DownSyn Forum

Kerry · Posted: October 01 2003, 7:44 AM Post subject:

I had the most horrible thing happen to me on Monday. I was on my way to a training in Boston with a friend/co-worker of mine. Traffic on 93N was atrocious, as usual. I thought I'd save some time by getting in the HOV (high occupancy vehcile) lane, which usually lets you shave 20 minutes off your commute. So there I was, attempting to change lanes (merging to the left) and a big ass Mack Truck decided to change lanes (merging to the right) at exactly the same time. His front passenger side bumper clipped my rear driver's side bumper, sending us into a spin. We crashed almost head on into the guard rail, and came to a stop blocking 2 lanes of traffic. Fortunately neither of us was hurt, but my brand new Windstar (less than 800 miles on it) is destroyed. I think it looks totalled, but my husband seems to think it is fixable. Of course now, 2 days later my neck and back are killing me and we are trying to get by on one car, since we don't really want to pay for a rental. I just keep reliving the whole thing, and think how lucky we were that we didn't roll over, or that another car didn't broadside me as we were spinning out. And it's amazing that even though I can't change what happened, I keep thinking, "If I had let Melissa drive, this wouldn't have happened. If I hadn't tried to get in the HOV, this wouldn't have happened. If we'd left 5 minutes later, this wouldn't have happened." I'm driving my self crazy! I'm just glad that my kids weren't in the car, and that neither of us who were in the car were severly hurt. My new goal in life is to be able to get ANYWHERE by using back roads. I don't care if it takes me 2 days to get to Boston! I hate the highway!

Thanks for listening!

Kerry

connorsmom · Posted: October 01 2003, 8:09 AM Post subject: Boston

Kerry

Hope you feel better - glad your kids weren't in the car. I'm going to be in Boston this weekend for Connor's baptism and am DREADING driving through the big dig. Even though my parents still live up there I hardly ever visit them (my mom comes to DC).

Take care.
Suzanne

Annieo · Posted: October 01 2003, 10:02 AM Post subject:

Kerry,

You must be really shaken up. Those kinds of things make you realize you're not invincible.

My husband came home from running errands the other day and told about how a giant SUV coming toward him in the opposite lane of traffic went airborne after hitting a car that ran a red light. He saw the underside of the SUV and the wheels as it flew past his window. I was sick to my stomach after hearing it.

Drive carefully everyone!

Annieo

(By the way, my sister lives in Boston. I love Boston, although I've only driven in Boston once. My sister has become an amazing driver. It all seems very stressful to me. I'll stick to the relatively tame streets of Minneapolis!)

_________________

Ann, married to Tim, mom to Sally, Mark, Jane, John (12/02, DS), Paul, and Alice
www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnbremer

Emdad · Posted: October 01 2003, 10:18 AM Post subject:

First and foremost, it is good that you are both o.k. - there are a lot of good what-if's too - what if you had been in an older, not quite-so-safe car, what if there were no guardrail, much to be thankful for.
Boston is by far the most challenging city I've ever driven in, it beats D.C., NYC, LA, or San Francisco hands down. There's a reason they drive "beaters" out there. . .
Don't neglect your neck and back.

Sally/Grandma to Mya · Posted: October 01 2003, 11:46 AM Post subject:

Kerry,
I am so glad that you are okay. Like Jeff said, take care of your neck and back. I was in an accident 22 years ago, and only recently discovered a degenerating disc in my neck probably caused from that accident. I never had myself checked because I was sure I was fine. What a dork I was, the impact actually tore my seat belt in half. So now..22 years later, I suffer from wonderful headaches and neck aches constantly. I do go to a chiropractor, but that is not always convenient. So take care and glad that you are okay.

_________________
Mya's Grandma

Barbara · Posted: October 01 2003, 12:43 PM Post subject:

Hey Kerry,

You will be a jumpy driver/passenger for a while. I was in something similar. Wasn't it odd when the accident started and everything went into Sllllllooooooww motion?

Anyway, make sure you get a lawyer and a doctor. I hate that it's like that, but when the other insurance company called me the next day and said if they needed to fix my fender they would, I knew I was in trouble immediately cause I was left with a totalled car, and they want to fix the fender . . .

I finally had to have my car delivered to the dealership where I had purchased it, and got them to do the estimate for repair, which needs to be at least 1/2 of the blue book value to be considered totalled. And then I went against my own insurance. That was the only way to get it totalled. Then I was awarded blue book value (my car was 1 year old). BTW, big difference between blue book and sticker price. It aggravated me to no end that I had the pay full price to buy the exact same car I had purchased the year before.

I feel with as much damage as you're talking you will always have problems with your car if fixed, especially if the frame is bent (like mine had been), and you can't sell it hardly, cause it's been in an accident.

Sorry for the long post. I wish you the best!

Terri G · Posted: October 01 2003, 5:29 PM Post subject: Barbara's good advice

Kerry,
What Barbara said about getting a lawyer and getting rid of the car is the best advice. I was in an accident almost 7 years ago that I walked away from but a few days later was in ICU with. An old man turned in front of me even though I had the green light. To make a long story short the seat belt went against my larynx. It took about 36 hours to swell. But when it did I found myself in the ER by myself (I lived in VA Beach & family in FL) and they asked if I had a religious preference they could call. I asked "did I need a Priest???" Well, one came and I obviously survived. My car was my 88 White LeBaron Convertible with the turbo/leather package which was my first big purchase after college. I planned on keeping that car until I died like guys with their 64 Mustangs. Well, I got it fixed. It never worked the same. I wound up 6 months later having to get a new car anyway. I got a lawyer and it was a good thing. It helped pay for the car. I know you may not want to feel like you're greedy but you have to protect yourself. Get youself to the doctor right away. I did the next day and she told me I was fine. Of course I wasn't but she didn't do any x-rays like I had asked. Good Luck. I know it takes awhile to get back to driving again.
Terri

LoveMyLivi · Posted: October 02 2003, 12:49 AM Post subject:

Kerry,
Glad to hear that you are O.K. or at least fairly intact. Just would like to add my 2 cents. In Sept. of 2001, we were driving home after celebrating Fiona's 1st birthday. Back then it was only us & 3 kids.We have to travel up a mountain hwy. A drunk driver hit us head on. We made sure that we were checked out at the hospital and we also had chiropractic care for quite a while as well as physical therapy. We did hire an attorney for our protection. Even though the driver had previous DUI's, he only recieved a sentence of 1 year in prison and 6 months of rehab. He's already out! Our Honda CRV was totaled and was worth less than we owed. He was only carrying Cailf. minimun coverage and it's not enough for our bills to be covered. Fourtunately we carry "uninsured motorist" on our policy which will cover any shortage. I am sooo thankful that we lived to tell our tale another day, yet I'm totally PISSED OFF that this idiot got off so easy and we are just now getting HIS insurance to cough up what they owe us. All this, and we had an attorney representing us - think what Farmers Insurance would have done to us without legal counsel! My advice - INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. Like a "good neighbor" Hah hah my a$$! Find a competent attorney, you will need one! Sorry I ranted so much - can you tell I'm still MADD? It is exhilarating to be alive though and I am thankful each day that my precious babies are alive and well - I seriously thought we were dead when I saw the headlights coming at us. I will never get those moments out of my mind. Take care!
P.S. Don't forget to take photos of your vehicle and the injuries to your body. We almost had to take Farmers to court and our lawyer said those pictures were priceless.

[Edited by veronika Evans on 10-02-2003 at 01:51 AM]

_________________
Veronika

Lucky Mom to Levi 20, Zachary 14, Fiona 11,
& my social butterfly...Olivia Lianne (11/22/02-DS) :)along with her faithful sidekick York