…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.
Cat I’m just so glad you all walked away.
Sooo scary.
OMG! She didn’t say anything ??
I am glad you all are ok.
F’ing teens! I’m so sorry this happened to your family, but I’m glad y’all are ok.
Oh My God! Reading that, my heart just dropped-I can’t even imagine that happening and the panic you all felt…I’m just happy everyone is okay and it wasn’t more serious(or more serious then it already was).
Someone was definitely looking out for you last night! Sending love and healing energies for you and your family
Oh honey! Im just so glad that it wasn’t more serious! You could have been killed!!!! I can’t believe she didn’t say anything! Was she hurt? I wonder if she was in shock!? I hope everything works out and you feel better soon! ((((hugs)))) honey! I”m just so happy you’re here to blog about it! LOVE YOU!
First I’m happy that you are all walked away for it. That has to be the scariest thing ever. I can’t imagine what was going through your head .
Second, I can’t believe that this teenager never said sorry , that is crazy !
Cat, If you need anything please let us know !
(((HUGS))) Cat. If you need ANYTHING at all email me or msg me!
Kas
I hope that you all feel better soon. Sending thoughts and prayers your way.
OMGosh! I am so sorry this happened to your family. My heart is still racing from reading the post. I can only imagine how you guys are feeling. Thank goodness for safety belts and car seats! Take care of yourselves! Warm soaks in the bathtub with Epsom Salts helps immensely. Time will take away the scare but nothing will take away the inconsiderateness (is that a word?) of the driver at fault. You never realize until something like this happens how much the words ‘I’m Sorry’ really means.
Take care of yourself and your family. I hope you are all feeling better soon.
Thank god it wasn’t worse – though it sounds really bad. Please get to the dr and take care of yourself. Your babies need a well mama. : )
Cat, I’m so thankful you and your family are okay. How horribly scary – I can’t even imagine.
Oh Cat. I’ve been worrying about you all all day.
Today I was thinking about you and how great it was you got to try out the SAD light therapy.
Have you gone and looked at the car again yet. I was in a bad wreck once and looking at the car the next day in the sunlight put me over the edge I just couldn’t believe how bad it was and how lucky I was. My u-haul came unattached and hit us and the tongue got wedged just a few inches above our gas tank. We were on a flat rode and very close to a town and a state trooper all very lucky things.
I am so glad you are all okay.
I’m so glad you and your family are ok! How scary! I hope you start feeling better soon!
Cat, just yesterday I found your blog and your profile on Twitter… My thoughts and best wishes are with you and your family. Being a mother of a four year old, I feel your pain… Take good care and remember, what goes around comes around. The driver who hit you, will somehow learned a lesson…
I can’t believe she didn’t even apologize. What a wench. I am just so thankful that you guys are okay. I hope you made it to the hospital to be checked. PLEASE let me know if you need anything…and I’m not just saying that. It’s a Real offer. ((HUGS))
Let us know what happens at the hospital and take it easy. I hate dealing with insurance companies…good luck.
Lisa
Cat,
I’m sooooooo happy to learn that everyone is still living and breathing. I’m also so sorry for all of you having to go through such an accident. I’ve been in a head-on (not major) and any crash is frightening. It sounds like pure mother instincts set in as you moved to get your children out of the car.
I’ve had the same experience (no accident) while driving in Chicago where drivers just take to the road and drive as if nobody else is there. I hope her reasons for not speaking were due to shock and not total and complete ignorance or lack of concern for what she did or what could have happened.
I hope your family recovers soon and you get the rest you need and your body heals well and fast.
I am so glad that you are all ok, despite aches and pains. How very scary!
OMG Cat!
Reading your story brought tears to my eyes. I remember being involved in a similar accident with my children in the car. It is very scary, and emotional wanting to get to your babies. I hope you are all doing well. Hopefully the teenage driver will learn a lesson after all of this.
Take care!
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..
I’m just glad you were all able to walk away from it. That teen has no idea how lucky they are.
OMG, I am so glad that you are all ok
I can’t even imagine how scary that was.
I’m getting choked up reading this- how scary! I’m so glad you’re all okay.
Oh Cat! How scary! I’m so glad to hear that you are all okay.
Thank God you and Your family are OK! Well accept for the pain and fright…so sorry.
Thank God that you and your family are ok. I’ll be praying that your pain and soreness subside soon!
I’m so glad you’re all ok. Things like this really hit home the reality of how precious life is. Not to defend her, but the teenager was probably in shock too, and I hope she is wishing today that she had said sorry… I sure hope she feels it and learns from the accident!
I am so sorry. I hope you are all safe and will continue to improve how you feel. That is the scariest thing in the world. You were definately watched over, glad you are all okay the best you can be in this horrible situation. take care!
OMG Cat I am glad you are all okay (or as okay as you can be) and what a twerp for not saying anything at all. Take care of yourself and make sure you are okay get to the doctor
I am sorry to hear this, but am glad that none of you were more seriously hurt. I do hope your injuries turn out to be very minor and heal soon, and that the rest of your family is unharmed. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
OMG Cat – I Hope you all heal quickly and Thank God it wasn’t worse!
Im in shock that the teen didnt say anything!! I hope her parents take her liscense away for a LONG time!!!
I’m keeping your whole family in my thoughts right now that you feel better. Any accident like that – at ALL – shakes you up both physically AND mentally. As far as the teen that caused this incident – if they were texting while driving… just wow.
I’m crying reading your story. I was involved in a accident at 19 yrs old and clearly 7months pregnant my car totaled. Alone scared and terrified I didn’t say a word. I thought it was his fault but I had no idea that his light had a longer green than mine. I know the fear you felt for your children. Thankfully your all ok, HUGS I am sorry that happened to your family.
So glad you are all OK… so sorry that this happened to you and that the horrible girl never said she was sorry. What a terrible thing for her to do to you all! I pray that you all recover from your injuries and am SO thankful that you wear your seatbelts and use the safety seats for the kids. Please hug the babies for me and know that my heart goes out to your whole family.
You are in my prayers.
Glad you guys are o.k.
Oh I am just so sorry! I know that was so terrifying for you and your family…and I know the pain goes a bit deeper than just the physical part. A similar thing happened my best friends relatives – a teen hit them and their Suburban flipped over repeatedly – they too, had small kids. I cannot believe she did not say sorry. I can only imagine she was in shock. I do hope she learned a lesson. Thank god you all walked away from it.
I hope you feel better soon, and again, I am so sorry!
How scary. It could have been so much worse. Take care.
you poor things I can only imagine that would be terrible we were in a wreck few years ago and sore for weeks
Thank God you all are okay. Sending big {{{hugs}}} to you, sweetie.
Oh I’m so sorry. I’m so glad you’re all okay.
OMG. I missed this at momdot – I saw your posts about afterwards but this is the first time I’m actually hearing about the accident. I am so so sorry this happened. I’ve been through a car accident as well and it takes a lot of healing, physically and emotionally and psychologically.
I’m going to go hug my kids.
So frightening, SO glad you are all OK.
wow I feel so sorry for you guys. I am glad everyone is ok
I have a teen and am convinced they are subhuman at times. They just don’t get it….. She was probably worried about getting in trouble.
So glad you and your kids are OK.
I can definitely understand that and probably would have felt the same way…but after learning she had just had a similar accident that was also her fault just 2 months before…I’m having a hard time feeling sympathy for her.
yes, If my kids were involved I would have been furious too and some kids really don’t care…. It never fails to amaze me. I think part of it is the age, but part of it also is just how a lot of kids are now days.