Car Accident Today But We Are Okay

[Jodi]

I just wanted to share today that I have been neglectful on putting Bentley's seatbelt on since he hated it. Bentley's Dad didn't like the way he pulled himself to get away from it so we just didn't use it. Today I was going to take Bentley to Goldengardens dog park and then to lunch at a restaurant that lets you take your dog. I don't know why just decided he needed to get over it and learn to just wear it. Today was the day so I bucked him in and praised him for sitting nicely. We passed two accidents on the freeway. I got off the freeway and we were rear ended really hard!! A man was looking at his daughter in the backseat and boom!! It happened so fast and I had my seat belt on but still hit the steering wheel. I could see Bentley fly but only as far as the seatbelt let him. We were hit so hard he would have flown thru the windshield. We are okay but I had to go home and hug him and cry. We didn't go to the park and I am sore already. I was really shaken up by this and wanted to share. I can't imagine if I would have lost Bentley since I love him so much!! That little voice or gut feeling is always right.

[Dr. Judith P. LaVorgna]

I live in South Florida, about ten years on my way to work on I-95 from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami Beach I was in the slow lane, in front of me was a truck with a beutiful German Shepherd in the open back. I was the appropriate distance away, but the truck slammed into the car in front of him, I put on my brakes but the shepherd flew out of the truck, came through my front windshiel and landed on the front seat, partly on my lap. Everyone stopped, there was a state trooper behind me. He stopped and came up to my car's driver window and asked if I was o.k., I told him I was. It took an hour to get the dog and me out of the car. The dog was dead from the insult of the window, I was covered with blood. I really wasn't o.k., I was in shock, fortunately I worked at a large medical center not far away. After they cited the driver, removed the cars and dog, the trooper offered me a ride to work. He kept asking me if I was o.k., I kept telling him yes. When I got to work and into my office I just started to sob. My secretary called the ER and they sent one of the doc's over. I was a mess. Not physically hurt, but a mess psychologically. Even today when I see dogs in the back of an open truck and I see the shepherd on my lap, the broken front window, the cars whizzing by, and the blood everywhere. It was a life altering experience I don't wish on anyone...and one I have never forgotten.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Wow! We NEVER buckle our doodle in...I am going to get him a seat belt tomorrow. At his weight of 95 lbs. he would have gone flying. Thanks for the wake up call. You take care...the car can be reapiared and you and the dog are fine thank God. Sending our best wishes, Thomas doodle and Debbie.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so glad Bentley was buckled in and everyone is okay!

[Charles Rocheville]

Someone is watching over you all. Glad, you and yours are ok!

[Frannie & Callie]

So glad everyone is ok. Thank goodness you're a good listener (to your inner voice!)

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for sharing this story. We saw a highway accident unfold before us a couple of years ago. A car started spinning in the snow into the our lane and hit the transport in front of us head on. This made a huge impact on me - being first on the scene. The people were stapped into the twisted metal that was once the car. DH was providing first aid and I was on the phone to 911. Other people began to stop and I heard someone cry out. There was another person who had been thrown 100 feet, over a ditch, over a barb wire fence, past a telephone pole and was lying in a snow-covered farner's field. I made my way over and although her arm was clearly broken, she was in pretty good shape - talking to me the whole time, knew her name. Lucky women! You see she stapped her two adolescent kids in, but not herself. Also seeing the debris strewn was incredible. After seeing that I made it priority one to ensure Gavin is always stapped in with his harness. Everyone else too. Glad things turned out okay for you. Please take it easy today!

[Jodi]

Thanks for all the comments! I am fine but sore, of course. I was driving my little Geo Tracker that was purchased to go behind the motorhome so, I call it the tow car. The other car hit the spare tire that sits on the back of the car that had my bike rack on it as well. The spare tire was pushed into the small trunk area but can be fixed. I was so lucky to be hit there. I didn't even think to say that Bentley's seat belt is the harness type that attaches up by his shoulders with a strap that snaps into the seatbelt attachment. It doesn't come close to his neck even when pulled tight. The strap is long enough for him to lay down. The first one I bought I didn't keep even though it was a harness type too but when pulled on the back it seemed too tight around his neck. It was made too long on the chest area and went almost to his neck. I was afraid it might hurt his neck so I got this one. When we were hit his body went as far as the length of the strap and pulled at his shoulders. He was in the backseat but I could see him coming towards me so without being stopped that chance of going thru the windshield is pretty good. I know it is a pain to put on all the different collars, harnesses etc. but I won't even go to the store without him buckled in. He rides in the car just about every day with me. This brought back memories of an accident I was in almost 28 yrs ago. I was on a main residential street and fortunately, childless that day. I was driving a convertible and had some boxes and bags of items for the Goodwill in the back seat. That accident happened so fast I didn't see the bags and boxes fly out but they were all out on the road. I was buckled in so I was okay but the car wasn't. I wasn't going fast but was hit head on and it totaled the car. I had forgotten about that since it happened so long ago but this brought it back.

[Rose]

Very scary! I'm so glad you're both o.k. Thank goodness for that "little voice"!

[Allen and Pamela Kerstetter]

Good job on being a good doodle parent. Everyone laughed when I said I buckle my dog in without a leash. For some reason, I am afraid of both. Duke waits for me to buckle , unleash then leash him up when we arrive and then I unbuckle him.

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a good instinct you had. I hope you and Bentlley will feel less sore soon, since he's probably sore too. I am bad about buckling the dogs in too. I am wondering if those nets between back and front seats would provide at least moderate protection?