I hate the rain. I don't even really like driving. For a saleswoman that isn't a good sign of things to come. I'm a careful driver. In fact I'm one of those people who really, really hates going over the speed limit. In the rain I follow the rules. Headlights on low, keep a safe distance and a safe speed.
This night was no different. Coming home from a conference in Seattle (I know what you're thinking: Seattle + Rain = Daily Occurrence and you'd be pretty much correct) and it was one of those flash things. Nice and sunny. Calm. Then the heavens open up and you get dumped on!
Did I mention I hate driving rental cars? You never know how they're going to perform! So here I am: Utterly careful driver, in the rain (which I hate), in a car I don't know and someone who dislikes driving in general.
My wipers were squealing something awful. You would think the car rental company would spring for new wiper blades considering how much they charge you per day for their buckets.
I was stuck in some compact number. My company is cheap when it comes to this stuff. If the airlines sold seats on the wing having you sit in a barco lounger that had been duct taped to it that's where I would be. No rest for the weary when you're selling paper products.
Other drivers are the worst. You're doing YOUR job keeping everyone else around you in a nice little window but there is always one jerk, you know the guy, he's the idiot speeding in the fast lane to pass everyone.
This guy comes barreling down the highway, passing all the other people, and he gets to me and tries to swerve from lane to lane and fish tails his pretty Lexus. He winds up skirting between a minivan and an SUV.
He still doesn't have full control. And he isn't slowing down, at least until a small Honda Civic, coming off the exit ramp, is hit by him in what could have been a decent merge in lousy conditions.
The domino effect is working overtime. The SUV pins the Lexus to the Honda, the minivan swerves, tips on its driver side wheels then flattens out, breaking and nearly sending itself over but the driver is able to maintain control.
Other traffic is avoiding the mess, but I hit some debris. Braking like an idiot I do what the guy in the Lexus did and fish tail. I turn it into a flat spin eventually stopping mere inches from the SUV and Honda sandwich!
I'm glad it all turned out alright. Insurance premiums are high enough. I was able to tell the boys in blue everything that happened. Thankfully it matched their on the scene assessments.
EMT checked out everyone involved. At least mine was cute. The guy in the Lexus was considered at fault and was sued for a pretty penny from the couple in the Honda.
I didn't get a dime. Not even a date. Just a thought though, be safe. Road courtesy is important! There is no place THAT important to get to that can cause injury or harm.
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