Ow! Happy Birthday Meme'.

Kids call my mother in law Meme'. Growing up on a farm bordering on the Canadian border I assume it's French.

She is a spry 84, danced with the kids at Ian's wedding and can out shop my wife (a notable feat)

On her 84th birthday she was sitting at a red light when a 4X4 pickup planked her from behind. A woman following the pickup said he never even lifted, no brake light. She saw the accident about to happen and started pulling over before it even happened. She talked to the cops when they showed up. The guy was ticketed.

Meme' bounces out of the car and walks to the curb. She's fine. Without seeing it coming she didn't have a chance to tense up so she has no soreness, dizziness, stiffness.

She's fine.

Meme's been in the Blue Oval family for >35 years, she wants a Fusion of Focus. I dread the day she and my wife have "the talk".

The hard part now is taking her around looking for a replacement....

Looks like it took the impact well.

Joey

It's spelled "Memere" (my great-grandmother was French Canadian).

Sorry to hear about the wreck, but super-happy she's okay. Too bad the new Fusion isn't out yet (the Aston looking one). I'd say to strap her in a Focus hatch and she what she thinks.

Funnily enough my Memere never drove, but Pepere did and it was always a Ford. A succession of TBirds.

Oh I'm so glad she is OK, that could have been so much worse. Imagine if a car had been about to go through the intersection and plowed into her at speed from the side. She is so lucky. I wouldn't be surprised if she is sore after a day or two, that's a heck of a hit.

My thoughts are with you all and I hope she finds just the car she's looking for!

I'd have to say that crumple zone worked like a charm.

Glad she's OK, that could have been a bad one.

She did end up on the other side of the intersection and the truck 2 lengths into it. The angels were smiling that day, could have taken out someone broadside.

Crumple zone maybe, but all the magic in the bumper went under the truck frame.

Dan

About the "talk": Have it NOW. Tell her that she is 84, and that while she is 100% fine to drive today, there might be a time in the near future that she won't be. Make sure that she knows that when that time comes, you are not doing it to be a mean nasty butt head, but you are doing it because it needs to be done.

This is coming from my mothers and my own experiences trying to get the keys from my great aunt--a woman who never married and drove everywhere. She wouldn't even listen to the talk, we finally had to simply take her keys about 6 months ago when she was in the hospital for 2 weeks.

berkeley dude, get her another taurus just like that one. and raise a glass to us automotive engineers. she's alive because of us.

Those cars are great for crashing. I'm glad she fared well.

WOW.

She's had to be a little sore. Amazing that an 84 y/o woman could walk away from a crash that violent.

I hope the dude who hit her got a little beaten-up. What a menace.

And I sincerely hope that you get her the nastiest bad ass attorney in town to go after that bastard for every thing he has. I'ld love to be in the court room when Meme testifies against him. Hehehehe. Little old lady, just sitting there, gets plowed by Mr. Meathead? Juries love that stuff. So do attorneys.

Glad to see she is OK. Yay for crumple zones.

cwh wrote: And I sincerely hope that you get her the nastiest bad ass attorney in town to go after that bastard for every thing he has. I'ld love to be in the court room when Meme testifies against him. Hehehehe. Little old lady, just sitting there, gets plowed by Mr. Meathead? Juries love that stuff. So do attorneys.

You rang? NY accident, right? Seriously though, PM me for my cell number and give me a call so I can walk you through all the stuff that has to be done under NY law to protect her. And I'm betting by tomorrow she will be awfully sore...

Thanks Pigeon, but it's been five days with no soreness or anything. As we speak she's out with my wife car shopping.

Meme' is a fan of the Blue Oval, my wife just called to ask me if I knew anything about Nissan Maximas. 2008 Maxima, 41,000 miles, all the stuff, $16k @ a Stealership.

KBB says $17 - 19k; NADA says $18 - 21k.

Whaddaya think?

Dan

If she's that big of a fan, put her back in a Ford or you'll never hear the end of it.

In reply to 914Driver:

Glad to hear that she's doing well. Just for her protection make sure that she calls her carrier and opens a no fault claim for possible medical, it has to be opened within 30 days of the accident and will close on it's own after one year of no activity. Not a chargeable claim so no premium hit, and good protection just in case something turns up.

man... that impact couldn't have been more like 'lab designed' unless it was in a test lab. I mean, just every shock break and deceleration feature did its job judging from the picture.

I dunno about you as far as repacement, but someone in their 80s can't enjoy the step down into most sedans... maybe car-chassis suv?

AngryCorvair wrote: berkeley dude, get her another taurus just like that one. and raise a glass to us automotive engineers. she's alive because of us.

THIS!!!

Super glad to hear shes fine.

madmallard wrote: I dunno about you as far as repacement, but someone in their 80s can't enjoy the step down into most sedans... maybe car-chassis suv?

When we were car shopping about 2 years ago, we drove a flex - it was pretty nice, rode well, easy ingress/egress. We really liked it, and now it comes with b00st y0! We went with a GMC Terrain basically only because we get a GM Family discount, but the Flex was a really nice 2nd choice, and probably would make a good car for someone needing a taller vehicle. Bonus that it has some storage capacity for all that shopping!

Hey Pigeon- Somehow I didn't peg you as one of "Those" attorneys. But I guess you all have to learn how to play hardball. Please let us know how it goes, if you are permitted to do so. Same with ECM. We all worry about her, too.

Thanks guys. Much like her decision to move nearby us from Ohio, my wife left it up to her; that way the "Well you made me do this" conversation never comes up or is easily defeated.

Same with cars. She's happy, we're happy. I don't care if she rolls up in a Freightliner, my job [silly son in law] is to shut up, smile and nod.

Dan

BTW, if any of you guys are having domestic issues, call me at 1-800-thats-stoopid and I may be able to walk you through some land mines.