Monday, April 6, 2009

We Got Bonked!

"We got bonked?"
"Yes, Biddy. We had an accident." 
"Why?"  
"Well, another car hit us."  
"Why?"  
"The guy said his foot slipped off the brake pedal and hit the gas pedal."  
"Why?"  
"I don't know Biddy. He didn't mean to do it. It was an accident and accidents happen sometimes."  
"Why?"   
Silence.  
"We got bonked?"  
And the conversation began anew.
   
We got rear-ended on Friday coming back from music class. We were waiting our turn, to turn left when it happened. Oncoming traffic was heavy. Biddy and I were looking forward to lunch and a nap, and were only about four blocks from the house, when BOOM–we were hit.
    
My initial reaction was to provide commentary exclaiming, "We were just rear-ended!" I then turned to Biddy asking, "Are you alright? Are you okay?" This is when he began to cry. He calmed down quickly, and was physically fine, but the loud BOOM of being hit and mommy's scared reaction was scary and overwhelming.    

The guy who hit us motioned to make the left before pulling over to exchange information. In shock but still with wits, I realized this was a safer option than jumping out and inspecting the car on a major thoroughfare. I nodded agreement, soothed Biddy, made the left, pulled over, got out shaking, and met the guy that hit us. I think we even shook hands (his prompting, not mine) and then surveyed the damage. Our bumper looked torn up, cut and scarred. His bumper and his hood looked both wrinkled and crushed. Apparently his Civic is lower to the ground than our Passat.   

He greeted me with paperwork in hand. I hadn’t yet thought to retrieve mine. I couldn't think of much else except Biddy, opening the rear door to again make sure he was okay, telling the guy I needed to check on my boy. "I okay, Mommy. I okay." The guy was very nice asking if I needed paper. I said I did. I got my information and gave it to him. Both of us bent over the trunk copying essentials. He took full responsibility saying he would call Geiko at 1:30 pm when he returned home and tell them it was his fault. He said he was sorry about ten times; he asked after Biddy about eleven times.    

Information exchanged, we got back in our cars and drove away. Still shaking, I called B saying, “Looks like a new bumper is in our future!” Admittedly, this was a bit crass but I was venting. When we got home, Biddy and I played for a while and talked. I wanted to observe him, making sure he was fine, and he wanted to talk about what happened over and over.    

"We got bonked?"  
"Yes, Biddy. We got into an accident."  
"Why?"  
"Another car ran into us."  
"Why?"  
"The guy's foot slipped off the brake pedal and hit the gas pedal."  
"Why?"  
"I’m not sure honey. He didn't mean to do it. It was an accident and accidents happen sometimes."  
"Why?"   
Silence.  
"We got bonked?"  
And the conversation began anew.   

We must have had this same conversation at least thirty times throughout the day until Biddy felt satisfied in understanding.   

The accident freaked B out too, so he came home early from work to make sure we were both alright. I made grilled cheese sandwiches for the three of us and then put Biddy down for a nap. He slept for three-hours! Poor guy, he was completely tuckered out. 
  
I called our insurance company and filed a claim. True to his word, the guy called me around 1:40 pm to apologize again and give me the claim number he had just filed. Geiko called immediately afterwards. I spent about fifteen minutes on the phone with them. They're going to fix it, give us a rental car for the time it's in the shop, and they're going to reimburse us for a new car seat. According to California law, if your child is sitting in his car seat during an accident, the car seat must be inspected and replaced. Who knew?

I was out of it after talking to both insurance companies. Instead of doing anything productive, I spent an hour or so reading US magazine in the sun with a heating pad on my back. It was bothering me–not sure if it was from the jolt or just because my back is a bother but it is fine today. After Biddy woke, the three of us headed to Babies R’ Us to buy another car seat as we need to have it on-hand when we arrive at the repair shop next week. 
    
My hands stopped shaking after about an hour but my heart felt shaky until finally falling asleep. It's one thing to get into an accident by yourself but having your baby, (your flesh and blood, your be-all-and-end-all in the car with you) bumps the significance factor up to a whole new stratosphere.   

What if he was hurt? Thank goodness he wasn't. What if it was worse? Thank goodness it wasn't. What if? What if? What if? Thank goodness "What if?" didn’t happen. Thank goodness we only got bonked!

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