What I Am Learning In Rehab

[haha]

I posted about my head-on collision a little over a month ago. The party at fault's insurance has replaced my car, and I am going to Rehab courtesy of my PIP policy. Overall, it's going well, and I am very hopeful that I will eventually be 100%.

But I have met quite a few who won't. All non-offending victims of head on collisions. Brian, a guy I first met today had his accident in August 2001. He just got out of a wheelchair, and will never get off double leg supporting shoulder braces. He was a contractor, and lost his business. He credits his survival to being in a new Volvo when he was hit by a PU doing 65 mph.

From him I learned that there are 15 head-ons in my small neck of the woods solely from old folks having cardiac arrest, strokes, etc while driving. Another big slug from DUI drivers, then some more from not seeing backlit cars and trying to pass, etc. Two lane roads carrying a lot of traffic are just dangerous period.

I figured I would stay here till I am old, but I am not so sure now. One SOB hitting me was enough. If it happened again, and I survived, I would be truly and deeply pissed. Our formerly rural and vacation area that had very few year round residents is now suburban, and people under typical suburban time pressures are clogging the roads, getting frustrated and doing stupid things. Plus alcohol sure doesn’t help. And lack of good public transit means old folks hang on to their cars way beyond the time they should be grounded.

I may get an apartment or condo in town, close to I-5, walk on sidewalks to gym, grocery doctor, etc- and put this 2-lane Russian Roulette behind me. May even return to Seattle. Feels like I snapped on a live round, but escaped. It sure has me thinking.



Ha

[dex]

Previously I only drove small cars. I was from NYC and never got into the big car mindset. I move to Georgia and now drive a Dodge Dakota 4X4 pickup. I don't think I will go back to a small car.

My sister was hit by a uninsured, unlicenced fool on the highway. She rolled over in a large Jeep (I forgot what kind). She injured her sholder and most likely will never recover.

I know about SUVs and rollovers etc

Simply put I feel safer.

[JPatrick]

In Texas you would have faced about a 1 in 3 chance that the fool would not have had any insurance and in all probably few or no assets.* I guess it's called adding insult to injury.*

[wildcat]

Ha -

Where do you live now? Suburbs or what? Sounds pretty dangerous if so. I think a small-medium sized city with an excellent public transportation system would be just as attractive as moving back to the big city but you may have had good experiences in Seattle. The place I am at now for school has a trail - strictly for bikers and walkers - system that loops around the entire city, nice sidewalks, excellent health care facilities and a nice bus system that covers the main drags. Not a very big place either but I like it. Hope your recovery goes as smooth as possible.

[REWahoo]

Originally Posted by JPatrick

In Texas you would have faced about a 1 in 3 chance that the fool would not have had any insurance...

According to a report I just saw on the local news, 40% of the drivers stopped for moving violations in San Antonio are also ticketed for no insurance. A new law goes into effect in Texas on January 1, increasing the penalty for no insurance from a ticket to a ticket and impounding the vehicle. It's anyones guess if this will make a dent in the uninsured motorist problem.

[Outtahere]

Of course you all know that Mass has the worst auto insurance in the country but we have our NH neighbors to the north that don't require any insurance at all. I have several friends that were involved in accidents with the uninsured from NH, they ended up with higher insurance bills and of course the people from NH had no assests to go with having no insurance. I'm not thrilled about the government dictating what kind of insurance we should have but there should be a minimum you have to carry before you put the key in the ignition.

[Martha]

Ah man, who knows. You move to the city and walk everywhere and get hit by a car as a pedestrian. Or slip on a sidewalk. Or get mugged.

But two land highways seem disproportionately dangerous. I'd go to the city while you are still young.

[kat]

I'd have to back what Wildcat said, about a small or medium size city. I grew up in suburbia, and I've lived in the country and a big city. I chose to move to the small city (100,000 pop.) nearby, with about 800,000 in the larger metro area, other small cities and towns close by. I like walking on sidewalks, like the 15 minute rush hour on the busy streets, like the stores, banks, churches, post office, gym being within walking distance.

Take care of yourself, and make sure you follow all the therapy recommendations. Everyone stops too soon.

kate

[brewer12345]

Originally Posted by Outtahere

Of course you all know that Mass has the worst auto insurance in the country

Heheheh, makes my cry all the way to the bank (Commerce Group Shareholder).

[flipstress]

Hi, HaHa.

I live in a smallish university town that sounds similar to what wildcat described.* We have lots of bike paths and a good bus system.* There are a lot of cultural and entertainment events going on because of the university.* We also have good hospitals maybe because of the university's med school.

So yeah, maybe you could consider university towns with good transit close to where you are now?

Re:* Martha's comment that anything could happen, bicyclists--of which there are many here--are always in danger from vehicles.* Usually, the drivers are in them, but I know a guy who was hit by an un-manned car that just rolled down the road.* He saw the car but did not know there was no driver, so he just moved away towards the road shoulder the usual distance he does when he sees a car.* The car hit him, he fell, and he broke his leg.

[REWahoo]

Originally Posted by Martha

Ah man, who knows. You move to the city and walk everywhere and get hit by a car as a pedestrian.

A friend's mom was struck and killed by a car as she sat waiting on a bus bench.

Life is dangerous. Risks are everywhere. I'd stay in bed but understand a lot of people die in those...

[greg]

Originally Posted by REWahoo!

A friend's mom was struck and killed by a car as she sat waiting on a bus bench.

Life is dangerous. Risks are everywhere. I'd stay in bed but understand a lot of people die in those...

Years ago, my father sent me a newsclip from the local Fla. newspaper saying that a retired fellow hit three people standing on the curb. He kept driving. When the cops stopped him, he said something like "I just thougth I hit a couple of garbage cans that were stuck out too far, so I kept going." Who knows. I the hittees must have made funny metal noises on the cement as they rolled.