i feel your pain, my Z looked just about the same if not worse when i was hit by some jackass running a red light, its in the body shop now

 

Thanks a lot guys, I'll get the report made tomorrow. I am extremely dizzy today and just trying to get some rest.

Also, I went to the emergancy room already, and had x-rays, and a cat-scan performed. Both came out fine, showing I had a concussion, and just a sore neck from slight whiplast. Would visting a chiropractor still be needed, even after visiting the emergancy room?

 

yes, whether you need additional visit or not can be determined by how you get better of what the chiropractor says.

But atleast you should visit once

 

YES...and file suit when the time comes. If it was a minor, the parents might have to ante up. Normally I dont favor lawsuits, but this punk gave you the wrong info...make him pay for it! Sue the parents for $20K if you have to then they can take it outta the kid's car.

 

After reading all these posts, I wanted to respond as I have been an attorney for a few years now and have handled a few car accidents.

First of all, you can call the cops all you want, but just remember a car crash without any severe injuries (i.e. calling EMT, Fire Dept., Ambulance, etc...) is the lowest of priorities and you're lucky if the cops will even show up.

Secondly, even if you decide to file a police report, most police depts. tell you to handle it through insurance and wont even file a report. As far as this case goes, I dont know the specifics, but you can file a claim with the Police Dept. for hit and run, since you have the plates and he gave you false information. From that point, a detective will investigate and hand the case over to the city and see if they wanna pursue a misdemeanor claim against the guy. If that happens, the city will make the other guy pay for your damages or to show proof of insurance to cover your losses, including property damage and bodily injury.

If you have the plates, your insurance company will investigate the matter and determine liability at that time. If the plates are false, then you will be reimbursed through your Uninsured Motorist Policy and your medical treatments will be paid out of your MedPay insurance. What limits and to what amount you can recover depends on your individual insurance policy.

If you are suffering from injuries, go retain an attorney first and he may have a list of providers for you to go see. (i.e. chiropractors) Nothing will come out of your pocket until a settlement is reached. As far as your own personal doctors and ER bills, the attorney will place a lien on those bills and nothing will be paid until a settlement is reached. If you get a bad settlement, attorneys can usually negotiate the payoff amount. If you get a good settlement, everybody gets paid and everybody is happy. Just remember, most personal injury attorneys do not charge a dime upfront, you just pay a contingent fee (percentage) when actual money comes in. The damage to your car is 100% yours, and usually you pay 33% to attorney, 33% to medical providers and 33% to yourself out of other money that comes out. That is why attorneys sue for bodily injury (i.e. general damages of pain and suffering).

Before I get flamed for being an attorney, just remember that we are all not corrupt. This guy seems to have been generally hurt in this accident and he should be compensated for his medical treatment and time spent in treating for something that he would have otherwise not had to have gone through. As far as him being at a car meeting and being told to leave by the police has nothing to do with the accident.

If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me anytime. Since I practice in Southern California and not Virginia, I cant do anything but offer you advice on the way things work out here. But generally with car accidents, everything is pretty much uniform and insurance companies are all the same, so once again, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me anytime.

 

Sorry to hear about your accident Ricky! I see you doubting yourself about whose fault it is. It makes no difference where you are coming from when you got into your accident, everyone has to follow the rules of the road and that other driver was wrong period. Do not admit to anyone, the cops insurance or your lawyer that you may have been at fault at all. I know in NY you have 10 days to file an accident report and you should it can only help your claim. I read some people saying things about suing for injuries, all i can say is if you're hurt you're hurt and you should get what you are entitled too, a concussion is worth something, it's not whiplash or phantom back pain. Your only mistake was not calling the police at the time of the accident but you acknowledged that already. They have to take your report no matter what these other people say even if there isn't any injuries, if someone got sweet-talked or bullied into not getting a report from a lazy cop that's their bad but you are entitled to one. The other thing is it always looks better for you down the road if you call an ambulance to the scene if you are injured. I hope you feel better and i hope your baby is back together soon!

 

This is not true. As long as you see a doctor within a reasonable time, you are fine. Soft tissue injuries may not present themselves for a while, due to shock, or other circumstances.
Insurance companies are glad to settle, unless there is a chance that they can have you by the sack.

-Xray

 

You should visit the doctor as often as there is no change in your condition, and a week to 2 weeks post trauma. This is just a guideline, not medical advice.

If you feel like crap, see your doctor or a specialist, orthopaedist etc. Slight whiplash might be quite immobilizing, later on. This is why real civil cases drag on for a while, unless the insurance company settles out. The insurance company only handles the car, their insurance handles personal injury demands.

-Xray

 

This is hindsight, but...: you should take the VIN down just in case. It's alot rarer to see a forged VIN than a forged insurance card, or license. With fake plates you could be SOL.

-Xray

 

Just because something exists doesn't make it justifiable. Murder exhists. Is it justifiable?

From your second sentence above, it sounds more like you want revenge in the form of $ and not just some "justifiable" money for medical treatment.

 

Whether you have a "case" or not should not govern your medical decisions. If you are hurt, seek medical care. If you're not, don't tie up the system to "build up your case."

 

I tend to agree with the Doc and with Michael here. Get whatever treatment you need, Ricky. Get better and take care of yourself however you need to. Let the cops find the guy or help you out in whatever way they can. Pursue action with your insurance. If the guy has no insurance, he probably has no money. Suing him will get you nothing. If he does have insurance, sue for damages and costs, but "pain and suffering" is something that really erks me. Sue for what you need to recover but concentrate on staying positive so that you can make sure you heal properly and feel better.

We're pullin for ya...

 

Amen!

 

My accident was totally my fault, it was due to inexperience. His accident however looked unavoidable. I don't quite understand how calling the cops did not cross your mind.. That was the first thing I thought of, well other than calling my mom. I hate people that sue for pain and suffering when obviously your pain is tollerable because you posted pictures online and you are talking and walking around. Also if you haven't been to a doctor yet then you really don't deserve anything. Compensation for medical treatment and then maybe a bit more for inconvenience is fine but don't go suing for 20k if you just have a little bit of a neck ache. Thats like me suing the township for putting the curb/streetlight there.

I don't mean to bash on you because half this board did it to me and I know how bad you feel, but really, WTF were you thinking...

Good luck...

 

alright guys! I get your point on the police report!!

If it helps, I filed one today. I went to a local police branch, and filed a report. They told me the same thing you guys did, but I still got the report in. They are going to be investigating the case now.


I'm an idiot for not doing it first, I outta make a sign "CALL COPS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT" and post it on my steering wheel!.. but I learned my lesson.


Thanks for all the advice guys.

And I'm so sorry to hear you totalled your Z man. (I'm assuming you totalled it since you have "I used to have" in your signature)

 

yeah my baby is in Z land, but she will be resurrected in a year or two, we will have to see what changes are to come to the Z. Sorry for being a little harsh, I know your parents are probably all up your *** about it anyway.

Unfortunately lessons in life can be really f*ckin expensive. Ride on my friend, ride on...

 

How did you two ever afford a Z anyway? I'm just curious, no flame or bash here.. but do you work? I'm guessing no since it seems from the posts you are still in HS... Wealthy parents I guess? If that is the case, then whats the point in sueing for huge amounts of money, when you (or you parents anyway) obviously have enough of it.

Anyway, was just curious.

 

Wolfman, that has been the argument here for some time now. Is it right for parents (rich or not) to buy their inexperienced teenage kids a 30K sports car?

Yeah, I LOVE this crap. After the client loses his case (or doesn't get the full (exhorbitant) amount they were shooting for, his attorney will send me a sob story letter about how his client was unsucessful in his case and then he'll ask me to accept less (usually A LOT less) as payment since his client didn't haul in any big bucks.

At first (when I first started practice) I felt bad for the patient and would usually accept whatever the attorney would offer (it was usually a little less than half of what I was owed). REMEMBER, that I had already waited for this payment (without interest) for an average of 2-3 years since that's how long it often takes to settle these things!

After awhile, I came up with this little plan. I would send the attorney a letter stating that I would indeed accept what he is offering IF he himself will agree (in writing to me and to the patient) that he will ALSO accept the same reduction (percentage wise) in HIS fee to the client.

To date, I have done this about 20 times and thus far, I have been taken up on it ONLY ONE TIME!

 

lmao I love you Bonz.

 

Yeah everyone should run out and file a lawsuit against this kid!!!!!

Then run out and get a lawyer who will take 33% of a settlement you could have gotten by yourself.

If the facts show the other dude is at fault and he has insurance then just submit a claim to them on your own.

You dont need no stinking law suit. Good luck. Later.