S: Car Accident

[mcs328]

Got hit by a car...twice. Well not me but my car was hit. Busy highway. Stop and go traffic. I was stopped but the car behind me was on the go. Heard tires squeal...then *boom* rear ended. Great. A few moments later *bam* hit from the side.

When the police. ambulances and fireman came I got out of my car to brace myself. The left side bumper was messed up. Front passenger door dented and stuff.

The other two cars were totaled(sp?). The car behind me (car #1) had her engine destroyed and leaking fluids. The car who hit me from the side (car #2) damaged his front and side. His trunk was completely smashed into the backseat. They went to hospital and I just have some minor neck pain.

We have a witness which is good. I guess this is what happened. I was stopped in the right center lane. Someone (car #3) tried to cut in from the left lane into the left center lane. Car #2 was in the left center lane and had to dodge and go into the right center lane where I was. This meant that Car #2 had to cut in behind me and in front of car #1. So car #1 hit car #2 which hit me from behind. Car #2 hit my right bumper and went into the right lane. Car #1 after hitting car #2 from behind also went into the right lane then into the shoulder bounced off the jersey wall and hit car #2 again from the side. This made car #2 hit me again from the side.

Sigh...I looked at the guy next to me and he moved up and caused more damage to my car. oi. So after talking to the police officer. Car #1 is from Georgia. And Car #2 is from NYC and his car is a rental. Well I hope he bought the insurance cause he totally messed up his rental.

I hope the insurance stuff goes smoothly considering everyone is out of state except for me. Sigh...this and my very first mortgage bill came in. Talk about sticker shock.

[ray]

Glad to hear you're okay. Who is your insurance carrier? They should be handling most of the discussions with all of the other insurance companies :)

[Kim]

I'm glad you were not hurt.

[nickel]

yep, cars can be replaced, people can't. as someone who was in an accident, not my fault, in Feb of this year, i know how lucky i felt to come away with just scrapes, bruises and some airbag burns.

you weren't at fault at all, right?

let us know how you make out with the ins. companies. some of them try to put it to you. they should be paying for a rental for you until your car is fixed.

[usedillusion]

whew you're ok. but yeah the insurance stuff can be complicated... i was hit over the july 4th weekend by this dude that fell asleep at the wheel (driving his friend's car) and just picked up a pretty decent check today for damage,. they settled before i could even file a claim. hope you got a police report to document that there was a witness, too.

[speedracer120]

Thank goodness you're fine. Accidents suck the big one. Hope your neck pain will disappear.

[mcs328]

Update: Hmm...I prob gave an update somewhere else but I can't find it so I'll put it here. It's about a year later. I'm going through my uninsured motorist policy since the other lady didn't have insurance. I've been seeing a chiropractor for almost a year and all that's done and the bills are being sent to State Farm. All I have to is wait for the settlement.

So I get the call from State Farm and their offer is $1400 total. This is based on treatement from September 2004 to November 2004. They're telling me they aren't accepting any more bills after February 2005 I think. Whatever difference that my insurance doesn't pay medical I will owe from this $1400, which would leave me owing more than $1400. Of course I didn't accept this settlement. You think I should get more or forget the uninsured motorist route and go directly for the driver responsible who was driving without insurance to begin with. You think I could get enough to cover the medical which I estimate to be a few grand plus my pain and suffering for a year? I've got a police report, a witness, a document from the other drivers insurance company that says she stopped paying car insurance and a pile of bills....oh and I got pictures of the accident. I got it all baby!! :)

Of course taking this lady to court will involve more time and stuff. Opinions?

[tupacboy]

get a lawyer... and let him/her handle it all...

[ShawnLee]

Get a lawyer, and find a way to sue the other lady. Sue isn't just the name of a gorilla.

[Jeffbx]

But if this woman wasn't paying her bills, do you think you can get any $$ out of her? Even if they rule in your favor? Maybe she's broke.

[mcs328]

In my mind, I would like to get enough money to cover the bills I owe. Anything else is gravy although cracking my neck a dozen times a day, although fun in a twisted way, gets really annoying when you feel stiff. It's like cracking your knuckles.

I did some research and the settlement via lawyer yields about $5000 with a large amount of deviation. Lawyer gets a third. Yes...if this lady couldn't afford her car insurance payment then what are the chances she'll pay? Can I sue State Farm who in turns recovers from the lady or go directly for this lady?

Ugh...State Farm is about to lose a customer after this thing is done. I didn't like the attitude I've gotten where I call them. I guess I'll start with a grand total of medical and add 50% for a total settlement. Enough to pay the bills and time for my trouble.

[MASTERPL]

a lawyer is the ONLY way to go. I was in an accident that wasn't my fault. I had pictures proving the other driver was in the oncoming traffic lane before he even started braking. Insurance company gave me the runaround, and since I was an accident magnet(1st one ever) they upped me from 141 a month to over 700 as a clue to get lost.

After that I drove without insurance for over a year, saved GRANDS, got caught, and it cost me a $90 slap on the wrist and 2hrs of waiting in court. no points, no nothing.

In Arizona almost every illegal immigrant drives without insurance. If you get hit by them. Good luck with the ins company. They will blow you off.

[mcs328]

Last Update: Over 2 years later and it's over I hope. With a lawyer got the maximum amount for a Judge decision. 10 grand - 1/3 for the lawyer - 2K for outstanding doctor bill (it was initially 3.5K) = 4.5K for me.

Hopefully State Farm doesn't jack up my insurance. Still have a crink in my neck. Sigh. Well it's over and I can stop thinking about it.

[bachviet]

As long as you are okay, everything else could be replaced.