They’re out to get me!
I swear the general population of Bakersfield, California is out to get me!

Tuesday night, a mere 35 days since I was rear-ended by a Sonnet, a woman sideswiped me at Walmart.

I know, it’s unbelievable! I couldn’t believe it myself. Two accidents in such a short period of time! I thought in disbelief sitting in my car dumb-founded. Finally it dawned on me that I needed to move my car out of the way of on-coming traffic and see if the woman who had just hit me was sticking around to assume responsibility.

I had just finished doing some shopping at Walmart and was headed to the Vons shopping center next door to pick up some hair products at Sally Beauty Supply when some lady in a big Plymouth Voyager came barreling around the corner of White Lane into the Walmart entrance and hit the side of my car. She came out of no-where, lickity-split, like there was no tomorrow, headed for Walmart, come hell or high water and it didn’t matter who was in her way. (Enough clichés in that sentence for you?)

I got out of my car to survey the damages and I felt like I had a BIG RED TARGET painted on my car for every Sonnet, Margie and Jane Doe in Bakersfield was smashing into me. There was a lot more damage to my car this time. The right rear quarter panel and extending into the bumper of my car was scraped, dented, chipped, and the taillight was sticking out a little.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you.” The sideswiping lady named Margie said as she approached me.

“These things happen.” I said not knowing what else to say.

“Do you have insurance?” I asked.

“Yes.” She replied.

Thank God! I thought given Walmart’s general clientele it was very possible that she might not of had insurance.

We exchanged insurance information and I looked at the damage to her car, a paint scrape on top of her right front bumper and a busted right headlight.

I got back in my car overwhelmed and just sat there for a few minutes crying… How could this be happening? How was I going to explain two accidents in such a short time to the insurance company? It was all just too much to handle. I thought.

And then I called my Dad and told him that I had just been in another accident and I cried some more.

I finally got settled down enough to go into Sally Beauty Supply and buy the hair products I needed before going home.

On my way home, I decided it was better for me not to be home alone in my upset state so I went to a friend’s house. He did his best to console me and get my mind off the accident by feeding me pizza and watching a movie.

“I’m never running errands after work ever again!” I declared to my friend.

“It’ll be fine.” He consoled.

“The next time they’re going to kill me!” I exclaimed.


Wednesday morning I called my insurance company…

“Um, yes, I have an open claim and I need to report another claim.” I explained to the Insurance claim adjustor on the phone.

“Let’s start with the claim you currently have open.” The Insurance claim adjustor stated.

“The damages from the first claim wasn't enough to bother with and after having the car looked at we’ve decided not to fix that, so I need to close the repair portion of that claim.” I further explained.

“What about the medical portion of the claim?” The Insurance claim adjustor asked.

“I’m still undergoing treatment for my whiplash, so the medical portion of the claim needs to remain open.” I told the Insurance claim adjustor.

“Now, we’ll open the new claim for you.” The Insurance claim adjustor said while typing.

And then I told him the details of the accident at Walmart while he typed and asked questions.

“Does this happen very often?” I asked. I felt like an idiot, two accidents in such a short time period.

“You’d be surprised.” He exclaimed.


Thursday night after work I debated running a quick errand to Barnes and Noble before going home. I was literally afraid as I sat waiting for 5pm traffic to clear on California Avenue so I could turn into the Barnes and Noble parking lot. The more the traffic sped by and backed up at the red light the more I got nervous. I’m never going to be able to turn. What was I thinking trying to run an errand after work? I thought. Just then three lanes of traffic stopped leaving enough room for me to cross in front of them as if my guardian angel was holding back the tide of traffic for me. I sighed in relief. Pulled into Barnes and Noble and waved smiling at all three cars who had stopped for me as I passed them.

I’m still not so sure about running errands after work. I feel like they’re out to get me and next time the accident might be really bad.

Y’all be careful… it’s not safe out there…  posted by Matildakay at 5:15 PM