Just wrecked (928 was at home)
Just think of all the questions they might ask and how he would respond !!
03-14-2008, 06:25 PM
#17
Drifting
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Glad you are OK
I think airbags only work in vehicles that are less than 6 months old; had a head-on in my Mustang once some 8 years ago and the air bag did not deploy. Luckily the other vehicle was much smaller and absorbed the impact by folding up.
Marton
I think airbags only work in vehicles that are less than 6 months old; had a head-on in my Mustang once some 8 years ago and the air bag did not deploy. Luckily the other vehicle was much smaller and absorbed the impact by folding up.
Marton
03-14-2008, 06:43 PM
#18
Race Car
Thread Starter
It was a very nice little SUV with tow package, turbo diesel, 4x4 and 28 mph on the hwy. And I just drove to Decatur, AL last weekend and picked up a car hauler trailer, brhhhh.
I am picking up a rental tomorrow. You know, so they hopefully speed everything up.
03-14-2008, 07:26 PM
#21
928 Barrister
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Well folks, I must admit that Brendan has been VERY helpful and informative about health insurance in the past, and honest too. And he'll be the first to tell you about the shortcomings of the insurance business. Hmmmm..............Oh all right. Every rule has its exception, and Brendan may be it. But he does health insurance, not auto insurance. (Brendan if you do auto insurance, please forgive the slightly biased characterization I may have portrayed of those dastardly rogues. Hey, like politicians, there must be at least a few who are not so bad.) But Brendan SELLS insurance, as opposed to dealing with claims. I have actually worked for the police, believe it or not; that doesn't make me a rogue cop or a corrupt administrator.
No I would not get accepted on a jury. I never do. But it is not without trying: I bathe, I shave and wear clean clothes, I tell 'em what I think. But to be honest, it is always the prosecution that excuses me. I don't think very highly of them either, though I'm sure no one on this forum could have ever guessed that of me.
No I would not get accepted on a jury. I never do. But it is not without trying: I bathe, I shave and wear clean clothes, I tell 'em what I think. But to be honest, it is always the prosecution that excuses me. I don't think very highly of them either, though I'm sure no one on this forum could have ever guessed that of me.
Last edited by Ron_H; 03-14-2008 at 07:50 PM.
03-14-2008, 07:39 PM
#22
Addict
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Gio,
You've received informed advice thus far about your rig and insurance. I've dealt with several companies in the past three years attempting to get "fair reimbursement" from accidents where the other party was totally at fault...even where they got traffic citations. I tried every trick in the book...and never went away satisfied. It is very, very rare that a person actually comes out on an accident as good as before. Even if they repair your rig, it's probably going to be full of bondo and the paint may peel off down the road.
Also good advice about not settling until you know the extent of your personal injury. If you banged your head, costs down the road could be $100K-$200K or more for a craniotomy to remove scarred brain tissue to attempt to stop seizures. Don't doubt, I know a college professor who this happened to..and it was only a 10mph wreck...and the sizures didn't start until some years later. Get everything checked out and keep all receipts of related expenses. They will reimburse all verifiable medical expenses you made. And any proposed settlement (which they'll try to get you to sign off on early on) will be a CYA for them. If you don't settle quickly before stuff starts hitting you, they have no incentive to settle quickly later.
Concerning rental cars...some companies will only pay for a rental car for a couple of weeks or so...period. And state law may back them up. Don't think that state laws are always in your favor. How much money do you pay lobbiests?
Also, insurance adjusters are in business of making money...in spite of the "good neighbor" image they try to portray. Companies have great lawyers...on tap 24x7x365. What about you? Also, money you spend on a lawyer may not necessisarily be reimbursed. Also, on a relatively minor wreck (like yours where no one was killed, maimed for life, etc.) most lawyers only reluctantly will represent you because the payoff for their time is so little (relatively speaking). What they get out of your pocketbook is important to them but they know it'll be hard to get much from the ins company. I know...BTDT...and I also have close lawyer friends who are candid with me. One of my friends represented me once, but wasn't very successful. He felt bad and didn't charge me for the letters, etc. He said that most ins companies would only want to settle "on the courthouse steps" and not before...except for circumstance mentioned above.
A letter from your lawyer threating to sue, etc., etc. is such a joke to the Ins company and may just as well get tossed in the ash can as every other person in a wreck takes the same approach and the Ins company lawyers know how to deal with it. It's everyday business for them. Unscrupulous lawyers know this too. (BTW, not all lawyers are unscrupulous.... but this stuff is hardly worth their time).
Also, Ins. companies have no problem waiting 1 or 2 or 3 years to settle. It's no big deal to them...but it is to you...and they know that most people will eventually give up and settle just to "be done with it." They know more about how you will react to all this than you know. My sister was in an accident (truck that hit her was at fault). Her leg required surgery, etc. She's 4 years out from the accident (and a settlement) and the ins co. could give a lick.
The only time I came close to settling fair was when I had a senator friend get involved and send a letter to the company president citing needed insurance reform laws and soliciting additional info about my wreck. He also cited existing laws that needed to be reviewed, etc. In short, he knew what he was talking about and the company did not want to deal at that level with the sole thing they're afraid of...unfriendly legislation. Even then, the settlement was not enough to bring my rig back to the perfect shape it had been in, so I gave up on that project. Letters from lawyers are known to some as "white noise." Threatening letters from you don't even raise an eyebrow...but may be good for a few laughs if you really unload.
If you want the short version of what I'm trying to say, re-read Ron_H's note in the previous post. Sounds like he'd help you with a strategy too.
In any case, I wish you well....and while you're getting meds, you probably should get a 5-gallon pail of nerve meds...you may need them.
BTW, I tried hard to be positive in my remarks...really...
H2
You've received informed advice thus far about your rig and insurance. I've dealt with several companies in the past three years attempting to get "fair reimbursement" from accidents where the other party was totally at fault...even where they got traffic citations. I tried every trick in the book...and never went away satisfied. It is very, very rare that a person actually comes out on an accident as good as before. Even if they repair your rig, it's probably going to be full of bondo and the paint may peel off down the road.
Also good advice about not settling until you know the extent of your personal injury. If you banged your head, costs down the road could be $100K-$200K or more for a craniotomy to remove scarred brain tissue to attempt to stop seizures. Don't doubt, I know a college professor who this happened to..and it was only a 10mph wreck...and the sizures didn't start until some years later. Get everything checked out and keep all receipts of related expenses. They will reimburse all verifiable medical expenses you made. And any proposed settlement (which they'll try to get you to sign off on early on) will be a CYA for them. If you don't settle quickly before stuff starts hitting you, they have no incentive to settle quickly later.
Concerning rental cars...some companies will only pay for a rental car for a couple of weeks or so...period. And state law may back them up. Don't think that state laws are always in your favor. How much money do you pay lobbiests?
Also, insurance adjusters are in business of making money...in spite of the "good neighbor" image they try to portray. Companies have great lawyers...on tap 24x7x365. What about you? Also, money you spend on a lawyer may not necessisarily be reimbursed. Also, on a relatively minor wreck (like yours where no one was killed, maimed for life, etc.) most lawyers only reluctantly will represent you because the payoff for their time is so little (relatively speaking). What they get out of your pocketbook is important to them but they know it'll be hard to get much from the ins company. I know...BTDT...and I also have close lawyer friends who are candid with me. One of my friends represented me once, but wasn't very successful. He felt bad and didn't charge me for the letters, etc. He said that most ins companies would only want to settle "on the courthouse steps" and not before...except for circumstance mentioned above.
A letter from your lawyer threating to sue, etc., etc. is such a joke to the Ins company and may just as well get tossed in the ash can as every other person in a wreck takes the same approach and the Ins company lawyers know how to deal with it. It's everyday business for them. Unscrupulous lawyers know this too. (BTW, not all lawyers are unscrupulous.... but this stuff is hardly worth their time).
Also, Ins. companies have no problem waiting 1 or 2 or 3 years to settle. It's no big deal to them...but it is to you...and they know that most people will eventually give up and settle just to "be done with it." They know more about how you will react to all this than you know. My sister was in an accident (truck that hit her was at fault). Her leg required surgery, etc. She's 4 years out from the accident (and a settlement) and the ins co. could give a lick.
The only time I came close to settling fair was when I had a senator friend get involved and send a letter to the company president citing needed insurance reform laws and soliciting additional info about my wreck. He also cited existing laws that needed to be reviewed, etc. In short, he knew what he was talking about and the company did not want to deal at that level with the sole thing they're afraid of...unfriendly legislation. Even then, the settlement was not enough to bring my rig back to the perfect shape it had been in, so I gave up on that project. Letters from lawyers are known to some as "white noise." Threatening letters from you don't even raise an eyebrow...but may be good for a few laughs if you really unload.
If you want the short version of what I'm trying to say, re-read Ron_H's note in the previous post. Sounds like he'd help you with a strategy too.
In any case, I wish you well....and while you're getting meds, you probably should get a 5-gallon pail of nerve meds...you may need them.
BTW, I tried hard to be positive in my remarks...really...
H2
03-15-2008, 08:56 AM
#25
Burning Brakes
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This thread is useless without pictures!
C'mon, everybody wants to see the damage.
Glad you are relatively okay, but you did some serious twisting during that hit. Do not provide the insurance with any definitave answer if you are okay for at least a couple weeks.
C'mon, everybody wants to see the damage.
Glad you are relatively okay, but you did some serious twisting during that hit. Do not provide the insurance with any definitave answer if you are okay for at least a couple weeks.
03-15-2008, 11:03 AM
#26
Race Car
Thread Starter
Ron, H2 and others, thank you all for the advises. The car is at the wrecker lot. I got some pics on my cell but I don't have a way to download them on my PC.
Ivan, that 928 is looking good, did you notice any improvements with the chips?
Ivan, that 928 is looking good, did you notice any improvements with the chips?
03-15-2008, 11:43 AM
#27
Rennlist Member
Whenever I see Ron's Enron Avatar pop up in a topic related to big government, lawyers or insurance, I know I'm in for a treat (Ron, if you ran for political office in my neck-of-the-woods, you'd have my vote).
to the Jeep gods. A Jeep takes it for the Shark Team.
03-21-2008, 11:44 PM
#30
928 Barrister
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