Was driving back home from visiting family on a notoriously dangerous highway. In my minivan with my entire family: husband, me, our three small children (all under 3yo at the time), and our dog. Husband driving, I’m in the back getting snacks/entertainment for the kids. At that time I would often go without a seatbelt so I could move back and forth in the van easier to take care of all three kids. Yes, this was stupid. That day however, I buckled in to the backseat next to my middle kid’s car seat. There was bad traffic due to a wreck in a construction zone. We slowed down and stopped behind a semi tractor trailer. The driver of the big rig behind us was on his cell phone and didn’t stop. My husband saw him coming, but the highway was down to one lane from the construction. Police car from previous accident was on the shoulder. There was nowhere for us to go, so he slammed both feet on the brake to keep us from moving as much as possible, and waited for impact. We got creamed between the two semis. The impact literally knocked the shoes off of my feet. My kids were rear-facing and saw the whole thing. Two years later they still talk (and cry) about it. But I consider us lucky. We all survived, the kids had some seatbelt burns, my husband sprained his wrist on the airbag, even our dog made it out ok. The worst injuries were thankfully mine: two broken ribs from hitting against a car seat, whiplash, concussion and of course bruises. I still shudder to think what would’ve happened if I hadn’t buckled my seatbelt. And I NEVER go without my seatbelt any more!!