Seatbelt saved my life last night...
 

So last night I was out driving with some friends. My Miata was actually totaled about a week and a half ago ( girl pulled out 15 feet in front of me on a busy road). So I was riding in my friends mustang. I was in the front right passenger seat and my roommate was in the back right seat. We were only about 2 minutes from my apartment and it had been raining. The rain had stopped but the roads were still wet.

We were driving and my friend ( the one driving) said " you think I can break lose" and I said back " Ya...." I said it in a way as "ya you can... and don't try to." He hits the gas tires break lose and we were going straight and then the car started to turn right. He didn't compensate at all for the change in direction.

Next thing I knew we went up the curb and the back left side of the car clipped a power line pole which sent the car sliding to the right some where we took a tree completely out and then collided head on with another tree. Estimated speed when hopping the curb was between 40-47 mph. We hardly slowed down at all on the grass since it was so wet/slick. The pole really didn't slow us down at all cause it was a small clip.

The first tree we hit slowed us down to about 30-35 mph and thats when we hit the other tree head on. The tree we took out was nearly as thick as the tree that stopped us. I never EVER ride in a car without my seatbelt. This was the most violent crash I have ever been in. I didn't see the trees so I didn't brace myself very much. I don't know if it was cause I closed my eyes or if maybe my brain wasn't comprehending what was happening. The airbag felt like Mike Tyson punching me as hard as he could in my face.

My friend that was driving and that was in the back were fine. I stumbled out of the car and laid against the fence where I started throwing up a little bit. My head felt like it was in a vice grip being compressed by all sides and I was extremely dizzy. I didn't even notice that I had a massive gash in my left leg until I felt the blood running down my leg.

I didn't really look to see how bad the car was because I was in so much pain the entire time, but from what I saw the front of the car had been pushed back about 2-3 feet. The police came and said they were calling the EMS. I just laid next to the fence the whole time until the firetruck got there. They check me out and said it didn't look like I had a concussion. I told them I didn't want a ambulance ride (very expensive). My head started to feel a little better and I didn't feel like puking as much anymore. They checked my pulse and it seemed fine.

They told my roommate to watch me that night just in case. I got back to the apartment and cleaned my wounds. My right leg had a very large cut/ abrasion not sure from what. My guess is that it was from the plastic on the dash. Under my chin there is a large abrasion ( probably from the seatbelt). When the police and firemen were there checking me out they asked me if I was wearing my seatbelt and I told them " If I wasn't wearing my seatbelt I would of gone through the window and into the tree"

I was EXTREMELY mad at my friend. This wreck was completely preventable. He was telling me he was really sorry and what not. Besides the injuries I had we are all very lucky to have walked away as we did.

I am nervous every time I get in a car now. Today I was riding with a different friend ( not in the wreck) going to the car impound where the mustang got towed and a guy ran a red light and came about 10 feet from T-boning us.

I have no doubt that the seatbelt saved my life or at least kept me from very serious injury. The airbag did mess my head up pretty bad though, I think it was good it was there. I was happy that a tree branch didn't come through the window and impale someone.

Went to the ER today and got 18 stitches in the gash on my left leg. Turns out I had a minor concussion.

Just want to put it out there that EVERYONE should ALWAYS wear their seatbelt.

Good to hear you are OK!

I can't imagine anyone driving around without a seatbelt. I put mine on as soon as the key is turned to ignition, and usually before I even let out the clutch after putting the trans in neutral.

Wow, glad you only have minor injuries! Only time I have ever really been a passenger in a fast car was in a Ruf Porsche on the track going 180+mph!!

Wow, that sounds a little rediculous. That whole matter of things just beyond my comprehension. I know people get nervous when they drive with me, though some seek it out. However, that doesn't even make much sense to me. Even in my tiny little stock miata, after a rain i can unintentionally spin tires and do from time to time. If I'm ever doing something "intentionally" it's always with the best attention payed to the surroundings and immediate recognition of something amiss.

I ALWAYS wear my seatbelt and always tell my passenger to. Really sounds like you should get your friend some driving lessons, perhaps some ice driving lessons.

Typical Mustang driver:jerkit:

I'm pretty sure that if someone i was riding with did something so stupid, i'd more then likely beat his face.


And another example of airbags doing more harm then good.

Glad you're OK. What's really cool is in a week or 10 days or so, you can pull your own stitches out. They come out kind of like shoe laces, and it's actually kind of fun to do, especially if they're the thicker stitches.

Where's the challenge in breaking loose the tires in the wet?

Glad you're not dead.

Feel sorry for you that you have friends that drive mustangs.

Thats ridiculous.

I am not ultra religious but if I was you I would go to your place of worship and make a small donation.

As for your friend... well... freaking idiot is all I have to say. Who's dumb enough to try and break traction at speed? In the rain much less. Maybe from a dead stop, but cmon.

Its good you dident brace youself, woulda done more harm. You are supposed to go limp.

glad to hear your ok!

true, i do more harm to my girlfriend when i don't go limp

lol...

I am very thankful I got away with the minor injuries I have.

Glad to hear that you are OK, you really should have gone straight to the emergency room. Even a minor concussion can be a serious issue before all is said and done. Your friends insurance would have covered your ER visit, that's why we pay for the med coverages in all basic insurance plans.

As far as your friend - IDIOT comes to mind, NOT a friend when they will risk other people to do stupid stuff. EVERYONE basically knows that wet roads can cause loss of control and most all take that into consideration as to NOT have an accident.

Seatbelts and air bags are very good things to have, using them is the wisest thing anyone could possibly do. There are many who do not use their seatbelts, but most who do not eventually find out the hard way about injuries, and also that an insurance company can deny claims if the belt is not used.

Again, glad you were not more seriously hurt, you will eventually overcome andy fears or hesitations while riding as a passenger with others. Fully understandable that you have that issue at this time.

Me too.

Glad you are ok man.

^Agreed.

Probably head/neck/spinal injury and you didn't go to the ER because it was expensive? That's what insurance is for. It wouldn't cost you a dime.

Even skipping the ambulance and having someone else drive you to the ER is a better option than having an internal head bleed, going to bed and not waking up.

Hope when you feel better you make the driver of the car feel worse! ;-)

definitely take a quick trip to urgent care to get an xray at the least. there are a ton of things that can happen to your neck/head in a crash. hairline fractures in your spine, concussion.. etc etc...

glad youre alive, and i suggest you throw a heavy rock at your friends head.

one thing i try to avoid with passengers is doing stupid shit. if im alone, fine have all the fun i want but not with someone else in the car...

Glad your alright, sounds scary as hell.

When I was a kid my Mom wouldn't start the car until we had our seat belts on. Good way to get kids into the habit. By time I got my own car it was just a habit of putting it on.

Glad your alright, sounds like it hasn't been a very good month for you. Hope everything turns around.

As for your friend with the mustang.......

Finally got some pictures of the wreck...

and don't forget the trees...