I'm almost positive that when one party to an accident is drunk, it is automatically his fault, even if he was just sitting at a stop light and got rear-ended. When I was in college, a guy got killed by a drunk driver that was many times over the legal limit, and driving all over the road. Drunk driver got set free because the guy he killed had a few beers himself, even though he was driving perfectly normal.
mugs
Lifer
- Apr 29, 2003
- 48,920
- 46
- 91
1. I was a passenger in my own car, sleeping while a female was driving it through the mountains of western PA in a heavy snowstorm (which started after I fell asleep). I woke up and saw amber lights, and the car was spinning. Apparently a truck hit its brakes, so she hit the brakes hard, we did a 360 and went off the highway down a 60 foot embankment. Impressively, there was not a bit of damage to my car. We just needed a tow truck to pull us back up on the highway and we went on our merry way. She had AAA, so it didn't cost me a dime. I drove the rest of the way home. Apparently yelling "what the hell did you do?" was not the proper reaction when you're woken up in that way. She cried. I felt bad.
2. In wife's car, passenger again. Heavy rain storm. Guy in front of us does a panic stop, wife does the same. He stops, she stops right behind him, guy behind us does not stop. Then he ran off. Took the cops forever to get there, because there were a lot of accidents that night. By the time they got our car up on a flat-bed, the girl who hit us came back to turn herself in. Seemed kind of suspicious though, it was a girl in a nice dress, and she was driving a cargo van with a ladder rack on top... I have a feeling she was protecting the guy who was sitting in the passenger seat. Maybe he was drunk, maybe he was illegal, I don't know. Our car looked like this (front was pretty much the same), the Dodge pickup in front of us didn't have a scratch on it, and the cargo van behind us just had a broken grill. Insurance totaled our car and the wife got this.
Never been in an accident myself, whether my fault or someone else's. Came close when I was a stupid teenager - driving too fast on a snowy road. Skidded and nearly ran into the side wall of a bridge as I was approaching it.
I'm a pretty alert driver nowadays, and I think that helps a lot with avoiding accidents. I'm always aware of what other cars are around me, and if I see a car or pedestrian approaching on a crossroad I keep an eye on them - if they don't look at me, I assume they don't know I'm there and I slow down. Being aware of what's going on around you is the best way to avoid accidents IMO.
2. In wife's car, passenger again. Heavy rain storm. Guy in front of us does a panic stop, wife does the same. He stops, she stops right behind him, guy behind us does not stop. Then he ran off. Took the cops forever to get there, because there were a lot of accidents that night. By the time they got our car up on a flat-bed, the girl who hit us came back to turn herself in. Seemed kind of suspicious though, it was a girl in a nice dress, and she was driving a cargo van with a ladder rack on top... I have a feeling she was protecting the guy who was sitting in the passenger seat. Maybe he was drunk, maybe he was illegal, I don't know. Our car looked like this (front was pretty much the same), the Dodge pickup in front of us didn't have a scratch on it, and the cargo van behind us just had a broken grill. Insurance totaled our car and the wife got this.
Never been in an accident myself, whether my fault or someone else's. Came close when I was a stupid teenager - driving too fast on a snowy road. Skidded and nearly ran into the side wall of a bridge as I was approaching it.
I'm a pretty alert driver nowadays, and I think that helps a lot with avoiding accidents. I'm always aware of what other cars are around me, and if I see a car or pedestrian approaching on a crossroad I keep an eye on them - if they don't look at me, I assume they don't know I'm there and I slow down. Being aware of what's going on around you is the best way to avoid accidents IMO.
PepePeru
Diamond Member
- Jul 21, 2005
- 3,846
- 0
- 0
three
2 as passenger
1 myself.
slid off icy road into a culvert's headwall, i was a passenger. no injuries...really lucky there. had we been 5 feet over, we'd been upside down in an icy creek.
passenger...guy i was with rear ended someone going about 15-20, no injuries
driver. minor accident going about 15-20 on a local street, no injuries.
2 as passenger
1 myself.
slid off icy road into a culvert's headwall, i was a passenger. no injuries...really lucky there. had we been 5 feet over, we'd been upside down in an icy creek.
passenger...guy i was with rear ended someone going about 15-20, no injuries
driver. minor accident going about 15-20 on a local street, no injuries.
18 years of driving (approx. 700k miles) and zero accidents so far. Never been in an accident as a passenger either.
- Aug 28, 2003
- 1,858
- 1
- 81
Well, I gave the short version of this story. This wreck happened right after I graduated high school, right before I went to college.
Obviously he was at fault for the wreck. He was drunk, underage, speeding, had a warrant out for his arrest for writing bad checks, expired plates, and uninsured. (His dad also worked at an insurance agency, go figure) He was driving a Firebird, so for that car to throw the van that distance, you know he was hauling ass... So, he grabbed some shady lawyers and filed a separate lawsuit stating that his drunkeness or speeding had nothing to do with the wreck, it was just me to "pull right out in front of him".
I was supposed to be home by 1AM, and was less than a mile from home when this happened. When I was finally dismissed from the hospital, it was sunny outside and I heard them wheeling him by. I heard him moaning and mumbling "Gimme something for the pain." They said "We can't. Your blood alcohol is still too high". That's how much he was drinking that night.
My dad had also just taken a new position across the state. To counter sue, I'd have to miss classes and he'd have to take time off his new job, as senior management. We were just happy enough to have it all behind us, but we had the OPTION of counter suing. My family isn't the litigious sort, so we'd rather stay out of court, if we have the option.
As far as point "C" goes, I was just typing quickly. Hopefully this answers your questions.
And, I'm amazed that there were no deaths. He wasn't wearing his seat belt, and shattered his knees, nearly bit his tongue off, and broke the steering wheel off with his face. He had over 1,000 stitches in his face alone.
I *WAS* wearing my seat belt, and was very lucky. I hear that a lot dismemberments happen in rollover wrecks because people's arms go out the window. I'm just a lucky guy. My parents have pics of the wreck somewhere... I'll post 'em up if I can get ahold of them.
And, as one of my favorite sayings go, "If I was gonna lie about something, it'd be more interesting than this...."
BurnItDwn
Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
- 26,353
- 1,862
- 126
Never been in a wreck, but I'm only 27 and I've probably only driven about 200K miles or so since I got my license at 16.
One time when there was a lot of ice on the road at a red light I bumped the car in front of me. There was no damage on either car, and nobody was hurt.
That's my "wreck" story though.
One time when there was a lot of ice on the road at a red light I bumped the car in front of me. There was no damage on either car, and nobody was hurt.
That's my "wreck" story though.
I've never been in a wreck either. I'm 21, and my driving experience is limited to about 2 years in HS.
We had just left my pal's house. My buddy was driving, with another in the passenger, while me and my other friend were in the back. The driver was switching songs on the cd player, when the passenger freaked out about him kinda going off the road(nothing major at all, no cars around blah blah blah). Anyway, he over corrected and we spun out into a ditch, where we flipped a few times stopping with the wheels in the air. Me and the guy in the back didn't have a seatbelt on(last time that ever happened) and it was like we were in a dryer, switching seats a few times with him eventually laying on top of me. We got out without a scratch, but the car was totaled. That was about 6 years ago and the last accident/wreck I've been involved in.
Another time, I blew 3 tires outside Dallas during rush hour. My 80 year old grandmother was in the back asleep, as was my brother in the passenger seat. I was going about 60. We spun out, cars flew around us and we stopped right before a pole got in the way. All safe and car was fine. I was probably 16. Right after that though, this truck drives by, hits a bump and the riding lawnmower on his trailer flew off. That was about 50 yards away as we called a tow truck. Not a wreck story, but it was scary enough.
Another time, I blew 3 tires outside Dallas during rush hour. My 80 year old grandmother was in the back asleep, as was my brother in the passenger seat. I was going about 60. We spun out, cars flew around us and we stopped right before a pole got in the way. All safe and car was fine. I was probably 16. Right after that though, this truck drives by, hits a bump and the riding lawnmower on his trailer flew off. That was about 50 yards away as we called a tow truck. Not a wreck story, but it was scary enough.
One, I had a head on collision with a truck my my chest collided with the steering wheel with such force it tilted about 20º.
I kissed the wall while parking and took a chunk of paint off my fender? I've never been in a wreck before, and really want to avoid the experience as long as possible.
Once I was going along in the right lane, and there was a car pulling into the street, into my lane, from a side street. They were stopped and waiting, but the front of their car was already into my lane. By the time I realized it was a tight squeeze, no time to brake, so I tried to get through without going into the next lane. Didn't work. The guy's license plate just touched my passenger door, and left a nice long streak all the way down the side, which luckily buffed out. One inch the wrong way, and it would have been a real bad hit, in heavy traffic too.
Once I was going along in the right lane, and there was a car pulling into the street, into my lane, from a side street. They were stopped and waiting, but the front of their car was already into my lane. By the time I realized it was a tight squeeze, no time to brake, so I tried to get through without going into the next lane. Didn't work. The guy's license plate just touched my passenger door, and left a nice long streak all the way down the side, which luckily buffed out. One inch the wrong way, and it would have been a real bad hit, in heavy traffic too.
I was in the passenger side of my friend's car when he slammed into the back of a minivan at some ungodly speed. He's a horrible driver and doesn't deal too well with stress and we had just lost sight of the car we were following (he didn't know the directions so we were following another friend). To try to find the other car, he sped up, reaching about 90 before entering a tunnel. The car in front of us slammed on the brakes, presumably seeing traffic ahead. My friend then attempted to brake <200 ft away from the minivan and we ended up plowing into the back. My airbag deployed, but it was faulty and it blew up shooting white powder everywhere. I later found out that that car model had been recalled earlier that year for faulty airbags. Luckily I was wearing my seatbelt or I would have been pretty seriously injured.
SarcasticDwarf
Diamond Member
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
Reminds me of a friend of my family.
He was drunk and driving his car.
The motorcycle he hit was driven by a guy who was also drunk, wearing sunglasses at 2am, and with his drunk g/f on the back with no helmet.
The two on the motorcycle died.
He went to jail (still is there too).
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
1) When I was a very little kid, I somehow disengaged the parking break, and the vehicle rolled into the large pond at the house (cow pond).
2) I was in a wreck when I was a kid on some overpass in Austin when I was a kid. Don't remember it much though.
3) In a friends Bronco (he was driving) going down a dirt road. Tire blew out, and we spun and went off the road. When we stopped, there was a tree about six inches from the passenger door, and the fireworks that I was unraveling were everywhere.
4) In 2005, I totalled my Ford F150. I hit the steering wheel (yes of course I was wearing my seatbelt), and my bottom teeth went through my lip. I also ripped the place where my lips are attached to my jaw. It healed up nicely, and I have a scar that it fairly well hidden.
I bought a 2005 Toyota Camry with the money from the wreck.
EDIT:
Not a wreck at all, but it is kinda funny. And it's the one time I've called 911. I was taking the bus from Corpus Christi to Austin (normally a 3 hour drive, but on the bus it takes 8 - 14 hours). I was on leave, and I had gotten off of work, walked 6 miles to the bus stop, and got on the bus. Tried like hell to stay awake, but fell asleep before the bus got to San Antonio. When I woke up, there was no one on the bus, and the bus itself was sitting in a parking lot. Tried to get out of the bus, but couldn't, and I didn't want to use the emergency escpae as I didn't want to become a suspect in a BOV. So I called 911, and the dispatcher asks me where I was, and I had no idea.
Bus driver finally gets there, and they can't open the door. He calls his district manager, and they finally open the door. As they are driving me to the bus stop, the driver says that the next bus should be taking off about 10 minutes after I get there, so I should be on my way to Austin shortly. Just my luck, it was the one time that a Greyhound bus left early--so I got to sit and wait at the SA bus station for another 5 hours.
2) I was in a wreck when I was a kid on some overpass in Austin when I was a kid. Don't remember it much though.
3) In a friends Bronco (he was driving) going down a dirt road. Tire blew out, and we spun and went off the road. When we stopped, there was a tree about six inches from the passenger door, and the fireworks that I was unraveling were everywhere.
4) In 2005, I totalled my Ford F150. I hit the steering wheel (yes of course I was wearing my seatbelt), and my bottom teeth went through my lip. I also ripped the place where my lips are attached to my jaw. It healed up nicely, and I have a scar that it fairly well hidden.
I bought a 2005 Toyota Camry with the money from the wreck.
EDIT:
Not a wreck at all, but it is kinda funny. And it's the one time I've called 911. I was taking the bus from Corpus Christi to Austin (normally a 3 hour drive, but on the bus it takes 8 - 14 hours). I was on leave, and I had gotten off of work, walked 6 miles to the bus stop, and got on the bus. Tried like hell to stay awake, but fell asleep before the bus got to San Antonio. When I woke up, there was no one on the bus, and the bus itself was sitting in a parking lot. Tried to get out of the bus, but couldn't, and I didn't want to use the emergency escpae as I didn't want to become a suspect in a BOV. So I called 911, and the dispatcher asks me where I was, and I had no idea.
Bus driver finally gets there, and they can't open the door. He calls his district manager, and they finally open the door. As they are driving me to the bus stop, the driver says that the next bus should be taking off about 10 minutes after I get there, so I should be on my way to Austin shortly. Just my luck, it was the one time that a Greyhound bus left early--so I got to sit and wait at the SA bus station for another 5 hours.
That's a good way to drive, although actually its not always best to assume they see you just because they looked at you. I just got a motorcycle and after taking the class I am suspicious of absolutely everything on the road.
My only real accident was just about a month after getting my drivers license (car not motorcycle so back in high school). So I was driving to school early for a before school band practice. The road was nice and slushy, but school hadn't been delayed or anything. I pull out of my neighborhood and accelerate, but when I look ahead there is a Dodge Ram stopping in the middle of the road (nowhere near a stop sign so i dunno what he was doing). I slam on my brakes, quickly realize they locked and I am sliding, so I had just enough time to let off, catch traction and try again. No dice. I slid into the back of him but by the time i hit i was going less than 15mph. (I had been going 40). The entire hood of my car just crunched up, but didn't even get a scratch on his pretty chrome bumper. He got out and saw the lack of damage and told me he was fine, so I gave him my phone number just in case, but he didn't call the cops, insurance co, or anything. So I turned around and went home.
Other than that, a few scrapes or fender benders in parking lots, but no moving incidents.
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