Monday, December 6, 2010

The Uninsured

On my way to a gig Friday night, me and my little Beetle got pretty beat up on the highway.  A car plowed into the back of me and as the airbag was exploding in my face, I hit a big truck in front of me.  My little beetle is most likely totaled, as she took a pretty hard beating from both the back and the front.  I don't yet have the photos of my car, but I do have a photo of the car that caused the whole problem in the first place. 
The driver of this stupid car doesn't have insurance!
It all happened on a congested highway during rush hour traffic.  I've never been in a wreck like this before- nothing beyond a little fender bender many years ago- so this was really scary. 

I really didn't know what was happening, it all happened to fast.  I just felt like I was getting hit from all sides, not just the front and the back. And because the airbag almost immediately popped me in the face as soon as my car was hit, I couldn't see anything.  A few minutes after the wreck, a woman came up to me and my car and asked if I was okay.  I thanked her for stopping and she said, "I'm the one in the truck that you hit."  I didn't even know I had hit a truck until she said that.

I think I was just sort of in shock during the aftermath of it happening and it gets confusing when I try to piece it together.  Later that night, when I went to the wrecker's storage lot to get some stuff out of my car and saw my car, and the car that hit me, I felt so mad. 

I had asked the guy that hit me, "What happened?" and he said, "I don't know.  I was trying to switch lanes and I guess I hit you.  I was on my way to the gym."  It just makes me so mad that he was so wreckless,  and for really no reason.  And to top it all off, he doesn't have insurance.

I used his phone to call my husband and my brother for help.  Later that night, we got a text from him (the uninsured driver) that said, "Whatever you do, DO NOT POST PICTURES OF MY WRECK ON FACEBOOK!"  The all caps seemed so threatening, and I'm not really sure what that was all about, but I wanted to be sure to put a picture of HIS WRECK up on my blog, since he's not "allowing" me to put it on facebook.

The police officers told me that the man had been ticketed and that his car would be impounded until he got some car insurance.  By the looks of his car, I'm not sure he's going to want it back.  And I'm pretty sure that even if he does get insurance, which by the way- is the law!- it's going to be too little, too late to help me out.

But, having said all of this, I need to also say I am thankful.  I walked away from this with bumps and bruises and whiplash, and I think that's all.  (Although I am going to have everything checked over because my neck is in quite a bit of pain!)  My guitar is fine. All the other drivers are also alive and seemingly okay.  And I did get to hitch a sweet ride to meet up with my rescue squad after the wreck...
Thank you officer, for the nice ride in your car! :)


 

21 comments:

Valerie said...

Jeez Kerri-that's so frightening, and I'm so glad you're okay. VERY weird about the guy and the Facebook thing. I'm glad you're going to see the doctor--hope everything goes well.

Lisa said...

So sorry about the wreck - it can be very scary. Be sure to have yourself thoroughly checked out as injuries can take several days to show up.
I too was hit by an uninsured driver - not only was the driver uninsured but also was the car she "borrowed" from a friend to make a run for cigarettes. Nice.
My insurance ended up paying for the damage to my car and my medical bills and I don't know what ever happened to the other parties.
Again, I'm sorry and I hope you are feeling better very soon.

Marie a la Mode said...

Oh my God, I'm so glad you're okay! That must have been so scary. The driver that hit you sounds like a real stand up guy ; / I hope your car will get fixed on his dime, not yours.

Karen Wright McClellen said...

How stupid of the driver to make threats that way. He sounds really screwed up... it's important for him to take care of himself by "working out", yet it's NOT important to insure the safety of others.

Jadyn said...

Wow, Kerri, what a terrible experience, it must have been so scary! So glad to hear you're okay. Good to hear you're getting yourself checked out, I do hope all will be okay with just some rest and time.
Take care of yourself, okay?

Barbara German said...

Kerri, I'm so glad to hear you walked away from such a terrible wreck! How scary that must have been. I'm sure you are going be sore for some time. Please take care.

Creatissimo said...

Oh, no! I'm sooooo happy you're ok! Take care!

Anonymous said...

Kerri,
OMG I hate that wreck happened!!!!!! I know you are so lucky and I am so glad you are ok!! My sweet friend if you need me for any reason I am here!! Love ya!
I know it is no fun believe me all that you go through and you have every right to be PISSED at that irresponsible guy! Yuck!
Dolly

Lis said...

Oh Kerri! Sending healing thoughts your way! My friend was in a horrible wreck in her beetle and walked away - so those little bugs must have a protective aura about them!

i also was hit by an uninsured driver (i watched her putting her lipstick on as she zoomed towards me - i was stopped at a light) and as irritating and irresponsible as that driver is, the plus is your insurance will take care of everything, so focus upon your healing! And do get everything checked out ... at the very least, you should get some therapeutic massages to help release the build up of fear and stress your body received.

Can i link this post through my FB account? Okay, that might be spiteful, but really, to be worrying about FB when he caused so much damage ... yes, the definition of donkey (well, the other name) ...

xo lis

lori vliegen said...

oh, bless your heart! i'm so glad that you walked away from that horrible accident basically unharmed (although i'm concerned about your neck.....), and thankful that everyone else is okay, too! and to add insult to injury, the guy has no insurance?!! what a creep!!!

take care, sweet kerri......xox

and flowers pick themselves said...

wow, kerri. how awful. so glad you're okay, besides being incredible frustrated, i'm sure.

hugs!

xo Alison

The Creative Beast said...

Thank goodness you are okay after an accident like that!!

I'm sad to say I first thought you were in Los Angeles when this happened since many here go without car insurance and drive so irresponsibly, but I guess there are irresponsible drivers all over this great land of ours...

As for that crazy request to not post pictures on your Facebook page, maybe his parents are part of his friend list and will go ballistic when they see what happened to what I'm pretty sure is "yet another car" ;)!!

I hope you get yourself looked at for your injuries to insure all is well =-)

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

i am sooo glad you made it out okay. about 10 years ago, an uninsured motorist plowed into the lady behind me and caused a chain reaction as we were all stopped dead in traffic. i was not lucky but all is over now..i thought i'd never be okay with ANY car coming up behind me..but that dissapated with time, kerry, just in case you may feel that way.
although, we all heard her coming as she screeched on the brakes, i never knew till then what a nightmare this can cause.
again, thanks for sharing and glad your okay. xo

Kerri said...

thank you all so much-
and yes, wanda!!! that is how i'm feeling. very much of a scaredy cat driver right now!!! i feel like we're all driving around in weapons of mass destruction trying to steer clear of the texters and freaks.... THANK U for saying that will pass!

Karen Tessandore said...

Kerri, I'm so glad nobody was hurt any worse! My daughter and I were run into (but not as bad as your collision) a year or so ago and it was so shocking. One minute you're minding your own business and then wham! Terrible. I'm sorry you had to go through that and that the guy was so weird and awful (what's up with the facebook threat?!) and uninsured. I hope you're feeling better soon.

~ k

Wholoves Jack conrad said...

WOW! :-o .Yes please get the whip-lash looked after, and remember to do follow-up, with the Doc.
Who.
Be well
Thanks for the music. :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm happy you are okay, i'm sorry for the car. So with no insurance the guy is not paying for the damage? In italy that makes you pay double. If you don't have car insurance you pay a lot more and your car is taken away and you never see it again. Plus you get your driver's license suspended for a year.
I know how you feel, i have been in a very similar accident...just relax and take care of yourself. Pay attention to your neck...I didn't and i have still problems. Do what the doctor tells you to do...
And relax. A lot.

Roberta said...

OMG Kerri...so glad that you were not seriously injured and by a jerk with no insurance!!! Still I understand how violated you must feel...we were once rear-ended and the hassels of rental cars and repairs just don't help the stress at all. I was also in an accident years ago as a passenger and the air bags were deployed and it bruised my chest because they hit so damn hard...let alone the chalk crap that comes out of them...ugh! I was wheezing for weeks...but our car was totaled as well and I know that it saved our lives and I would have been through the windshielf for sure. The driver of the car lost control on a curve and we hit three trees while being airborne...needless to say I don't speak to the woman anymore. We were friend through a group function and I was suppose to drive but she blocked my car so I let her drive...never again! Just glad that you are safe and wishing you all the best. Fondly, Roberta

mark menza said...

Whoa Kerri, So sorry to hear about your mishap here. Super glad it was not more serious. Hope to get out to hear you sometime soon.
m

Tanya said...

Wow! That's a scary, but really engaging story! I'm so glad you are ok and I'm sorry you are having to deal with insurance crap.

Anonymous said...

OMG, Kerri! What a scary experience for you. I'm so glad you're okay. The aftershock and the surrealism of it all lasts a bit longer, and you do walk around kinda' spacey for awhile. I was in a similar accident years ago and I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

So happy you walked away with your guitar! Now enjoy your new ride :)