I got into a nasty wreck going home from work last thursday. Some ignorant woman drove around the "road closed" signs onto the westbound lane going east. I was right there to put an end to that nonsense.
It was a head-on collision, at least I wasn't going too fast: probably only about 30-35 mph by each car. I did break the facets of several neck vertebrae, but I am only in a neck brace. I think several ribs are at least cracked, and I have a beautiful purple eye. The neurosurgeon says I should be back in action in 6-8 weeks.
I don't think he expected me back to work on Monday, but I promise I won't do much but point, print, or type.
I have several points to make here:
1. MAKE SURE your seatbelt is ALWAYS on. I think mine was, but I don't really remember. The air bag knocked the stuffings out of me. My knees never hit the dash, and I usually put it on, but I really don't know if I did or not. I know my guys usually don't put on the belts when they are driving my trucks, despite my comments. You can bet that will get improved on when I get back to work.
2. Try to run your life so that your obligations can be filled if you get knocked out of work for a while. I had just changed my shop keys, and nobody coming the next day had a working key. It was a HUGE inconvenience to my wife to skip her work taking keys to a different job. If I was not able to make calls that morning to my men to clarify what would happen that day, it would have put about 10 men out of work. Fortunately, I will be going to work tomorrow.
3. MAKE SURE you have good un-insured motorist coverage. Naturally, the dumb btch that hit me was not insured. My lawyer informs me that my coverage is pretty good, and that I am covered for my medical and liability losses. If you don't have it, buy some NOW!
4. NEVER assume that the other drivers are bright enough to stay on their side of the road. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you will see them coming, either. Try to drive so that they can't hit you if they try.
In my case, NOTHING could have prevented the wreck, except to simply not be there at that moment. I was recovering from the slam the airbag gave me before I even knew the wreck was going to happen. All I remember is the flash of one headlight and being crunched backwards by the airbag.
5. Learn how to use the video recorders in your phone. I WISH I had recorded the woman stating (in the ambulance) that she was going east in the westbound lane. She certainly didn't tell the police that.
6. Always travel with some rain gear and other emergency stuff. My umbrella was gone, and it really sucks chasing around in a rainstorm after you have been hurt. The police didn't even want to let me in their car to take my statement, for fear that I would bleed on everything.
7. Life is short, so make sure you have a little fun each day. It makes hard times easier to accept when they come along.
It was a head-on collision, at least I wasn't going too fast: probably only about 30-35 mph by each car. I did break the facets of several neck vertebrae, but I am only in a neck brace. I think several ribs are at least cracked, and I have a beautiful purple eye. The neurosurgeon says I should be back in action in 6-8 weeks.
I don't think he expected me back to work on Monday, but I promise I won't do much but point, print, or type.
I have several points to make here:
1. MAKE SURE your seatbelt is ALWAYS on. I think mine was, but I don't really remember. The air bag knocked the stuffings out of me. My knees never hit the dash, and I usually put it on, but I really don't know if I did or not. I know my guys usually don't put on the belts when they are driving my trucks, despite my comments. You can bet that will get improved on when I get back to work.
2. Try to run your life so that your obligations can be filled if you get knocked out of work for a while. I had just changed my shop keys, and nobody coming the next day had a working key. It was a HUGE inconvenience to my wife to skip her work taking keys to a different job. If I was not able to make calls that morning to my men to clarify what would happen that day, it would have put about 10 men out of work. Fortunately, I will be going to work tomorrow.
3. MAKE SURE you have good un-insured motorist coverage. Naturally, the dumb btch that hit me was not insured. My lawyer informs me that my coverage is pretty good, and that I am covered for my medical and liability losses. If you don't have it, buy some NOW!
4. NEVER assume that the other drivers are bright enough to stay on their side of the road. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you will see them coming, either. Try to drive so that they can't hit you if they try.
In my case, NOTHING could have prevented the wreck, except to simply not be there at that moment. I was recovering from the slam the airbag gave me before I even knew the wreck was going to happen. All I remember is the flash of one headlight and being crunched backwards by the airbag.
5. Learn how to use the video recorders in your phone. I WISH I had recorded the woman stating (in the ambulance) that she was going east in the westbound lane. She certainly didn't tell the police that.
6. Always travel with some rain gear and other emergency stuff. My umbrella was gone, and it really sucks chasing around in a rainstorm after you have been hurt. The police didn't even want to let me in their car to take my statement, for fear that I would bleed on everything.
7. Life is short, so make sure you have a little fun each day. It makes hard times easier to accept when they come along.