Rear-Ended at a Yield Sign

[Cooley]

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

I was driving home from work yesterday, and got off of the highway, onto the street that I live on. There's a yield sign, and an elevated road to the left where traffic comes down and you usually wait until its clear to merge on. I saw a school bus coming, so I came to a complete stop and waited.

Several seconds later, I was struck from behind by another car. My car was pushed forward but I was able to cross my right arm on the steering wheel for protection. My head didn't come very close to making contact, but my whole upper body jolted forward rapidly.

I hit the gas lightly and rolled the car to the side of the road, and looked back to see the car behind me do the same. To be completely honest, I was pretty shook at that point, it surprised me, and I've never been in any sort of accident before (I've been driving for about five years).

It was a middle aged woman who came running up to my window and she immediately started talking about how she was late to pick up her son from school, and she thrust her cell phone in my face to show the calls she had just made to her husband. I couldn't think clearly at all, she briefly asked if I was okay, and I said that I think I am. She made it seem like it was no big deal, and she urged me to exit the car and look at the back of my car because there was absolutely no damage. I eventually did, and noticed that there indeed wasn't any. I drive an old '88 Honda Civic and it has one of those thick black bumpers on both the front and the back. It must have absorbed all of the contact, but I did notice the front of her car was damaged.

At that point standing behind my car with this woman, with cars flying by, I was trying so hard to gather my thoughts. I told her that I think I may have hit my head (I did slightly against my own arm, but the jolt is what really disoriented me). She immediately told me that I look completely fine, and I mentioned that my house was just a block away. She kept talking about how she was late to pick up her son from school, that's what I remember more than anything.

She did ask me if I wanted to take it further despite there being no visible damage, and she said she wasn't going to leave the scene without my agreeing to it. I wanted to get out of the situation very badly, and I actually did convince myself that everything was fine, no big deal. I didn't get any information at all. I'm not even sure just how foolish this was, even know. I just put $400 into fixing this car enough to have it pass it's recent inspection, but more than that I feel like I let myself get potentially hurt, for nothing.

I told her it's fine, and that was it. She should have offered to call the police to report it right away. It's all I've been thinking about, how I didn't do what I was supposed to. And when I told someone very close to me about the whole thing last night...well, let's just say that it made the whole matter a million times more regretful for me.

Today driving to work, I could tell my car didn't sound the same or feel the same. My shoulders, neck and back have slight aches, and I think it's a case of whiplash. It's really all unbelievable how I literally didn't do...anything.

I haven't told anyone else about it, and I've been more or less willing my body to have nothing but temporary aches and soreness. The thought of delayed injuries or something chronic, and I have no leg to stand on legally, is very distressing and shocking to me.

I should have called someone at home to help me with the situation, it was only a minute away. I don't even know if I could do it all again, if I would still be able to do everything I was supposed to. It felt like I was completely out of it, even though all it was, was a quick jolt after some careless person hit the back of my car at a relatively slow speed. I really feel that she tried to take advantage of how I was in that moment, and I ended up cooperating. It's unreal how dumb I was to not be able to stop, think clearly and take charge.

Anyway, if someone can provide some insight at all to what options if any I have left at this point, or advice on what actions I can take, I am completely open and hope to hear it. Apparently I'm more ignorant than I thought when it comes to these matters, and I may have allowed myself to get taken advantage of, but honestly I could not think straight at all, I've never been in that situation before and I just ended up escaping thinking that I was the one who got away freely. Crazy and idiotic isn't it?

Just honesty as brutal as it may be, would be welcomed. I know there's no way around saying that I screwed up in a way that pretty much no other person would have in the same situation, but there must be someway I can salvage this partially. Otherwise, my other option is to continue like nothing happened, and just try to get over the mental strain it's put me through, unnecessarily.

[moburkes]

You told a really long story. Since she hit you from behind, she was at fault. Either of you could have called the police, but that isn't a big deal, since it doesn't appear to have been a "serious" accident. Contact your insurance company if you have medical coverage or collision coverage. Contact her insurance company if you do not. File the claim, and go to the doctor. Good luck.

[Cooley]

Thank you for the reply.

I don't have medical coverage right now, and I did not get any of her information (including insurance)...

[ecmst12]

I'm pretty sure medical coverage is required for all auto policies in NJ. Go to the doctor, besides the pain it sounds like you may have a concussion(yes, you can have one without having hit your head). Report the accident and file a claim with your insurance if you have coverage. Have your doctor bill your auto insurance for any accident related treatment.

You did say that you failed to get ANY contact information on this chick, including her name or license plate number, right? Yep, that was pretty dumb. You know it's illegal to talk on the phone while driving in your state too, so she really gave you MORE then enough ammo to prove it's her fault. But you don't know who she is so you're kind of SOL there.

[MyHouse]

Any idea where she was headed? Is there a school nearby, or did she mention which school she was going to pick up her son? Would you recognize her car and her face? I understand not being able to think straight after being hit. I wrecked my motorcycle a few months ago to avoid hitting a SUV that made a left turn right in front of me. I was dizzy and on the ground, and some lady had her hands all over me trying to pretend that she was checking to see if I was OK, when she was really trying to pickpocket me. (This didn't occur to me but that is what somebody else thought.) I got no information from the guy who turned in front of me. I just wanted to get out of there so badly that I restarted my motorcycle and went on to work as soon as the dizziness stopped. I think it is a good idea to be mentally prepared in case this happens in the future. Always get the person's contact information, license plate number and insurance carrier. Next time you will know. Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

By the way, how did your car get damaged in the front?

[Happy Trails]

Originally Posted by MyHouse

Any idea where she was headed? Is there a school nearby, or did she mention which school she was going to pick up her son? Would you recognize her car and her face? I understand not being able to think straight after being hit. I wrecked my motorcycle a few months ago to avoid hitting a SUV that made a left turn right in front of me. I was dizzy and on the ground, and some lady had her hands all over me trying to pretend that she was checking to see if I was OK, when she was really trying to pickpocket me. (This didn't occur to me but that is what somebody else thought.) I got no information from the guy who turned in front of me. I just wanted to get out of there so badly that I restarted my motorcycle and went on to work as soon as the dizziness stopped. I think it is a good idea to be mentally prepared in case this happens in the future. Always get the person's contact information, license plate number and insurance carrier. Next time you will know. Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

By the way, how did your car get damaged in the front?

Actually, Cooley stated, "..but I did notice the front of her car was damaged."

However, I do agree that he may still be able to track her down and get her insurance information.

[MyHouse]

I apologize for misunderstanding about the front of the car being damaged. Well, that may make it easier to identify her car if you do find it.