Just had one of those "It's a miracle I'm alive" moments
And they say nothing much happens in North Cyprus� About three hours ago, while on the way back from Nicosia to Famagusta, my parents and I got into a car accident and walked away with nothing more than very minor bumps.
My mom, who was asleep in the back seat, was the most shaken up, my dad had a minor bump and I escaped without getting hurt at all.
I still can't believe we escaped so lightly. It could have been really bad.
To see what I mean, play the Flash re-enaction that I just created after getting home -- did I mention that it's 3am at the moment? :)
Thankfully, my dad noticed at the last minute that the car coming into the main road wasn't going to stop and both accelerated and swerved to avoid the car. I don't even want to think about what could have happened if the other car had hit my dad's door directly or if my mom had been sitting at the side that was hit or if our car had flipped instead of just spinning around (thank goodness it's an old, wide, heavy BMW -- those suckers are built to last, I tell you -- not to mention that a low center of gravity helps too!)
Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that we're all fine (as are the people in the other car.) The guy who was driving the other car, btw, didn't have a license and they were 100% at fault as we had right of way and they didn't heed their stop!
I'm going to hit the sack and sleep this off before flying back to the UK tomorrow.
[Update] I just updated the SWF animation to reflect the actual final resting position of the other car.
[Update] My dad reminded me that the other car's front was totally wrecked and that includes the headlights. Updated animation to reflect this.
Comments
From your detailed re-enactment ;-) it looks like had the other car been a split second earlier it could have been a lot worse with you T-Boning them (a very nasty situation indeed).
by Matt Voerman on 2006-01-06 01:24:45
Glad to hear that no harm was done. Irresponsible driving is reaching dangerous proportions round the globe.
Wishing the best.
Arindam
by arindam on 2006-01-06 07:07:35
by lynda weinman on 2006-01-06 07:28:06
Thanks, guys. Matt, I totally agree: Something like this really drives home (no pun intended) :) the message that life is fickle and we should try and make the most of each day and not sweat the little things...
If my dad hadn't accelerated at the last moment, it definitely would have been a t-bone and, as you said, that's one of the worst types of crashes:
"The failure to yield at a traffic control device - usually a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic light - can pose a significant risk to vehicles which have the right-of-way. As such accidents often involve cars striking each other in a perpendicular manner, such as in a "T-Bone Collision" where one driver crashes into the doors of the other driver's car, the risk of injury is particularly great. Even with side-wall airbags, the fact remains that most car safety devices are designed to prevent injury from a front-end collision. Seat belts do not do much to prevent sideways movement. Dashboard airbags are also not of much use, and may not even deploy from a side impact." (Source: ExpertLaw.com)
by Aral Balkan on 2006-01-06 07:34:31
(I had't realized how long i'd been seen 'd done either of those things -- what a liberating feeling!)
by Aral Balkan on 2006-01-06 07:39:48
The best of 2006. Onwards and to greater things#
by {a_*} on 2006-01-06 08:53:56
by Aral Balkan on 2006-01-06 10:24:06
Glad to hear you're ok.
Believe me I've been there, more than once, the worst thing is waking up the morning after with a full body ache.
Racing drivers say that the best way to get out of trouble is to floor it, sounds like your Dad did the right thing.
Jolyon
by Jolyon on 2006-01-06 10:41:22
The only other time 've been involved in an accident like this was when I was about twelve or so. It was in Kuala Lumpur and my dad was driving. In my da's blind spot, a Volvo was driving on the shoulder next to us (yeah, he should't have been there.) Apparently, he saw the shoulder was about to end and pulled into the main road (where we were), pushing us into the oncoming traffic lane (there was no barrier that time). There, a truck hit us and actually went over the front of the car and swerved off at the last minute before going over me as well (thankfully, I got lodged in the space between the front and rear seats by the first impact and that stopped me from flying about the place.)
We escaped that one with a bump on the head for me and a bloodied nose (from flying glass) for my dad. The car was a total loss -- its front looked like a pancake and there was about 5mm of metal on one of the beams that was the only thing holding the roof up on the front-right of the car.
At this point, 'm pretty sure I do't need a *third* story to add to this... ever! :)
by Aral Balkan on 2006-01-06 10:53:54
I've been told that statistically once you've had a road accident you're less likely to have another.
I'm up to 3 so far all on a scooter, the best/worst being the one that happened the afternoon of my girlfriends birthday, we spent the evening in A&E, how romantic is that?!
The most recent involved hitting a pedestrian, he was a "Christian" lawyer (surely a contradition in terms), he forgave me and paid for the damage to the bike.
by Jolyon on 2006-01-06 11:31:48
- Peter
by Peter Elst on 2006-01-06 14:12:49
Best,
Burak
by Burak KALAYCI on 2006-01-06 17:39:24
by Aral Balkan on 2006-01-07 10:42:05