Having being involved in a serious auto accident and having no auto insurance, I can speak from my own personal experience of the extreme trauma that occurs. It is a tragedy you would never want yourself, or any of your loved ones or friends to ever go through. The impact a traumatic experience like this has on your life can be emotionally, psychologically and financially paralysing for many years after an accident has occurred.

While I was only the front passenger at the time, I can still vividly remember seeing the driver continuously pump the brake pedal as we gathered momentum speeding downhill without brakes, in bumper-to-bumper two-way traffic. The fear that escalated as I sensed the impending collision, (we hit a small auto in front of us) – and the impact of that caused our auto to roll over upside down into on-coming traffic. In all we hit four other autos – as we rolled several times back onto the correct side of the road and landed on the roof.

Our back seat passenger was seriously injured (quadriplegic) and she survived for only thirteen months after the accident and died as a result of the injuries she had sustained. We were all teenagers at the time – and there was no drink or speed involved. In our case, it was a mechanical failure of the master brake system, combined with an inexperienced driver, who had also overlooked the necessity of auto insurance.

The impact that the accident had on us, and our families (and the families of the drivers of the other cars’ involved) was enormous and continued to impact us for many years later. At the time, I was engaged to the driver and we married three months later – but probably should not have due to the enormous amount of stress that we were suffering from. Our wedding was cloaked in sadness rather than joy.

Some of the consequences that we faced as a result of having no auto insurance were:-

• The victim’s parents commenced litigation against us, for a personal damages claim of $1-2 million. In the 1970’s that was a lot of money, that as a newly-wed couple we did not have, so were facing the prospect of filing bankruptcy.

• For seven years our accident case remained open (where any of the insurance companies of the other four autos involved could have sued us for the damages bills they had to pay for their clients’ insurance claims).

• Our vehicle was a write-off and without auto insurance we had no funds to replace it.

• I experienced paranoia whenever I was being driven in a car at speed – but especially when travelling downhill. My fear was so intense that I would often want to jump out of the moving car – rather than stay in it experiencing the fear of brake failure. At the time of the accident, I was not a driver, so I had to get over my fear to be able to learn to drive and take back control of my life – that took me more than seven years to deal with and overcome that fear.

• My husband became a heavy drinker (to numb his pain) as we both suffered from “survivor guilt”. In addition to the heavy drinking, he was also suicidal for the ten years we were married.

• I bought two children into the world for the wrong reasons (as a means to give him a reason to live). When the suicide attempts continued, I realised that in my desperation to help him, I had in fact made things worse, by trapping him into the role of sole provider and being responsible for three lives as well as his own. All I did was compound his problems.

• After ten years of stress, fear, guilt, etc, my sanity was paramount to my children’s welfare – so I chose to separate from my husband. Ironically, after our separation, I believe he never attempted suicide again – so it was the dynamics of our relationship that kept us “locked into” that behaviour.

Had we organised and paid for the auto insurance before we undertook our trip back to our hometown to make the final arrangements for our wedding – then we would not have faced anywhere near as much trauma as we did. The premium for auto insurance is a small price to pay for peace of mind – to know that in the possibility of having an auto accident, your passengers and vehicle are protected financially.

When people state that they cannot afford auto insurance, I always reiterate to them that they cannot afford NOT to have insurance, because the price they will pay in emotional, psychological and financial stress, if they do not have it – is far greater than the premium they will need to pay. It is a small price for peace of mind. Do your due diligence and seek out the best auto insurance quote for your requirements.

Joni Eareckson Tada was paralysed (with quadraplegia) as a result of a diving accident more than thirty years ago. At the time, she questioned how she could be condemned to spending her life in a wheelchair by her loving God. However, to this day, she is grateful, due to the fact that it was from her perspective in a wheelchair that she discovered that God is so compassionate and caring that nothing could separate her or anyone else (including you) from His enduring and tender love.

This is an unabridged digital audio version of her story, recounting her honest pain and joy she has experienced in God's presence. As you listen to her journey you will unravel your own stories, touch on your memories, and become aware of your own personal experieinces with the living God. Joni Eareckson Tada reveals a beautiful, intimate, and moving memoir of how she learned for herself that regardless of her circumstances, God is always faithful. He is the God worthy of your love, as His promises are true - that He will never leave you nor forsake you.