Brent refers to the crash as the 'birth of his new life' because the event is a life-changing experience in a negative sense. The aftermath of the crash represents a 'new life,' but it is one filled with pain, guilt, and grief. Before the crash, Brent's sole purpose in life was to gain the acceptance of his high school peers.

After the crash, he feels vaguely disembodied, depressed, and numb. His personality changes overnight. Brent feels that he is no longer normal but a murderer who has senselessly taken an innocent life. In his mind, Brent believes that his actions have birthed a nightmarish new life where he feels hopeless, lost, and confused. He is a baby in this new world, and he does not know how to navigate being an outcast among others he considers 'normal.' The burden of guilt is oppressive, and Brent does not respond to any attempts by his parents to cheer him up.

So, the crash brings about 'the birth of his new life,' but it is a devastating existence which debilitates Brent emotionally and physically.