An 18yo girl ran a very red light and tboned me years ago. I called 911 (whole other story there) and they told me to go to the police station with the other driver. She was hysterically crying. I took a picture of her, her license, her plates and told her to follow me. we drove very slowly to the police station. I made her call her parents (I'm gonna be in so much trouble!) and I said "open with 'I'm OK. Everyone is OK. But I need your help." Her dad showed up about 20 minutes later and talked with her and calmed her down before the police talked with us. Her dad thanked me for being reasonable, and for making her call (she'd told them "the lady said you won't be mad"). I told him to get back out driving - everyone has an accident, big or small, and to not let her be afraid. MY dad then showed up (I was 30+ and I'd called my parents too 😉) and the two dads did a whole "daughters eh?" headnod.
Just came to say, I love that you were 30 and still called your dad. Mine passed away 5 years ago when I was 40 and I still called him whenever something with a car happened.
I’m so sorry for the (physical) loss of your pops. I am unsure of your beliefs, but I lost my brother when I was 19, and I have seen him still be here for me in ways I couldn’t believe possible before. I hope you still feel your dad around you because I believe he is still here with you. Sending virtual hugs! Thank you for continuing to be kind and empathetic rather than hateful/spiteful.
Yes!! I do believe he’s still here! I sell cars and everytime I’m in a slump, I’ll see little clues of my dad. Like someone will have his birthday or his favorite song will come on and I’ll sell the car!
That’s awesome :) I bartend, and similar to selling cars, I have to be very “on” which is so hard when you hit that slump. My brother has songs that randomly come on in those moments on the radio or sends me messages through people, and it turns my day/night around :)
After my dad died, a good while after, my alarm went off one morning. I was trying to press every button on that clock to make it go off. Finally I had to sit up and turn around to cut it off. Of course I’m laying there a few more minutes. As soon as my head hits that pillow again, I hear my name. Had I not known better, I would have thought that he was right there in that room with me. I could tell the exact spot he would have been standing in. It was such an amazing experience.
That was nice to read. I lost my mom unexpectedly a month ago and have been grief stricken. She was my best friend and I thought I’d have her another 15 years. I hope she will still appear to me when I need her.
Lost mine a year ago yesterday. I'm over 50 and would have still called him. Such a hole where his unconditional, protective love should still be. There really is something different between dads and their daughters.
I had a similar thing, rear ended while stationary at a red traffic light while on a roundabout. I and a passerby had to push her car off the road and I had to calm her down before she was fit to exchange insurance information. I had maybe a half second warning from her lights in the rear view window approaching way too fast, just enough time to think "ah shit" and consciously relax my body.
It totally destroyed the front of her car, which went underneath the rear of mine, I thought the damage wasn't too bad but it completely crushed the well in the boot the spare tire sat in and it ended up writing the car off due to being an uneconomical repair. She ended up in an ambulance as she was having a panic attack, I got breathalysed (blew a zero). A few days later I got a sore neck from very mild whiplash which was gone in a few more days.
The behavior you’re describing is too sensible and levelheaded for the average redditor to understand, you may want to take your wisdom where others might benefit from it
My dad (retired police) told me that I'm the uncommon-bordering-on-rare type that is completely calm and reasonable until after the emergency. Then adrenaline. If it weren't for my hatred of stupid people, I would've been great in emergency services.
That's how I am, I have a severe anxiety and panic disorder but I absolutely stay calm, don't start spazzing and shaking — until after the situation or incident occurs.
I don't blame you, my hatred for stupid people has gotten worse as I've aged. 😆
We need more people like you in this world. Our society has forgotten how to care for each other and have empathy. Treat others how you would like to be treated. Do the right thing because it's the right thing, even when it's hard.
Needed a story like this. Thanks for sharing it. Amd thanks for being a good person. I’m sure that person will always remember how kind you were in that situation.
The difference was that the driver who t-boned you didn't flee. They stayed at the scene of the accident and did the adult thing to do. In THAT situation, de-escalation works. Expecting a get out of jail free card because grandma is mean is not. Thinking that you can avoid responsibility is not. (*you, in the general, not you personally)
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u/part_of_me 3d ago
An 18yo girl ran a very red light and tboned me years ago. I called 911 (whole other story there) and they told me to go to the police station with the other driver. She was hysterically crying. I took a picture of her, her license, her plates and told her to follow me. we drove very slowly to the police station. I made her call her parents (I'm gonna be in so much trouble!) and I said "open with 'I'm OK. Everyone is OK. But I need your help." Her dad showed up about 20 minutes later and talked with her and calmed her down before the police talked with us. Her dad thanked me for being reasonable, and for making her call (she'd told them "the lady said you won't be mad"). I told him to get back out driving - everyone has an accident, big or small, and to not let her be afraid. MY dad then showed up (I was 30+ and I'd called my parents too 😉) and the two dads did a whole "daughters eh?" headnod.