When I was about 13, I was riding my bicycle across the street at a cross walk, with the light in my favor, when a car turning left hit my front wheel and I jumped and landed on the street. The guy stopped long enough to see if I was alive. He then proceeded to leave, and I proceeded to take the long way to school… amazingly on my bike. I got the license plate of the car though. When I got to school I called on the pay phone my father, who told me not to move from the school’s office where the telephone was. It was then that a secretary asked me if anything was wrong and I proceeded to tell her that I was trying for my perfect attendance, and that I had just been hit by a car on my bike. Needless to say they called the police and my father who was SEVERAL miles away got to the school before the police (who were across the street) could get to the school.
They never caught the guy who hit me. I was fine and with some repairs my bike was fine. I never made perfect attendance that year but I think that is to be expected. That was my only experience with a “hit and run” driver until today.
Today Max and I went to get the police report from the accident last week, and then to go to playgroup. Playgroup went well and even though I was a bit tense from life in general when I got there, by the time I left I was more relaxed and happy. Max didn’t even scream when it was time to leave. Amazing since there were trucks at the park for him to play with. I was driving cautiously because of having just got the car back. When we go nearer to home I decided to go the “long way” home so that Max might see some tractors that are working on building a Walgreens not far from here. However, Max was already asleep by the time we got close. We got off the highway and drove the short distance to a light where we would turn left.
There was traffic and I saw that a car was trying to turn left from a business to my right. He was blocking 2 lanes of traffic in an attempt to do this. I got into the left turn lane for the lighted intersection and when I saw that this truck wasn’t going to go left due to traffic, I decided to pull forward as it was clear. As I started to pull forward the truck rammed into my right front of the minivan. I remember glancing at the guy in the truck who was gesticulating wildly and clearly angry. At about that time I looked to my left where there was a bystander who was stopped in the left lane of the oncoming traffic and who asked if I was okay. I told him I was and asked him to please stay till police could come. As I was asking the bystander said he has the license plate of the truck and he had a phone in his hand. When it was clear, I turned left into the parking lot for the soon to be Walgreens.
Max woke up with the collsion and I was very shaken. I had to plug in my cell phone to the car charger to call the police. 911 with a cell phone is a thing where you call and then they call you back. While I had the police on the line, the bystander came back and gave me more information about the truck who hit me and handed me a napkin with the license plate number and I got his phone number. I then called Tony and told him where we were and asked him to come there. He got there before the police did. I was still very shaken up and the police took my information and determined that the license plate was issued to a truck in the area.
We then drove home and called to start the repair process. Max is okay but appears to be a bit scared in general by the whole ordeal. I really think tomorrow after he gets his new carseat (yes the second in a week) it will be telling if he is okay or not. I am doing okay but I am worried about Max.
So that was our day today. We know that our insurance has already found the other auto insurance company. The auto body shop told us that we could drive our car, just not far as it could have internal damage that we can’t see. So because of that, we needed to get the new car seat for Max. The minivan is still here at home but we will take it in on Monday and get a rental car… hopefully one with more power and doesn’t drive funny.
This is the damage. It actually made it so we can’t open the passenger door. I am more worried about the wheel and tire being pushed in. I already know that my ailment is off from this accident.
Well that is us today! Tomorrow has got to be better!
Jennifer