So this might sound like a comparo thread but alas it's not.
Originally started writing it but then finals came along and stuff but here goes now!
This past Monday (April 27th 2009), while driving home from the post office trying to get home in time to catch the bus for my class, I was in no way rushing because well at 1:30PM on Staten Island you just have to go with the flow and take your time. So I was driving up a slight hill following a woman in a minivan, not tailgating. I know this road can be busy so I saw the woman slowing down thinking oh there's traffic. Instead she stops short to make a left turn without indicating. So I bring my vehicle (2007 Honda Civic Coupe LX) to a complete stop behind her. Didn't slam on my brakes late or anything, simple stop. A second or two later, BANG! i'm thrown forward, my hat fly's off my head, everything's a wreck. I knew i was pushed into the woman turning in the minivan. I shut my engine off (Thats how I knew i confirmed i was stopped because i was in neutral, not in gear. otherwise i would have stalled) Get out and start cursing out the guy behind me who hit me and he's just like I'm sorry I'm sorry. His car is messed up. Bumper and hood, no airbags though. So I look at my car and i'm like oh ok, not too bad maybe just a new bumper. Then i open the trunk and i see my spare tire cover not resting flat. i open that and see the spare is not resting flat so i'm like oh crap no. i take a closer look and the rod that holds the spare tire is bent and pushed in. i look underneath and my tow hook is missing. its pushed up and in 6 inches from where it should be! now i'm really pissed. he hit me so hard that as his car dove down it went under mine and pushed my trunk pan in. luckily the trunk wasn't bent, taillights weren't cracked and the quarter panels had no dents. Doors opened and closed fine. His car however had some serious damage done. (pic taken on crappy cell phone camera) His radiator didn't burst but it did bend and his passenger door wouldn't open, his fender pushed back. so i was really pissed with insurance and the hassle of it all. According to New York State, there is a no fault law so no one is at fault. the person i was pushed into drove off but only my license plate bent. His insurance company took all the blame for it and paid in full. 4 thousand dollars in damage to replace and fix everything. they gave us a Hyundai Sonata rental car. Not bad but handled like crap! it rode well, pulled well and was quiet but could not handle. turns were enemies of it. so here are some pics of the accident.
the car is fixed. looks good as new but its sold now =( i miss it. i miss the clutch pedal! oh well.