…but we sure felt like them last night.
It was a typical evening. We ate dinner, got the kids bundled up and packed everyone into the van to make a trip to the grocery store. Here we are just driving down street, having a conversation as we go along and it happened. Just seconds after entering the intersection a large SUV hits the gas to make a turn right in front of us like we were completely invisible. It all happened so fast, yet so slowly at the same time.
I see the front end of the SUV just feet away from us.
I look at the green light thinking “what the hell is she doing?”
My husband shouts “oh shiiiit”
The van sharply turns to the right and the tires squeal.
She’s still coming full force.
My only thought..”this is going to hurt like hell”
I instinctively turn my body away from the point of impact and grab the door in hopes of bracing.
Then it happens, she hits us, the front end of van lifts into the air and finally comes to a screaching halt.
It all happened in less than 30 seconds but felt like 30 minutes. When I finally realized what had just happened and how bad it really was all I could think of was getting my kids out of the car. The interior was filing with smoke from the engine. I limped out of the van racing to each door, the trunk, pulling and yanking yet nothing would open. I couldn’t breathe, I could barely walk yet I knew I had to get the kids out. Ignoring the burning pain radiating down my leg I managed to detach Emma’s carrier from the base and hand her to my husband. People were coming from everywhere helping us get the last two children out of harm’s way. I never got the chance to thank them, but from the bottom of my heart I do.
As I sat in the median trying desperately to console my baby girl it was then I realized just how much my body was hurting. My ears were ringing from my head crashing into the window, my shin was swelling and burning, my neck was aching, I couldn’t feel the tips of two of my fingers and I couldn’t breath. The seat belt that likely saved my life had also knocked the wind out of me and bruised my ribs.
After everything is said and done, the one thing that is weighing heavily on me right now – the teenager that recklessly did this to our family never once apologized. Not one word even after my husband raced to her vehicle to make sure she was okay. She could have taken everything that means anything to me away and didn’t have a word to say to us.
Today, we’re really feeling the pain of the crash. I almost laughed when the paramedic on the scene warned us, “as bad as you feel now, just wait until tomorrow”…he wasn’t kidding. I feel like I was run over by a bus and then some.
About Cat Davis
OMG girl that’s just crazy.. As a claims adjuster who deals with this stuff every day…Please get an attorney… I know most people think they can deal with it themselves…I really think you should get an attorney to help you with everything. Just seeing your van..I’m thinking it’s pretty close to a total loss.
I really really hope you feel better very soon.
(((HUGS)))
We stopped by the autobody place that’s holding our van on the way to the hospital and he told us it most definitely a total loss. Fortunately we had something called The Keeper on our insurance so I guess we get a brand new van. But I’ll ask Jon about the attorney stuff.
Wow, I am so sorry to hear about that accident and I am definitely glad that you all are alright. I hope that you all went to the ER, just to get checked out. I know how you feel, I was in an accident similar to that about 21 years ago, except that the other driver was an off-duty police officer. I hope you are feeling okay tomorrow, the first few days are the worst.
I want to smack the ever-loving crap out of her parents for raising her to be an ass. I’m so thankful you’re okay, please PLEASE keep us updated if you need anything. *gentle hugs*
Oh, no. I’m so glad you guys are okay…but the pain sure does stink.
I’m sorry that that teenager didn’t apologize…that’s very upsetting. Sadly, she was probably only worried about her car.
OMG….. just looking at the pictures sends shivers down my spine. I am so sorry ou and your family had to go through that and that damn teenager I tell you kids just don’t give a damn these days. I sure hope you get an attorney!
Oh no! So scary, but I’m SO glad you’re okay!
omg my heart dropped reading this,how scary! I am so glad you are all ok!!!thank the good Lord Jesus Christ!
That is so scary and I’m so sorry you had to go trough this. I’m so glad that all of you are alive and that there wasn’t any more serious injuries. Waiting to hear what happened at the doctors today, hope everything is well.
As for the other driver, just awful…I wouldn’t let teens drive at all, I know I didn’t till my twenties.
Hope everything gets sorted out about the car too…question did the airbags work…I’m assuming that is a newer car, and with the door trouble you had (sliding doors) and if the airbags didn’t work what are the chances of getting them for it, the car makers I mean???
Actually that was something my husband pointed out this evening. The air bags did NOT deploy and even worse, the seat belts did not lock. The only thing that kept me from flying out the window was the lap portion of the belt. The top section expanded allowing my shoulder and head to hit the side door and window.
As for the doors, because they are electric, when she crushed the van’s computer system it locked everything except my door for some strange reason.
Wow girl.. Are you guy’s upside down on the van? If so I pray you guy’s got gap insurance…and if you were and you have Gap then that’s great! How did everyone hold up in the accident? Also…with an accident that bad please RUN don’t walk to get new car seats!!! Do not re-use the one’s from the accident. They are no considered compromised. Make sure the other insurance company or even your own pays for new seats.
Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with the insurance process.
(((HUGS)))
Catherine
The van is only 8 months old and not worth nearly what we owe on it. I’m not sure about the GAP but we do have the Keeper so I think they’ll just be replacing the van with a new one.
The mechanic was pretty upset to hear the side air bags didn’t go off too. She hit the front left corner, so that may be why the front bags didn’t go off.
The airbags will not go off when the majority of the crash damage is in the side of the vehicle. although I would think the side airbags SHOULD have gone off. I would question Chrysler about that. The front airbags however have to hit the very front of the car..the front bumper has the sensors. I’m not positive where the side airbag sensors are in the side of the van though..