I'm so glad you're safe. Re. Rick's note about his sister-in-law swerving, I had an experience with swerving too. Frank Sinatra was singing "My Way" on the car radio as I drove to work in 1969 or '70. There was a box turtle in the road, I swerved, I hyroplaned (this was in Maryland, where rain actually falls sometimes, and the road was slick), started to go off the road to the right toward a home with a big front window, wrestled the car around so it did not go off that direction, recrossed the road, went off the road to the left, drove into a ditch, rolled and hit a small tree. I crawled out of the overturned wreckage and Frank was still singing. As far as I know the turtle was fine. So yes, I agree, hit the turtle, dog or cat before swerving in a dangerous situation. I'm not sure about a large animal though. Certainly I'd do my best to avoid a moose, horse or cow. I understand moose are a big cause of fatalities in Maine because when a car hits one, the moose is so tall and heavy it goes through the windshield. Best wishes, Joe