Driving again after minor fender bender

gellen · ‎03-14-2010

I had a minor parking lot fender bender yesterday. I am supposed to head out for a quick solo trip on Tuesday. It is about an hour and 1/2 drive which I have done often. I am feeling a little anxious about it and wonder if I should cancel. I would incur a 200.00 cancellation fee. Is this a natural reaction and has anyone experienced the same thing? Thanks in advance

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

glad you are okay and as the saying goes.....

"If you fall off a horse, you get right back on."

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@gellen wrote:
I had a minor parking lot fender bender yesterday. I am supposed to head out for a quick solo trip on Tuesday. It is about an hour and 1/2 drive which I have done often. I am feeling a little anxious about it and wonder if I should cancel. I would incur a 200.00 cancellation fee. Is this a natural reaction and has anyone experienced the same thing? Thanks in advance

It's probably normal but if you don't n*ip it in the bud, dwelling on it will consume you and it will take over if you let it. Are you injured at all? If you temporarily "can't" drive due to pain or immobility, that would be a reasonable excuse. Otherwise, get back on the horse.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@gellen. When you fall off a horse (so to speak), the thing to do is to immediately make yourself get back on and ride it. Your confidence will soon be restored.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

@gellen you are not alone, this is common. I think it's best to sort of ****** it in the bud. ...just go. Take the longer way if you have to, avoid freeways. Take your time, leave really early. If you panic, pull over. I think the longer you put it off, the worse it can get. I know a couple people like this, one is my 30yo granddaughter. She was a big accident on LA freeway. We are from a small town. A semi hit her from the back, totally his fault. She was so scared to drive. She had to rest a week anyway, but drive to chiropractor. It was close. She was okay until she had to go to start school, and it was far. She started out show, she did get nervous. But she did it. Took her a few weeks to take freeway, now she's better. But she will never drive to LA again she said, will not drive there. I am glad she tried right away to shorter distance, and not take freeways it helped indoctrinate her back into driving. It was traumatic experience whether you realize it or now. Good luck

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

I had a rather bad accident and due to injuries, I could not drive for about 3 months. Once my car was repaired and my body, I did not want to drive alone. I asked a friend to drive around the block with me a time or two, just to make sure I was able to physically and mentally. I was fine and you will be too.

Spacrazy · ‎12-14-2018

@gellen wrote:
I had a minor parking lot fender bender yesterday. I am supposed to head out for a quick solo trip on Tuesday. It is about an hour and 1/2 drive which I have done often. I am feeling a little anxious about it and wonder if I should cancel. I would incur a 200.00 cancellation fee. Is this a natural reaction and has anyone experienced the same thing? Thanks in advance

Is it possible someone could drive you? If not and you are still feeling uneasy then don't do it. As far as you feeling anxious ~ I think it's a normal reaction and it will go away. Good luck to you and try to enjoy your trip.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@gellen wrote:
I had a minor parking lot fender bender yesterday. I am supposed to head out for a quick solo trip on Tuesday. It is about an hour and 1/2 drive which I have done often. I am feeling a little anxious about it and wonder if I should cancel. I would incur a 200.00 cancellation fee. Is this a natural reaction and has anyone experienced the same thing? Thanks in advance

@gellen

Don't cancel; you need this. Have you driven up and down your street a few times? Getting back on the saddle, so to speak.

Even if you're a little anxious on the trip, I'm sure you'll be very careful .... so you'll be fine.

JYWilliams · ‎03-10-2010

@gelen, Sorry about your accident and I'm glad your weren't injured. Years ago I was hit by a Sheriff's car at an intersection. I wasn't injured just a little shook up but my car had major damage. After that accident every time I had to go through that intersection I would get really nervous. This went on for a while. I think it's a natural reaction.

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

Yes, it's normal but don't cancel. As someone else suggested, get in your car today and just drive around the block a time or two and then drive a bit farther later in the day. I would not ask a friend to go with you, because no one is going on your trip with you on Tuesday. You need to do it by yourself.

A truck and I backed into each other in a parking lot in June. First time something like that had happened to me. Very minor paint scrape to his old vehicle, but $5500 worth of damage to mine! At least I can still drive it and the lift gate works.

Two months later, and I still feel a bit anxious when I drive, and it aggravates me that I feel this way! I'm mad at myself, because the fender bender was partially my fault. But I go anyway, and what that fender bender did teach me is to use my backup camera. I've had that technology for years on my vehicles but while always glancing at it, have never used it often while backing up. I have always turned my head and looked behind me. This fender bender sure taught me, because if I had been looking at the camera, I would have seen him coming toward me and could have reversed and gone forward back into my parking space.

My car will be in the shop for a week. We are remodeling a new home we bought, and I could not do without my car hence putting off the repairs. That is slated to occur next week, and I will be glad to not be driving a crinkle car any longer. lol