Today is a very sad day for me...I can no longer say that I've never been in a car accident.
I was driving from my hair appointment to the Temple in rush hour traffic. I was headed north on the 405 in the number two lane. The number one lane was merging into number two, so it was backing up. I glanced over to my left to see if I could switch lanes. When I looked back in front of me the car that I thought was slowing had come to a dead stop and although I tried to stop and to swerve right, it was too late. It felt like hitting a brick wall. I don't think I was going really fast...I told the officer 40 mph, but I honestly have no idea. I can't really explain the feelings I had...I was so confused, and shaken, and my knee hurt. All my stuff in the car flew forward and all over the place. I didn't hit my head, but I was so dazed. My air bags did not deploy. The car I hit pulled off to the side of the road, but once I was able to think straight, I tried to start my car, and nothing. Dead in the water. I reached over to the glove compartment where my buddy Jason had given me a little kit in case you get in an accident (He's an Allstate agent - thanks Jason!). It had a list of what you should do. Number 1 - stay calm. That was hard to do under the circumstances, but it helped to read the direction. Number 2 - call 911. So I called. I was so shaken up I could barely describe where I was. I told the lady that I was stuck on the freeway, and she had to say, "if you can't tell me where you are, we can't come and help you!" Luckily I was stopped right under an exit sign. I was so freaked out not being able to get out of the car, with cars shooting past me on both sides, and people backed up behind me, having to pass me, and me just creating a big traffic mess. The police didn't arrive for about 10 minutes. I just sat there, sweltering, straightening up things, praying no one slammed into me. First a traffic tow-truck came. He came & got me out of the car, and put me in his tow truck. It was so surreal, and I was still in shock, not knowing what to do,and shaking pretty bad. Right then, my phone rang...it was Karly. Karly never calls me, except to call me back. :) I told her what had happened and she told me to call her back and that they would come pick me up if needed. It was a blessing that she called right then.
The tow truck driver then pulled in front of my car, and hooked it up to his truck. By this time an officer arrived, and he blocked the number one lane so we could drive off the exit and park on a side street. The lady I hit followed us. I was so afraid to face her, because I thought she would be mad, and I felt so guilty. Officer Torres was very nice, very professional, and he did his report in a way that us two drivers didn't have to speak to each other or even be near each other. But in my car kit that Jason gave me, it said to take pictures. So I took pictures of my car, and ventured over to take one of hers. Even though you're not supposed to admit fault, I had to tell her that I was sorry. I mean, I hit her...open & shut. So I just quickly told her that I was sorry, and she was so very sweet to me. I was extremely shaken, and she could tell, and she started taking care of me! She didn't like the tow truck that the CHP called, so she called AAA using her number, to make sure I wouldn't have to pay anything. She was going to offer that I take my car to her fiance's body shop, but it was too far away. She was offering me advice what to do. She was seriously 150% nicer that any average person in this situation would have normally been...it sounds silly, but I feel so blessed that out of all the people I could have hit, it was her. On the other hand, she is too nice for bad things to happen to her. We got to chatting, and it turns out she was on the way to visit her father in the hospital, who is undergoing treatment for cancer! This just made me feel worse, but not once did she try and make me feel bad. In fact, she told me that she knew that it was an accident, that she knew I wouldn't have done this on purpose, and she was so kind to me. She was an angel!
Thanks to her I was able to calm down, and stop shaking. My car was completely disabled, and looks awful. Hers is driveable with what looks like only superficial "injuries." Moral of the story - buy Cadillac instead of Honda. :)
I called Chris & Karly to come pick me up. AAA came, took my car away. While waiting I had put in a claim and an adjuster will call me in the morning. I called into work so I can get this taken care of, and besides...I don't have a car. Hopefully my adjuster will arrange for a rental. I'm not sure if the car is totalled, but I just can't believe that on top of everything else in my life, I now have to worry about getting a new car! And it's MY fault! Sad, sad day.
Lisa, the wonderful gal that I hit, offered to take me home, or wait with me until Chris & Karly came, but I had to insist that she get on her way to visit her dad. Her whole family and her fiance were there, waiting for her, and she was taking care of me, the dirt bag who had just rear ended her. I am seriously overwhelmed by her compassion. She has been a huge example to me, and I hope that if I am ever in a similar situation, I will follow her Christ-like example and handle the situation with as much grace. Thank you Lisa!
It was another tender mercy that Karly called me when she did. I asked her why she called, and she said it was pure inspiration, that she just randomly thought to call me to go to dinner. Chris told her to call another friend first, but she decided to call me right then, when I needed her most. Thank you Karly, and thanks to you and your sweet hubby for coming all that way to pick me up and take me home!
So, that was a doozy of a day, added to an already crazy week, and it's going to be a fun experience dealing with insurance adjusters, but hey...life is good overall, and I'm thankful to be alive.
ps...Any ideas how I can thank Lisa, and Chris & Karly? I guess a heartfelt thank you card is a must, but I wanted to do something, especially for Lisa, to show my gratitude. Nothing expensive or crazy, just something from the heart. Thoughts?
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