Long shot - Did you witness a motorcycle accident in Hayward 11/7/2013?

[Gixxergirl1000]

Great news!! Just got a call from the insurance company representing the driver. They are assuming full responsibility!!

Okay, I am NOT looking to profit from this. That's not interesting to me at all. However, I do want to make sure I cover all the REASONABLE bases as I pull together my info for getting reimbursed.

Obviously all damage to the bike.
My gear. My helmet is marked up pretty good and my jacket has some road rash. Boots took some scuffing as well.
My out of pocket health expenses so far.
Others? Those who have gone through this, suggestions?

Get replacement costs for ALL gear that you were wearing. Even if they're scuffed and still serviceable... you can donate them to a newbie or something. But get all new gear... you don't know what may have been stressed or pushed to the edge, and may potentially fail in another get-off.

The future medical is the part I'm worried about.
I'm not interested in getting money for pain and suffering.

Years ago, I broke and tore a lot of crap in my body. Knees, hip, ankles, fingers... healed up great.
Or so I thought.
Then I got old.
All the stuff that "healed up"... didn't. The pain and mobility issues I have to deal with now suck ASS. You absolutely WILL be dealing with this 15-20 years from now. You WILL have pain issues. You WILL be affected by this.
You were damaged. You can be put back together, but that damage WILL stay with you. The person who did this to you has insurance for just this reason. This is not about funding your retirement... it's about COMPENSATING you for what you WILL lose down the road.
2-1/2 to 3 times your medical... put it in the bank. Don't use if if you don't want to... but someday, it'll come in handy, and while it won't put what was broken to new, at least you'll be compensated for the pain you'll be dealing with when you're into your 50's... just my

Hope you're relatively pain-free before Christmas- I'm sure your boys are going to want to get their rough-housing on!

 

[Squidly McSmearstain]

HUGE to everyone who has posted!! Thanks!!

I'm already in my mid forties, so shit already hurts.

2.5 to 3 times my medical bills? Ooof, my medical bills are ~100k. Just the regular ER trip was 26k. The trauma center ER visit was more and then two luxurious nights on the trauma ward were not cheap.

I'll definitely wait as long as I can before closing out the medical compensation, so thanks for that info!!!!! I'm very uncomfortable with the idea of claiming pain and suffering money.

 

[kingmoochr]

I only broke bones. They'll heal.

I'm in pain, but it will pass.

I separated 1 rib several years ago playing hockey. When it healed, scar tissue formed around the break in the cartilage. I can still feel it when I eat too much. You are correct in that bone is the only tissue in the body that can completely heal, but just because you broke bones doesn't mean there isn't tissue damage in the surrounding areas. Doesn't mean scar tissue can't form. Doesn't mean you won't feel this injury for the rest of your life.

Ask anyone suffering from chronic pain due to an injury about it "passing". There is no guarantee it will. There is no way to predict the outcome of your injury with 100% certainty. If you operate under the assumption that there is, you leave yourself vulnerable to the possibility of having to cover rehabilitation and medication yourself for the rest of your life, due to the actions of others. Don't write off your injuries so quickly.

(I just finished my physiology course, a prereq for Paramedic school as well as any other medical field. I work on an ambulance that primarily transports people who are no longer able to care for themselves. I have stories.)

 

[ThumperX]

I hate the term "Pain and suffering."

With major injuries 2.5-3 times the cost of repairing those injuries is usually what can be expected to be paid out for future related ailments.

Your broken ribs lead to an increased chance of respiratory disorders, your fractured collarbone may lead to increased occurrences of headaches. It isn't hype it's truth. Each little related symptom costs you, time from work, time from family, time from enjoying your off times.

 

[CAmudgeon]

Even though you feel you don't wish to pursue pain & suffering, and the other party's insurance are at this time working with you (remember this could change) I would still recommend calling Scotty's office for a no pressure consult.

Make sure you understand what not claiming this could mean for any future issues that may flare up.

 

[Seven11]

Ya, remember a lawyer will take like 30%.

If they're working with you, and you are being reasonable, I'm sure you'll do fine without a lawyer.

that is FUNNY!

insurance companies are not there to make sure you are alright, all they want from u is to pay you as little as they can get away with.

if u don't call and hire a lawyer, you will miss out on at least $20,000 to $30k.

your injuries sound like they really hurt and will hurt some more in the future.

and yes the lawyer will take 30%

but 70% of something is still better than 100% of nothing!

 

[Gixxergirl1000]

I hate the term "Pain and suffering."

With major injuries 2.5-3 times the cost of repairing those injuries is usually what can be expected to be paid out for future related ailments.

Your broken ribs lead to an increased chance of respiratory disorders, your fractured collarbone may lead to increased occurrences of headaches. It isn't hype it's truth. Each little related symptom costs you, time from work, time from family, time from enjoying your off times.

THIS. So much this.

Dave, you really need to reconsider your thoughts about the "pain & suffering"... there's a reason the courts compensate people for this. It's not like you spilled hot coffee in your lap and are suing McDonalds... you were almost killed. You sustained major injuries. This is about compensating you for the lifetime of consequences YOU will pay for the OTHER PERSON'S inattention.
Think about it...

 

[Charles R]

I only broke bones. They'll heal. Looking for pain and suffering seems like a money grab to me. I'm not looking to finance my retirement because somebody made a (hopefully) honest and unfortunate mistake. I just want to not lose money.

The bike is a Triumph, and will go the Triumph dealer.

I'm in pain, but it will pass. The reason insurance is so expensive is because so many people try to wring as much money out as they can; whether it is appropriate or not. I HATE that attitude and I HATE that's the prevailing thought process and anything I can do to curtail it seems like the right thing to do.

Nope!

You are REALLY not thinking correctly about this, and I strongly suggest a lawyer. But It's NOT to protect you from the insurance scrooges... It's to protect you from yourself, and make sure you do get an appropriate amount.

Think about this little tidbit for awhile...

What exactly is a claim payout to an insurance company?
Whether it's a few hundred bucks... or a few million bucks...

It's an "operational expense". Nothing more.

Every business has income, and it has costs. And our government has seen fit to help businesses by allowing them to DEDUCT costs as a business expense.
So... your payout... big or small... is nothing more than a tax deductible operational cost for them.

And our collective insurance premiums? Big payouts have little to do with that. That's just a big business charging, "what the market will bear".

In the meantime... You are in your 40's, and have suffered a MAJOR set of injuries. You will NEVER FULLY recover anymore. Our older bodies just don't heal like they did 20 years ago. And as Connie mentioned, she has pains that have come back to roost, even though she was younger when her injuries happened.
Hell, this could even affect how many more years you are ABLE to work. I don't know what you do for a living, but injuries like yours could cut a good 10-15 years off my productive life. I have to crawl all around vehicles, and a rack of marginally healed ribs would make that tougher each decade.

So... Do yourself a HUGE favor... and stop worrying about the poor insurance companies. And stop thinking others will judge you as a "money grabber" if you get an HONESTLY appropriate settlement. (it's much more than you are thinking at this point, I guarantee it)

The only entity you can possibly hurt at this point, is yourself.
Talk to a professional. Talk to a Professional. Talk to a Professional.