This is good bye

[Ronzuki]

Northern...great settlement. You were able to enjoy the car for a while and made your money back.

As far as the injury thing goes, I hate to say it, but if you're injured, get a lawyer. They'll make a ton, but if handled properly so will you. And more importantly make sure you're covered for things that may pop up in the future as a direct result of the incident. As advised above be certain you're not unkowingly signing away your future rights. This is really why you should seek legal council.

[sx4rocious]

My parents went through this years ago. The accident eventually caused my mother's death after 17 painful years.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that the insurance company will lowball you to the tune of about 90%. Their first offer will be less than 10% of what they are really willing to pay. If they offer you $1000, you would probably qualify for over $10,000 if it goes to court. Be extremely patient. If you don't need the money immediately, wait them out. They'll start offering decent money eventually.

When they start to offer real money, THEN it's time to get a lawyer. This may be a year from now, but as long as you're patient, you'll be treated fair. Most lawyer fees are AT LEAST a third of the actual settlement. If you are offered a decent amount of money as a settlement BEFORE talking to a lawyer, be adamant that the lawyer gets a third of any monetary awards
OVER what you have already been offered. It makes them work a little harder. For instance, if you get the insurance to offer you a settlement of $3,000, then you hire a lawyer for a third of the settlement and he gets you $10,000, he should only be entitled to a third of the $7,000 he actually worked for, not a third of the entire $10,000. Make sure to get this part in writing!! Lawyers are sneaky!!

As far as the amount you recieve, it's really up to how good the actual lawyer is and how long you are willing to wait. My father had the foresight to do exactly what I wrote above and he got nearly 20 times what the first settlement offer was, and because he hired the lawyer based on a third of what he got over the last settlement, he only actually lost about 15% of it to the lawyers. He did have to forgo any future litigation or claims though. This whole process took about 4 years if I remember correctly. My mother died 9 years later from complications of the accident, however, we could no longer litigate because of the settlement aggreement.

[SamirD]

I really hate to hear about what your family went through. It sounds horrible.

Thank you for sharing some really great advice from your experience. I never thought about the 30% on 7k vs 10k, and that's a really easy trick that most people would miss.

[sx4rocious]

you're very welcome. That's what "families" like this are for. My father was initially offered an insulting settlement of what was the equivalent of two weeks of my mother's salary, which was the length of time she was in the hospital following the accident. After the accident (which, BTW, was unquestionably NOT her fault. Their client turned in front of my mom who was doing 45mph and tried to beat her to a left turn while he was doing around 35mph causing a 40% head-on collision.) My mother was never able to work again. i watched my father for the next 5 years while I lived at home struggle every day he she was alive to pay her doctor bills and pain medication on a tractor mechanic's salary. Our family home literaly fell in around us because we were unable to properly maintain it. My mother had to ride 2 hours, 3 times a week to PT in a 92 buick with 280K miles and bad shocks because my dad couldn't afford anything else. Where was Obamacare when my dad was trying to figure out a way to feed 8 hungry mouths AND pay for almost $2000 in medicine a MONTH? Sorry for the rant, but this is what happens to the lives careless drivers destroy. Nothing will ever bring my mother back, and no amount of midication or therapy ever made her whole again. My dad is well off right now as a result of proper financial management after the settlement agreement, but he would give it all back and then some for another ten minutes with his wife of 39 years.

I pray sir, that you won't have these issues in the future, and that you're dealings with the insurance will be swift and fair. I also pray my story and advice will be of service to you. Thank God everyday that you are healthy, and please, please, PLEASE drive safely!!

BTW, I recieve several obscene hand gestures and get joyfully sworn at on a daily basis for my proper, safe, and LEGAL driving habits. I just simply smile and know I will never be the reason someone else's life is destroyed....

[SamirD]

you're very welcome. That's what "families" like this are for. My father was initially offered an insulting settlement of what was the equivalent of two weeks of my mother's salary, which was the length of time she was in the hospital following the accident. After the accident (which, BTW, was unquestionably NOT her fault. Their client turned in front of my mom who was doing 45mph and tried to beat her to a left turn while he was doing around 35mph causing a 40% head-on collision.) My mother was never able to work again. i watched my father for the next 5 years while I lived at home struggle every day he she was alive to pay her doctor bills and pain medication on a tractor mechanic's salary. Our family home literaly fell in around us because we were unable to properly maintain it. My mother had to ride 2 hours, 3 times a week to PT in a 92 buick with 280K miles and bad shocks because my dad couldn't afford anything else. Where was Obamacare when my dad was trying to figure out a way to feed 8 hungry mouths AND pay for almost $2000 in medicine a MONTH? Sorry for the rant, but this is what happens to the lives careless drivers destroy. Nothing will ever bring my mother back, and no amount of midication or therapy ever made her whole again. My dad is well off right now as a result of proper financial management after the settlement agreement, but he would give it all back and then some for another ten minutes with his wife of 39 years.

I pray sir, that you won't have these issues in the future, and that you're dealings with the insurance will be swift and fair. I also pray my story and advice will be of service to you. Thank God everyday that you are healthy, and please, please, PLEASE drive safely!!

BTW, I recieve several obscene hand gestures and get joyfully sworn at on a daily basis for my proper, safe, and LEGAL driving habits. I just simply smile and know I will never be the reason someone else's life is destroyed....

Wow. Just wow. Sometimes we think we've had it bad until we realize how bad it was for others. I hate that you went through that growing up, and can only imagine the anquish you guys when through.

Safety has always been my primal focus when driving. I've been lucky to never been involved in an accident with another car, and I aim to keep it that way. And because I'm so worried about putting even a scratch on my cars, I keep myself well out of harms way. Here in the snow, that means letting people pass me at 2x my speed because I want to be safe than 'get there'. Every week I see more damage to the cars of my wife's co-workers. Seems like every snow they're in the ditches--and they're native to the area!

Driving is a priviledge and a responsibility. People forget that because it's also a necessity here in the US. I've always looked at it as a huge responsibility. While my peers were clammoring to get a license at 16, I waited until I had to get a license, knowing full well that my life and others' would be in my hands. I think if everyone drove this way, we'd all be safer.

[KansasKid]

you're very welcome. That's what "families" like this are for. My father was initially offered an insulting settlement of what was the equivalent of two weeks of my mother's salary, which was the length of time she was in the hospital following the accident. After the accident (which, BTW, was unquestionably NOT her fault. Their client turned in front of my mom who was doing 45mph and tried to beat her to a left turn while he was doing around 35mph causing a 40% head-on collision.) My mother was never able to work again. i watched my father for the next 5 years while I lived at home struggle every day he she was alive to pay her doctor bills and pain medication on a tractor mechanic's salary. Our family home literaly fell in around us because we were unable to properly maintain it. My mother had to ride 2 hours, 3 times a week to PT in a 92 buick with 280K miles and bad shocks because my dad couldn't afford anything else. Where was Obamacare when my dad was trying to figure out a way to feed 8 hungry mouths AND pay for almost $2000 in medicine a MONTH? Sorry for the rant, but this is what happens to the lives careless drivers destroy. Nothing will ever bring my mother back, and no amount of midication or therapy ever made her whole again. My dad is well off right now as a result of proper financial management after the settlement agreement, but he would give it all back and then some for another ten minutes with his wife of 39 years.

I pray sir, that you won't have these issues in the future, and that you're dealings with the insurance will be swift and fair. I also pray my story and advice will be of service to you. Thank God everyday that you are healthy, and please, please, PLEASE drive safely!!

BTW, I recieve several obscene hand gestures and get joyfully sworn at on a daily basis for my proper, safe, and LEGAL driving habits. I just simply smile and know I will never be the reason someone else's life is destroyed....

Wow. Just wow. Sometimes we think we've had it bad until we realize how bad it was for others. I hate that you went through that growing up, and can only imagine the anquish you guys when through.

Safety has always been my primal focus when driving. I've been lucky to never been involved in an accident with another car, and I aim to keep it that way. And because I'm so worried about putting even a scratch on my cars, I keep myself well out of harms way. Here in the snow, that means letting people pass me at 2x my speed because I want to be safe than 'get there'. Every week I see more damage to the cars of my wife's co-workers. Seems like every snow they're in the ditches--and they're native to the area!

Driving is a priviledge and a responsibility. People forget that because it's also a necessity here in the US. I've always looked at it as a huge responsibility. While my peers were clammoring to get a license at 16, I waited until I had to get a license, knowing full well that my life and others' would be in my hands. I think if everyone drove this way, we'd all be safer.

It wasn't until that moment that my Kizashi became completely unresponsive did I realize that I'm driving a 3200 lb. death machine. Driving is a huge responsibility. Not just for your own sake, but for the sakes of your loved ones, and the loved ones of others.

[Northernstar]

Thanks Ronzuki and sx4rocious for your input, i will keep these in mind

[SamirD]

It wasn't until that moment that my Kizashi became completely unresponsive did I realize that I'm driving a 3200 lb. death machine. Driving is a huge responsibility. Not just for your own sake, but for the sakes of your loved ones, and the loved ones of others.

I'm glad you got out unscaved with this knowledge. Many people have killed others or have been seriously hurt before they've realized this. Drive safe!

[Ronzuki]

It wasn't until that moment that my Kizashi became completely unresponsive did I realize that I'm driving a 3200 lb. death machine. Driving is a huge responsibility. Not just for your own sake, but for the sakes of your loved ones, and the loved ones of others.

I'm glad you got out unscaved with this knowledge. Many people have killed others or have been seriously hurt before they've realized this. Drive safe!

I've taught my 3 kids and wife what it feels like to be going 35mph w/o power in the car all of a sudden in a controlled environment. It freaked them all out, but they now know what it 'feels' like when it happens so they are aware of it and know they can react correctly and safely stop the vehicle. Worrying about who to blame for the power outage afterwards is a moot point if something bad happens to loved ones. You'd think this would be part of driving courses, mandatory training or licensing requirements....but nooooo.

[SamirD]

I've taught my 3 kids and wife what it feels like to be going 35mph w/o power in the car all of a sudden in a controlled environment. It freaked them all out, but they now know what it 'feels' like when it happens so they are aware of it and know they can react correctly and safely stop the vehicle. Worrying about who to blame for the power outage afterwards is a moot point if something bad happens to loved ones. You'd think this would be part of driving courses, mandatory training or licensing requirements....but nooooo.

I highly advocate this!

I didn't know half of what I knew about driving until I started autocrossing. I can't count the number of times the knowledge and skill set has saved me from accidents or other major (and expensive) encounters. It's easily been the best financial investment of my life. And yet, I can't get my wife to even understand that she's not as well equipped as she thinks she is to drive in the US. She was jerking the wheel in the middle of smooth highway turns when I took her out a few times to practice in another car. I wish she would just go to a good performance driving school, but she won't do that because that's what I would do. Sometimes women are just