Driving while sleeping = fail

[tyler811]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
I'm very glad it was superficial car damage and we're not reading your obit right now.

Or anyone elses obit.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

So, Saturday I fell asleep on the highway driving my fiancee's 05 Pontiac Vibe. She was sleeping in the passengers seat, and we both woke up riding the gravel on the side of the highway. Thankfully it was 5 am, so the highway was empty. We hit a guardrail on the passengers side which threw us back onto the road as I woke up and I couldn't recover control. We went into the median where there was a wire guard, which slowed us down and got us back onto the highway. We drove the two miles to a safe place off the highway, and as we were calming down a police officer happened to drive by. He stopped took the police report, I had AAA come for the car and my parents come to pick us up.

All in all it was a very scary experience. I felt like I was fine to get us home, we were about 4 miles from our exit and I wake up in a bumper car. It seemed very dark out and it took me a moment to get oriented and at that point everything I knew about recovering in a slide was out the window. All I had to offer were expletives as I hit the brake, turned the wheel and stared directly at the barriers we were about to run into. Thankfully no injuries to either of us. Airbags did not deploy but we both had our seatbelts on. Our necks were a little sore that night but it's two days later and we both feel fine with no real pain, so we haven't gone to get anything checked out.

Not sure how the insurance is going to come out, the wire guard pretty much peeled the drivers side front quarter panel like a can. The hood is somewhat buckled and the front bumber is scratched/cracked. The passengers side took a hit from the hard guardrail, but not as bad. Pretty much all of the body needs replacing/work front of the doors, and the rear passengers side took a hit too. The car was still driving and only has 36k on it, so I'm not sure how the insurance is going to shake out. After we got off the highway some plastic on the passenger wheel well started to rub the tire, but otherwise it would be driveable-ish. We grabbed a rental car(no rental coverage) and insurance is supposed to stop and look at it today in front of my parents house before it gets towed to a shop for an estimate.


Anyone have any tips for dealing with a totalled car/ single vehicle accident insurance issues? I'm hoping it will be fairly straightforward but if anyone knows where I need to watch closely I'd like to benefit from your experience.

I'll try to throw up a pic later on today on my next break, but for now lunch is over and its back to work.

Paging PAB. Come on PAB, where did u go? (last post was MArch 2007?)

update Op w/pics instead of putting in a reply?

it's yur fault. if u have collision, insurace will pay, minus the dedtible. your rates will skyrocket. but glad your unhurt.

i nodded off once. it was night time. thank god my car drifted towards the guardrail and not into oncoming traffic. and thankgod for rumble strips, woke up, slammed on brakes. no damage, jst shoken up.

now whenever i drive long distances, i drink coffee first.

 

[imported_Imp]

You're pretty lucky to walk away ok. I'd have gone to get checked out for peace of mind though.

Oh, and your parents live on a really nice street. Wish the pavement in my town was that nice...

 

[imported_weadjust]

Do you own an insured car also?

Since you were driving and wrecked your fiance's car. If you own a car and have insurance, your insurance should pay for the damages to her car, the cost to rent a car, and there would be no deductible for her to cover since you were 100% negligent. She should file the claim with your insurance. If you don't have an insured car then nevermind.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

That'll buff right out.

/obligatory

 

[Daishiki]

Glad to hear you both are all right.

I had to pull over in the middle of the afternoon once for a 40 minute power nap. No one else in the car could drive manual and they were knocked out, too. Personally, I try to stay awake when I'm a passenger in order to keep the driver awake as well. Talking keeps me awake, unlike loud music or having the windows down.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Just let your insurance company handle everything. That's what you pay them the big bucks for. BTW-Prepare to pay them even bigger bucks depending on your age/driving record.

Glad to hear you and your fiance are okay.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
That'll buff right out.

/obligatory

My Dad has an awsome set of tools.

He can fix this.

 

[Turin39789]

I figured I'd get some flack, and I deserve it. Next to being thankful that we were both ok, is being thankful that no one else was around and no one got hurt. If I catch myself driving while tired, I pull off. Head starts nodding, and I take a nap at a gas station/grocery store/side of the road. Didn't happen this time. I was driving merrily along with the cruise set and then there was gravel and guard rails.

A girl I was dating some years ago had a pair of friends fall asleep on a cross country ride while we were dating. Unfortunately there was a semi parked on the side of the road, and they went under it's rear and didn't survive. I was very lucky and am very thankful.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: weadjust
Do you own an insured car also?

Since you were driving and wrecked your fiance's car. If you own a car and have insurance, your insurance should pay for the damages to her car, the cost to rent a car, and there would be no deductible for her to cover since you were 100% negligent. She should file the claim with your insurance. If you don't have an insured car then nevermind.

We're both insured through the same company on different policies. And the insurance usually follows the car, not the driver.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
I figured I'd get some flack, and I deserve it. Next to being thankful that we were both ok, is being thankful that no one else was around and no one got hurt. If I catch myself driving while tired, I pull off. Head starts nodding, and I take a nap at a gas station/grocery store/side of the road. Didn't happen this time. I was driving merrily along with the cruise set and then there was gravel and guard rails.

A girl I was dating some years ago had a pair of friends fall asleep on a cross country ride while we were dating. Unfortunately there was a semi parked on the side of the road, and they went under it's rear and didn't survive. I was very lucky and am very thankful.

I think you both should go to the doctors and be checked out so it can be documented and then you have that to show the ins. company down the road if either of you does develop neck/back problems as a result of the accident.

I am sure you've now learned your lesson on the asleep-at-the-wheel part so no lectures from me. I am glad luck was on your side.

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: Daishiki
Glad to hear you both are all right.

I had to pull over in the middle of the afternoon once for a 40 minute power nap. No one else in the car could drive manual and they were knocked out, too. Personally, I try to stay awake when I'm a passenger in order to keep the driver awake as well. Talking keeps me awake, unlike loud music or having the windows down.

talking keeps me awake also. sometimes I'll just call a random person on the way home to keep me awake.

loud music doesn't work, cause my music is generally loud already.
having the windows down is not only uncomfortable at highway speeds, but it also doesn't help to keep me awake.

 

[clamum]

I did something similar earlier this summer. Coming home from a friend's house at night and fell asleep and hit a couple mailboxes on the side of the road. I didn't even feel that tired when I was leaving her house either, and she lives maybe 10 minutes from me. I've gotten tired driving the 3 hours up to school when I lived there but would pull over and sleep for an hour or so. I was lucky there was no one walking or anything that night, I still feel bad/stupid about it.

So the next day I had to file a police report and pay a fine (careless driving, civil infracture). Also went to the peoples' houses that owned the mailboxes and although the cop said I wasn't legally under an obligation to do anything, gave them each $25 for a new mailbox and also offered to put them back up, but they said they would do it themselves.

 

[Turin39789]

Car is on it's way to a body shop to get up on the lift for a good inspectin'. Might not hear anything until wednesday.

 

[LTC8K6]

They don't do body work much any more do they? I thought they just replaced the panels because the labor involved in fixing the panel was not worth it compared to just replacing it.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
They don't do body work much any more do they? I thought they just replaced the panels because the labor involved in fixing the panel was not worth it compared to just replacing it.

We'll see. Everything with an engine that I own is more than 25 years old. Thankfully we weren't driving my beetle. I'd say the same about the bike, but I just don't see anyone falling asleep on a motorcyle.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
My Dad has an awsome set of tools.

He can fix this.

:laugh::beer:

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Tremulant

Originally posted by: Daishiki
Glad to hear you both are all right.

I had to pull over in the middle of the afternoon once for a 40 minute power nap. No one else in the car could drive manual and they were knocked out, too. Personally, I try to stay awake when I'm a passenger in order to keep the driver awake as well. Talking keeps me awake, unlike loud music or having the windows down.

talking keeps me awake also. sometimes I'll just call a random person on the way home to keep me awake.

loud music doesn't work, cause my music is generally loud already.
having the windows down is not only uncomfortable at highway speeds, but it also doesn't help to keep me awake.

how about pulling off and getting some cofee? I used to keep caffeine pills for just this reason when on long drives alone.

 

[NeoAaronX]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Tremulant

Originally posted by: Daishiki
Glad to hear you both are all right.

I had to pull over in the middle of the afternoon once for a 40 minute power nap. No one else in the car could drive manual and they were knocked out, too. Personally, I try to stay awake when I'm a passenger in order to keep the driver awake as well. Talking keeps me awake, unlike loud music or having the windows down.

talking keeps me awake also. sometimes I'll just call a random person on the way home to keep me awake.

loud music doesn't work, cause my music is generally loud already.
having the windows down is not only uncomfortable at highway speeds, but it also doesn't help to keep me awake.

how about pulling off and getting some cofee? I used to keep caffeine pills for just this reason when on long drives alone.

What REALLY works for me, and I've told other people about this and they stated it really helped them, is eating sunflower seeds.

I slam a hand full in my mouth and the cracking of the shells spitting out the window/into a cup really helps when I'm sleepy.

 

[Turin39789]

Haven't heard back from the insurance company yet, but the garage called and the damage is $11k worth.

I'm guessing they are going to total it. Now we have to find her a new car, she's decided that she is going to miss the Vibe but doesn't necesarilly want another one.


Looking for a hatchback or sedan, 04 and newer, 30+ mpg, reliable, auto tranny, low miles etc. Looking at $15k and under, though 14k would be better and I'd prefer 13. The money is still up in the air until we find out what insurance is going to give for it.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
Haven't heard back from the insurance company yet, but the garage called and the damage is $11k worth.

I'm guessing they are going to total it. Now we have to find her a new car, she's decided that she is going to miss the Vibe but doesn't necesarilly want another one.


Looking for a hatchback or sedan, 04 and newer, 30+ mpg, reliable, auto tranny, low miles etc. Looking at $15k and under, though 14k would be better and I'd prefer 13. The money is still up in the air until we find out what insurance is going to give for it.

2000-2002 chevy prizm. (41mpg hwy)

it's a corolla w/a GM tag, literally. (Prizm comes out of a Corolla plant joint venture w/GM.)

so a corolla at 1/2 the price. (tho avoid any prizms made last century.)

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: Turin39789
Haven't heard back from the insurance company yet, but the garage called and the damage is $11k worth.

I'm guessing they are going to total it. Now we have to find her a new car, she's decided that she is going to miss the Vibe but doesn't necesarilly want another one.


Looking for a hatchback or sedan, 04 and newer, 30+ mpg, reliable, auto tranny, low miles etc. Looking at $15k and under, though 14k would be better and I'd prefer 13. The money is still up in the air until we find out what insurance is going to give for it.

2000-2002 chevy prizm. (41mpg hwy)

it's a corolla w/a GM tag, literally. (Prizm comes out of a Corolla plant joint venture w/GM.)

so a corolla at 1/2 the price. (tho avoid any prizms made last century.)

If I can get her to go down a few years that might work. It might be an uphill battle though.

Her Pontiac Vibe was a similar beast, it was the same thing as a Toyota Matrix, both of which I believe are built on a corolla(maybe camry) platform

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: waggy
glad you are ok. happy you didnt kill anyone. BUT that was a really fucking dumb thing to do.

Personally i feel soemone who falls asleep while driving should be severly punished. lose the right to drive for a few months and have a good fine.

I consider myself a pretty responsible driver but there are times when its almost impossible to stay awake. You just have to have it within yourself to pull over and take a brief nap to wake yourself up.

 

[0roo0roo]

no rumble strips ftl

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: waggy
glad you are ok. happy you didnt kill anyone. BUT that was a really fucking dumb thing to do.

Personally i feel soemone who falls asleep while driving should be severly punished. lose the right to drive for a few months and have a good fine.

I consider myself a pretty responsible driver but there are times when its almost impossible to stay awake. You just have to have it within yourself to pull over and take a brief nap to wake yourself up.

there is no excuse for falling asleep while driving. it is not Impossible. there is nowhere you have to be that you can risk your life and mine.

pull over and take a nap. if you get in a wreck from sleeping you deserve to lose your license for a short time and a huge fine.