saved my life. Was going to work this morning at 6AM. I'll be honest guess the pavement had enough of me taking my anger out with me. Going through a separation, and after this morning more than gladly told me to stay away from the ex for awhile...sucks because I won't get to see my son. But I can't be taking my anger out on the road because it almost cost me my life if I missed the guardrail. It kept me from going through the small trees and land on the interstate traffic.

Did two complete 360s and slammed into the guardrail with the right rear corner doing probably around 50. I was doing 60-65+ when the rear tire caught some lose gravel and caused the back end to swing around quicker than I could recover. After slamming into the guardrail it sent me into another spin landing the right rear tire/fender area to slam into the hard concrete bridge. The bridge rail(1 foot from the curb) crushed in the panel above my tire so I know the front end lifted a good bit. I hit the bridge probably a little less than 50mph because I know for a fact I had too much momentum to just stop. After that impact to the rear it immediately swung the front end of the car blowing out the tire with a loud boom. The I just slid down the curb of the bridge.

From the first signs of skid marks to the rear bumper of the park vehicle was a astonishing 213 feet. Had enough momentum from when I hit the bridge(car shut off automatically after I hit the guardrail) to slid me 53 of those 213 feet). It through my muffler tip part(just bolted to muffler...have a pacesetter exhaust) off the car and onto the ground.)

Damage: Car...a good bit of damage cosmetically and mechanically(do not have a list yet). Enough G force to throw my A-pillar(driver side) into my passenger window, my rear-view mirror was in the BACK window, anything in the car went flying, my head slammed into the head rest when I hit the guardrail, when I hit the bridge it folded me painfully into a position where I was laying down on the passenger seat. If I wasn't for me wearing my seatbelt I would've been thrown around.

Car is TOTALLED $8,000 is repair costs which is 80% of value so USAA totalled it.

I walked away with a big headache, 4-6 severely bruised ribs, bad case of whiplash, and a very VERY sore body. It took me a long time to just get out of the car just to stand because the fact I knew for some reason God kept me on the road and not going through the trees and landing in the path of oncoming interstate traffic. And I just thought of my 3-month old son, and that made it hurt worse. But thankfully I WALKED away.

Guys it is NOT worth it...do not take your anger out on the road. I about left my son fatherless. His mother didn't care about the wreck or me, but she is not part of my life anymore. I did get a citation for failure to maintain lanes, but that is the least of my concerns, and so is the car...my life was very well saved.

Pictures:

 

wowzers glad your okay!!

 

Glad your OK, but 3 wrecks in 6 months WTF.

 

Wow, glad you're ok! And i'm surprised at how little (at least cosmeticly) the car is damaged! Though that rear tire looks like the axle might be right screwed...

 

dam... god ftw... lol

 

trailing arm looks like its toast. glad to hear your okay.

 

Damn you are indeed a lucky guy.

 

glad you're OK...i made this a while ago, i think it fits because i have a sick sense of humor, but like i said first and foremost glad you're ok and sorry about the car

 

This is my first real accident that caused a lot of damage. Back in April stupid semi truck tire did a lot of damage. Then idiot pulled out in front of me last month. I told my boss(who busted his butt to keep corporation off me) that I would be carpooling with a coworker, but she had a bad wreck day after my truck accident. LMAO Everyone in my department just has been having bad luck.

It is crazy how lucky I was yesterday morning then again...luck has nothing to do with it. But I do have the painful side effects. Feels like I got tackled in a all day football game.

The rear bar is F'ed badly and the front steering/suspension suffered bad damage. Wheel was turned to the right and the left front tire was facing that way. The driver side was making it look like I was going straight. It took me putting my weight on the steering wheel turning left just to get the key to turn. When the tow truck driver was pulling it up and trying to turn the wheel you could hear metal popping and breaking.

 

sorry to hear it man but glad you're here to tell it

 

Just got back from the body shop. Got the Preliminary Estimate(means he just walked around). The amount is SHOCKING!!!! This quote is without putting the car in the air and doing further estimates. There is major suspension damage and inner damage(under the body panels). The right door was pushed in far enough to where bolts were pushing on the door skin leaving little demples.

The quote has 61 repair tasks wrote up!

Quote:
Parts - $2,044.10
Body Labor - 40.7 hrs @ $38/hr - $1,546.60
Paint Labor - 15.2 hrs @ $38/hr - $577.60
Frame Labor - 2 hrs @ $60/hr - $120.00
Paint Supplies - 15.5 hrs @ $26/hr - $403.00
Sublet/Misc. - $314.95
Other Charges - $273.00
Pre-Tax Discount -2.5% - -$131.98

Subtotal - $5,147.27
Tax $2,449.29 @ 7% - $171.45

TOTAL - $5,318.72

USAA totals cars above 65% damage, and going by Suggested Retail Price in EXCELLENT Condition($10,700). Damage is already at 49.7%. If I get $2,200 more damage added up the car will in fact be totalled. 65% damage is around $7,000.

I would not doubt it if USAA goes ahead and totals the car at this point, because there is going to be a couple more thousand bucks in damage I assume since the suspension and steering took A LOT of impact and damage. But he is going to call me Monday if USAA goes ahead and tells him to tear down. He is a USAA customer too and a preferred body shop so he has a lot of business with him.

Honestly...hope they total it, USAA automatically has GAP insurance now..got to call to find out if I got the car note when they automatically add it at no charge. Either way I will not feel safe ever driving it again.

 

glad you're ok as well, its good to see a mature attitude as well, most ppl would blame it on everything but them selves, and then **** and moan about the ticket that they deserve.

 

I'll gladly take the ticket I got over losing my life. I'll pay the county the ticket, because someone's taxes put that guardrail there, and it very well kept me on the road and out of danger.

 

Glad everthing's ok. Just a word of advice, you should go to the hospital to get checked out if you haven't done so already. Many people walk away from accidents like that but end up having problems that they don't know about.

 

Already have...loving the pain meds they gave me. Went to the ER yesterday.

 

Update:

Vehicle is a total loss. $8,000+ in repairs.

I already miss the Cobalt. I go tomorrow and get all my personal belongings.

 

Now its time to buy an Evo...the AWD well help keep your ass one the road.

 

SS/SC while you can still get one.

 

Bad news...my bank stopped automatically adding GAP insurance to the loans the month BEFORE I got the Cobalt. Then added it back a couple months later.

So I am stuck with a $7,500 outstanding balance.

 

Glad to see your ok, but personally I'd be thanking the engineers who built a sturdy piece of infrastructure a hell of a lot more than some god.

 

That sucks! GAP FTMFW

 

I know got the loan the five days after they stopped it.