*Points to icon* Says it all, really

[charliesmum]

I was driving to my sister's today for my niece's birthday. I'd just gotten onto 42, in an area that has lots of shopping centers and fast food restaurants around, and the road was crowded.

As I was driving, a sudden, very hostile sounding shout from a car next to me made me jump. It sounded like he was shouting the 'c-word'. It happened just as I was driving by, and a person can't help but think, 'wait? Are they yelling at me? What did I do?' but then logic kicks in, and I figured they were either yelling at each other, or singing along to a rap song. There was no way I could even confirm they yelled what I thought they yelled, so I figured I'd let it go. I did look to my left to see if I could see who it was, I vaguely thought it was these guys in this brown car, so I figured when they passed me, I'd see if they were giving me the finger or singing along to a rap song or what. However, they were behind me, and they didn't look threatening, near as I could figure, so I decide that they weren't yelling what I thought they were yelling.

So, I'm stopped at a light, I'm singing along to XTC on my iPod, Charlie is next to me playing his DS. All is well.

The light changes, I start to go, and my car is rammed from behind.

Seriously. That's what it felt like. I hadn't stopped, and I was accelerating, so it wasn't like the people behind me misjudged the distance or anything. I look behind me, and it's still those guys.

I know it could have been residual feelings from the shouting incident. Or it could have been because I'd just re-read a Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum book, but I pull into a Dunkin Donuts* witht he idea that I could get the plate number off the car as it wizzes by me, but they pull in next to me

The boys in the car looked to bein their early 20s, South Philly/South Jersey Italians, one of them who I swear to God looked like he was sporting a false mustache, apologise profusely, and ask if I am okay. I say to them, "What, did you think I was someone else?" They say it was an accident.

I get out, check the car (which is thankfully still my crappy car, and not a new one, small favors and all that). There is no damage.

I'm still shaking from the adrenaline at this point, but they honestly seem like stupid but harmless guys, and even if they did ram me deliberately, clearly I wasn't meant to be their target, and I'm hoping they felt like complete morons, acting on an impulse and it was the wrong person.

I just wanted to go have birthday cake and spend time with my niece. And the pony! They had a pony! (But that's a story for another entry) So I left.

Should I have done something else, do you think? I was really rather shaken and confused. The yelling and then the ramming in close proximity really freaked me out, but then it seemed like nothing, and, well, it was weird.





*The last time I was rear-ended was also near a Dunkin Donuts. Think it's a conspiracy?

Comments

[dindin.livejournal.com]

What's done is done, but you always always always exchange insurance information in an accident. Always.

What if you or Charlie were hurt and didn't know 'til later? What if the car was damaged and you couldn't tell til next time.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad...just...if there's ever a next time.

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

I second what dindin said. Always best to get insurance info from them. Holly and I were in the same sort of accident in April of '07, hit from behind, shoved into vehicle in front of me, and though we weren't sore right away, the next day we were really feeling it. I had exchanged insurance info with both other drivers, we made a police report, and went to the ER. If we hadn't had the info we would have footed the bill (or our insurance) for all of it.
Just sayin'... better safe than sorry.
Glad you're both okay!

If it was Florida

[ossie.livejournal.com]

I would have thought the guys were trying to rob you when you pulled over, maybe take your purse or something if it was sitting on the seat,

1 guy distracts you while the other takes stuff

hopefully nothing is missing and the insurance company takes care of everything

glad noone was hurt

have a better week
take care
Ossie

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

Good God, I don't know. I'll let the drivers on your flist give advice on what you should or should not have done -- I wouldn't have a clue as I've never been behind the wheel of anything larger than a Go-Kart. But I'm very very glad you and Charlie are all right.

[crossbow1.livejournal.com]

Hopefully it freaked them out too and they'll be more careful now.

[sphinxvictorian.livejournal.com]

I think you did just the right thing. Since they apologized willingly, it seems that they did not mean you to be the target of whatever they were doing. And getting into a shouting match with them would have spoiled your day and accomplished nothing, so I think you were very wise.