.  Then maybe, just maybe, not only you can learn, but someone else can too.  And maybe, just maybe, your accident can save someone some money, some stress, or possibly even a life.