1999 Honda Accord engine problems

My vehicle was in the left turn lane waiting for the light to turn green. I went and didnt realize the far right lane was for parking only on a 1 way street left headed east it was a 1 way with 2 lanes moving forward a 1 lane next to the curb where vehicles park in front of there residents. I slammed into the back of the parked white chevy truck. My vehicle came to a sudden stop forcing my body forward towards the windshield. My seatbelt only restrained my body so far so I used my foot to apply the brake.

P0420 code - check engine light is on - catalyst efficiency below threshold - bank 1 nly 6 years old and 95,000 miles. From what I have read on many sites, this is a systematic problem with this model car and people can't afford $1100 to get the catalytic converter replaced and therfore continue to drive the car with the check engine light on, while polluting the environment and possibly overlooking other failures that may be more safety critical because of the light always being on.