I was driving on a busy road, making a left turn across 3 lanes of traffic. I looked and it was clear, so I went. A car came over the crest of the hill, doing about 70 in a 35 mph zone -- lower because of limited visibility, and slammed into the passenger side door. I honestly do not remember any of this, but the car behind me stopped.

I was amazed at how fast the ambulance got there....as it seemed they were at me the instant I stopped moving. It was five minutes. I was out for five minutes.

I refused medical treatment (mistake; I am sure I had a concussion), but was able to walk, though was in a fog for quite a while. I ended up losing my job because I could not perform/think clearly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in a rollover in a VW bug in the mid 70s. No seatbelt. I was passenger. Walked away. I was in a rollover in a Chevy sedan landed upside down in a creek. No seatbelt. Walked away. Passenger. Was broadsided making a legal turn by someone going through light at high speed. Spun car around hitting another car. Walked away. I suppose that’s three lives.

WTF with not wearing a seatbelt, though!?

Yeah. I always wear them now and have for years. The first two were in the 70s and 80s when seatbelts were more optional. Maybe the bug didn’t even have them? If so only little lap belts. I’m always buckled now and was in the third incident.

Jeez, I never want to get into a car again after reading this thread.

Last year I was on 495, approaching Tyson’s headed to MD. I was in the second lane from right when a large Ford construction truck in the far left lane lost its right front wheel.

The truck hit a car that spun around and hit me and I was pushed into another car. The truck then continued to weave and hit 2 more cars, with one of the cars pushed into another car.

7 cars total and the worst two were the first two cars hit - mine and the car that spun into me. Our cars were pinned together with his car still at a 180 (his front end against my rear end).

4 of us taken to the hospital but everyone was ok aside from some minor cuts, bumps, and bruises but 3 totaled cars including mine. Truck driver was found at fault and his insurance had to settle all the claims including total losses and injuries.

I had to climb out of my car through the passenger front door, my entire driver side was crushed. All my 8 air bags deployed and my left rear passenger door was ripped off.

My car saved my life. I immediately bought another Subaru. My family has always used seatbelts 100% and I’m thankful for the additional safety features in my prior Subaru and current one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in a rollover in a VW bug in the mid 70s. No seatbelt. I was passenger. Walked away. I was in a rollover in a Chevy sedan landed upside down in a creek. No seatbelt. Walked away. Passenger. Was broadsided making a legal turn by someone going through light at high speed. Spun car around hitting another car. Walked away. I suppose that’s three lives.

WTF with not wearing a seatbelt, though!?

You do know seat belt wearing was not very common years ago. My first car a 1963 convertible a piece of junk I bought used had zero seat belts. It came from factory that way, last year seat belts was an option. Also no headrests on bucket seats and no padded dash.

My 1967 convertible did have front seat belts but no rear seat belts.

My 1976 CJ7 convertible had only lap belts which was odd as your face could still smash windshield.

I actually got tboned at 50 mph in my 1963 convertible, I ended up on passengers lap as we were dragged sideways. Car hit drivers door and I think I would have broke left leg if belted in.

Yep. Other driver made a right directly in front of me and I hit her square in the middle of her car. I was going straight and doing at least 50. She claimed she had a protected arrow and she didn’t so she was found at fault.

I had a concussion, bruising from my seatbelt and they had to cut part of the dash so they could get my knee out.

Spent almost a year recovering but it definitely changed the way I drive and I can’t go through an intersection without my heart skipping a beat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Totaled my SUV 6 months ago. I hate driving long distances and really avoid it usually especially with kids in the car. This time was on a 4 hour drive, kids were arguing in the back seat even though I had just stopped at a gas station and attended to their needs. Was pissed and tired of driving. Turned back to look at what the heck was going on in backseat and give them the Mom look to knock it off when the car in front of me stopped and by the time I turned back around I slammed into them so hard. Whole front of the suv was just gone. Airbags deployed. Kids were fine thank god. My chest had bruising from the seat belt and my right knee hurt. Some neck and back pain for a month but overall we all walked away from it. I still get flashes of the seconds before impact, feel guilt as if what if my kids were hurt and financially our car insurance rates are so high now. But we are all alive and without any lasting disability

Were the people in the car you hit okay?

Three cars including mine- so the car I directly hit was pushed into the car in front of them. Everyone walked away from the accident, thank god. I had high liability limits (100k) thank goodness because I certainly needed it for the first time in 20 years since my last accident (which was a minor fender bender). I now do not drive long distances by myself with both our kids and also don't look in the back for any reason- I pull over even if we literally just stopped.

What had the cars in front of you stopped for?

Who knows? I was not expecting them to come to a dead stop...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Totaled my SUV 6 months ago. I hate driving long distances and really avoid it usually especially with kids in the car. This time was on a 4 hour drive, kids were arguing in the back seat even though I had just stopped at a gas station and attended to their needs. Was pissed and tired of driving. Turned back to look at what the heck was going on in backseat and give them the Mom look to knock it off when the car in front of me stopped and by the time I turned back around I slammed into them so hard. Whole front of the suv was just gone. Airbags deployed. Kids were fine thank god. My chest had bruising from the seat belt and my right knee hurt. Some neck and back pain for a month but overall we all walked away from it. I still get flashes of the seconds before impact, feel guilt as if what if my kids were hurt and financially our car insurance rates are so high now. But we are all alive and without any lasting disability

Were the people in the car you hit okay?

Three cars including mine- so the car I directly hit was pushed into the car in front of them. Everyone walked away from the accident, thank god. I had high liability limits (100k) thank goodness because I certainly needed it for the first time in 20 years since my last accident (which was a minor fender bender). I now do not drive long distances by myself with both our kids and also don't look in the back for any reason- I pull over even if we literally just stopped.

What had the cars in front of you stopped for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Totaled my SUV 6 months ago. I hate driving long distances and really avoid it usually especially with kids in the car. This time was on a 4 hour drive, kids were arguing in the back seat even though I had just stopped at a gas station and attended to their needs. Was pissed and tired of driving. Turned back to look at what the heck was going on in backseat and give them the Mom look to knock it off when the car in front of me stopped and by the time I turned back around I slammed into them so hard. Whole front of the suv was just gone. Airbags deployed. Kids were fine thank god. My chest had bruising from the seat belt and my right knee hurt. Some neck and back pain for a month but overall we all walked away from it. I still get flashes of the seconds before impact, feel guilt as if what if my kids were hurt and financially our car insurance rates are so high now. But we are all alive and without any lasting disability

Were the people in the car you hit okay?

Three cars including mine- so the car I directly hit was pushed into the car in front of them. Everyone walked away from the accident, thank god. I had high liability limits (100k) thank goodness because I certainly needed it for the first time in 20 years since my last accident (which was a minor fender bender). I now do not drive long distances by myself with both our kids and also don't look in the back for any reason- I pull over even if we literally just stopped.