What My Auto Accident Taught Me
Recently, on a pleasant Sunday morning, my wife and I left for church. Within a mile or so of the church, I pulled up to a red light and stopped. As usual, the light seemed longer than necessary. At last, it changed and I stepped on the pedal of my diesel and began to slowly move through the intersection.
In the meantime, an elderly lady was also on her way to church. Unfortunately she did not see that her light was red. The next thing I knew she had rammed into the rear tire on the driver’s side of my car and spun us around 180°. She ricocheted off my car and plowed into a car waiting in the left-hand turn lane to make a turn.
My first concern was the safety of all involved. My wife and I had our seat belts on and were at least able to walk. (Later, I learned from experience about soft tissue injury that I have heard about all my life.) The car that hit us contained two elderly ladies. I asked them if there were OK and they said, “Yes,” but one was complaining of chest pains. So, I immediately called 911 on my cell phone for paramedics. The lady with the chest pains was taken to the hospital.
Having done everything I could at the moment, the thought struck me that this accident was not my fault, but this could end up being my word against hers. At that point, I went to several people standing around to ask if they had seen the accident. Several said they had and that it was the elderly lady who ran the red light. Needless to say, we got their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
After giving the police a report, I had some church members who had come upon the scene take me to church. Arriving just at service time, I was able to speak.
After it was all over, I began to feel sore. Later, I learned that they wanted to total my car. Apparently, the elderly lady did not admit it was her fault. I then heard about a case where there were no witnesses, just two drivers each claiming that they had the green light. The jury was deadlocked with six on each side.
I, however, was confident. I had four witnesses that saw the accident. It was then, that it hit me. What if they would not give a statement! What if they would not testify! This could get ugly. I know they saw what happened; they said so at the time of the accident, but what if, for some reason, they changed their minds later and didn’t tell what they knew. They would be worthless witnesses.
From my accident, I learned it is possible to have worthless witnesses! Fortunately, in my case, they told what they knew and the insurance company fixed my car, but for a moment I had a small glimpse of what the Lord must think. We who know the Lord have witnessed first hand the grace of God and He wants us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8). Unfortunately, too many of His witnesses are worthless. It must make Him sad.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 8/30/2003
In the meantime, an elderly lady was also on her way to church. Unfortunately she did not see that her light was red. The next thing I knew she had rammed into the rear tire on the driver’s side of my car and spun us around 180°. She ricocheted off my car and plowed into a car waiting in the left-hand turn lane to make a turn.
My first concern was the safety of all involved. My wife and I had our seat belts on and were at least able to walk. (Later, I learned from experience about soft tissue injury that I have heard about all my life.) The car that hit us contained two elderly ladies. I asked them if there were OK and they said, “Yes,” but one was complaining of chest pains. So, I immediately called 911 on my cell phone for paramedics. The lady with the chest pains was taken to the hospital.
Having done everything I could at the moment, the thought struck me that this accident was not my fault, but this could end up being my word against hers. At that point, I went to several people standing around to ask if they had seen the accident. Several said they had and that it was the elderly lady who ran the red light. Needless to say, we got their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
After giving the police a report, I had some church members who had come upon the scene take me to church. Arriving just at service time, I was able to speak.
After it was all over, I began to feel sore. Later, I learned that they wanted to total my car. Apparently, the elderly lady did not admit it was her fault. I then heard about a case where there were no witnesses, just two drivers each claiming that they had the green light. The jury was deadlocked with six on each side.
I, however, was confident. I had four witnesses that saw the accident. It was then, that it hit me. What if they would not give a statement! What if they would not testify! This could get ugly. I know they saw what happened; they said so at the time of the accident, but what if, for some reason, they changed their minds later and didn’t tell what they knew. They would be worthless witnesses.
From my accident, I learned it is possible to have worthless witnesses! Fortunately, in my case, they told what they knew and the insurance company fixed my car, but for a moment I had a small glimpse of what the Lord must think. We who know the Lord have witnessed first hand the grace of God and He wants us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8). Unfortunately, too many of His witnesses are worthless. It must make Him sad.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 8/30/2003