Nobody wants to get in a car accident. But it's a sad fact that many of us will. Some lessons I learned from being hit could help you.
The traffic was moving very slowly. Mine was the fourth or fifth car from the light and I wanted to clear the intersection before it changed. I checked my mirrors and looked over my left shoulder. I had to wait for a pick-up truck to pass by, but soon all was clear. I had to brake because the car ahead of me was hardly moving, so the lane change was taking a long time. I had nearly cleared the lane when a small black truck appeared in my review mirror. I was surprised at how quickly the image grew.

Then WHAM!!! I heard the crunch of metal hitting metal at a high speed, and felt my car spin. I pulled into a nearby parking lot and got out of my car. I checked on the other driver. He was groaning and rubbing his neck, but what seemed to be most distressing to him was seeing so much damage done to his truck so soon after getting it back from the shop. Even though it was only the end of March, this was his second accident that year.

He called the police on his cell phone, and I went back to my car to survey the damage. It didn’t look too bad. The brake light was broken and the hard plastic that had covered it was smashed, but the trunk lid right next to it was undamaged. It didn’t look like more than two thousand dollars worth of damage, but it was. I couldn’t see the bent frame. Despite extensive repairs, the car was never the same.

I was extremely grateful that I’d been changing lanes. If the truck had hit me flush across the rear of my car I would have collided with the car ahead of me, and would certainly have wound up in the hospital, or even the morgue. Immediately after the accident I felt fine. A few hours after the accident I felt a little twinge.

For the next few days I had to deal with police reports, insurance claims, repair estimates, and so forth. I felt a few twinges of pain now and then, but not much. I knew that my body had sustained a substantial trauma, so I tried to rest as much as possible, which turned out to be a good idea.

After all the physical and emotional turmoil I thought that a little music would be relaxing and therapeutic, so I went down to my Church and practiced the baby grand piano there. But after a few minutes I had an overwhelming feeling of weakness in my arms and shoulders. There was no pain at that point, just this terrible weakness. I couldn’t play anymore. About the same time I began experiencing muscle weakness I also started to hear a popping or cracking sound in my neck when I turned my head. My worst fear was that I had cracked one of the vertebrae in my neck. How I regretted not going to the doctor immediately after the accident!

Soon the muscle spasms, most painful symptoms I experienced, started. The muscles in my neck and shoulder would twist and writhe as if they were trying to pull away from each other. It was like a charley horse in my neck instead of the lower leg. The doctor diagnosed me with whiplash.

During an appointment with my doctor I told her nurse that I felt fine two days after the accident, and I was in agony two weeks afterwards. She wasn’t surprised. She’d seen it all before. Well it

1) Seek medical attention immediately! Even if you ‘feel fine’ your body may have sustained serious trauma and the symptoms may not appear right away. I felt greatly relieved after my doctor examined me, checked my x-rays, and told me that there was no skeletal damage. The cracking sounds were caused by swelling, but they were still scary. I even went to my dentist to make sure my bridgework was okay. He didn’t charge for the quick exam even though the other driver’s insurance company would have paid for it.

2) After seeking medical advice, listen to it. My doctor suggested physical therapy, but I was reluctant. When the pain increased I changed my mind. After the first therapy session I felt a lot more normal. The therapists taught me some exercises I could do on my own to treat myself. I also learned that the whiplash symptoms may recur from time to time throughout my life, and years later they still do. The simple exercises I learned in therapy help to ease the tension in my muscles. My reluctance to seek help was rooted in pride, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. If anyone ever composes a list of the Seven Most Stupid Sins, pride belongs on that one too.

3) Don’t rule out the possibility of seeking legal counsel. The insurance company of the driver who hit me paid for the car repair, a rental car while my car was in the shop, my medical expenses, and a little money (very little) for pain and suffering. They were also rather difficult to deal with at times, and they rushed me into signing a settlement agreement. I was beginning to experience the symptoms of whiplash when I signed the agreement, but the worst was yet to come. When the insurance adjuster I dealt with first suggested a settlement for pain and suffering I was surprised. I had only felt a few twinges of pain at that point, and didn’t expect anything worse. The more I hurt, the greedier I got, but it was too late. I had signed an agreement, and I was sticking to it. In defense of the insurance companies, there are plenty of people who relish the idea of getting a ton of money whether or not they deserve it. A lawyer will understand your rights and look out for your interests. I wish I had hired one.

4) Be prepared. Cell phones are much more affordable now, and have literally saved lives. But please, do NOT talk on them while you are driving!! I also carry an emergency bag in the trunk of my car with bottled water, towels, a blanket, flashlight and batteries, etc.

Driving carefully and defensively can certainly prevent accidents. But we can’t control what other drivers do or don’t do, nor can we control the weather or road conditions. The most we can do is exercise caution, and be prepared.

About the Author

Janice L. Smith has BA and MA degrees in Psychology. She was a popular substitute teacher before and after graduate school, and also worked as a Museum Educator. Her novel, Daddy's Little Secret is available at www.booksurge.com, and will soon be available at Amazon.com.