That Time I Wrecked My Van

 

 

Yeah, that was a sad day. It had been a good, (sort of) accident-free run. While this wasn't technically the first accident I'd been in, it really was the first one where I was driving and felt-like-I-should-have-been-in-full-control and was-ticketed one.

 

We had just gotten back in town the night before and I was going back and forth about whether I should go back to sleep after Tom woke up to take over kid duties or push myself and get to the gym. Tom encouraged me to go back to sleep, but my trying-not-to-be-chubby self won out and I headed out to a class that was an hour past the normal one I go to.

 

The details are kind of running together now, but my best explanation is this: I had just gotten off the freeway and turned left onto the main street which kind of goes down a hill. Just at the next intersection there was a little car that was completely stopped halfway between the median/intersection and the lane I was in (now thinking he had just made a really bad U-turn??). There were 2 (maybe 3?) cars in front of me; the first swerved not to hit him, the second slammed on her brakes. This all happened while I was in the middle of changing lanes (obviously before the intersection and not seeing any of this). I looked over my shoulder to check my blindspot and when I turned back....Ba-BAM! 

 

 

Sadness. I was completely shocked and my whole body just shook. Nobody was hurt, but I wasn't too sure about the extent of the car damage. It wasn't driveable; there was fluid from my radiator leaking all down the street and I couldn't open my driver door. Both the cop and tow guy said that it really is hard to tell how bad it is and if it's totaled until the shop gets under the hood.

 

 

That was pretty discouraging. I wasn't ready to give up this car. It's been great; never a problem, and seemed to have a ton of life left. I've never had to deal with the insurance side of it and wasn't sure how much they'd give us. About a week later we found out that all was relatively well. A little over $7,000 dollars with insurance covering all except the deductible, of course. I'm sure they'll very kindly help me make up for that $7,000 by raising my premium. Insurance is so thoughtful like that.

 

It's now been about a month and we're (fingers crossed) getting it back tomorrow. I'm still slightly traumatized and super nervous every time I look over my shoulder at my blind spot.

 



Moral of the Story: Don't go to the gym on Saturday mornings when you're husband encourages you to go back to sleep.