posted
My iMac, which was riding in the passenger's side front seat, was also unhurt (aside from a few scuff marks). The airbag saved it.
(Though it still doesn't boot.)
I myself am a bit shaken up, though I did go to class today (and will be going to the rest of my class this afternoon as well). I'm a little sore and I'm still exhibiting what I think are minor shock symptoms, but I'm just glad to be alive and okay.
I ran a red light. Not on purpose, but nonetheless, the accident was definitely my fault.
Here's what happened.
I had a job interview yesterday, so I had to rent a car (at the expense of the company interviewing me) to drive to their site (about 200km). I did that yesterday, driving a grand total of about 400km. Got there and back just fine, the interview went well. No problems.
This morning I had to return the rental car. I also wanted to take my iMac in to the campus computer store to get a diagnosis (it's not working), so I took it with me. As I approached an intersection one block from the rental place, I started to wonder if I was on the right street (I was, but didn't know it yet). I glanced at the light (it was green) and started hunting around for a road sign. I topped a rise and spied the rental car place at the next set of lights (which were green). By the time I thought to look back at the light right in front of me again my nose was already out into the intersection. Apparently it was red, but I didn't really have time to register that, because all of my attention was focused on the other car that loomed suddenly on my left, crossing the intersection on a green light perpendicular to my car.
I saw it and said, aloud, quite distinctly, "Oh, s*@#." Then we collided.
The nose of the other car hit the nose of my car, which sent me spinning off across the intersection. My car's rotation stopped rather abruptly when the driver's side slammed into a low concrete fence on the far corner of the intersection. The car bounced back into the road and then stopped.
Fortunately most of the impact from the fence was on the rear door on my side, so my door sprung partly open and I was able to get myself out of the car (and later on I was also able to extract my iMac).
The police officer who took statements and license/insurance information was a big help and let me sit in his car to keep warm. He also drove the other person home and drove me to the car rental place. The people at the car rental place were much more concerned about my health than about the state of their car, which I appreciated, and they drove my iMac and I home. I called my parents, had breakfast, and went to class.
Because I chose to pay extra for zero deductible insurance on the rental car, I won't be liable for anything. I just have to pay the ticket the officer had to issue me for running a red light in front of numerous witnesses. I'm sure it'll affect my insurance premiums when I buy a car after graduating, but that's fine. Those are the consequences of causing a car accident with a moment's carelessness.
Anyway. I'm okay, though I think I still have some symptoms of mild shock. I'm doing my best to keep warm and eat warm food, and after class I'll spend some time in bed either napping or with a book. I definitely need to unwind.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
Addendum: airbags smell. My jacket still smells like airbag even though I didn't actually touch the airbag (my motion was mostly lateral from the spinning).
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
I was just in an accident not too long ago myself, so I can certainly relate to the shock you're feeling.
I'm so glad that you'd opted for the $0 deductible! The moment I saw the words "rental car" I started wondering whether or not you'd gone for the extra insurance or not.
Again, glad nobody was hurt.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I'm not really sure whether the "bang" I heard was the airbag deploying, the sound of the other car hitting mine, or a combination of the two... but yes. And my hand was sore for a while after it deployed. Those things pack some serious punch.
I, too, am thanking whatever gods there may be that I chose to get the $0 deductible insurance.
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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very glad to hear that you are okay -- it could have been so much worse if he had hit you directly on the driver's door.
I've heard recently that now sometimes officials are recommending that we hold our steering wheels at the "8 and 4" position INSTEAD of the old "10 and 2" we were taught in Driver's Ed -- because the air bag can really rip up your arms when they deploy. Is that so? And what does the airbag stink smell like? (I've never had one deploy, thank goodness).
In the only major accident I ever had (rolled a car -- no serious injuries) all the soreness came the day AFTER. So you might be hurting quite a bit when you wake up in the morning...
posted
Well FG, I know that I had contact burns on my left wrist, and I was holding that hand at the 10 o'clock position.
My airbag smelled like gunpowder and plastic. Well, the bag smelled like plastic, I suppose, and the gunpowder from the charge that deployed the bag smelled like gunpowder.
I also hurt more the next day than I did on the day of the accident. In my case I apparently tensed up my muscles so tightly that they were pretty sore for days (it just felt like I'd worked out really strenuously). My ribs still hurt a bit from my accident, especially when I lie on my side.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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If I recall correctly the stuff in the airbag is sodium azide. It's quite an irritant and a little toxic if you inhale it. After your airbag deploys you should really jump in the shower when you get home. But I guess it's a little late now.
Anyway, glad to hear that you're Ok. I promise to never joke about you getting killed on the road again Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Poor twinky! Get home and rest up. I'm so glad you are okay.
Now I'll be worried about you. Post again soon! (and see s doctor if you start vomiting, have double-vision, or anything weird like that)
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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I'm glad you're ok, twinky! That sounds horrifying. Take care of yourself, please. And listen to CT!
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Oh thank goodness the iMac is ok. OOPS! I mean you! No, really, I know how scary an accident can be.
But about that ticket you mentioned..I once got a ticket for speeding in my state of Nebraska and they have a program through the safety and health council that would wipe my ticket from my record if I took an 8-hour driver's course. Now: the ticket never happened. This also means that my insurance company never had to hear about the ticket either. You might want to check into that...
One last thing, in my state, you can only take that class ever 3 years or so.
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Have a glass of water and some advil or tylenol by your bed to take as soon as you wake up. I promise you'll feel it tomorrow!
Glad you are okay. What a scary way to start your day. Try to take it easy the next few days okay?
Posts: 1132 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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BtL is right, airbags do indeed use sodium azide, NaN3. It smells sort of like a firecracker but without the carbon residue.
I noticed last night that I have what appears to be either a burn or light bruising on my right arm, probably caused by the airbag expanding (I had both hands on the wheel when the airbag went off). It doesn't hurt. I feel better today than I did yesterday, though I had a heck of a time getting to sleep -- I ultimately had to get back out of bed and play guitar until about 1 AM before I could get to sleep.
Last night I went to Future Shop with some friends as part of my "have as normal a day as possible" efforts, and replaced my headphones (which were broken in the accident). I also asked the service folk about my iMac and as the second, third and fourth opinions mount it looks more and more like it's time to buy a new computer. But most importantly...
I found the Firefly DVD box set!
So after one of the strangest days of my life, and after spending most of said day feeling like these last couple of weeks have featured far too many unforseen calamaties, something nice did finally happen without being attached to something bad. It helped.
All right. Time for class. Thanks for reading. Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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