Shortest family vacation (near-death experience content)

lo_freq_geek · #1 07-26-2010, 11:38 AM

My family and I left town Saturday on what was supposed to be a 24 day family vacation across Canada to Vancouver Island and back with lots of stops and activities along the way. Less than four hours later our van struck (t-boned) a car trying to cross the highway. We all managed to escape very shook up but with only minor injuries - black eye, whiplash, bruised ribs. The other driver (not wearing his seatbelt) died later from injuries. Our van is a write off & trailer as well as many personal items badly damaged. It's hard to describe what we feel but mostly like we cheated death and are damned lucky. Depending on how long insurance takes we may try to salvage some part of our vacation but that is all up in the air.

Relic · #2 07-26-2010, 11:41 AM

So sorry to hear that, man. Glad you and yours are ok!!

megadan · #3 07-26-2010, 11:41 AM

Ouch! Glad you're ok.
Shame what happened, but I find it hard to have sympathy for people who can't take the half second to put on their seatbelt when the get in their cars.

sarcastro83 · #4 07-26-2010, 11:53 AM

Oh man... that's terrible. I hope everything works out okay...

MadMan118 · #5 07-26-2010, 12:02 PM

That sucks, looks like the van did its job though. I've been in more accidents than any normal person should and they all suck.

lo_freq_geek · #6 07-26-2010, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

"looks like the van did its job though."
I had never put much stock in safety ratings... thought they were all marketing hype. Kia had and still has (if I'm not mistaken) the highest safety rating in its class. The attending tow truck driver and police were blown away that we walked away essentially unharmed.

"I've been in more accidents than any normal person should and they all suck."

Scary as hell broadsiding the other car at 110 km/h (~68 mph). Thought we were all done.

becker4567 · #7 07-26-2010, 12:51 PM

Vacations are temporary and can be re-done, but you only have one family. I'm sorry about the other guy, I really am, but blowing off something as important as buckling his seat belt cost him his life. Glad your back with us and your family is safe! My next ride just might be a Kia!

MJ5150 · #8 07-26-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo_freq_geek

We all managed to escape very shook up but with only minor injuries........whiplash.......

Nothing minor about whiplash. That can affect you for the rest of your life. I would closely monitor anyone in your family that has been diagnosed by a doctor with whiplash. You can go a few days or weeks feeling just fine, then something will flare up.

Don't let any insurance companies rush you to a settlement either, even if the cash in your pocket is an attractive figure. Almost every time, that initial offer is a lowball for them and could screw you months down the road.

Sorry for the unsolicited advice.

-Mike

lo_freq_geek · #9 07-26-2010, 01:17 PM

I have had whiplash before - it was painful for more than a year. The doctor diagnosed my son's whiplash as "minor" but - yeah it can be brutal. There is no "third party liability" type insurance in Canada, so suing for pain & suffering injuries is a non-issue. My wife is a nurse and we are all taking it easy and will be watching our injuries very carefully. They will be making an offer to replace the van & trailer based on their market value and paying for other expenses,

MJ5150 · #10 07-26-2010, 01:25 PM

Looks like you got it all squared away, nice. Best wishes to you and yours for a speedy physical and mental recovery.

My wife was in a terrible car accident 10 years ago, and she still gets nervous when we drive by the area where it happened.

-Mike

Jim Campbell · #11 07-26-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Nothing minor about whiplash. That can affect you for the rest of your life. I would closely monitor anyone in your family that has been diagnosed by a doctor with whiplash. You can go a few days or weeks feeling just fine, then something will flare up.

Don't let any insurance companies rush you to a settlement either, even if the cash in your pocket is an attractive figure. Almost every time, that initial offer is a lowball for them and could screw you months down the road.

Sorry for the unsolicited advice.

-Mike

there is only one insurance company here and it's the guv'ment......competition is not an option

EricF · #12 07-26-2010, 01:56 PM

I'm glad to hear no one in your family was seriously injured. I hope you all get your chance to vacation really soon. Sorry to hear about the other driver.

DerHoggz · #13 07-26-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

there is only one insurance company here and it's the guv'ment......competition is not an option

Oh, I was just about to make a joke about the inefficiencies of communist systems. I'm kidding of course, Canadia isn't really communist, but stereotypes can be fun.

I hope you all are ok.

Hollow Man · #14 07-26-2010, 03:37 PM

Wow, what an awful experience! Very happy for you and your family coming out relatively unscathed, despite the range of emotions you must all be experiencing (your trip, the other driver, your health, etc). All the best in the coming days and weeks, and I hope your next vacation works out!

MadMan118 · #15 07-26-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo_freq_geek

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

"looks like the van did its job though."
I had never put much stock in safety ratings... thought they were all marketing hype. Kia had and still has (if I'm not mistaken) the highest safety rating in its class. The attending tow truck driver and police were blown away that we walked away essentially unharmed.

"I've been in more accidents than any normal person should and they all suck."

Scary as hell broadsiding the other car at 110 km/h (~68 mph). Thought we were all done.

Ah well i dunno about what the govt. says about the van. Im going by what i see in the picture, the front of the car crumpled up fairly evenly taking most of the impact, and the passenger compartment is intact, airbags deployed and the windshield is intact.

MJ5150 · #16 07-26-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

there is only one insurance company here and it's the guv'ment......competition is not an option

You guys have government auto insurance too?

-Mike

Ziltoid · #17 07-26-2010, 05:14 PM

Idk for most people but my family is privately assured on both go health and automotive...as well as housing.

blendermassacre · #18 07-26-2010, 07:37 PM

been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Glad you're family is okay. That's by far the most important part.

lo_freq_geek · #19 07-26-2010, 08:33 PM

blendermassacre:
wow... what a mess. thanks for the kind words about the family

blendermassacre · #20 07-26-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo_freq_geek

blendermassacre:
wow... what a mess. thanks for the kind words about the family

The paramedics said that it was the worst wreck they'd seen in years, and people had in that time. I walked out, after 5 firefighters pried the door open. My glasses ejected out of the car and were never found. I had a hairline fracture in my wrist, and a pinched nerve in my elbow that still bothers my fretting hand (half of my hand goes numb).

16 year old kid w/o a liscense cut me off to go to sonic

in his mom's conversion van. We were both going about 45.

oh. and it was on my 18th birthday.

/ stealing thunder