Legal advice needed

[Eagles6]

I was injured in an auto accident about 1.5 yrs ago and I am hoping that a Freeper may be able to give me some advice.

[Eagles6]

I was injured in an auto accident about 1.5 yrs ago and I am hoping that a Freeper may be able to give me some advice.

While travelling the speed limit(55) in the right hand lane on an interstate highway, I was struck from behind by a speeding motorist, totalling my pickup.

I have contracted with 2 attornies who have jerked me around for months while doing absolutely nothing. A third said that he/she would take the case but bowed out after feigning umbrage at an innocent question. I live in Southwest PA. I have spoken to other attorneys who say these cases are not worth their time unless death, dismemberment or terrible scarring is involved. Any Freeper advice would be appreciated.

[Jaysun]

You haven't told us what you're seeking to remedy. Do you want your truck paid for? What?

[Voir Dire]

yes, what do you want to happen?

[Tax-chick]

How unclear. Your insurance company should be your first resource. If there's a good chance of recovering their costs, they'll be interested.

[pubmom]

It appears he wants remedy for his injuries.

Am I correct?

[Casaubon]

*looks in crystal ball*

I see much legal bullsh-t in your future.
the ammount youre needing or asking better be worth it.

[wimpycat]

The other party's insurance is supposed to pay for the cost of the truck plus all reasonable medical expenses incurred. You don't necessarily need a lawyer to make a claim against the other party's insurance. You'll need copies of all your medical bills plus all the medical notes. They'll separate it into two parts-property damage and bodily injury. The property damage isn't all that hard.

If the other party was uninsured; then you'll need to take the other party to court. But if the other party was insured at the time of the accident, done of this is any big deal. That is, unless you're wanting to milk this claim for a lot of "pain and suffering" and neverending chiropractic visits and make a lot of money off of it that goes way above and beyond your medical expenses. Be realistic about what you want, gather all your meds together, and the insurance company will usually pay the amount of meds, plus lost wages (make sure you have documentation of how much time you were out of work) and a little bit on top of that. Make sure you're asking for a reasonable amount, or else you will get jerked around. Lawyers know when they have a case and when they don't.

[Tax-chick]

Very perceptive!

[Eagles6]

It maybe helpful if I add a few details to the public forum.
It seems that the major obstacle is that the other driver and myself are both covered by the same insurance company. It is in their best interest to fight and lowball everything.
I want medical bills paid and lost wages and a reasonable settlement. My main concern is that I may have some of the problems for life.

[ken21]

you have one powerful weapon--

you do not sign the release, releasing the other driver from responsibility until you get what you need, or can negotiate.

[wimpycat]

I sent you a long freepmail, but I will say this here. Insurance companies think the only good claim is a closed claim. Outwait them...if you can.

[Eagles6]

Thanks. Lot's of good advice.

[tomkat]

Much of what you wrote has been the story of my life for the past year and a half.
A 30 ton dump truck pulled onto the highway 100' in front of me on a clear/dry/sunny morning w/no other traffic in sight.
Here's what an Escort looks like after a 55 to 0mph deceleration into a steel wall:

There's a 3/8x18" titanium rod holding the two halves of my right femur together and my hip's healed like a jigsaw puzzle.
Aside from the truck driver's negligence, neither air bag deployed upon impact.
Then, six months afterward, the surgeon said basically "oops, it's not healing correctly because we put too small a rod in".

A supposedly 'very reputable, first class' local firm took the case shortly after the wreck and proceeded to blow smoke up my ass for 16mos. They've recently been fired and I'm inclined to file an official complaint against them with the disciplinary committee of the state Supreme Court. All of which brings me back to square one of having to begin the whole hideous process anew.

Don't get your hopes up - I've yet to see penny one.

With apologies beforehand to any attorneys here who might still actually give a damn about their work, it seems to me no mystery that Shakespeare's opinion of lawyers is still in wide circulation 500yrs after he expressed it.

(ps: wimypcat, if your 'lengthy' reply to eagles might have relevance here, would you kindly cc me a copy ?)

/vent

[Always Right]

Any Freeper advice would be appreciated.

How's that neck feeling? Just kidding.

[Voir Dire]

Don't wait too long. Once the statute of limitations expires, you are out of luck.

[Jaysun]

Right, more or less. He's been responding via private mail to protect his privacy.