There are millions of drunk driving accidents every year. Last
week, I was one of those statistics.
I was on a deserted highway, early in the morning, traveling
toward San Francisco. I was listening to NPR and enjoying the
scenic drive when all of a sudden, I noticed a driver in front of
me swerving from the shoulder into the oncoming lane of traffic,
and then back again and again. The driver was slowing down to 15
mph and then accelerating to speeds of more than 60. I knew
something was wrong, so I hung back while I waited for a chance to
pass.
When the driver slowed down to 15 mph and there was an
opportunity to pass, I went for it. Mistake! The driver swerved
into me, and SMACK! He hit me.
Although we were traveling at speeds of less than 20 mph, I
still heard the side of my car crunch. I was thankful that I always
wear my seatbelt, and I didn’t feel like I had any injuries, but I
was scared. I began to shake and get very nervous in the next few
seconds as we sat in the middle of the road, cars stuck
together.
I knew we needed to pull off the highway, but the man was just
staring and sneering at me through his window. I began to realize
that communicating with this person in any way was a bad idea, so I
picked up the phone to call 911. As I did that, he took off.
I knew I had to get his license plate, so I put my car in gear
and followed him. I tried to make myself keep repeating the 7-digit
California license plate number, but my brain was in turmoil and I
was shaking so much that it was hard to drive. When the man noticed
me following him (and when he noticed me on the phone), he became
very irate and began to slam on his brakes, trying to get me to
rear-end him. Once I memorized the license plate, I pulled over to
the side of the road to finish my call to 911. The driver continued
driving down the road, weaving dangerously from side to side, until
he went out of view.
When I got through to 911, they sent an officer out
immediately. I was visibly shaken, and as the officer helped me
calm down, he also told me that I was lucky. Sometimes drunk male
drivers try to knock female drivers off the road, get them to get
out of their cars, and rob or rape them.
What I learned from this incident was that my instincts were
right…I was in extreme danger and I should not get out of the car
to talk to this man for any reason. Luckily, he had just driven
away. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are some
tips from the officer who helped me:
- Pull to the side of the road where you won’t get hit by another
car.
- Lock your doors, roll up your windows, and call 911. Do not
speak to the other person.
- If you are afraid and you are alone, you can continue driving
until you find other people. Call 911 immediately, however, so you
aren’t accused of a hit and run.
- Follow your instincts. If something tells you to get away from
the other driver, do it!
- I’m also very glad I had a cell phone. If you don’t have one,
it’s worth investing in, even if only for emergencies.
All I was able to give the officer was a license plate and a
brief description of the driver and his car. I was so scared that I
didn’t think to write down the make and model of the car, or the
color. But I did remember that it was a four-door sedan, dark
color, and that the driver had short brown hair and was
Caucasian.
My next step is to talk to a personal injury attorney.
Unfortunately, because there were no witnesses, the officer says
the driver could make up any story he wants. Since police didn’t
catch him right away, we can’t prove he was drunk. However, with an
attorney, I am confident that no matter what the drunk driver tries
to say, my rights will be protected.
I’m thankful that I didn’t suffer any injuries, but my car
certainly did. There is a dent and a scrape down the side, and the
bumper is hanging off the car. With the help of an attorney, I know
my car will get repaired. I’m thankful that there are options
available for me, including resources at drunk driving sites like
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and personal injury attorneys
who will take my case at no charge to me. I just hope it never
happens again!
If you have some car accident tips and stories, please share
them with readers in the comment box below!
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4 Responses
Nick
13|Feb|2008 1Cara - I am glad you are OK. I lost my grandma and aunt from a drunk driver, so I know that this kind of stuff is real. Good luck in finding him.
Edit Commentmarci
13|Feb|2008 2Wow, Cara! I’m so glad you survived that horrific accident and that you could think clearly enough to get the license plate! Thank you for sharing your story and I know it will help others in their times of need, with your useful tips and advice. Also thanks for sharing the info the cop gave you about some drunk male drivers, as I never would have thought of that.
Edit CommentCara
14|Feb|2008 3One more thing I wanted to add for all you female drivers out there (and men too!)…It took some convincing on my part, but I made sure my home address did not go on the accident report. Remember that accident reports are public property, so the other person involved has access to your name, telephone number, and home address. After realizing how scared I was of this guy, the police officer agreed to put my boyfriend’s work address on the report, instead of my home.
Edit CommentMargo
29|Feb|2008 4Glad I read this story. I thought in an accident you were always supposed to get out of the car and exchange insurance info-this kind of scenario would leave me not knowing what to do. Thanks for the advice, though it sure came at quite a cost to you.
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