So, about yesterday

[oloriel]

Thank you for your kind words; they really helped me to calm down. And now you deserve the longer story.

It really was a very minor car crash. I was waiting at a traffic light to turn right. Traffic lights turned green, I started driving when I heard a siren and saw blue flashing lights approaching from the left. So I braked to let the ambulance pass. The driver behind me noticed too late and hit our car. Fortunately, he had only just been accelerating so the force of it wasn't too bad; we (that is, me and the kids) were hurtled ahead a bit, but not bad enough for serious whiplash or anything. Felix started crying because he thought the car was broken and would never drive again. Julian found the whole thing interesting. The driver behind me was under no illusion as to who was the guilty party, although in his defense he claimed he hadn't heard the ambulance. We called the police just to be on the safe side. Of course, the police said that if both parties agreed on what had happened and if there was no damage except to the concerned cars and no people injured, we were welcome to settle it amongst ourselves. Fair enough, but OTOH, you know what insurances are like, if you don't have an official report they'll always try to turn things around so the other side has to pay. So I'm glad the other driver (who had to pay a fine) agreed to call the police at once. As it happens, his family lives pretty close to our place, just up the hill. ("In the whole house next to the half house", in his words. It's a good description if you know the street!)

I'm mostly shaken by the fact that it happened at all, and by the fact that I'll have to contact the insurance and fuss this all out. I was really shaky afterwards. The kids, meanwhile, thought it was a nice adventure. Once Felix had understood that the car was still able to drive and that the damage could be repaired (it's very superficial on our car - a scratched and dented bumper - the other car looks worse - but it's frustrating because we only just bought it a few months ago!), he climbed up onto the embankment to watch the other cars, he gave a vivid account of the accident, and he was delighted that all this slowed our return home so much that he could see the streetlamps in the streets switched on. (He is still in love with lamps and lanterns.) Julian at first found everything too loud, but then he joined Felix in the climbing and lamp-gazing. He asked me to draw him a police car when we got home.

So yeah. We're fine. Just hoping that this has met our accident quota for this winter.

Comments

[heartofoshun]

I am so glad that no one was hurt and that the car was not badly damaged. Accidents and the insurance is no fun.

[hhimring]

It was just you and the kids in the car?
What a relief that the kids coped so well and that the driver was so ready to admit he was at fault!

[independence1776]

I am relieved to hear it's such a minor accident and that the other driver is fully cooperative!

[oloriel]

Indeed. But his insurance called today so things seeeeem to be going smoothly. Phew.

[oloriel]

Yeah, I'd just picked up Julian at the Kindergarten.
Thank you. Yes, I'm very glad about that, too. His insurance called today so he informed them all properly and we can get the car fixed at their cost.

[oloriel]

Thank you! Yes, that's a massive relief.

[ysilme]

What a nuisance! But still, I'm so glad it was so minor, with you all unhurt and the small people relatively unfazed (if they're anything like my middle niece, who went with mother, sister, and dog, through a similar accident, it's going to be something to boast with /O\ ). I keep my fingers crossed for smooth insurance and repair proceedings! When I had my own fun with cars earlier this year, the most annoying part - apart from the shock of the event itself - was having to look for a new car (which I still really love, although it's already proved to be much less comfortable in winter than the previous, not cool, one was).
But I so get the being shaken part! *hugs* I went through this tree times now, and event he most minor first incident really shook me up. I'm now carrying rescue drops in the glove compartment (also secretly hoping this will implore fate to not have me needing them ever again.)

On a completely different side note: do you remember our short conversation about the Last Kingdom series and the books? I've bought the ebook but hadn't started with it yet (my complete Darkover re-read came in between, which isn't finished yet), but started watching the series the other day, and I'm totally loving it. The books are definitely to follow soon!

[oloriel]

They're not necessarily boasting, but they do love to retell and mimic the accident story indeed. I guess it's very exciting. The other driver's insurance already called and said they'll cover the whole cost (though I'm not sure they'll also cover the rental car I'll need while I don't have my own, but I'll find out), so I'm hopeful there won't be any further complications. I'm certainly glad we won't need to replace the car. We only just bought it in summer.

The thing that really shakes us is the mental cinema showing us everything that could have gone wrong and could still go on, I suspect! >_>

But eeee! I don't recall our conversation, but I'm glad to hear that you enjoy the series. The books are, of course, covering everything in more depth so you'll still be able to enjoy them after seeing the series. I thought the first season was alright but the second was awesome, so I'm optimistic you'll continue enjoying it! :)