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seldomseensmith's avatar
seldomseensmith
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2017

It only takes a second....

Hey all,

Been a long while since I posted, mostly because I haven't had much new to say or offer. But I'm going to make one last post to offer a cautionary tale of how things can change suddenly and dramatically all through no fault of ones own.

I was returning home from a trip to Colorado last Saturday, driving along U.S. Highway 160. At the time I was just cruising along, doing the speed limit and observing all of the rules of the road. As most people know, driving the speed limit is never enough for others with whom we share the highway, so I am constantly being passed by other vehicles with some frequency.

Right after 12:00 noon, a car began to pass me on a straight and level 2 lane section of the highway. What the driver of this car did not realize until it was too late was that the vehicle behind it had also decided to pass. 3 cars going the same direction cannot occupy the same space on a 2 lane road, and when the driver in the middle saw what was happening she swerved violently in my direction, hitting my truck with enough force to spin me around. I slid across both lanes and onto the shoulder, where soft sand caused me to roll onto the passenger side.

Fortunately, despite the speed and force of the crash I suffered no discernible injury. I cannot say the same for the truck and camper.

I don't know for certain that the truck is totaled, but I suspect it will be more expensive to repair than what the insurance company is willing to pay. The camper is unquestionably destroyed, and that loss will be harder to calculate. I am now in the unenviable position of trying to get the at fault driver's insurance to admit their liability and assess the cost.

Whatever I might receive in money cannot replace what has been lost, and I am understandably upset at being forced into a situation in which I had no choice or chance to avoid. Yes, I know it could have been worse, and I'm grateful to be alive. But in a very real sense I am experiencing almost as much pain and suffering as if I had been injured.

In any event, I would never wish this on anyone else, but know for a certainty that you can do everything right, make no mistakes, pay your bills on time, have a clean conscience, and do all in your power to live a good life - it doesn't matter. Some idiot can still take it all away from you.
  • I have experienced the same thing on two separate occasions. Once when a woman, talking on her cell phone, lost control of her car and hit my driver's side front wheel, breaking my steering. Rolled the van a number of times. Wife was injured. I was OK. She still feels the effects of that accident 20 years later.

    Second time we were rear ended by a woman who was talking on her cell phone. Caved in the back doors and splattered window glass throughout the motor home.

    This was before talking on cell phones became illegal. Unfortunately many ignore the law.
  • Oh Mannn... soooo sorry....

    I hear ya on the Stuff happens...
    Just can't predict/plan for it all..

    Glad you're safe and sound, best of luck on the recovery...
    It sucks... big time... hang in there.

    As joerg posts, hopefully you'll be back on the road with a new rig..
    Soooo sorry...
  • Thanks for sharing! I am glad you were not injured.

    $*!# happens. There is only so much risk you can control. The rest... God, Karma, whatever you want to call it.

    Hope you will be back on the road soon with a fine truck and camper!
  • WOW! Good to hear you are OK.

    Best wishes on a favorable outcome.