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May 27, 2005
Wow! My First (and Hopefully Only) Car Accident!
I know you're freaking out, so let's start with this: EVERYONE IS OKAY!!!
I actually think I just had the best car accident experience ever.
I was on my way out of work when a car turned from a side street directly in front of me, like right into my car. I pulled over and jumped out (putting on my hazard lights) and walked up to her car. She jumped out and we said simultaneously, "Are you okay?"
We were both totally okay... I have a bruise on my shin from where my leg hit the car when I slammed on the brakes, but that's all. Then she gave me a big hug and said, "We're all okay, that's all that matters!"
Yes, my first moment after my big car accident involved the person who hit my car giving me a big hug. I told you this was a bizarrely positive car accident experience.
We proceeded to exchange insurance info, and it looks like her insurance will pay, as she was turning from a side street. A man appeared to ask us if we had anyone in particular we used for autobody work, and as I've never been in a car accident before, of course I do not. As it turns out, I had my first car accident ever right in front of an autobody shop. So he was very helpful, as he is hoping to get my business, and he explained how we need to call the insurance companies and get a claim number and such. We exchanged tons of information, and the autobody guy said he'd never seen such nice people get into a car accident. Usually, it appears, people yell and scream at each other.
I wasn't hurt, but was a touch shaken up, so I went on home and stopped by my mom's house... mom's are so good when one is a touch shaken up.
Ate dinner at her house, aka the Carb Castle: 3 slices of seven grain bread (I know MR is horrified at the notion of me eating bread no matter how many grains are involved... it doesn't happen often!) with roasted red pepper hummus, three small (one Weight Watcher point each -- my mom is a hardcore WW) frozen (well, thawed and baked and then fished out of the fridge) crab cakes with Trader Joes' seafood cocktail sauce, and two glasses of wine. More than I had planned to have for dinner and not my greatest CR friendly meal, but when I stopped to think of what most people would have eaten for dinner after having a car accident, I didn't feel too bad. The rest of the day had been light: usual breakfast, kale salad with yogurt for lunch.
You're probably expecting to read some long rant about how getting in a car accident, however minor, really made me think about my mortality and either a) give more money to the Mprize b) decide to give up CR and "live for today" or something stupid like that.
Sorry. The first thing I thought was, "Glad my car insurance is up to date." The second thing I thought was "Glad I'm not in the slightest bit hurt cause MR and my mom would be really upset." I drive so much that I've always considered it a little odd that I'd never had an accident. Sure, I'm an extraordinarily careful and non-agressive driver, but still, one can't control things like people driving right into your car. I have often thought that with as much as I drive, I am statistically dead already. So I try to minimize my risk in other areas of life... for instance, I don't ski. Now all you skiers out there will say that skiing is not dangerous, but I know lots of people who've gotten pretty twisted up in ski accidents, and I also don't understand why people pay money to be cold and wet on a mountain. Haven't humans evolved things like shelter and electric heat to avoid just such situations?
Anyway, I'm fine, so don't worry. To quote the woman who hit my car,
"We're all okay, that's all that matters."
Posted by april at May 27, 2005 3:50 AM
Comments
April, sure glad you're okay. What an unusual way to make new friends! You set a great example, hugging someone who just ran into you. Do you think that will ever make the insurance company's list of things to do after a car accident?
Thanks to Tall MR for the advice on medical care. Good reasons for getting lab tests and even carrying a copy of recent test results for reference in diagnostic situations.
April or MR, could you post references or links to the CR articles that you recommend for showing to doctors? Presumably they would help educate anyone who is not familiar with CR.
Thanks to both of you for all the effort to inform people about CR. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Howard at May 27, 2005 5:45 AM
April,
Your genuinely positive attitude is such a lift first thing in the morning. I went way off the CR band wagon last night at the most fabulous wine and cheese tasting, I calculate 2200 cals for the day ! Aack! Oh well, at least it was all quality stuff, and I had planned to go "off program" some. Thanks to you, I have some egg whites and salsa for breakfast and some cottage cheese to pair with a salad for lunch.
Have a terrific weekend full of more great karma.
Laura Leigh
Posted by: Laura at May 27, 2005 7:07 AM
Wow! I don't think I've heard of that in a car accident before! That's super!
You're right; most people usually just scream and holler at each other, and even try to file lawsuits!
Posted by: Keith W. Allison at May 27, 2005 9:17 AM
one accident has got to be the quota (plus a few bonus points) for a cr's lifetime. dont ya think. so you're finished. and the best part is, i think you likely saved that womans life by participating in her lesson to get more embodied while driving a car. 2 glasses of wine with a bit of bread ain't nuttin' to fret over.
Posted by: fruitgirl at May 27, 2005 11:13 AM
I'm glad you alright april. Them intintial first seconds must of been scary. However hard we try to stay safe, something could always happen but sometimes we can minimize the damage.
One of my neighbours actually had a car crash about 10 years ago and thats where they met and shortly after, got married!
Stay safe ;)
Posted by: Matt at May 27, 2005 5:23 PM