You never think it will happen to you.

It seems like just about every other time you check the news, you see someone has been in a horrific automobile accident. You take a moment and grieve for them, but you never really consider the fact that it could possibly happen to you.

It almost happened to me, and it was all within a matter of seconds.

I was driving on a road I was very familiar and comfortable with. I felt relaxed listening to my throwback 90's jams. It was early evening so the sun was still out, and the 70-degree weather made it feel like the perfect summer day. It was an all around feel-good drive.

Until it wasn't.

Driving in the left lane, there was a grassy median next to me. I always thought those ones were so much prettier than the plain, concrete, eyesore medians.

Now, I'll never be able to look at them the same.

I check my mirrors often, so I was confused when all of a sudden I saw grass flying out of the corner of my eyes. At first, I truly thought I was seeing things. Then I turned my head to the left.

I was inches away from a car that was driving on the median. Staring in disbelief at the woman behind the wheel laughing like a madwoman, it felt like minutes had passed, but in reality, it was only a few seconds. My reaction to getting out of the way was delayed as I was frozen with shock.

But this median isn't just grass. There are groups of trees lined all along the center of the median, and the driver from my nightmares was about to hit one.

I saw my life flash before my eyes as I saw her turn her wheel towards my car.

Luckily, I got out of the way just in time, moving over two lanes while miraculously not hitting anyone. I then understood why my mom insisted on me having a cross in my car when I first started driving, and at that moment I was beyond grateful that I had one hanging from my rearview mirror.

It wasn't long before a stream of cop cars came racing past, chasing down the driver that could have potentially ended my life.

Be aware of your surroundings while driving, and have a plan in case something out of the ordinary does happen. It's important to think through what you would do in a dangerous situation before it happens so you can be prepared.

Don't take life for granted and live every day to the fullest. You never know what could happen to you or someone you love.

And never get behind the wheel of a car if you are under any kind of influence. Your poor decisions could be not only your downfall but also that of an innocent person.

Nothing is worth that.