John from Riverside Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 might be able to give it.... Details....a couple of days ago I had just dropped my kids off for school and was on my way home to finish getting ready for work and head off to my job. Right as I was fixed to make a left hand turn onto my street (I was doing all the right things, had my turnsignal on, had my seatbelt on I hear the sound of screaching tires (from someone trying to break) and my Hyundai jolted violently like it had been hit with a grenade or something. The next thing I know my car is about 30 feet down the street from where I was an and pushed in from behind like a tin can......I try to turn my head to see what hit me but can because my kneck is very stiff.....but my arms and legs work so I get out of my car (took some doing as none of my car doors wanted to open.....and I see that a young girl (very young....I can see she is already crying on the phone to her mom that she had hit somebody) the front of her car is a mess....my hundai looks smashed beyond repair....I ask her if she is alright and then go back and sit down in my car.....even as I am doing this my back is starting to really hurt and my neck is killing me.... Call the wife...fire trucks, ambulance, police are all there quick....and they strap me down and send me to the hospital in an ambulance..... Emergency did not keep me....they did x rays but I had nothing broken.....they said that my pain was coming from neck and back trauma and that I needed to see my family doctor. OK now here is the wierd part...my wife calls my brother who says that it would be a good idea to talk to a lawyer immediatley. Now.....I am nervous around lawyer types and I am definatley not a "ambulance chaser" or asked for anything from anyone that I didn't think I earned....but I took his advice and saw someone in town. It was a total disaster as far as I am concerned....the guy was a sniviling little prick who was making fun of how fast I came to see him and pretty much insulted me through the whole consultation..... "you aren't hurt" "you aren't going to get rich off of this" etc etc etc Now....at the moment I am having time barely walking and my neck and back are killing me.....I am going to have to under heavy medication and go to physical therapy for a while.....WTF is this guy doing telling me I am not hurt? By that does he mean that my legs are not cut off or my face doesn't look like hamburger meat? And as for the second thing.....I NEVER WANTED TO GET RICH...I just wanted to know what my rights were and what I could expect to happen next with the insurance companies...was that too much to ask? Does anybody have any experience with this happening to them or work in the field.....I am not trying to take this families house our anything.....but the accident is going to screw up my life for the forseeable future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 You'll get more expert advice from others, John...but for what it's worth, here's what I think. First of all, like you, I am TOTALLY non-litigious and have screwed up by not seeing a lawyer. So, you should definitely see a lawyer, especially if you already have pain. #2. Go to another lawyer. This one sounds like an idiot. Since they get paid on contigency, this guy probably doesn't see a big enough payday with you. Try to get a recommendation from a friend, relative or colleague. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 This girl's insurance company is obligated to restore you to pre-accident condition (within reason), so I would definitely take the Dean's advce and get a non-ambulance chaser to handle things for you. You have to be pretty messed up to get much for pain and suffering these days (according to my lawyer), at least in Georgia. Hope everything works out for ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Dont worry, once the police report is logged you will be deluged by Lawyers. I had them calling me literally for weeks. Ambulance chasing bastages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 might be able to give it.... Details....a couple of days ago I had just dropped my kids off for school and was on my way home to finish getting ready for work and head off to my job. Right as I was fixed to make a left hand turn onto my street (I was doing all the right things, had my turnsignal on, had my seatbelt on I hear the sound of screaching tires (from someone trying to break) and my Hyundai jolted violently like it had been hit with a grenade or something. The next thing I know my car is about 30 feet down the street from where I was an and pushed in from behind like a tin can......I try to turn my head to see what hit me but can because my kneck is very stiff.....but my arms and legs work so I get out of my car (took some doing as none of my car doors wanted to open.....and I see that a young girl (very young....I can see she is already crying on the phone to her mom that she had hit somebody) the front of her car is a mess....my hundai looks smashed beyond repair....I ask her if she is alright and then go back and sit down in my car.....even as I am doing this my back is starting to really hurt and my neck is killing me.... Call the wife...fire trucks, ambulance, police are all there quick....and they strap me down and send me to the hospital in an ambulance..... Emergency did not keep me....they did x rays but I had nothing broken.....they said that my pain was coming from neck and back trauma and that I needed to see my family doctor. OK now here is the wierd part...my wife calls my brother who says that it would be a good idea to talk to a lawyer immediatley. Now.....I am nervous around lawyer types and I am definatley not a "ambulance chaser" or asked for anything from anyone that I didn't think I earned....but I took his advice and saw someone in town. It was a total disaster as far as I am concerned....the guy was a sniviling little prick who was making fun of how fast I came to see him and pretty much insulted me through the whole consultation..... "you aren't hurt" "you aren't going to get rich off of this" etc etc etc Now....at the moment I am having time barely walking and my neck and back are killing me.....I am going to have to under heavy medication and go to physical therapy for a while.....WTF is this guy doing telling me I am not hurt? By that does he mean that my legs are not cut off or my face doesn't look like hamburger meat? And as for the second thing.....I NEVER WANTED TO GET RICH...I just wanted to know what my rights were and what I could expect to happen next with the insurance companies...was that too much to ask? Does anybody have any experience with this happening to them or work in the field.....I am not trying to take this families house our anything.....but the accident is going to screw up my life for the forseeable future. 758336[/snapback] Put it this way, Johnathan: it appears you were "more hurt" than I was when I had my accident back in 2000, and I got about $5,500.00 as a personal injury settlement. I also got about $12,500.00 in property damage (what they said the car was worth @ the time), which covered all but $2,500.00 of what I owed on the vehicle. Go see an attorney who has a clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 It also matters a great deal whether or not you will be able to go to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 It also matters a great deal whether or not you will be able to go to work. 758409[/snapback] Whichever quack doctor the attorney will send you to will say you can't go to work. When I had my accident, the attorney I hired sent me to a quack that said I was to stay home "indefinitely". All I had was some soreness in my knee (not a whole lot) and my neck (even less). I stayed out for maybe a few days to a week, but there was no way I was going to stay out longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Striker Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 ...send me to the hospital in an ambulance... 758336[/snapback] The hospital! What is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 that is the first thing a lawyer will say is that if you are hurt , stay home . glad it was only you in the car . hope you feel better soon . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movinon Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I was in a minor accident at the end of July. I was rear-ended at low speed. Not hurt in the least bit. Her insurance covered the cost of damage to my tailgate. Interestingly enough, her insurance company called me two weeks ago and asked me if I was hurt. They said they wanted to compensate me and sent me a check for $300.00. Obviously they were trying to keep me from filing any future injury claims as a result of the accident. They were successful. In your case, I would caution you from accepting any money from her insurance company without a full medical evaluation and consultation with a “competent attorney.” Yeah, yeah, I know, that’s an oxymoron. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 The hospital! What is it? 758413[/snapback] It's a big building with sick people, but that's not important now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Good one. If only they would use that in a movie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Do you already have a lawyer, or dealt with one for things like house closings, or wills? Ask them for advice, or a recommendation if it's not their field. That's what I would do, rather than call one of the ones that advertises on TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Striker Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 ...If only they would use that in a movie... 758435[/snapback] Surely, you can't be serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Dean's advice is very good. The problem with accidents like this, is even though you might be a little stiff right now, from the hit that your car (and you) took, it may take 6-12 months for your body to really react. Take care of the medical right now, before your back blows out "out of the blue" next year. You won't get rich from the legal action, but it will fund the next ten years' of physical therapy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartshan-83 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Sorry to hear about that John....hope you recover quickly. I'm no legal expert....yet (I hope to be one someday soon), but in terms of seeking legal counsel, I can offer this advice. First, definitely talk to another lawyer. It only limits your options if you don't. Second, since it sounds like you don't have any lawyer relationships, talk to someone you trust (friend, family member, co-worker, etc.) and ask them if they have a lawyer that they feel has done right by them. I'm sure someone you know has had at least one good experience with an attorney that wasn't grimy and backhanded (hopefully ). Anyway, give that lawyer a call and give him a BRIEF run-down of your situation. If it is not his field (which it very well may not be), he should definitely be able to refer you to a colleague that is in personal injury. And if he is a decent guy (like hopefully your friend said) he will probably refer you to someone who isn't a POS. I say this because, like others have mentioned, there is no shortage of greedy lawyers you could look up in the phone book who just look at you like a paycheck. But if you can get a referral from someone you trust, it is: a. very unlikely that this lawyer will treat you like the guy you saw AND b. if he can't help you, it is unlikely that he will send you to someone who sucks because then it looks bad on him. So FWIW, thats what I would do. I feel you on your reaction to the lawyer you saw. I had an experience with a lawyer in college who I just called to consult about an underage drinking ticket I thought might have been unjust. The guy basically laughed at me and told me I was a stupid college kid who should just take my punishment. Dickhead. So good luck...hope it works out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 i cant offer advice on the lawyer situation, but good to hear you are ok john. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dib Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Surely, you can't be serious. 758473[/snapback] I am and don't call me Shirley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I am and don't call me Shirley. 758599[/snapback] I haven't felt this awful since we saw that Ronald Reagan film Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Was the chick hot? Any pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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