Posted: 9/23/2007 9:50:54 PM EDT
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My best friend was just hit tonight by a driver in San Antonio where he lives about a block away from his mothers house. The driver that was sited and admitted responsability for the accident ran a stop sign and plowed into the front of his car causing a very bad wreck. My friend was injured and can not hold his head up by his own will at this time as well as numerious other semi sever problems. The car he was driving (his show car) is gone. I am talking G O N E ! He is lucky he didn't break anything. He has just been released from the ER (arrived via paramedics) and has been instructed by me to proceed to the VA emergency room ASAP tomorrow for further medical care and documtation. He is reciently married with a newborn. Sole provider of his household. Unable to work as of tonight obviously. I want the best damn attorney we can get for this field in this area. Help me help him. He saved my ass in IRAQ and this is the least I can do on his behalf. Email or post as my IM box fills up to damn fast. TIA (Thanks in advance) |
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It may take a little while to get things moving with the insurance company for the at fault driver. In the meantime, your friend should check his own policy - he may have P(ersonal) I(njury) P(rotection) coverage. If so, his own PIP will pay 80% of his lost wages (up to his PIP limit) regardless of who was at fault for the accident. He can use his PIP to pay for medical treatment also, but if he has some other way to get treatment, I would recommend he use his PIP to pay his bills and help support his family while he is unable to work. By hiring a lawyer, he can maximize his settlement with the other driver's insurance company, but it probably won't happen fast. In fact, he probably doesn't want to settle until he knows the full extent of his injuries and if he's going to have any permanent problems. Of course, if the other driver has a minimum policy, then he may be just as well off to settle quickly for the policy limit. |
Wrong answer. FWIW going through your own insurance company after an accident limits what you can actually do and or get out of a situation like this. When not a fault always use up the other insurance policy before ever using your own. Sure you have your insurance sue for the remaining balance when yours is used up. But the other company wants things over with and some times you can get a damn good offer. A hell of a lot more $$ than your insurance would ever pay out to you.
That is where we are at. In the mean time an attorney needs to be sought out for anything that may come up. Its called protection. He damn well better sue or he stands to lose a lot including his other car. I have a great deal of experience dealing with insurance companys with cases like this. Trust me. I am worried about him and his family, The amblitory care and further medical bills etc. |
| Sorry to hear. I learned my lesson trying to be the nice guy. ALWAYS SUE THE AT FAULT PARTY. I am sorry to say it but if you are nice to the insurance company, you lose. Lawsuits are how the game is played now and if you show up to the game with out a glove and bat, you are going home with a goose egg and a kick to the nuts. |
Solid advice right there. PIP is quick money when you need it most. Covers 80% of lost wages, and medical. And is non-subrogable generally. Most people only have 2500 or 5000 in PIP. It costs just a little more money to get a lot ($100,000) of PIP coverage. It is definitely worth it with so many uninsured or underinsured drivers, and insurance companies that screw you at every turn. |
| please see the State Bar of Texas SBOT and check out any lawyer before hiring one. There are plenty good ones out there and plenty inept. |
| My insurance company has always told me that they would pay up front and get their money from the other company. Mine tends to pay up faster than most. This is to cover expenses. I can still sue if I want. In Texas I recommend that everyone have uninsured motorist coverage as some areas have 50% uninsured drivers. |