Sometimes Life Sucks

[EvansLight]

This year has been hell XD from house problems to loan problems, and now these last few weeks, health and car.

First off, my grandfather decided to take a dive off the choir stage at church, and bruised a rib. The church people overreacted and got an ambulance out, and we went to the hospital. It was a big scare for more or less nothing, hes already back at work and that happened only a week and 2 days ago. Other then sneezing hes fine.

Now the reason im posting, i need advice. I know i haven't been on the forums much recently, been slacking in my duties, but this year has been one of the worst for the whole family, and its been tough to even get to smoke, i think in total ive smoked 6 maybe 7 times this year.

As for the advice; my sister was in a wreck last night. Her 04 Mustang GT, anniversary edition, with the awesome upgraded rims and sound system, that she just paid off and is actually hers, got crunched. A guy in an SUV wasn't paying attention, and didn't see she was at a stop, and hit her ass end, which rammed her up a curb and into an Audi A4 in the front of her, and the Audi into a jeep truck thingy. Her mustang had the worse damage, and might get totaled.

I need to know if we should sue. See he was an off duty Rockwall cop (really instills trust in law enforcment don't it) and he is taking responsibility, but cassies leg hurts, and now her neck and ribs are starting to hurt. Shes going to her doctor today to get checked out. We are thinking about sueing to get full damages, including the emotional cause seeing her car destroyed is killing her. She was crying last night because of her car, a whole lot.

No matter what we are keeping the car. Her dad, uncle, and friends all work in body, so no matter what its getting fixed, but its probably going to cost more to fix it than it would to just pay out for it.

But thats beside the point; should we sue?

Oh and if you want:

[EvansLight]

and after posting this i realized how convoluted this message sounds XD my head is in a state of permanent fucked XD

[mushrat]

may as well. Thats what ambulence chasers are for. As long as the guy is covered his insurance will end up shelling out. I'm suprised his company hasn't tried making you an offer already.

Glad to hear your sistaer wasn't seriously hurt.

Take it easy man, things will eventually get better.

[Johnny_D]

I'm with mushrat.

It's fairly open and shut and his insurance pays out anyways. Use the amublance chasers.

Yer, life throws the curve balls. But trust me, it only makes you stronger. Even if you feel low right now.

JD

[Bushbr]

gonna agree on this one. go for the insurance money, you're almost garunteed something.

and i know about life sucking... don't feel like going through my baggage of shit right now on that topic, don't know if your a religous man, but just be thankful that she wasn't seriously hurt, and simply pray that things get better

[EvansLight]

thanks everyone. We actually got to go talk with our insurance agent today (who happens to be my sisters aunt) and also talked with his insurance today.

Were going to wait and see what they do, and if they wont cover everything then we have to sue him for whats left. At least thats what we have been told.

And im religious in my own way, and yea im thankfull shes not dead. Still sucks though XD

[ZenSilk]

Yeah, i agree dude, i'm really sorry to hear that. my mom was in a similar accident, only her car was flipped twice, and she was feeling the neck injuries about a week after. Also, my dad's truck was basically totaled when this kid was ripping down my astreet and hit it while it wa sparked on the oppostie side of the road.

Although it might cost alot, sueing is really the only way to get fully what you need. It is what we should have done.

I hope this guy's insurance helps out pays off!

[TheScotsman]

I would have an ambulance chaser faster than you can say "code 3". If I were her, I would be 100% sure to get the fact he is a pig, and she feels intimidated by that fact in the very first deposition. The first recorded mention will have him on his best behavior.

[Scheetz]

Why sue if the insurance is paying..... After the doc visit depending on what is needed you claim that on his insurance. There is no need to sue him if the insurance is cooperating.

[EvansLight]

We only have to sue if his insurance coverage isnt enough for everything.

And some updates; she now has a new car. No they havent told us if they are even going to total it yet, let alone how much we get, but we were at ford today getting my focus an oil change, and i had to go do a test drive for this free $75 coupon offer i got at the state fair, and she just happened to find the most expensive Escape on the lot. We test drove it and fell in love; Sirius radio with 6 months free, 6 disc in dash CD changer, iPod connector, moonroof, and all the bells and whistles. Only $25,000 too.

The guys insurance now has the car and is currently "looking it over" to see what there going to do. She went back to the doctor today and her range of moition on her neck looks good, and her bruise is starting to finally heal up, so shes off to work tomorrow. All in all this might end well, at least i hope XD

[TheScotsman]

Why sue if the insurance is paying..... After the doc visit depending on what is needed you claim that on his insurance. There is no need to sue him if the insurance is cooperating.

Because the insurance company IS going to screw you in the end. The adjuster's job is to keep as much money as they can, regardless of your policy terms, or the law. Anything you say to them is a mistake, it comes back to bite you in the posterior later. Hell, I had my wonderful insurance company... Snake Farm... er, I mean State Farm depreciate antiques! Even though I had appraisals as to value their logic was that I had owned them for over 10 years, and that furniture is fully depreciated at 10... they wanted to pay nothing, they only paid after several letters from my attorney, and serving legal process.

They will do minimal repairs, use salvage parts, and second-rate "approved providers" at every possible chance.

Save the hassles of trying to correct the damage you did to yourself later, hire the ambulance chaser before you say the first word to those criminals, and for sure before you give them any recorded deposition.

[ghostofdavid]

I was in a bad car wreck that gave me my permanent limp that I have today. I was getting physical therapy and an adjuster called me and asked me how I was. Thinking they were referring to banter instead of "How do you feel physically at this moment post-car-wreck?" I told them I felt fine. They hung up, closed the case and sent me a bill for the therapy I sought after the phone conversation.

I made one phone call to our insurance broker and received a check for the therapy I paid for out of pocket and I magically overpaid for the past six months service.

Be polite, but be firm as well. Ask for only what you need, not what you think you need. Pain and suffering over a damaged car is nothing over the pain and suffering from someone dying in a car wreck.

Evans, I love you!

[TheScotsman]

I was in a bad car wreck that gave me my permanent limp that I have today. I was getting physical therapy and an adjuster called me and asked me how I was. Thinking they were referring to banter instead of "How do you feel physically at this moment post-car-wreck?" I told them I felt fine. They hung up, closed the case and sent me a bill for the therapy I sought after the phone conversation.


Evans, I love you!

Exactly my point. They try to play a word game, acting all nice, just waiting for you to say one thing they can hang their hat on, then they shaft you.

[mdl]

Automobiles are just objects. I've spend a lot of time and money on getting my car the way it is today but I would never sue for "emotional" damages related to not having the car any more. Physical damages of course, your sisters health is the main concern here and while her health may be related to her emotions, suing for emotional damages, to me, is unnecessary.

As others have previously said; don't let the insurance companies rip you off. I purchased a car for 2K last year and 2 months later my roommate totaled it. I only received 1600 in return because the insurance company tried to screw me in every way possible. A car does not depreciate $400 in 2 months, especially a 1984 Corolla.

That definitely looks like an expensive repair bill but a lot of insurance companies will not call a car a total loss until the repair bill is almost as high as the car would cost to buy.

Good luck with the situation! Edited November 2, 2007 by mdl

[Bulldog_916]

I'm with mdl on the whole emotional distress situation. It's a car, it'll be back to normal before you know it.

As far as insurance goes, doesnt YOUR insurance cover the left over expense AFTER theirs covers the maximum their policy allows? Then one insurance company sues the other for the left over cost? That's the way it was explained to me when I talked to the insurance guy when I bought my truck.

Keep your head up Evans! Shit happens to everyone, you just gotta toss it on the neighbor's lawn and keep ramblin'!