This was my first experience with a serious car accident — serious enough to total Libby, my old Jeep Liberty. I am completely fine: no injuries, no other vehicles, and no one else involved. I feel very fortunate.
So, what happened?
It was a mild Wednesday morning, warmer than the day before. I left home a little later than usual because I planned to stop at the DMV and finally register the expired tabs on my Jeep — something I had put off and even received a ticket for the prior weekend. I decided to go to the DMV near my workplace so I could avoid the peak commute and still make it to work on time.
The roads felt slick in spots, especially on bridges. I drove carefully, keeping below the speed limit for the full 35-mile commute. I live west of Minneapolis and work at Anytime Fitness Headquarters in Hastings, Minnesota, which means a long daily drive. About three miles from the office, still driving cautiously with my seat belt on and my phone stowed away, I tried to accelerate slightly to change from the left lane into the right lane. Suddenly the rear of the car started to fishtail. I took my foot off the gas, but I still lost complete control and began to spin.
I don’t remember which direction I spun, only that the next moment my vehicle slammed into the median ropes. In that split second I had a flash of panic and an odd replay of a dramatic TV scene in my head. Despite the chaos, I walked away without a scratch. My airbags did not deploy and I did not experience any whiplash, likely because of how the passenger side took the impact. The passenger side absorbed most of the damage: both passenger tires were shredded, the passenger window shattered (thankfully no one was sitting there), and the bodywork was torn up along that side. I’ll miss the little pride stickers I had on the Jeep.
I called 911 immediately and followed their instruction to stay in the car. Then I called Blake, who dropped everything and drove 35 miles to come get me. A police officer arrived within a few minutes and started the paperwork. My Jeep needed to be towed, but the towing companies were backed up due to multiple accidents in the area, so I left the vehicle and the officer kindly escorted me to work. That level of assistance was a huge relief on a stressful morning.
After multiple calls with my insurance company, AAA, and the towing service, I learned that Libby was a total loss. It was hard to accept — I had grown attached to that Jeep. On the positive side, the insurance appraisal returned more than I had expected, which will give me a healthy down payment toward my next vehicle. I had hoped to keep Libby another year because not having a car payment helped me save money, but the accident changed those plans.
Now I need a new car so Blake can have his truck back. I’m not a car expert and haven’t done much car shopping before, so I’m a bit lost. Below is a concise list of what I’m looking for. If you have suggestions, I’d appreciate them.
Things I Like in a Car
– Good fuel economy (I commute about 70 miles round trip)
– Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for Minnesota winters
– Prefer a smaller SUV but open to well-equipped cars
– Recently used: 2–3 years old to get a good value
– Brands I’m comfortable with: Jeep, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mazda
Short list, I know — I need help narrowing options down.
What make and model would you recommend for a small SUV or efficient car that fits these priorities?
Where do you typically search when you’re car shopping?