So, some idiot decides to pass 3 cars in the rain the other night. I go to the shoulder to avoid a collision, but then he follows me to the shoulder. I drive my Pathy into the ditch but was unable to keep him from hitting me. He connected with my back quarter panel and spun me 90 degrees in the ditch.

The Pathy did a great job of protecting me. No airbags deployed. I was wearing my seatbelt, so I got some love taps from that, hit my knee on the door and got an ambulance ride thanks to some wicked whiplash (I was fine at first and then my neck and back seized up on me at the scene and I couldn't move).

To add to this ridiculousness, the idiot that caused this mess has no insurance! My insurance is going to cover it, but I actually sought out a Nissan forum because I miss my girl so much, I had to find some people who would understand my pain! The body shop says rear axle is broken (he was in an Eclipse and hit my driver's side rear tire and quarter panel) and it's going to be about $5000 in damages, but is fixable. They're hoping to have her back to me next week!

Once I figure out how to post pics, I'll put up some pics of her before and after the wreck. It's a 2010 LE. She's only a 2wd, but she doesn't know that. I've taken her places some 4wd would get stuck!
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Wow I hate to hear that but I'm glad you weren't seriously injured. You've got a lot to be thankful for. Why does it seem like the only people driving around causing accidents are uninsured drivers? I hope everything goes smoothly with your recovery, repairs to your truck, and dealing with insurance claims.

As for posting pictures, just upload them to photobucket or some other photo site and copy and paste the image link to the pictures in your post.

deermjd wrote:Why does it seem like the only people driving around causing accidents are uninsured drivers?

Cuz the insurance companies don't insure clowns like this.

Fortunately I live in socialist Canada! Here everybody get insured (in my province anyways). It actually sucks, as my rates are a lot higher than in other places where the market rules insurance.

My opinion is that a mix of both systems is required, but people need to remember that driving is a privilege, not a right!

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Everyone here is required by law to have insurance but there is little to no enforcement.

Up here it is enforced with vigor! But we only have one (government owned) insurer for the autos.

I pay over $1500/yr to insure my 05 Pathy for pleasure, my 08 civic is another $1800/yr, that i use to commute to work.

Wow, I think Ill take my chances with uninsured drivers if the alternative is insurance costs through the roof. I pay $650/year for my daily driver pathfinder.

Yeah, more than anything at the scene and at the hospital later, I was mad that my insurance has to pay for this idiot. Everytime I looked at the Pathy at the scene, I just felt sick. I had just detailed it two days before. Put new tires on last month (cooper discoverer h/t which I highly recommend) and the back two are shredded. They have promised to replace them with the exact tire.

The other driver had the gall to try to blame me for the accident!! about 5 cars pulled over though and gave witness statements saying he was to blame.. the fact that he was north bound in the south bound lane didn't really help his claim! He was arguing with the witnesses and yelled "I wasn't going no 85 or 90, I was going 60 at most!" 60 is too fast when it is pouring rain and I guarantee he was going faster than that. He had apparently been terrorizing traffic for several miles. The witnesses said he was driving like a maniac.

One of the witnesses was standing with me while I waited on the ambulance (he covered me with his coat because it was pouring down rain and pretty chilly) and actually told me: "Girl, you done good. I watched the way you drove and if you hadn't done what you did, it would have been much worse." So, I was pretty proud of that.

The sheriff's deputy came to talk to me and said he was writing him every ticket he could think of. He had Iowa plates and I don't know what the laws are there, but he did get a ticket for no insurance.

I'm in Louisiana and the insurance rates here are some of the worst in the country. I pay $1400 every 6 mos for full coverage on my Pathy and my hubs Altima and I have a clean driving record!

I uploaded some pics to my flickr. Make sure your Pathy's look away! Her name is Maybelle by the way. I jokingly say she has an alter ego named Bruce. (I promise I'm not crazy.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38313463@N ... 570562097/

Welcome to the forum. Sucks that you found the forum on such a negative note. Hope you heal up fast and that you have no lasting effects. Cars can be replaced, people can not.

welcome and glad to hear your not seriously hurt. i carry full coverage for jackasses like these.

Heard from insurance today.. $6,100 in damages. Estimate of repairs is three pages long! They've already started working on her and I'm chomping at the bit to get her back!! Glad I had insurance to cover this, but it's so not fair my insurance has to pay for this.

Got the police report too and it shows he was clearly 100% at fault. You don't have much of a defense when you're a northbound car in the southbound lane in a no passing zone. He still lied. He said he hit a puddle and spun out of control. Water does not pond on that highway. I drive it everyday. He came into my lane intentionally to pass 3 cars and didn't see me.

Oh well. I am so thankful my Pathfinder performed so well. It was 100% in control at all times. I went to the shoulder, she said "ok" I started to drive into the ditch (nice, deep, water filled ditch) and she said "let's go!" That's why I love that truck so much! It seriously probably saved both of our lives by me being able to drive into the ditch in such a controlled manner and avoid a head on collision. I am discovering new bruises everyday and my neck is completely jacked up, but I'm alive and Maybelle will ride again!

ETA: It says his estimated speed was 50mph. Wondering if that means at time of impact? I can believe it because he was flying before he got to me.

Were you ever checked out my medical professionals? In situations like this, you might not feel the effects until later, which your last post stated you are having some neck pain. I'd make sure and been seen that way it's all documented and to make sure you will not have any lasting effects.

Yeah, I was transported by ambulance. (I couldn't move without excruciating pain. Apparently having your head turned when you get hit and spin around does bad things to you!) They took about a dozen x rays. I have since been to my chiropractor who is actually in another town (he's that good) and he said because I was turned, all my vertebrae were pulled and then my muscles locked into place. He told me to see a local chiropractor because I'll probably need at least 3 adjustments a week to make the muscles relax. I feel some better today.. I can look to the left a little better. Fortunately I have a friend in town that is a good chiro too, so I'm going to see him next week. Oh and next Wednesday I'm having major surgery completely unrelated to this!

Also turns out my rear axle is intact. It broke the rear suspension which is a relief compared to it being the axle!

I'm just ready to be back in my car. I'm driving mom-in-laws Camry right now and keep having to remind myself I can drive that car where I can drive my Pathfinder!

Good to hear you're recovering well. Good luck!

Thank you everyone! I talked to the body shop and she won't be ready till the Friday 2 days after my surgery which means it will be 2 weeks after that till I can drive her .. Oh well, don't want to rush him. I'll try to put up some pics when I get her back.