I don't post much here, but had to respond to your situation: Don't get into debt with a new or used car payment. You have just come through an accident that injured you both physically and financially. It sounds like you are recovering physically now....but not so much on the financial front. IMHO, it would benefit you the most to get yourself situated financially before you go out to buy another vehicle on payments. See if you can find a beater for $2500 or less and keep the rest of the $$ in the bank to get back on your feet. You will need the savings anyway to make sure you can keep the car in running condition. The last thing you need right now are monthly payments on a depreciating "asset".
Once you have paid off the debt in collections and re-established your credit and have sufficient emergency savings, then consider purchasing a used vehicle with small payments. IME most people sink themselves with auto payments. You will be surprised at how much you can save without having the monthly payment. In fact, as an experiment, make a "car payment" into your savings every month until you have enough to purchase a car with a huge downpayment or even in cash. Believe me, while you are doing this invisible payment, you will be thankful that it is not a payment to a lender for interest on an upside down vehicle. Good luck!
