The document summarizes the author's experience in a reckless driving car accident that affected their life and view on vehicle safety. Before the accident, the author was not very aware of safety measures like wearing a seatbelt. During the accident, the author realized they could have been more seriously injured if not for their seatbelt. After the accident, the author became very cautious about always buckling up and following other safety practices. The accident influenced the author to help others become more aware of traffic safety.

1. BUCKLE UP
Rebecca Reeves

2. “We don't heal in isolation, but in
community.”
-S. Kelley Harrell

3. CONTENT OVERVIEW
• My Position Shift
• Before the shift
• What changed my view
• After the shift
• How others responded
• How I responded

4. POSITION SHIFT
I became more aware of the safety about
driving

5. BEFORE THE SHIFT
• Before, I was not really aware about
being safe in a vehicle
• Lenient with wearing a seat belt
• Did not think a car accident as terrible as
mine would actually happen to me.

6. DURING THE SHIFT
• I was the victim in a reckless driving car
accident
• Affected mine and three other’s lives
tremendously
• Realized that the injuries I suffered could have
been a lot worse if I did not take
precautionary measures that day
• Seat Belt

7. AFTER THE SHIFT
• Always buckle seat belt before I drive
• When I started driving in high school, I was a very
cautious and afraid most of the times
• Always go the speed limit
• My parents made sure that my first car had safety
features
• This accident has affected me and my family by
leaving us with fear that something that horrible
could ever happen again.

8. HOW OTHERS RESPONDED
After the accident, many people came to help my family. I
was released from the trauma hospital late that night after the
accident. Many neighbors were already at my house waiting to
help my mother and father with anything that they needed. Many
volunteered to cook, clean, and run errands. After this accident,
many of those who helped have promised to become more
careful while driving. Witnessing my accident I think became a
huge wake up call.

9. HOW I RESPONDED
I spent most of that summer inside in bed recovering.
After the accident, I became scared to even get into a car. That
was something I had to overcome that summer. I soon started
becoming more comfortable on the car rides to my doctor
appointments. My father promised me as long as that you are
cautious and careful, car accidents are preventable. This
influenced me to take on my fear and just to be more aware
about vehicle safety. If it were not for my father, I would not
have overcome such a fear and probably would have not been
able to drive today.

10. HOW CAN I HELP OTHERS
Start or join a group that supports those who have been
traumatized in a car accident before
Tell my story and how I have overcome my trauma to
others
Volunteer at a hospital
Help others who have been hurt not just by car accidents,
but have suffered other traumas
Volunteered at Lehigh Valley Hospital in the summer of
2011

11. CONCLUSION
It does not have to be specifically a car accident that may
changes someone's position like mine. People experience
traumatic occurrences daily and have position shifts on many
other topics. I am thankful that a lesson came out of my
accident. I hope it helps others to step up and become more
aware about vehicle safety.

13. WORKS CITED
“Quotes about trauma”. Goodreads. Gooreads Inc. 2013. 12 Feb 2013. Web.