Hit and Run

I am one sore girl! Today, while running some errands for work, I was the unfortunate participant in a hit-and-run accident. My car was almost hit by a woman who ran through a stop sign. I remember noticing the huge smash on her front bumper and thinking "what a terrible driver." I had not even gone halfway down the block (and was driving very slowly behind a very slow semi trailer) when this same driver drove at full speed into the back of my car. She failed to hit me once, but apparently was no quitter, and got the job done on the second try.

I was slammed around pretty well, hit my head on the rear view mirror and lost my footing on the brake pedal, but I managed to not hit the truck in in front of me, or the car directly to my right. I pulled out of traffic, and the woman stopped next to me and said, "Your car is all right." (It wasn't -- the bumper had been smashed so hard that it melted onto my rear tire. At least one of the doors isn't closing properly.)

"That's great," I said, "but I need to get your insurance information."

And while I was looking down, pulling the paper work out of the glove box, and dialing Robb on the mobile phone, this woman took the opportunity to drive away. It all happened so fast that I did not take note of her licence plate, or even the exact make of her car. It never even occurred to me that she would leave the scene of the accident, and that I ought to have been on guard.

The police, who arrived more than a hour later, were singularly unimpressed. It seems this happens all the time around here. I feel like a bit of a chump, but at least I'm all right.

Once again, I got to see how wonderful the people in my life are. My co-worker Amanda left work (the accident was about two and a half blocks from work) and hung out with me the whole time. The shop isn't in the nicest part of town, so I really appreciated this.

Tonight, I went to the "minor injury clinic" which is a part of my health plan's emergency room. I am told that while I think I'm sore tonight, I'm going to be really hurting tomorrow. I was in the hospital for about two and a half hours, which isn't bad, all things considered. It seems fitting that while I was waiting to be seen, I reached the half-way point of the gift I'm making for Linda, Robb's former nurse case manager. Linda sat with us in so many hospital waiting rooms. It was almost weird not having her there.

Not to be a total whiner about this, but I want to say that I'm a bit tired of being the poster child for the importance of carrying plenty of insurance. I'm tired of experiencing the lesson of "you just never know what life is going to throw at you." Enough, already!

But on a cheerier driving note...

There was a cancellation, and Robb is now scheduled for a behind the wheel driving evaluation and training session on Friday.