My First major accident - In the U.S. and I wasn't driving

lamborghini · 23rd May 2008, 23:25

As the thread title states, this was the first big accident I have ever been involved in. In all of the 18 years in Mumbai, the worse accident that even happened while I was in the car was a fender bender and some instances of bumpers and fenders getting scratched.
This one however was BAD! I am pretty lucky to get out alive.

It took place just over a week ago. Me, and my 2 friends were going to the Boston airport to catch a flight.
The car was pretty loaded, with 4 bags, a box, and a laundry bag and i had to squeeze myself into the back. I was sharing the back seat with a bag, a box and the laundry bag and my friend was driving as it was his car.

The car in question was a 2007 Honda Accord 2.4, the EX variant with 6 Airbags.

We were on the I-20, travelling at around 60-65, the same speed as the traffic, on the extreme right lane.
We were following a Blue SUV, who suddenly braked hard and forced us to do the same. However, we knew we were going to hit it and moved into the breakdown lane on the right.
Before we knew it, the SUV also moved into the breakdown lane, hitting our car into the divider, from which it rebounded and hit another Suv, a Lexus LX470 and hit the guardrail again before coming to a stop.

We all were clueless and it took a few seconds to figure out what happened.
We realized that everyone was ok and tried getting out.
However, all our doors were jammed so we had to climb out of the windows.

When I got out (which took some time due to the lack of space and my size), I looked at the car and we all were amazed to have gotten out alive.

My friend who was in the front was looking for his lighter which fell down and just as he managed to put his seat belt on, the car crashed.
Me on the other hand, was lucky. My head hit the window, and the box next to me and i got a few bumps. However, if the airbag went off, I wouldn't have been alive today as I literally had no space to move.

The cops came pretty fast and for some stupid reason, fined my friend $120 for using the breakdown lane, which i thought was stupid as it was an emergency and that is the purpose of the lane.
Also, the report he filed put the blame on my friend who was driving even though it wasnt his fault.

Here are the pics of the car.
It is presently in the scrapyard and has been claimed as a total loss. My friends insurancfe is going up by a $1000-3000 a year.
However, he is looking at the bright side and I am convincing him for the new 2008 Accord V6, which he has fallen in love with after I showed it to him.

lancer_rit · 23rd May 2008, 23:32

That's a pretty narrow escape. Good thing that everyone was relatively unhurt. It could easily have been much more damage from SUV hitting the Accord (probably speeds had slowed considerably below 60mph, so the impact was reduced ...)

CorsaLove · 23rd May 2008, 23:38

Man, it looks pretty bad. Good to know that you and your friend are safe.

I guess the car pretty much took the impact correctly and only exterior damage can be seen through the pictures.

Hope everything is fine and you take car man.

aaggoswami · 23rd May 2008, 23:52

First of all, its nice to see you come out of this incidence without major injuries.

bad that US police blamed your friend for accident. Hope he comes out clear and soon.

Next time take care that you dont carry luggage in passenger compartment. It is nothing but missile. Even a mobile when hit at speed on head can be dangerous.

The person in the rear should ALWAYS wear a seatbelt because if he doesnt wear one and an accident occurs then he will be be flown to hit front passenger seat and the front passenger will be crushed by the load of rear passenger and his own.

mohit · 24th May 2008, 00:22

Quote:

Also, the report he filed put the blame on my friend who was driving even though it wasnt his fault.

You were behind the blue SUV. The onus of keeping safe distance is on you - hence the 'at fault' report.

Thank god you came out unscathed. There have been so many instances of rear passengers getting thrown out of the car as they were not wearing seat belts.

HKP · 24th May 2008, 00:23

Hi

I still don't understand why the cops thought the accident has to be charged onto your friend. Anyways, insurance will go over the top. My friend changed to Allstate from geiko and got a better deal. May be he can change the provider and try.

Good that none of you got hurt.

Have a nice and Safe long weekend.

\\hkp

HappyWheels · 24th May 2008, 00:55

Good to know all of you came out safe and sound!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohit

You were behind the blue SUV. The onus of keeping safe distance is on you - hence the 'at fault' report...

True. The vehicle behind has to maintain a safe 'braking' distance.

Superleggera · 24th May 2008, 02:43

Good to know that you are Safe.
Fine for using the breakdown lane in this kind of scenario was a bit too much.

DirtyDan · 24th May 2008, 04:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohit

You were behind the blue SUV. The onus of keeping safe distance is on you - hence the 'at fault' report.

"Failure to keep an assured safe distance" it is called. In a collision of this type it is pretty much a certainty that the guy behind will be held legally accountable in North America.

I have to tell you from the pictures I do not see that much damage. The SITUATION was certainly life threatening but this damage indicates that the COLLISION was not all that intense. It easily could have been. Boston's drivers are particularly aggressive and rude especially around the airport. Many travelers have commented on it. Well, you are safe and lucky, two good things.

phamilyman · 24th May 2008, 06:49

Just curious, were you not wearing seat belts? If you were, then how would airbags have put you at risk?

All said, car seems to have taken minimum battering considering it got bounced around by SUVs and the guard rail! Imagine an SX4 taking that battering

mjothi · 24th May 2008, 08:21

Good to hear that you came out safe.
Btw, did you managed to catch the flight on time?

Yes. People behind should maintain a safe distance as per law in NA.
I wish we had it here too. It would solve a lot of porblems.

GTO · 24th May 2008, 11:34

Lambo,

Thank God you & your friends escaped without serious injury, freeway accidents are risky simply because of the speed involved.

Boston has amongst the worst roads and traffic manners in the States. However, the right most lane is the worst to use, UNLESS you intend to take the next exit. There are too many idiots who sverve right at the last minute for their exit, and an equal many who join the freeway with disregard to right-of-way rules.

You mention that the doors were jammed? I am surprised....were all the doors jammed?

Quote:

My friend who was in the front was looking for his lighter which fell down and just as he managed to put his seat belt on, the car crashed.

I have a feeling this would have affected his reaction time. Why did the blue SUV brake all of a sudden?

Jayabusa · 24th May 2008, 13:07

That's scary! Good to know that everyone is safe.

hyper123 · 24th May 2008, 14:18

Thank heavens nothing happened to anyone in the incident.

1. I do not see too much of damage to the car, so why was it claimed as total loss? Has the engine taken a hit?? The door and the other panels can replaced right?

2. Why did the blue SUV brake all of a sudden? What happened to the two SUVs?

dadu · 24th May 2008, 17:52

Good to have come out of such bad experience, the damage as I can see in the pictures was mostly on the sides.

23rd May 2008, 23:25	#1
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,113 Thanked: 5,760 Times View My Garage	My First major accident - In the U.S. and I wasn't driving As the thread title states, this was the first big accident I have ever been involved in. In all of the 18 years in Mumbai, the worse accident that even happened while I was in the car was a fender bender and some instances of bumpers and fenders getting scratched. This one however was BAD! I am pretty lucky to get out alive. It took place just over a week ago. Me, and my 2 friends were going to the Boston airport to catch a flight. The car was pretty loaded, with 4 bags, a box, and a laundry bag and i had to squeeze myself into the back. I was sharing the back seat with a bag, a box and the laundry bag and my friend was driving as it was his car. The car in question was a 2007 Honda Accord 2.4, the EX variant with 6 Airbags. We were on the I-20, travelling at around 60-65, the same speed as the traffic, on the extreme right lane. We were following a Blue SUV, who suddenly braked hard and forced us to do the same. However, we knew we were going to hit it and moved into the breakdown lane on the right. Before we knew it, the SUV also moved into the breakdown lane, hitting our car into the divider, from which it rebounded and hit another Suv, a Lexus LX470 and hit the guardrail again before coming to a stop. We all were clueless and it took a few seconds to figure out what happened. We realized that everyone was ok and tried getting out. However, all our doors were jammed so we had to climb out of the windows. When I got out (which took some time due to the lack of space and my size), I looked at the car and we all were amazed to have gotten out alive. My friend who was in the front was looking for his lighter which fell down and just as he managed to put his seat belt on, the car crashed. Me on the other hand, was lucky. My head hit the window, and the box next to me and i got a few bumps. However, if the airbag went off, I wouldn't have been alive today as I literally had no space to move. The cops came pretty fast and for some stupid reason, fined my friend $120 for using the breakdown lane, which i thought was stupid as it was an emergency and that is the purpose of the lane. Also, the report he filed put the blame on my friend who was driving even though it wasnt his fault. Here are the pics of the car. It is presently in the scrapyard and has been claimed as a total loss. My friends insurancfe is going up by a $1000-3000 a year. However, he is looking at the bright side and I am convincing him for the new 2008 Accord V6, which he has fallen in love with after I showed it to him. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 23:32	#2
lancer_rit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 1,266 Thanked: 309 Times	That's a pretty narrow escape. Good thing that everyone was relatively unhurt. It could easily have been much more damage from SUV hitting the Accord (probably speeds had slowed considerably below 60mph, so the impact was reduced ...)
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 23:38	#3
CorsaLove BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 392 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Man, it looks pretty bad. Good to know that you and your friend are safe. I guess the car pretty much took the impact correctly and only exterior damage can be seen through the pictures. Hope everything is fine and you take car man.
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 23:52	#4
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	First of all, its nice to see you come out of this incidence without major injuries. bad that US police blamed your friend for accident. Hope he comes out clear and soon. Next time take care that you dont carry luggage in passenger compartment. It is nothing but missile. Even a mobile when hit at speed on head can be dangerous. The person in the rear should ALWAYS wear a seatbelt because if he doesnt wear one and an accident occurs then he will be be flown to hit front passenger seat and the front passenger will be crushed by the load of rear passenger and his own.
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 00:23	#6
HKP BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 135 Thanked: 56 Times View My Garage	scary Hi I still don't understand why the cops thought the accident has to be charged onto your friend. Anyways, insurance will go over the top. My friend changed to Allstate from geiko and got a better deal. May be he can change the provider and try. Good that none of you got hurt. Have a nice and Safe long weekend. \\hkp
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 02:43	#8
Superleggera BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kannur/Boston Posts: 531 Thanked: 816 Times View My Garage	Good to know that you are Safe. Fine for using the breakdown lane in this kind of scenario was a bit too much.
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 06:49	#10
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	Just curious, were you not wearing seat belts? If you were, then how would airbags have put you at risk? All said, car seems to have taken minimum battering considering it got bounced around by SUVs and the guard rail! Imagine an SX4 taking that battering
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 08:21	#11
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	Good to hear that you came out safe. Btw, did you managed to catch the flight on time? Yes. People behind should maintain a safe distance as per law in NA. I wish we had it here too. It would solve a lot of porblems.
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 13:07	#13
Jayabusa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,448 Thanked: 69 Times	That's scary! Good to know that everyone is safe.
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 14:18	#14
hyper123 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 321 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Thank heavens nothing happened to anyone in the incident. 1. I do not see too much of damage to the car, so why was it claimed as total loss? Has the engine taken a hit?? The door and the other panels can replaced right? 2. Why did the blue SUV brake all of a sudden? What happened to the two SUVs?
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 17:52	#15
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	Good to have come out of such bad experience, the damage as I can see in the pictures was mostly on the sides.
	() Thanks