Showing posts with label car accident. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car accident. Show all posts

Friday, May 28, 2010

Car Accident

Without going into gory details, I was involved in a car accident a few weeks ago. No one was seriously hurt, although our van is a dead duck. As for me, my chest and back were very sore, and I was moving as slowly as a centenarian. Albeit a cute centurian with highlights. That said, I'm back to my normal spry, cheerful self.

However, the car accident made me Stop And Evaluate Life. I'm always on the lookout for Life Lessons (just ask my children), and I came away from this experience with a few. Here they are, in order of least to most important.

1. People with really bad eyesight (like myself) should always own a decent pair of back-up glasses.

Apparently, my purse was unzipped, and, at the moment of impact, my glasses flew out and buried themselves on the floor of the van amongst all kinds of debris such as a large diet coke with extra ice, two tacos, a notebook with book ideas, kleenex, a deck of cards about space trivia and a million pens. I didn't notice, which meant I spent the evening in the ER wearing large, blingy perscription sunglasses. To the nurse who asked me my profession, I was kidding when I answered, "Jazz Musician."

2. I am a horrible patient.

Quite possibly, Mr. Summy could have attested to this several times over during our twenty-three years of marriage. He has, however, wisely kept quiet on this front. Even that night in the ER, when I kept repeating, "I can't believe what a horrible patient I am. I'm hating every single second of being here. Who knew I'd be so grumpy and furious?" he merely blinked and smiled and kept his counsel.

3. I hate hospitals.

The whole time I was there, I just wanted to walk out. I did not like answering personal questions. I especially did not like answering personal questions in a crowded hallway. I did not like waiting three hours for an x-ray. I lay, staring at the ceiling, and seethed. And seethed. And seethed. Until I ran out of seething energy and decided that I needed a concrete plan for avoiding hospital stays. So, it's back to the gym on a VERY regular basis. And back to more healthy eating. And back to a simpler lifestyle where I'm not racing around like a chicken with her hairlighted head chopped off and where I learn to say "N.O. spells NO." I have much control over the first two issues, but less over the third. Still, I'm determined to slow down.

And look at this! I've already got two new pair of glasses!

And a new car! This salesguy, Michael Hooper at Ball Kia in National City, is so the best! For those who are interested, it's a Kia Sorento.


Drive safely.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

More car business, misc

First off, thank you for all your advice. I totally took it to heart and did not so much as pick up the phone to dial 22 Year Old Girl Who Drives Through Red Lights And Then Denies It.

Oh, and to answer a question: No, she did not get a citation.

Today, we got the repair estimate for DH's car. Are you sitting down?

SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND CHANGE!

For a car worth $3,000.00. So, uh, goodbye car.

As per our insurance company's suggestion, DH will file in Small Claims Court tomorrow. Apparently, whoever files first looks better. And, anyway, we're in the right.

Why are we stuck doing all the legwork? Because we only had liability on DH's car. The 22 year old only had liability on her car. So, the insurance companies can't be bothered getting too involved.

Anyway, at Small Claims Court, if the judge rules in our favor, her insurance company will total out the car and give us some money. Conversely, if the judge is ridiculously crazy and rules in her favor, our insurance company will pay for her repairs. And her injuries. Something to do with her chest and her seat belt.

DH put up a sign where the collision took place, asking for witnesses. We also put it out on Craig's List. And, certainly, San Diego Momma, you can twitter about it. (Thursday, Dec. 11 @ 9:00 pm, eastbound Friars, by the onramp to 163 North)

On a much happier note, Child #4 and I went shopping for supplies for my big exciting (nerve-racking) book launch party/signing at The Yellow Book Road on Saturday. Yikes! We're both getting teal streaks (to match the book cover) Saturday morning. Worrieth not, they'll just be clip-on streaks! But they will be cute!


A huge shout-out to Gina Black for posting the incredibly adorable picture of her with I So Don't Do Mysteries.

And I'm over here, on Cynthia Leistich-Smith's Cynsations, posting about what I've learned this past year as a debut author.

You know what, though? It's high time you guys met my real-life critique partners. So, that's what's coming next! You'll love them!

For now, I'm signing off to go finish Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwall. There's something about a decent serial-killer read during this festive holiday season!

One or thirty last evilly addictive fruit-flavored Tootsie rolls and I'm outta here!

Monday, December 15, 2008

No One Got Hurt


DH and Child #3 were in a car accident last Thursday, December 11 around 9:00 PM.

DH had a green arrow to turn left onto the on-ramp for Highway 163 North from Friars Road. A green Kia Rio, traveling west on Friars Road, ran a red light and plowed into DH's car. No witnesses stopped.

DH checked to make sure Child #3 was fine, then hopped out of his car to make sure everyone in the Kia were okay. The 22-year-old female driver and her, roughly, 16-year-old female passenger (a younger sister?) were fine.

The driver (whose name I'm having a very hard time not typing) stayed in her car, on her cell phone, while they all waited for the police.

Then she told the officer that DH's car had hit hers!

DH's car was undrivable and was towed. She and her sister (?) drove away in her barely-dented car.

The next day, she told her insurance company that she was suffering from bodily damage!

The police officer who came to the scene believes she was lying. Her insurance company believes she was lying. Our insurance company believes she was lying.

But, she'll probably get away with it.

We only had liability on DH's (old) car. Which means we're going to be stuck with a bill to either repair his car or buy a new one.

And a lying 22 year-old-female named X who lives at X with phone number X is getting off scott-free.

I am so annoyed.

I have all the X information. Plus, I think I found her on myspace.

Your thoughts?