Counting our blessings... yesterday we got very lucky.

[brewmaster15]

Yesterday was one of those days you realize how lucky you really are. My daughter was having her 16th birthday party that night at the house. Her friends were due over at 6. My wife ran out for some supplies at the party store about 3 pm . Shortly after she called me to say she was okay but there was a bad accident. Dropped everything and got there. No one hurt which is amazing but Carrie was banged up a bit and sore.

4 car accident. One car, a black suv shot across 4 lanes of traffic from a parkinglot. A white car on the main road couldnt stop...she hit the black suv hard.. the collision sent the black suv rolling over and into my wifes blue Nissan Sentra while she was at a stop sign. It landed on her hood and rolled off. The force pushed her back into the car behind her. Had the suv rolled one more time..it would have crushed Carrie I am sure. The Suv was at fault but 3 of the 4 cars were pretty much trashed. ...our Nissan is probably totalled..

Once we took care of the police stuff I took Carrie to the walk in er to get checked out. The adrenaline wore off and she was pretty shaken up and a bit sore but ok.


Took her home and yes we still had my daughters birthday party.


Ive been thinking about this all night...just how lucky we are. It sucks that our car, our best and most reliable vehical is a wreck and no clue how we will replace it and what will happen. But that doesnt Matter ...Carrie is okay and thats all that matters. What a fluke though to be at a stop sign and have a suv come rolling over you like one of those action movies. Shook her up quite a bit as she saw it coming but could not do a thing.

109668

109669

109670


Al

[two utes]

OH Al! So sorry to hear about this unfortunate accident, but very happy to hear that Carrie was not hurt. Things could have been much worse. I'm a big believer in counting our blessings.

[Jenene]

Oh Al...that is so awful. I am so grateful that Carrie is okay. Please give her a hug for me. It will probably haunt her for a long time...reliving the sights and sounds in her head. Someone was looking out for her in a big way.

Kyle and my husband were in a bad one 2 years ago. Not sure if we talked about this at your house- They were driving to a track meet and a kid came up behind them at like 75 mph. My husband saw him and moved over to the right shoulder but the kid must have been texting when he looked up he over corrected and caught their bumper and spun them off the road. They went off the expressway at 60 mph down a hill over a long field, over a snow fence and came to a halt so far off the road the police could not find them. The car was totaled and luckily everyone was okay but very shaken. He still thinks about that day and how fast things can happen that are out of your control.

Please send her that hug and tell Becky happy birthday from me... She is such an amazing young woman. I am glad you guys were able to pull off the party for her. That is one she will be especially grateful for- to have her family together after that frightening day.

[Second Hand Pat]

Oh boy Al, so glad Carrie is ok. This could have ended so badly. Give that lady a huge hug. This shows how precious life is. Maybe insurance can help with the Nissan.

Please wish Becky a Happy Birthday. Sweet 16 is a big deal. I'm sure it meant a lot that you continued with the birthday plans and hope all had a good time.
Pat

[Keith Perkins]

First thoughts, thank God neither Carrie nor anyone else was hurt...what a tale. Followed by did Al grab his camera on the way out the door?

[Clawhammer]

Al, I am glad to hear Carrie is not seriously injured, but am really sorry to hear that you guys had to deal with the financial and emotional fallout of this traumatic incident.

Tell Carrie Happy Mother's day from us all, I am sure it will be extra special after the reminder from the universe that life is fragile.

[brewmaster15]

Thanks everyone... surreal to be sure but making the best of things and trying to enjoy Mothersday.

Al

Keith..nope camera wasnt with me...just phone.

[Discus-n00b]

Sorry to hear this! That's scary. Really glad she is ok! The only accident I've been in, years and years ago, was being stopped at a light and having two cars collide head on in front of us and then coming straight for us kind of like this situation. It only takes a fraction of a second. Might be good you had your daughter's party, gave you something good on a day that could of gone 100% sour. Hope it all works out quickly with insurance and what not!

[Jenene]

Al is that a brick wall caught in the bumper of the black sandwiched vehicle? That is just awful....

[Keith Perkins]

Thanks everyone... surreal to be sure but making the best of things and trying to enjoy Mothersday.

Al

Keith..nope camera wasnt with me...just phone.

Phew

[LizStreithorst]

Your life could have changed forever in the blink of an eye but it didn't. It would have left me unsettled in my mind, for sure. I'm sorry you are stuck for a car, but happy that you still have your wife.

[brewmaster15]

Your life could have changed forever in the blink of an eye but it didn't. It would have left me unsettled in my mind, for sure. I'm sorry you are stuck for a car, but happy that you still have your wife.

Thanks Liz. It is a real bummer on the car....it was our good vehical... of course not paid off yet, but witha book value matching the debt. It will be a wash at best , and we will be out a vehical. Have to see what the adjusters say. Carrie is really upset, as it was her set of wheels and she really liked the car. She keeps second guessing herself as if she could have done something and I keep telling here She was at a stop sign not moving.. what could she have possibly done. It happened of no fault of hers..

Aside from a bruised shoulder from the seatbelt and a stiff neck she is doing better ...Thanks for the well wishes everyone.


al

[brewmaster15]

Al is that a brick wall caught in the bumper of the black sandwiched vehicle? That is just awful....

Jenene, thats blocking they put under the car so it would not roll while they removed the white car..

al

[Akili]

Sorry to hear about the accident and happy to hear that Carrie was not hurt.

[farebox]

Don't know what to say, "Somebody above had your back". Good no serious injuries, should have wife checked out for internal injuries, maybe some problems down the road may occur? My wife was hit by an city bus while sitting at an spot light. She wasn't hurt, car was totaled, but now wish she had seek medical attention. The transit company settled but we could of gotten more if she went to the hospital to be checked out per our lawyer. God bless Al and family.

[Poppa Ryno]

Im just glad all is well for your family. Shaken but not stirred is the best outcome in that horrific event. Hopefully insurance will sort you guys out for a car. Best of wishes to your family & you.

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Guys.. Carrie is doing ok now.... she is feeling the soreness more acutely but ok.


The car is on the other hand not. It total loss. Net repairs of $10, 483.00 far exceed it worth.

Really bummed. It was a good car, and we would have kept it for years to come I am sure. It was perfect for my daughter to drive. All those payments and zip to show for it.:(

al

[Ryan925]

Such a bummer but very fortunate. I see some pretty wild accidents on a daily basis. Unfortunately while you do all the right things as a driver there are so many out there that you can't control. Glad to hear she is ok

[RogueDiscus]

Glad everyone is OK Al. Bummer about the car. Insurance never pays what the car was really worth to you, or its replacement cost.

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Guys.. Carrie is doing ok now.... she is feeling the soreness more acutely but ok.


The car is on the other hand not. It total loss. Net repairs of $10, 483.00 far exceed it worth.

Really bummed. It was a good car, and we would have kept it for years to come I am sure. It was perfect for my daughter to drive. All those payments and zip to show for it.:(

al

Good to hear that Carrie is fine Al. Do you get nothing on the car? At least it's current value?
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Pat the way it works i guess is they appraise its value before the accident and pay off the loan first and then i get the difference between the value and loan amount....or if its value is less...i may have to pay the difference on the loan. Im waiting for the loan people to get us the buyout.. i just went to clean it out of of our personal stuff and get the plates .

[Jenene]

Thanks Guys.. Carrie is doing ok now.... she is feeling the soreness more acutely but ok.


The car is on the other hand not. It total loss. Net repairs of $10, 483.00 far exceed it worth.

Really bummed. It was a good car, and we would have kept it for years to come I am sure. It was perfect for my daughter to drive. All those payments and zip to show for it.:(

al

So sorry to hear that Al. That is the very unfair part about the insurance system. That has happened to us twice now. The last time being the one Kyle was in. The car was great, had years left on it and was paid for. Not only do you lose a great car for your kids but you have to start payments again. It really hits the household income hard. The worst part is you are just doing what you are supposed to be doing and some idiot just changes your lives and walks away. Even years later we look back on it and shake our heads as we have to figure out the logistical nightmare of sharing cars when the kids are home from school. I really wish there was something in place to better protect the innocent drivers in these accidents.

[Debow]

Al that's crazy! So happy everyone is ok.

[LizStreithorst]

I live in fear of something happening to Charlotte. She's an '89 S-10 but she is almost pristine. But since she is old she is considered to have no value, despite a newly rebuilt engine.

Al, if you don't mind a small car, look into a used Fiat 500. They are not expensive and seem to have more room on the inside than it looks like they could. They are amazingly reliable, despite being Italian. It's the car that the Pope rides around in. They are a bit under-powered with an automatic so look for a standard unless you don't like shifting for yourself ;)

[zimmjeff]

thank god everyone is ok.

[brewmaster15]

We closed the chapter on this one today...RIP sentra... you were a good car... did what you were supposed to do...especially when it really counted.

Last pic...took this just before they hauled it away for salvage ...109857

Thanks again everyone.

Al

[brewmaster15]

And so the Saga Goes on,,,:( what went from no major issues except being sore has over the last few weeks turned into my wife seeing several specialist for her knee. After the accident I had taken her in to the walk in Er and gotten her checked out. Her knee had been sore. They diagnosed it as probably sprained.. Last week it started hurting her, and got progressively worse and she started having trouble walking on it. Stairs are especially bad. She went to the orthopedic Dr and they diagnosed her as having some kind of fluid build up. , it had a name I am totally not remembering as I am typing this:confused:. Apparently because her leg was extended on pedal during the crash, it took the brunt of the impact. So now she needs to have the fluid removed and 7 weeks of physical therapy. Sigh... couldn't be a worse time for her, as a teacher. end of the school year is hell without this.

al

[Discus-n00b]

Very sorry to hear that Al, never like to see anyone go through all of this especially on the injury front. I hope with some time everything heals and starts getting back to normal. Wishing y'all the best!