I was exiting the interstate in a tight right hand loop when the car in front of me panic stopped. I eased up and relaxed my turn, so as to go around her, when she opened her drivers door and put her foot down and began to get out. I would have clipped the door and possibly her. So, I cut left and went over the curb into the bushes and rocks. All I could think was "Local Fireman kills civillian" in the newspaper.
The car has a huge flat spot in the drivers rear quarter, the trim is torn off, the LRear wheel is not tracking properly, so the trailing arms,swaybar, and drop links (at least) are shot. Both drivers side impact airbags deployed. At least three wheels are ruined ( make that RUINT). My beautiful little rocket is trashed...
I was not cited, they did not even file a report. The bushes look a little worse for the wear. The state may not appreciate what I did to them, but they got even by hiding a boulder in them.
It is only a machine, and it will be repaired, but I am just beside myself. This is the only "new" car I have ever owned. I have had it less than ninety days. It was soooo nice, perfect is a better word. I havent been in an auto accident in ages. I go to car wrecks every day at work, so I am used to the twisted metal scenario, but it is very different when it comes home to roost. I just want to cry...

 

 

Sad for you. :smile:

 

That sucks....

 

Brad,
Very sorry to hear bout your accident.
Glad you are OK.
MINI's are replaceable...
You'll be motor'n again...soon :smile:

Peace,
D

_________________
2002 MCS:PS/B, w/Lapis Int.

 

Bummer. Sorry to hear about your car. But a least you are unhurt. Isn't it amazing how some dumb action from someone can cause harm to others. And we pay the price. :evil:

 

I hate to hear about it. I'm glad you're okay. I hate when other people don't think through their actions when driving. So many lives are lost every year because of idiotic mistakes people make while driving.

 

I hate when I see a thread with this title and then I feel so crappy whenever I see who it is that it happened to. I am so sorry sweetie, but you did the best thing by veering off like that. Luckily MINIs are repairable....that woman may not have been. It sucks so much, but you did the right thing....I hope the MINI is home and all fixed up soon!

 

Let me also add....you did the right thing, but that woman was a *******....

 

>>I eased up and relaxed my turn, so as to go around her, when she opened her drivers door and put her foot down and began to get out. I would have clipped the door and possibly her. So, I cut left and went over the curb into the bushes and rocks. All I could think was "Local Fireman kills civillian" in the newspaper.

You did the right thing. Cars can be replaced, individuals cannot. OTH, a wicked little part of me wants this moron to suffer for compounding a dangerous situation by getting out of her car. What the HELL was she thinking?!?

 

Darksky:
Very sorry to hear about this. :smile:
Accidents can aggravate underlying problems in the neck (whiplash) or back. Keep looking.
I sounds like the damage is mostly sheet metal. Hopefully you have access to a good body shop.
Your baby can and will be back to 100%.

Earlier this year my wife was backing out of our driveway with our hefty Honda Odyssey van and took a turn a little too early. She backed up full force (not too fast) into our neighbors double wood post mail box. The mail box is still standing but the rear hatch was pushed in a moderate amount on the right. after 5 months of starring at it we got it fixed and now it looks fine.

During the time it was smashed the kids would say-
Right- like that is a good thing?

 

:smile:

As far as the woman stepping out, obviously she wasn't thinking - was probably scared and didn't have her wits about her. You did the right thing.....


Chow!


Donna

 

Let those emotions out. I'm sure you worked very hard to get the MINI, and now it's not going to be the same.

BTW, good analysis of the situation. I'm just glad you didn't plow thru her.

 

So she just stops with no one in front of her and you're forced to bail?!?! She wasn't cited by the police?!?!?! She CAUSED the accident!! What was the reason for her panic stop and getting out of the car in the middle of the road? Talk about creating an unsafe environment. How did she NOT get a HUGE ticket?? Could you fill us in some more. As it stands right now, sounds like you were taking a tight turn off a major road when she just stopped for no reason in the middle of the road and decided to just get out of her car for some odd reason. What about others behind you? Did they just plow into her or continue into the trees like you?

Sorry bud. Been there.

R

 

Darksy-

Could you elaborate on why she decided to slam on her brakes and step out of the car?

These kinds of situations are so frustrating. About six years ago, I was towing a jet ski behind my jeep when all of a sudden, I see an oncoming vehicle merging head-on into my lane. The driver was obviously just easing over around a turn, but was making NO attempt to pull back into their lane. At the last minute, I decided to pull an evasive maneuver, ended up in a ditch with the jet ski halfway off the trailer. :evil:

 

That sucks man. :evil:

 

Brad,

really sorry to hear about your damaged MINI.
Kudos and my hat off to you for what you did, not many drivers woudl have had the presence of mind to avoid the other car and the woman that stepped out.
As bad as you feel about your car, you should feel good about having done the right thing.
I hope you get your MINI repaired soon!

Markus

 

There was something lying in the lane, looked like a third of a sheet of 1/2 inch osb with a walmart type bag pinned under the corner of it. Yes you could of driven over it without any damage, yes she was an idiot. Maybe I was driving a little too fast (at the most 40). I never in a million years expected the door to fly open and that foot to appear. If she checked her mirror, maybe I was in her blind spot, but I doubt she looked. Who knows what she was thinking. If I would have plowed her(even a little) I would have been cited for sure. So, it was safest, sanest to do what I did. I still feel like a mullet. We train for these situations all the time in our rescue truck, and log litterally thousands of hours driving code 3. Yet I trash my POV on the way home from work. My back is tight now and I'm so pissed. I going to call one of my nursey friends and cry for some TLC, and maybe a Lorcet.

 

good driving skillz bu tsorry to hear about your accident. I myslef have been a magnit to to many accidents and the mini is also my first NEW car.. I'm terrified somone like so many other times is goign to hit me!.. glad to hear your ok. :(:(:(:(:(:( sad day indeed

Question? how did the car hold up in an accident. It sounds like it took a beating adn is ready to restart kicking. togh littel bugges both you and your car.. good luck with the repairs/replacement.

 

It is trailered and on it's way to Ralph Schomp. Hopefully Anthony can rub some magic on it and make it better.I wonder if Schomp will bill for the S lite wheels and let me replace them with lighter,faster wheels and tires. (at least one tire is done) maybe tread damage or seperation on another. I wonder how extensive the occult injuries are goint to be.

 

Brad:

I don't know what to say--I was shocked to read that this was your post.

Glad to hear that you're ok.

 

Awful!!!!!

Good luck!

jc

 

Very sorry to hear of your bad luck. Unfortunately, the ******* who opened her door and stepped into your path probably won't receive any kind of penalty to teach her a lesson. Less than a year ago in Cambridge, MA, a woman was riding in a DEDICATED BICYCLE LANE when someone in a badly parked SUV opened their barn door straight into her path; she lost control of her bike, went under a bus, and was killed. The SUV driver received no ticket, citation, or anything else to indicate that he was in any way responsible. Good luck on the repairs, and sorry that they won't be on her dime.

 

Man, that's unbelievable!! Someone's irresponsibility causes you to be the one to get screwed.

Well, I hope you get things worked out quickly. What did she do when you ran off the road?

 

Not to sound sick. But I would like more info on how the Mini did hitting stuff. Did the air bags go off, How fast were you going? Juicy stuff. Very few people have crashed a Mini so I'm interesting in knowing how they hold up