Don't go to the Dentist!

Ben has really good teeth; he doesn't regularly go to the dentist but he is always plaque and cavity free.  I do not have good teeth and they have got embarrassingly worse since being pregnant. Last April I made an appointment for us to go to the dentist and get our annual check-up/clean; the appointment was set for the early morning of August 2!

It was a beautiful Thursday, Ben had taken the morning of work, and together we drove to Longmont towards the dentist.  We were stopped at a light and in deep conversation when two cars collided in the intersection in front of us. I had never seen a car accident before and it was like the world went in slow motion and in hyper speed at the same time.  One of the car's spun and hit us.  As it was spinning towards us Ben had time to scream, "Oh no!" and reach over to grab my arm and I had time to clench every muscle in my body and put my feet (which we already up) and arms against the dash to brace the impact.  (Looking back at it, we have decided it is good, and a little worrisome, that our airbags did not go off because it would have broken my legs and arms. Ben has since forbid me of putting my legs on the dash.)

As if a switch were flipped the moment the car stopped moving everything came back to a real speed and we were called to action.  I grabbed my phone and immediately called 9-1-1 as I jumped out of the car and ran to the nearest car to see if he was hurt.  He was 'ok' so I went to the other car, giving a description on the phone to the responder, and found that the woman in the other car was hurt but not badly.  Ben came over and helped me get her out and sit on the curb.  He then checked her out and sat with her, while I called her husband and informed him of the accident.  

The ambulance and police quickly arrived and the 'clean-up' began.  The woman was going straight and sped up to make it through a yellow light.  She was getting gas for a big vacation they were leaving for that afternoon.  The man (in the car that hit us) also sped up to make the yellow but he turned left (as we all should know, the left turner always get's the ticket).  

She broke one arm and a wrist from the airbags. She also had some cuts but they were not major.  She was taken away by the ambulance and her husband, who had arrived shortly after the police, stayed behind for insurance and stuff.  The other man in the accident did not go to the hospital but stood shaken and upset on the side of the road (we did learn later that he left the scene and went straight to the hospital to deal with some whip-lash and airbag burns).  

Ben and I were fine.  As we sat, waiting for the police to get to us and our statement, and the adrenaline left us we started to feel the impact a little; headaches, sore backs, ect. It took almost two hours before we were able to leave (clean up, pictures, statements, insurance) and fortunately our car was not badly 'injured' so we were able to drive home.

On the way home I called my Obstetrician (baby doctor) just to see if I needed to go in and they were very adamant that I go in and as soon as possible. So I dropped Ben off at work (he was so shaken that it took him a couple hours to get in the 'work' mindset) and went to the doctor.  They pushed me in with the first available doctor and I got a full physical.  The baby was fine and the little heart rate was normal. I was fine but I did have a seat belt bruise forming on my hips and across my belly.  I left the doctor and went to the chiropractor, where my neck and lower back were 'put at ease.'  That night we were both a little sore but we were both fine!

So we have been waiting for insurance claims to figure out what to do with our car. Our dear Avalon was the member of our family that was injured most, although it is all body damage.  The front bumper is cracked and all the 'frame' in the front was bent slightly to the left (so the door squeaks, the hood doesn't fit as tight and the light is crooked) but we are glad that nothing major happened. 

I took this with my phone after the accident.  You can't see the 3rd car.

So what did we learn from this experience?.... Don't go to the dentist!