a first person account

an accident story

 by Archie Macanas 

Here is the story with regards to my accident that happened last Friday January 19, 2007 between 1pm to 2pm. Earlier that day, I went to Best Buy to buy something. I went home along Los Feliz Blvd.  I reached the junction of Riverside Street and about to turn left to that Street and I merge to the merger lane. The traffic arrow light has just turned red while the go ahead light still green.  The traffic to that lanes were the fast cars. There were about 4 or 6 cars in front of me waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Even if I was totally stopped I still looked at the back mirror as I used to do and no cars were behind me. I know that I was the last car in that lane. My mind and my body were  relaxed but only my right foot wasn’t because I was busy on the  the pedal brakes.

Suddenly, I heard a “BANG” then my car slammed hard to the back of the SUV in front of me, just like domino effect. The last thing I remember was  my forehead hitting the steering wheel then I went  unconscious. 

Then  a guy tapped my shoulder  asking me if I’m okay. I said, “okay for what?" then I remembered the bang I heard. He asked me again if I’m okay while he was talking in his cell phone. I said, “I don’t think so! I fell dizzy and woozy.” I noticed that he was on the line 911 reps because I heard him telling I wasn’t okay and following some instructions. I tried to get up out from my car but I felt woozy so I went back inside the car.

I couldn’t explain why the airbags of my car did not deploy from the hard impact of the accident.  Later I  searched the Internet re:  the characteristics of the airbags. One of the explanations: when the car is at rest or not moving, even though it will be hit hard by a moving vehicle, the deployment of the airbags will not be activated. Particularly, if the brakes are on.

The lady from the car which hit me said, “are you okay? I’m sorry I didn’t see you; I was confused.” She’s confused all right, she came from a different State. The guy who tapped my shoulder was the driver of the SUV in front of me. He conversed to the lady while I was inside my car trying to settle down. I found a pen amalgamated from the mess occurred inside my car then I wrote the License Plate of her Toyota SUV that hit me, just in case.

After 5 to 10 minutes,  Police cars arrived.Paramedics also came and helicopters were hovering around the vicinity. One of the paramedic put a brace around my neck. Before they put me to the stretcher I was still concerned re: getting the information from the lady who hit me but the police told me it's okay. He said, just mention it to your insurance to get the Police report from the Department of LAPD. Then the ambulance rushed me off to the Glendale Memorial Hospital which was about ¾ mile away from the incident.

Inside the emergency room, after they untied me from the stretcher a doctor come to me started an examination  all over my back by pressing and little squeezing my neck and questions. They give me medicine : one a muscle relaxant and one for pain. Then they transfered me to another bed for immediate x-ray. After 5 hours of observation I got released and x-rays were negative but the Doctor said, “I need you to come back Monday or go to your personal doctor.” The nurse gave me an instruction form for back pain management and prescription for my medicines. Also, instructed me to do minimal movement for 2 days.

Next day after the accident, after I wake up in the morning I suffered stiff neck. I can’t move my head all the way to the right. I called my personal doctor but he was not in, I have to wait Monday. I called the hospital, I was instructed  to continue my medicine and come back Monday.

Sunday, 2nd day from accident my back pain getting worst .Definitely I will go to see my doctor..

Yesterday In the afternoon about 3pm (Saturday), I managed to drive to the Tow Company (LAPD yard) to see my car and to get my belongings. My car was a total wreck. The back of the car was a total damaged. My body, too at that time, felt like s...t, accidents are never good to the people involved!