Auto Accident yesterday
 

Yesterday I was in an auto accident - some teens ran a red light and t-boned my passenger side front wheel. Luckily since it was a side impact and I drive a 2001 vehicle, the air bag DID NOT deploy! I smacked my chest on the steering wheel - miraculously I am only sore, but I am now VERY AWARE of my solar plexus. :( The paramedics checked me out, no obvious bone issues. Just a cut above my left colarbone where the seat belt got me. And just 4 days ago I bought a seatbelt adjuster so it would not bother me while driving. :D

Their car's front end is mush - thank God, nobody hurt.

Waahhh! :hissyfit: My car was flawless! It fit me so well!! sniffle-snort. I still maintain that Nissans handle wrecks great - excellent crumple zones. If I'd had a passenger they wouldn't have a scratch!

I just left the Allstate appraiser, he thinks it's savlageable... but since it took such a hard impact on the main 'cage' primary structure, it has de-valued the car substantially. I paid $10K used, repairs est. at $4K, and I get a second check for the amount that the car is devalued!

Now I feel like that Toyota Tundra commercial:

"little Timmy is left to fend for himself"
"Now I have to drive Grandma's car to the Prom."

Guess I need to order some cool new window stickers. :rolleyes:

Ohh...:( I hope you don't get more pain in the next few days:(
:grouphug:
darn those punks anyway!!!

I am sorry this happened. I am glad no serious injuries were incurred. However, if I were you, I would still go to the ER and get examined. I did this after my accident b/c the police officer said with my health issues, although I don't feel hurt, if I happen to feel more hurt in a few days at least on record there will be the exam for "auto-accident".

I didn't have any further pain, however the insurance co. at fault issued me a check for $1,000.00 for just getting checked out. They also paid the ER bill.

When asked why, they said it was much easier to pay ones for making sure they weren't hurt with in a week, than have to fight claims that come down the line in 6 months or more. Very smart. I didn't switch insurance companies even though I thought that was a good idea, I am just glad they compensated me for doing what the police officer suggested I do.

Glad you are o.k.

Missy

So Sorry Astern.... Thank God your o.k.......:hug:

ahhhh
 

oh my GOD!!! My thoughts and prayers are with you Astern!!!!

love and hugs,
Victoria

2 days later
 

the bruises are starting to pop up. A friend pointed out to me that I braced myself with my thumbs around the steering wheel. It's bruised between each thumb/1st finger and on my palms and explains my arms feeling like I pulled muscles. Bruises on each hip, each shin, each ankle (top) and a spot on the top of each foot. Also where the strap was at my colarbone and across my chest (sternum and rt pec) and under my rt arm a bit. All minor bruises.

But what concerns me some is it hurts to cough. Really hurts, like muscle and lung (not rib pain). I have a minor amount of congestion in my lungs... I think I'll try to get a walkin this week with my Dr. (at Grady you have to make an appontment for a walk-in, which usually isn't the same day, then when you get there, it's 1st come 1st served.)

My head is much clearer today - guess the shock has worn off and I'm better able to identify what hurts and why.

Thanks for the lovin' friends!
:grouphug:

Oh man- you are lucky but I am so sorry you got hurt at all!!! :( I hope you have extra helpers around you so that you can heal up soon :grouphug: So glad it wasn't worse!!

day 3
 

i think I have a broken bone in my left hand. It bothered me all night. Forgot about it until just now... it STUNG me for no reason. I remembered last night. I also remembered breaking it in the same place at age 11 from an impact injury (ice skating).

Funny how I'm so conditioned to hurting all the %^&$# time that I didn't notice the hand before. My neck hurts too.

Crap.:Doh: Going to the Dr/ER either tonight or tomorrow.

Hi astern,

Sorry to hear about your accident. I used to work for a motor insurance company dealing with personal injury claims (before TOS forced me out of the office!). If there was one piece of advice that i would offer anyone with visible injuries is that you must, must, must pictures before the bruises fade!

Im sure that evidence of injuries is as important in the US as it is in the UK (i live in UK) when your making a claim.

Take care

Thanks Tracey, it's true. But in this case I'd be sueing my own Insurance Co. Since both drivers claim to have had the green light the police said that each ins. co. would handle their own claim.

No wonder I didn't realize the hand was hurt, it's in between the 4th and 5th digits. The dead zone! Duh!! Guess it took my brain a few days to figure out how to tell me there was a problem there.

Ah i see!. here in the UK when it was unlikely that liability could be placed soley with one party due to lack of evidence we used to go down the route of each insurer settling their own claims. However, these days that settlement route is rarely used and a 50/50 liability settlement is more standard and especially in the case of a personal injury - if the liability cannot be proved then why should the injured party not receive some level of compensation.

sounds like the system works a bit differently in the US though, so my advice is redundant!.

Hope your injuries rectify themselves soon.

hi astren
 

hope u are feeling better today and your injuries are settling down.
I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers my dear!@!!:hug::hug:

love and hugs,
Victoria

I know how you feel, I went to Fla for 10 days after having my car I had a week and made dh promise no one would drive it while I was gone, got back, found out he let my 20 y/o son drive it, and a woman t boned him, and it worries me that I paid 3,500 for it and it books for 2,000 and I don't wan;t it totaled, because its still i good shape except for some dings here and there.
Good thing I got full coverage. there were 7 people in a 5 person sedan yet she was not cited...beats me! Hope you feel ok.

Astern
 

My #1 fear, car hitting me.

You ok?
Yep, it takes a couple of days to feel the extent of injuries.
Let us know.
Howz the fingers, hand?
Your chest?

I so remember when a big *** truck pulled in front of me on Valentines Day 2005.
So I drive & passenger with a cervical pillow & pillows underneath on my worst side.
I literally drive with 1 hand since my right cannot reach without muscle and nerve pull.
When I'm passenger side I put a pillow underneath my seat belt at the BP area to protect just incase. I look like a damaged accident driver being a passenger for protection.
Cyndy

I know exactly what you mean Cindy!. I also worry a lot about being hit by another car as think it would completely mess me up - i once lifted a box of heavy books when doing a bootsale (when my symptoms first started & before i knew better!) and i was in soooo much pain for 3-4 months after that. I have since learned that lifting heavy=pain and suffering, so dont do it!

I am in the shape I am in since I was rear ended by a passenger van in 99 so be careful.

Mine too. my life flashed before me - after I realized I was breathing.

Had c-spine x-rays and left hand today. Have a Dr appt on 8/1.

And I FINALLY got my referral to Emory's Pain Mgmt. Clinic! I pick it up tomorrow. This, along with a forthcoming letter from Dr. Annest and I'm just about all set.
:Excited:

long before tos
 

I hit black ice before the devil TOS and only one word came out of my mouth for about 10 mins after and then the tears started....word is......#$%&....you get it!!

I did a few 360's and then hit a tree with my trunk car had damage but luckily somebody was watching me on Christmas eve!!!!

love to you Astern pls feel better soon;)

hugs,
Victoria:hug:

Astern and those with recent car incidents, take extra rest and care. Bruises can be deep and take a little time to show. I am glad you had a check up and a series of x rays Astern. Hope all is fine for you and insurance settles promptly and properly. Sadly I always feel that no matter what insurance you pay , the insurers always try to wiggle out of paying up fully or at all. Sorry I am being cynical.

Take care .
Hx:grouphug:

prayers of healing
 

Hi Astern,

sending you warm thoughts and prayers to help speed your healing and let you know you are in my thoughts!!!!:grouphug:

love and hugs,
Victoria

OH Anne I hate hearing this. After everything you went through why can;t kids just be a bit more attentive and not travel with friends? I would get checked out anyway. I can;t understand why the police did not interview witnesses and also take pictures to assign primary driver blame. It is not that difficult when you look at damage. Always keep a camera in the car or cell phone with camera for this reason. It is a lazy cop that does not assign primary driver guilt!
Watch the cough, you do not want to be getting fluid in the lungs. didn't you have the bad reaction with that?
The brachial nerve is right across the collar bone too, it may be sending whacky pain signals out to thumb area. But I would get an xray to be sure.
One thing I found is valium as a muscle relaxant. helps with the painful receptors too.
Gee, maybe you need a pillow suit to wear when driving!
Feel better soon,
di

Oh Di, you are so funny!!
http://www.cathicole.com/amk/pillowsuit.jpg
OK, I'm ready to drive now! :Noooo:

I am the one that had the pleural effusion (fluid not IN the lung but in the pleural space). Still have some deep congestion, but it no longer hurts to cough. And what you say about the brachial nerve must explain why my rt thumb is going whacky... twitches constantly.

Got a rental vehicle yesterday... a Nissan Titan V8 King Kab p/u. So if the pillow suit doesn't work the "rent-a-tank" should protect me.
:p

Allstate just called, my car is TOTALED. Damn.

LOL, Ann I love the suit! What fun. I am sorry to hear about your car though. It will be difficult to replace for what they give you I bet. Perhaps though it will work out to your advantage if you find something super!
That would make the thumb twitch. There is a spot between the collar bone adn the arm pit, if you touch it is it sore, More sorer? Try some ice on it if you tolerate it a bag of peas or blue ice bag. ALso 4 Advil if you do not have Toradol should calm that nerve branch.

I hope you feel better soon.
:hug: di

Anne- i'm so sorry to hear about hte car wreck. thats the last thing anyone needs. I was involved in an accident in Feb, and the only rental that was available (this was right after the tornadoes came through) was a brand new Toyota Tundra 4-door. It literally had 300 miles on it AND the drive-out tags. Rent-a-tank indeed!!

Anywho... i hope you feel better, and that those nerves calm down.

Replacement car!
 

http://www.21centuryart.com/ams/acura.jpg

Ultra-clean, pearl white/tan leather, sunroof, heated seats, power everything, bose sound system... oh man, it's the nicest car I've ever had - and TOS-friendly! Light doors, e-z steer, comfey power buckets, memory seats.

Another super buy from CarMax at $13,599!

Sweet Wheels! ;)