Hello everyone! Confession: It's been a while, sorry. I've always been so impressed with this community's strength, support, and dedication to helping others with various issues. You folks are the best!
Last Tuesday, I just dropped off my sister from the hospital after a few day's stay. On the short ride home that I've driven a million times, unfortunately I was involved in a collision with a Pontiac G6. Fortunately, I'm physically fine. The other driver stated she's ok too.
I'm driving southbound in a 40mph zone, 4 lane road. I'm in the right lane, as I wasn't passing anyone. No lights, no stop signs for me. Cruise control, taking it easy. About 3PM, the sun is really low. There's a lot of glare from the snow melt that day; it's really bright.
She's exiting Allstate corporate headquarters (Employee of the company). Has a stop sign. Apparently, she decided to hail mary it and haul *** through four lanes. I see her at the last moment, slam brakes, and veer hard right to avoid t-boning her with my front at intersection. She ends up hitting driver side front & rear doors. Impact wasn't horrible on my driver's side doors as the evasive tactics helped to make it a glancing blow with the front of her car. No airbags deployed on my car at this point.
This initial collision stopped her car right there, and effectively sent my car into a spin and slide. My car hit the curb sideways front and rear wheels with significant force and caused RHS curtain airbags to deploy. Sheered both RHS wheels. Car continued sliding sideways in deep snow for about 20 feet, finally coming to rest against a telephone box.
After making sure I'm ok, I gather some personal belongings. I see that she gets out of the car and is screaming, "My baby, my baby!" She's really freaked out. Shaking, seems like she's in shock. I get out and run over to her car. I see front airbag deployed, carseat in the back. She's still screaming, "My baby, my baby!" I grab her by the shoulders and ask her to look at me. "Are you ok?" She says yes. "Is there anyone else in the car?" She says no.
Her baby is the blue G6.
Anyway, a nice witness helped her into a warm car to gather her thoughts. I pull out my phone call authorities, start taking some pics, make some calls, arrange a ride. Police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks... Luckily, ambulance ended up not necessary for either of us.
She was cited but I'm not sure what the ticket was issued for specifically. After about an hour, grabbed the police report, my belongings, etc and headed out of there... 1.5 miles from home.
Interesting thing about this intersection: This is a corporate headquarters. 15 minutes after accident, an off-duty police officer begins directing traffic because it's a dangerous intersection with so many cars leaving after work. Just prior to police showing up, there is a police light mounted on a tripod at the intersection for caution. Guess it didn't help.
Fire & police commented that they're surprised the car didn't flip from the collision with curb. They said they see this all the time in these types of accidents, specifically when car hit curb like it did. What must have saved me from flipping is that it snowed some earlier that day; it was plowed to the curb, effectively creating a little ramp to elevate the wheel just enough not to flip the vehicle. Crazy stuff called luck.
Oh, one last nugget. I say, "I assume you have Allstate insurance...?" She says no... it's too expensive. She has State Farm! Same as my insurer...
I've been in a rental now for almost a week. Picked up a replacement car too: 08' 535xi Sport Wagon. When I settle with ins company, I might pickup one of the M5's here on the board. Something awesome will come up. I hate not having stick, but my dogs fully approve as they never stepped foot into the M5. The M5 has been my daily driver for the last 6 years. So much money into that car keeping it nice and mechanically sound. All those sets of tires! Blizzaks in the winter, PS2's in the summer. So great... ::sigh::
Not the end of the world... just going to have to start new adventures!
Wish you all the merriest of holiday greetings. This little adventure reminded me of how great it is to be healthy and alive, how well these cars are designed, and what's really important.
Sincerely,
Alex
PS: I love the smell of deployed airbags.
Last Tuesday, I just dropped off my sister from the hospital after a few day's stay. On the short ride home that I've driven a million times, unfortunately I was involved in a collision with a Pontiac G6. Fortunately, I'm physically fine. The other driver stated she's ok too.
I'm driving southbound in a 40mph zone, 4 lane road. I'm in the right lane, as I wasn't passing anyone. No lights, no stop signs for me. Cruise control, taking it easy. About 3PM, the sun is really low. There's a lot of glare from the snow melt that day; it's really bright.
She's exiting Allstate corporate headquarters (Employee of the company). Has a stop sign. Apparently, she decided to hail mary it and haul *** through four lanes. I see her at the last moment, slam brakes, and veer hard right to avoid t-boning her with my front at intersection. She ends up hitting driver side front & rear doors. Impact wasn't horrible on my driver's side doors as the evasive tactics helped to make it a glancing blow with the front of her car. No airbags deployed on my car at this point.
This initial collision stopped her car right there, and effectively sent my car into a spin and slide. My car hit the curb sideways front and rear wheels with significant force and caused RHS curtain airbags to deploy. Sheered both RHS wheels. Car continued sliding sideways in deep snow for about 20 feet, finally coming to rest against a telephone box.
After making sure I'm ok, I gather some personal belongings. I see that she gets out of the car and is screaming, "My baby, my baby!" She's really freaked out. Shaking, seems like she's in shock. I get out and run over to her car. I see front airbag deployed, carseat in the back. She's still screaming, "My baby, my baby!" I grab her by the shoulders and ask her to look at me. "Are you ok?" She says yes. "Is there anyone else in the car?" She says no.
Her baby is the blue G6.
Anyway, a nice witness helped her into a warm car to gather her thoughts. I pull out my phone call authorities, start taking some pics, make some calls, arrange a ride. Police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks... Luckily, ambulance ended up not necessary for either of us.
She was cited but I'm not sure what the ticket was issued for specifically. After about an hour, grabbed the police report, my belongings, etc and headed out of there... 1.5 miles from home.
Interesting thing about this intersection: This is a corporate headquarters. 15 minutes after accident, an off-duty police officer begins directing traffic because it's a dangerous intersection with so many cars leaving after work. Just prior to police showing up, there is a police light mounted on a tripod at the intersection for caution. Guess it didn't help.
Fire & police commented that they're surprised the car didn't flip from the collision with curb. They said they see this all the time in these types of accidents, specifically when car hit curb like it did. What must have saved me from flipping is that it snowed some earlier that day; it was plowed to the curb, effectively creating a little ramp to elevate the wheel just enough not to flip the vehicle. Crazy stuff called luck.
Oh, one last nugget. I say, "I assume you have Allstate insurance...?" She says no... it's too expensive. She has State Farm! Same as my insurer...
I've been in a rental now for almost a week. Picked up a replacement car too: 08' 535xi Sport Wagon. When I settle with ins company, I might pickup one of the M5's here on the board. Something awesome will come up. I hate not having stick, but my dogs fully approve as they never stepped foot into the M5. The M5 has been my daily driver for the last 6 years. So much money into that car keeping it nice and mechanically sound. All those sets of tires! Blizzaks in the winter, PS2's in the summer. So great... ::sigh::
Not the end of the world... just going to have to start new adventures!
Wish you all the merriest of holiday greetings. This little adventure reminded me of how great it is to be healthy and alive, how well these cars are designed, and what's really important.
Sincerely,
Alex
PS: I love the smell of deployed airbags.