thefortunes
Active Member
Two of my sons and I were headed to the courthouse so that one of them (18) could vote for the first time.
On state highway 161, I stopped behind two other vehicles, waiting for the truck to turn left into a private drive. Between 3 and 5 seconds later, with zero warning, I was hit from behind at about 55 mph. I blacked out for about a second, regained consciousness, and steered the car off the highway. Luckily, the cars in front of me had cleared enough that I did not chain into them.
Immediately, the car turned on the flashers. I told my kids to get out, and they did. I walked back to the disabled car that hit me and checked that they were ok, then called 911.
We went to the hospital as a precautionary measure; a back strain for me, a lip contusion for my 18 year old (hit by my driver's seat, which broke from the force), and a minor harness abrasion for my 5 year old. I'm at home, resting now.
The other vehicle's occupants went to the hospital, their condition is unknown.
I'm convinced the outcome would have been far different in any other vehicle make.
Oh yeah, and all four doors still opened for escape, although they bound just a hair.
I'm very happy to say we avoided more serious injury by having this wonderful piece of engineering.
-c
I was rear-ended in a company car (Chevy Impala - yuck) in a similar situation (stopped, waiting to turn) by a Ford Explorer who the cops estimated was going 65mph. There were NO skid marks prior to impact and he was probably texting.
Similar looking damage to both vehicles (although my rear window blew out) and my passenger and I walked away. We were actually spun into oncoming traffic which, luckily, missed us.
Both front seats "broke" or "reclined" upon impact to the exact same angle. I believe (although I have never investigated whether this is true) that they were designed to do just that to minimize the forces upon your body in a rear-end collision..
REALLY glad you and your kids are ok, but my personal experience says that there are other cars that also can absorb that type of impact.