by Mona Rigdon

Created on: November 19, 2008   Last Updated: December 17, 2008

Insurance has saved me lots of money and heartache over the last three years. I can't imagine trying to drive without it.

After realizing my insurance policy had lapsed weeks before, I finally purchased a new policy that would go into effect at 12:01 am that night. The next day, while driving through the intersection at a busy cross-street, I noticed as I passed under the light that it was definitely red. Before I have time to berate myself for not paying closer attention, I see it coming. Then, CRASH! This sweet but oblivious little old lady slammed into my van so hard, I thought for sure one of us would be injured! I don't think she even saw me in her way as she attempted to turn left. Either way, the accident was my fault. Thank God I purchased that insurance, right?

As I got out to survey the damage done, I groaned at the bumper hanging off her car, and at the dents and gash down the side of my minivan. Fearing the worst as she slowly got out of her vehicle, I asked her if she was okay. I am not sure what i expected, but a tirade about how I just ruined her bowling day certainly wasn't on my list of possible responses. It turned out that this woman was 88 years old and was on the way to her bowling league. And boy, was she mad!

Knowing that my insurance company could not compensate her for her lost day of bowling, I asked her if she was actually injured or hurting anywhere. Thankfully, she was not. As I assured her that my insurance company would cover her damages, she assured me that she would sue the pants off of me if I tried to screw her over because she was old.

My van had over $3,000.00 in damages. Her car had about $1200.00 in damages. Then we had the cost of the wrecker, and rental cars for both of us as our vehicles were being repaired. Without insurance, I would be in real trouble. How in the world could I have gone without insurance that long, and how much more blessed could I be that my accident occurred 12 hours after my insurance policy became effective, and not 12 hour before.

I reflected to another time when car insurance saved my butt. While teaching a children's class at church one Wednesday night, a friend stopped by the church to tell me that someone had hit my van that was parked down the street at my house. I walked into the church parking lot and peered down the street. Sure enough, my van was somehow in my neighbors' yard, on top of their new rose bushes.

I arranged for someone to watch my class and sprinted home, only to find that some

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