... last night on the way home. Rear ended a car in front of me.

Everyone is OK and insurance is doing their thing, but I am mentally and emotionally spent.

I'm just not processing well today.

I'll be back in a few days when I get my stuff together enough to be able to talk about what happened.

Sorry to hear that, Ben, but glad that no one got hurt.

Just relieved to know that everyone's OK.

Glad you and everyone else is OK.

That sucks Ben. Glad you're OK.

Sorry to hear that.

Take it easy, okay? Some times it takes a day or two for injuries to make themselves apparent after an accident like that.

Oh man, glad everyone's fine.

I am glad no one was hurt, and I am sorry that happened I really hope all turns out well,



D.

Aw man. That stinks. I so sorry to hear that but glad everyone is ok.

OK, Im back

thank you all for the well wishes.

Here's the short form of the story...

I work 3 part-time jobs simultaneously, am a single dad of a "special needs" child, and generally don't sleep well on my best day.

On this particular night, I had already noticed that I was having trouble concentrating and following the most basic of dinner conversations. SO, at about 8pm I left my son at his mother's house and started to head home. Within a mile of my home, things just left my ability to process.

I KNEW there was a car in front of me. I KNEW it was stopped and it had its turn signal on. I KNEW I was only about 10 car lengths behind it. But for some reason, I had no idea what I was supposed to do about it. I just couldn't process that I needed to stop. By the time I knew how to move my leg over to the brake and depress it, I was within 15 feet of the car in front of me.

Next thing I know, I am sitting in a smoke filled cabin, with a deflated air bag across my lap, not understanding where I was or how I came to be there. My first thought was to move my car so I turned the key and heard the most god awful noise. Yanked the key out and immediately stepped out of my car into the lane for oncoming traffic (luckily there wasn't any since the accident stopped everyone in both directions). I stepped away from my car, moved towards the other vehicle, and proceeded to try and figure out how in the world I would apologize for this.

3 police interviews and breathalizers (no, I did not have anything remotely alcoholic to drink within a week of the incident) later, and I am being taken home by my parents whom I called at some point (I don't remember doing that by there is a record on my phone of the call).

Parts of the engine were shoved into the passenger seat, every fluid was vented through the air system (hence all the smoke in the cabin), and the car is fully a "total loss".

I'm ok. I have a small burn on my forearm from the airbag, and a pair of small bruises on my hip from the seat belt. But that is it. And everyone in the other vehicle is completely ok as well.

I'm still a bit shaken up, and I don't relish the fact that I now need to go find a new car and start a new series of payments, but I am healthy and whole and that is what counts.

I'm back, and ready for action. And trying to get more regular sleep and still looking for one stable job with more conventional working hours.

Well, that was a very unfortunate accident bnjmnrlyr, I am sorry it happened. But I am really happy you are okay, and are able to walk away with a good attitude. I wish you good luck with the job hunt, I'll keep you in my prayers,


D.

and to end the story...

I am now a Hip Hop Hamster driving around in my 2012 Kia Soul.
Dealership really went out of their way to deal with me (I apparently was the server/bartender of the sales manager last time he had a "sales meeting" in our restaurant and he remembered how well I took care of them then and wanted to "return the favor") and got me an amazing rate that I really have no right having with my current credit score.

So thanks to them.

... and the new care with its new(est) safety features means I get a discount on my insurance (even though I now have more coverage and am post accident )

And apparently all is well.

Thanks again for the well wishes everyone. It helped me cope, really.

Thank you all.

Sounds like "Every Day You're Shufflin'" !! Congrats on the new car and glad learn you're okay after the terrible incident!

Wow Ben. I feel really bad that I haven't been in the Water Cooler forum in a while, and that i missed this entire development. I'll echo what everyone else has said, and say I'm very happy that you and everyone else involved is physically okay.

Congrats on the new wheels, and best of luck in the job search. I hope you'll find a way to get some quality rest on a regular basis. Take care man.