Like getting hit by a bus
I think I’m one of the rare people who can say they were hit by a bus and lived to tell the tale…
Last night, on my way home from dinner with a friend, I was stopped at an intersection while heading north on a major thoroughfare in my area. I got the green light to go. Entered the intersection. And slammed my brakes on half-way through in enough time to stop and see a county bus swipe the front of my car with its right side.
I was pretty scared.
I pulled over at the side of the road. The bus had made its turn and was a good hundred feet down the road. I don’t think he saw me. I have a feeling that a passenger may have told him, “dude, you just hit someone”.
Since the bus had stopped so far away and there was a major intersection seperating us, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the information I knew I would need for the insurance claim. There wasn’t a great deal of damage to my car, but certainly enough to make it worth my while. Fortunately, I flagged a County police officer down, who pulled around and safely blocked off my car. He began taking my statement when the bus driver came over and began to accuse me of jumping the light. Yeah, right. Like I want to RUN INTO A BUS! The cop stepped in and he backed down, and the officer found (rightfully so) the bus driver at fault.
So, now the bureaucratic hullabaloo has to begin. I have to fail a claim with the County. They get a third party adjuster involved. I can see that this is not going to be easy. I need to get my hands on the copy of the police report. I also need to get to a doctor because my back, neck and shoulders are achy and getting worse as the day goes on. I need to get checked out.
What I keep going back to about this whole thing was the timing. If I’d been a second sooner, or if he was a second later, it would have been a direct impact on the driver’s side of my car and I’d probably be toast. Or at least in pretty bad shape.
Time is an amazing thing, isn’t it – the instant perfection or distruction, depending on the situation…
Glenda said,
August 1, 2008 at 10:11 pm
OMG I’m so glad you’re ok. You definitely need to get checked out by a doctor. What a scary event! Joe says screw the insurance claim–you need to sue the bus company!
Heathyr said,
August 7, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I am so sorry Irene, boy am I glad that you are ok! Sometimes it’s those close calls that remind us how within just a few seconds forces beyond your control can really injure you. I am so, so glad to hear that you are alright, and I hope you are getting checked out soon -with the County involved, it may be a while before the claim goes through but you should definitely have everything paid for!!!!
leslie said,
August 13, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Wow! I’m so glad you’re ok. How frightening. These bus drivers are crazy – I don’t know where they find them. James got into an accident recently. He was following a car down a one way, when all of a sudden, the car in front slammed on his brakes. There was a county bus coming up the wrong way. So James, being in an older car, wasn’t able to stop in time and rear ended the person. And the bus didn’t stop, so the insurance is giving 100% of the blame to James.
Take care of yourself!