The Wreck

Posted Fri Sep 8, 2006 in Automotive

It’s been a challenging week. I spent last weekend preparing for a deposition this week. It was my first deposition and I wanted to be prepared. Tuesday I completed preparations, met with my students, worked on a research project, and finally took off for the house. Wednesday was a very long day. My deposition was completed about 1930 and I headed for home, exhausted. Thursday morning I worked at home for a couple of hours, then headed for school.

While driving north on University Avenue, traffic in front of me stopped. I pulled up too, braking a little harder than normal, and noticed a city trash truck stopped in the lane in front of several cars. I looked over my right shoulder to check the center lane so I could pull out and move on…

WHAM!!!! I was hit hard from the rear. I slammed into back of the seat and distinctly remember my head striking the backrest. Stunned, I started gathering my wits about me. The woman from an SUV in front of me started walking back toward my vehicle. A tall thin man appeared shortly after she did, plainly upset, and I learned he was the driver of the other vehicle.

I stayed in my vehicle, shaken and feeling woozy. I didn’t want to exit the vehicle until I was certain I was uninjured. There was no reason to be in a hurry at that point.

Someone called 911 and a few people gathered around. Emergency services arrived fairly quickly, although my sense of time was quite distorted. The other driver asked me several times if I was alright and repeatedly said “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

“It’s OK. I think I’m alright. I just want to take it easy for awhile.”

Two EMT’s arrived and asked me about my condition.

“I think I’m alright, but my neck is stiff and I feel woozy.”

One of the EMT’s said “I’ll get in behind you and check you out.” He opened the door, moved my stuff aside, and had me move (quite carefully) my neck, arms, and legs. With no leaks and no apparent broken bones, I finally got out of my vehicle and gave one of the officers my driver’s license. Three officers worked the site, directing traffic and taking the information necessary to prepare an accident report.

One of the officers walked over to me. I retrieved my insurance card (making sure I got the right one) and gave it to him.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Yes sir. A heavy truck was stopped ahead of me and a couple of other vehicles, so I stopped. Just as I turned to look over my right shoulder I was struck from the rear.”

“Were you moving?”

“No sir. I still had my foot on the brake when I was struck.”

“That makes my job pretty easy.” He took my insurance card to finish filling out his paperwork. Sometime about then I called Wife.

“I’ve been hit. I was driving north on University on my way to work and someone rear-ended me.”

“Are you hurt?” Wife asked.

“No, I don’t think so. My neck and shoulders are stiff, but I think I’m alright. I’ll need a ride, though.” I gave her directions so she could find me.

While they were working, one of the other officers asked if I had a preference for a towing service. “No,” I replied. “Who do you use?”

“Lubbock Wrecker. Where do you want it taken?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” So, I got my phone out again and called the BMW dealership to talk to Tim, my service writer. He gave me a contact. I passed the information to the officer. “If they have a contract with them, it won’t be a problem. Otherwise they’ll take it to their holding area and it can be transferred to the repair shop from there.”

The other driver walked over during the lull in activity. “I’m so sorry this happened. I was looking at the car behind me, afraid I’d be hit from the rear. Are you sure you’re OK?”

“Relax, man. I think I’m alright. Everybody makes a mistake once in awhile. The vehicles can be repaired or replaced. No one was seriously hurt.”

“You must be a Christian—you’ve been so calm.”

“Yes, I am.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “Just relax and don’t worry so.” One of the officers stepped over to have him sign the citation.

“This isn’t an admission of guilt. It’s just an acknowledgment you’ve received the citation. You’ve been charged with failure to control speed. That doesn’t mean you were speeding; you could have been going one mile per hour. You were simply not able to stop and avoid hitting the other vehicle.” The officer went on with a few details for the other driver.

The wreckers arrived and the driver from Lubbock Wrecker started the process of loading my Bimmer. “Where do you want it taken?”

“Do you have a contract with Collision King?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

“Then take it there please.”

The other wrecker arrived and began the process of picking up the other vehicle. In a few more minutes the wrecks were gone and the debris was picked up. Wife arrived and walked to where I was waiting. The officers were completing their duties. She parked a bit away from where we were standing. One of the officers, a sergeant, offered us a ride over to her vehicle. So, we got to ride in the back seat of a police cruiser, a pleasure neither of us has ever had. We laughed with the sergeant over this. I think we weren’t his usual passengers.

We decided to call in the accident to our insurance company so they could begin the claim process. The fault was clearly with the other driver, but I’m a real stickler for keeping my insurance company apprised. While Wife talked on the phone, I sat back in her Bimmer. I really didn’t feel good and decided to take the EMT’s advice and go to the emergency room.

Wife finished her report and we drove over to University Medical Center to go through that process. I knew it would take a long time; it always does in the ER. They took our information and started the processing fairly quickly. They put me in a cervical collar and sent us to Fast Track. There the clerk logged us in and put me in a examining room.

Dr. Cole came in, asked about how my accident happened, listened to my chest, poked around on my various parts, and decided to have a CT scan done. The transporter arrived, a young brunette, and wheeled me off to Radiology for my scan. Wife followed along.

They had me move from the bed to the scanner and the technician started to put a pillow under my head.

“I don’t need that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes sir. I sleep flat all the time and I prefer to be flat.”

“OK,” he removed the pillow, “but we might need it for the scan. We’ll check it on the screen.”

Another technician came and adjusted my head position. I held still while the table moved me under the scanner. The scanner is a large torus (doughnut-shaped) device. When they fired it up, the actual source and sensor rotated within the torus, the machine starting with the snap and whirr of heavy electric motors. I was fascinated. The table moved me back and forth a few times, then the technician reappeared to move me back to my bed.

Another transporter arrived and took control of my bed. We rolled through the hall, Wife talking to the transporter. When we arrived back at the examining room, I noticed this transporter was male. “My first ride was a lot better looking.”

“Yeah, but she always runs into doors. I’m a better driver.”

“Not this time, she didn’t hit anything along the way.”

“That’s the first time today!” he laughed.

Dr. Cole came into the room, “It will be awhile before we have the results of the CT scan. If you want them, I can give you a muscle relaxer and something for the pain.”

“I’ll take some good drugs.” I laughed.

The nurse reappeared shortly thereafter with three syringes. “We have a muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammatory, if you want them.”

“Of course I want them.”

“There’s a lot of medicine here. They’ll have to go in the hip. What we’ll do is put two in one hip and one in the other. I’m going to ask you to roll over on one side, and then the other.”

“You just wanted to look at my butt,” I said. The nurse laughed. I complied. While not pleasant, intramuscular injections are effective and I knew I was going to more sore later than at the time. I wanted the medication to help keep me from feeling too badly.

Dr. Cole returned some time later. Your scan was clear. There isn’t any apparent damage, so you’ll be fine. You will, however, be quite sore for a few days. Also, they start the scan just about eye level and work down. Did you know you have some congestion in your left sinus?”

“No, I didn’t know that.”

“It’s kind of funny they noticed that. I’m going to prescribe something for your sinuses. Here are your prescriptions and you’re ready to leave.”

“Are we done? Do we need to do anything else?”

“Nope. You’re free to go. Do you want a wheelchair?”

“No. I think walking would be good for me. I’ve been sitting a long time.” Wife and I collected our things and headed for the door. As we passed the nurses station, I asked “Is there anything else we need to do? Do I need my prescriptions?”

“You’re all done,” they called.

“I have your prescriptions,” Wife said, “we need to get you home. You’re out of it.”

I think the injections were making me out of it. We walked to Wife’s car, got in, and headed for a bite to eat and to get my drugs. It was 1630, I was tired and sore, and I just wanted to be home.

So, I’m home and I’m OK. I’m very sore today and probably will be tomorrow as well. I missed two days of work. The car is not in good shape. Wife and I drove to the holding area this afternoon and I made some images of the damage while she collected our personal effects. We drove to the police records department and retrieved a copy of the accident report. We called in a claim on the other driver’s insurance to get the repair/replacement process started. This repair will be expensive and I’m not sure the vehicle will ever be the same. I’m really, really sorry about that because we worked hard to make a good deal on this car.

I’m pretty bummed about the Bimmer.

1. Man, David … that was stunningly comprehensive. [I’m surprised, but I guess that I shouldn’t be.] Glad that you had the right attitude about it … and yes, it sucks.

   Hope you’re well soon and that the car comes back together okay.

   — Geof F. Morris    9 September 2006, 15:12    #
   
   

2. I do like to tell a story, don’t I? ;) But, it was also important for me to document some of what happened, just for me. That it was a good story too is a kind of lagniappe.

   Wife and I drove over to Enterprise and rented a car today. We’ll need a vehicle that’s family sized. Her Z4 is too small when all three of us want to go and I’m not so sure about riding the motorcycle in town. If the other guy’s insurance doesn’t pick up the bill, our insurance company will (and then subrogate the other carrier for it). It’s a VW Jetta and I’m not too impressed. I guess it’s a nice enough car, but after driving the Bimmer for over a year, I’m kinda spoiled. But, the VW is transportation, so I’m not going to complain too much.

   — ruminator    9 September 2006, 19:12    #
   
   

3. My agency has a contract with Enterprise, and I’ve been getting rent cars for my trips lately. You could have done better than the Jetta, and probably ought to take it back if the check engine light is on. For the Beaumont trip, I had a Grand Prix that was a POS, but since then I’ve had a Jeep (which was considered an upgrade from full-size) and a chevrolet HHR. I was surprisingly impressed with the HHR- they’re ugly but it was comfortable, drove extremely well, and got fantastic gas mileage. You just never know, but you should ask for something you’re comfortable with.

   — Dazed n Confused    10 September 2006, 17:41    #
   
   

4. I expect to learn about whether the other guy’s insurance is going to accept liability tomorrow when they receive the accident report. The case is pretty clear, but you never know. Then I’ll make a decision about the rental car.

   They offered me a Chrysler Sebring. I know those, Wife having had one for four years. They are OK too. What I’d really like is to get another BMW, preferably a five-series, to drive while mine is being repaired and we decide what to do with it. But, you know about wishing…

   We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

   — ruminator    10 September 2006, 18:10    #
   
   

5. And a well told story it was.

   Listen, Bimmer or not, it’s just a hunk of metal. It’s the protoplasm you have to worry about. Glad yours remained in one mostly undamaged chunk.

   — Reid    14 September 2006, 07:31    #
   
   

6. You’re right, of course. I’m most grateful I wasn’t seriously injured (just rattled more than usual) and the vehicle did what it was supposed to do—it protected me.

   Thanks for dropping by and for the well wish (and correction)! ;)

   — ruminator    14 September 2006, 07:46    #
   
   

7. Hey hope everything is getting better… glad you’re ok. On a side note I had a rental 06 jetta a couple weeks ago and I hated it. The rearview mirror was huge and the backseat headrests make for nice blindspots. Plus it didn’t have half the giddyup that the suby has.

   — Justin    16 September 2006, 08:11    #
   
   

8. I’m great! I was off for a few days, but by Monday I was much better.

   I took the Jetta back to Enterprise and they gave me a Malibu. I don’t really like the Malibu, but at least the “check engine” and “brake failure” lights are not illuminated. :)

   — ruminator    17 September 2006, 15:21    #
   
   

9. Great story dude. Sorry about your bimmer. I have a blog where people post their wreck stories and pictures. Send me an email if you don’t mind me copying your story in there. Check it out at: www.iwreckedmyride.com.

   — Huzefa    19 September 2006, 15:53    #
   
   

10. Copy away! There are more images of the aftermath on my gallery too. A credit and link would be nice!

    — ruminator    19 September 2006, 17:43    #