Ok..
Many of you will think this is a strange title to be writting from experience, but unfortunately it isn't!
In 2005 I wrote of my 'T' reg ford focus estate!
I was driving and my husband and eldest daughter were also in the car (the youngest 
wasn't about then!), we were in France, which obviously made matters worse!
My husband was asleep in the back, not wearing a seat belt! And my daughter was in her car seat, also in the back, also asleep.
The accident was very serious and was not my fault, although no other car's were physically involved!
To cut a long story short my daughter was in her second stage car seat which i had cleaned and refitted less than two days before the accident. This particular car seat was purchased from a well known store in the UK where they have advisors that ensure the seats are appropriate for your car and child. The car seat may have cost a little more than purchasing one elsewhere, but i felt that for piece of mind it was worth it...
And, it sure was!
Just so that you are aware why I feel so strongly about ensuring the safety of our children with appropriate seats, etc in our cars, let my tell you a little about the accident:
It was dry, we were on a dual carriageway, we were going at between 45 and 50 MPH.
I pulled across in order to overtake and the car in front of the truck that i was overtaking pulled across in front of me , causing me to have to brake very sharply.
At this point the ABS braking system should have, but didn't kick in!
And so the car began to skid, it went into the central reservation (but not through it!) and then began to spin. As it was slowing down and I was thinking 'well at least i've not hit another car!', it hit a road side emergency phone box (at the back drivers side) and flipped!!!!
Yes it flipped right over and rolled, not once, but at least four times!
It was at this point that my little princess woke up, screaming 'Mummy!'
I just kept shouting 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry!'
The windows came through and the roof partly caved in (we had a roof box on the car).
When the car stopped, I had to force my door to get out, I ran round to the back passengers side and took out the carseat containing my daughter.
I ran with her up the embankment and talked to her for a few seconds; she was asking for Daddy!
I thought he had been thrown from the car, because I didn't hear him or see him when I got Caitlin out.
I left Caitlin in her car seat on the embankment and went back to the car.
Craig was lying in the foot wells behind the seats in the back.
At first I didn't know what to do, but after that split second I thought I'm moving him, in case the car goes up!
As I started to talk to him and try to move him from the car he regained consiciousness, and didn't understand what had happened, until he got out!!!!
Needless to say that at first I got a mouthful!
The truck and the car that pulled across in front of me had continued on their way, probably oblivious to the destruction left behind them!!
Lots of other cars stopped and phoned the emergency services. Their was a Dr in one of the vehicles behind and he immediately looked at my precious little one for me.
He could spek some english and I could speak some french, so we managed!
He assured me that it was safe to loosen the straps on the car seat a little as it appearred that Caitlin was ok. The emergency services were fab, three paramedic fire trucks a tow truck and two police cars arrived very promptly!
The pararmedics again checked Caitlin (who was 19 months old) and let me take her from the support of her seat, she had a small glass cut on her face and one on her arm, and miraculously that was the entirity on her injuries!
I got away with cuts and a lot of bruising, and Craig had mild concushion and bruising.
We had all lived through an absolute horror of a crash.
I was informed at the hospital that if i had not had a good car seat that was checked (by me!) regularly, there would have been no doubt on the outcome for Caitlin on that day! I can't think about it, it terrifies me that I could have wiped out my little family in a few seconds.
If i had not been belted in, i would have gone through the windscreen, and as for Craig....
Someone was looking out for him that day!
I couldn't stop apologising, which annoyed Craig a little, as after the initial shock all he could do was keep telling us how much he loved us!
WE WERE LUCKY!
AND THE REASON I HAVE TOLD THE WHOLE STORY IS TO TRY TO POINT OUT THAT, IN MY OPINION, CHILD CAR SEATS COULD COST THOUSANDS, BUT I WOULD NEVER BE WITHOUT THEM....
ULTIMATELY...
CAR SEATS SAVE LIVES!
IF YOU ARE EVER UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE AN ACCIDENT, ALWAYS REMOVE THE SEAT CONTAINING YOUR CHILD, NEVER REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THE SEAT, UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN CHECKED OVER.
On leaving France, the car seat was put in a skip, as once a seat has been in ANY accident it's safety cannot be guaranteed.
PLEASE ALWAYS ENSURE THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILDREN, USE APPROPRIATE RESTRAINTS IN YOUR VEHICLES, DON'T RISK THEIR LIVES!
To many of you this goes without saying, but even now even though it is law in the UK; I have still seen children travelling in a vehicle, totally unrestrained, and it makes my blood run cold!
Be safe everyone, I don't want anyone to have to endure months of nightmares and flashbacks that I did; of what could have been....
I'm sorry if you've found this a little mundain and depressing as you've read through, but every word is true, and my horrific experience as it happened.
I've been blunt and truthful in order to get the point across, I hope it works...
Lots of love and best wishes to all of you and your precious families; stay safe,
Lisa xxxx.
(February 23rd) (
