Last night I was driving Anthony to swim lessons at the rec center, waiting to turn left into the parking lot when suddenly...WHAM! A young guy rear-ended me. Anthony was in the back seat, right behind me. We both had our seatbelts on. I hit my head pretty hard against the headrest and I was shaken up a little bit, but other than that we were both okay. What really sucks is I was driving our 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid that we just got in December. We still had the temporary tags on it. The guy was driving a POS 1990 Honda Civic, which is now even more of a POS. Luckily, he had insurance and he admitted it was his fault. Actually, we were really lucky he wasn't going much faster. He would have done some major damage.
The street I was on has a BIG speed bump, because there is a bridge you have to go over right before the parking lot of the rec center. The recommended speed limit is 10 mph. If you go any faster, you will fly over that bump. I think the guy that hit me was travelling between 15 and 20 mph. So when he hit me, he came at a downward angle because he was going too fast over the speed bump. I had been stopped completely for 4 or 5 seconds, with my left turn signal on, waiting for oncoming traffic to pass so I could turn left, before he hit me. He clearly wasn't paying attention.
I called 911 and within a couple of minutes I was surrounded by 5 firemen (Lucky me! I just love men in uniform!) They did their tests on me and recommened I go to the hospital. I didn't go because I really thought I was okay. I probably should have, but I knew I could drive home. I also didn't want to leave Anthony. He still wanted to go to swim lessons, which he did. That is the mind of a seven-year old.
I know the guy who hit me really felt bad. We both wanted to make sure each other was okay, so we were cordial to each other. I know he didn't do it on purpose. That is why they are called accidents I suppose. I don't envy him at all. His insurance rates are going to sky-rocket. There was quite a bit of damage to our car. The entire trunk will have to be replaced because the force just made it crumple. The tailpipe was pushed forward and bent. We'll see what other damage was done when we take it in. Of course, his insurance will have to pay for a rental car for us while it is being fixed as well. His car probably will be totaled. He leaked radiator fluid all over the street, all his front lights were smashed and his hood was crumpled in. I don't think his car was worth that much to begin with.
Anyway, during the night I started to get sharp pains in my neck. These pains were different from my "normal" everyday pains. I knew I needed to go get checked out. The last thing I need is something else wrong with me. Jason took me to the emergency room this morning. I had an x-ray done and everything looked fine. So, it is not a skeletal injury, rather a muscular injury. I pretty much got whiplash and strained my neck. I bruised my lower back and chest most likely from the seatbelt. And I strained my wrist because I have to grip the streeing wheel so hard when I drive, so it jarred at impact. I'm sure I'll be sore for the next couple of days.
It is crazy at how so much damage can be done at such a relatively low speed. This goes to show how important it is to pay attention to the road when driving. There are too many distractions. Don't let them get to you when the car is in motion.
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