There are millions of drunk driving accidents every year. Last week, I was one of those statistics.

I was on a deserted highway, early in the morning, traveling toward San Francisco. I was listening to NPR and enjoying the scenic drive when all of a sudden, I noticed a driver in front of me swerving from the shoulder into the oncoming lane of traffic, and then back again and again. The driver was slowing down to 15 mph and then accelerating to speeds of more than 60. I knew something was wrong, so I hung back while I waited for a chance to pass.
 
When the driver slowed down to 15 mph and there was an opportunity to pass, I went for it. Mistake! The driver swerved into me, and SMACK! He hit me.
 
Although we were traveling at speeds of less than 20 mph, I still heard the side of my car crunch. I was thankful that I always wear my seatbelt, and I didn’t feel like I had any injuries, but I was scared. I began to shake and get very nervous in the next few seconds as we sat in the middle of the road, cars stuck together.
 
I knew we needed to pull off the highway, but the man was just staring and sneering at me through his window. I began to realize that communicating with this person in any way was a bad idea, so I picked up the phone to call 911. As I did that, he took off.
 
I knew I had to get his license plate, so I put my car in gear and followed him. I tried to make myself keep repeating the 7-digit California license plate number, but my brain was in turmoil and I was shaking so much that it was hard to drive. When the man noticed me following him (and when he noticed me on the phone), he became very irate and began to slam on his brakes, trying to get me to rear-end him. Once I memorized the license plate, I pulled over to the side of the road to finish my call to 911. The driver continued driving down the road, weaving dangerously from side to side, until he went out of view.
 
When I got through to 911, they sent an officer out immediately. I was visibly shaken, and as the officer helped me calm down, he also told me that I was lucky. Sometimes drunk male drivers try to knock female drivers off the road, get them to get out of their cars, and rob or rape them.
 
What I learned from this incident was that my instincts were right…I was in extreme danger and I should not get out of the car to talk to this man for any reason. Luckily, he had just driven away. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are some tips from the officer who helped me:
  • Pull to the side of the road where you won’t get hit by another car.
  • Lock your doors, roll up your windows, and call 911. Do not speak to the other person.
  • If you are afraid and you are alone, you can continue driving until you find other people. Call 911 immediately, however, so you aren’t accused of a hit and run.
  • Follow your instincts. If something tells you to get away from the other driver, do it!
  • I’m also very glad I had a cell phone. If you don’t have one, it’s worth investing in, even if only for emergencies.
All I was able to give the officer was a license plate and a brief description of the driver and his car. I was so scared that I didn’t think to write down the make and model of the car, or the color. But I did remember that it was a four-door sedan, dark color, and that the driver had short brown hair and was Caucasian.
 
My next step is to talk to a personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, because there were no witnesses, the officer says the driver could make up any story he wants. Since police didn’t catch him right away, we can’t prove he was drunk. However, with an attorney, I am confident that no matter what the drunk driver tries to say, my rights will be protected.
 
I’m thankful that I didn’t suffer any injuries, but my car certainly did. There is a dent and a scrape down the side, and the bumper is hanging off the car. With the help of an attorney, I know my car will get repaired. I’m thankful that there are options available for me, including resources at drunk driving sites like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and personal injury attorneys who will take my case at no charge to me. I just hope it never happens again!
 
If you have some car accident tips and stories, please share them with readers in the comment box below!
 

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