Car Accident On 8 Lane Los Angeles Freeway

M onday morning this week I was in a car accident going to work.  I was driving in the fast last or #1 lane they call it in Calif.  There was a car in the lane next to me that was very anxious to pass people and move through the traffic.  The car then pulled in behind me and was following very close.

This section of the freeway is a curvy uphill pass that is on the edge of Los Angeles and once you come down the other side of the pass you are in the West side of the San Fernando Valley.

 We had just started the incline where it is a very moderate incline and were going 55 to 60 mph when the cars in front of us started braking due to a slight bend to the right and the freeway becoming more of steep incline.  I started to brake fairly hard to stop in time and then looked in my rearview mirror.  The car behind me was fast approaching and slammed into me, causing my head to Whip back.  I saw her coming so turned by steering wheel to the left and started onto the shoulder when she hit me pushing me past the car in front but luckily to the left of the car in front.  I smelled a little smoke and coasted to a stop with a minor amount of breaking.  My car engine turned off by itself by a safety sensor that was activated according to the towtruck driver.

The driver of the car that hit me had looked to the left to look at the accident on the other side of the freeway and didnt break at all before hitting me.  The California Highway Patrol (Chip) officer was on the accident scene in only a few minutes as they had been called for the other accident already so one officer stopped at our accident scene.  The drive that hit me safely pulled her vehicle onto the shoulder in front of me about 300 feet.  The CHIP took her statement, called the fire department before realizing we were both fine and then came back to take my statement.   He said she told him she was doing 80 mph when she hit me.  I think it was an overestimate of her speed and she was probably going 50 to 60 as I had slowed way down when she hit me. 

I am fortunate that I didn't hit the wall or the car in front of me and I am glad she was able to hit me and still drive to the shoulder.  We were both shaken up, but she was in her early 20s and called her mom immediately so she was comforted by them right away.  My neck started getting very stiff about an hour later and now the front muscles in my neck feel bruised.  The Dr. said I had a strained neck injury commonly known as Whiplash!!