I just think this is disgusting...

[iwrbnd]

This is really mean, but I would almost be tempted to sue the lawyers for emotional pain since they keep bringing up a tragic incident. I would never do it, but man it would be great to see their faces!

Great idea!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

hehehehehe

not laughing at the OP, but am reminded what a lawyer once told me.

"The only good lawyer is the one on your side that wins the case."

 

[iwrbnd]

On a positive note, Disney won their case this week against the guy who said he had a stroke 2 weeks later after riding Tower of Terror! Justice won in that one!

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I got rear ended back in March, and the damage wasn't that severe. Then, a few weeks later, I got a letter from a lawyer, with a copy of my police report.

Found out police reports are public record, but it's just so creepy.

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I thought ambulance chasing is illegal? I believe you can turn each letter to their local bar, where they can get in trouble. I remember learning this YEARS ago in my paralegal classes.

 

[iwrbnd]

I thought ambulance chasing is illegal? I believe you can turn each letter to their local bar, where they can get in trouble. I remember learning this YEARS ago in my paralegal classes.

Can anyone verify if this is true? I would love to turn these letters over!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Can anyone verify if this is true? I would love to turn these letters over!

Like a previous poster point out, it varies from state to state. since you got a letter from a lawyer, I would guess that it is NOT illegal in your state.

If it is illegal, then hire a lawer and sue him for violation of privacy rights!

your local bar association can tell you what the standards are.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Anyone remember when Barbara Mandrell got into her collision back in the early 80s (and having at the last minute the family buckle up after they had been driving unbuckled?).

Anyone, I was too young to remember actual details and only saw the made for tv movie about her and it covered the accident.

The other driver died--and evidently the law in her state (Tenn?) was that in order to be able to collect the insurance, they had to sue and she very much hated to do that. But it was the only way for them to not be up the creek about her medical bills so to speak.

Is that true and if it was, is it still true that perhaps in some states, the only way to be able to collect the insurance is to sue?

(Here's the wikipedia blurb about it:

During the recuperation period, Mandrell was unable to work and therefore needed to collect on her insurance to pay for medical bills and to keep her band paid. Mandrell was informed that under Tennessee law, she had to sue the estate of the other driver in order to collect. It went misunderstood for years, until she was allowed to clarify it in 1990 on the The Oprah Winfrey Show

)

 

[LoraJ]

Lisa, that's what happened to me when I was injured in an accident. I tried to get my auto insurance company to cover what my health insurance didn't and they told me to get a lawyer. I was mortified that I actually had to go to trial because of people perceptions. I was scared the jury would see me as just someone out to get a big payday. I mean look at all of these posts in this thread. And the fact that it did not go to trial until 8 years later, I felt like the jury would feel like I decided years later to sue, when in fact this had just been going on that long. Oh, and they tried to use the not using a seatbelt thing against me. I was in the back of a taxi cab and I cannot remember why I did not buckle up, because I always do. I think I was sitting on it or it was stuck in the seat and the cab was already moving and I felt safer sitting still rather than moving around to get it. Now I will not let a cab driver move unless I am buckled up. There was no law (at the time not sure if there is now) that you had to wear a seatbelt in the backseat, and I can guarantee you that most of my jury didn't wear seatbelts in cabs.

My co-workers mother was hit by a car and seriously injured and when she went before a judge the judge even treated her with disdain. There are people who are out to make a buck over nothing, but that does not mean everyone is.

 

[iwrbnd]

Anyone remember when Barbara Mandrell got into her collision back in the early 80s (and having at the last minute the family buckle up after they had been driving unbuckled?).

Anyone, I was too young to remember actual details and only saw the made for tv movie about her and it covered the accident.

The other driver died--and evidently the law in her state (Tenn?) was that in order to be able to collect the insurance, they had to sue and she very much hated to do that. But it was the only way for them to not be up the creek about her medical bills so to speak.

Is that true and if it was, is it still true that perhaps in some states, the only way to be able to collect the insurance is to sue?

(Here's the wikipedia blurb about it:

)

I don't remember that story. It's sad if that's true in Tennessee. I know in my son's accident my insurance paid for everyone's medical with no problem. If their injuries had gone over my liability limit then I guess the only recourse would be to sue us. Maybe Madrell needed more than their insurance covered?

 

[allison443]

I don't remember that story. It's sad if that's true in Tennessee. I know in my son's accident my insurance paid for everyone's medical with no problem. If their injuries had gone over my liability limit then I guess the only recourse would be to sue us. Maybe Madrell needed more than their insurance covered?

Medical payments paid by the insurance company do not come out of your liability limits. If no one sues you, the liability portion of your policy ($100,000 or whatever you have) does not come into play. Even if the insurance company pays for medical costs, and in the future the passenger sues, the full liability limits are still available to pay any settlement or verdict to him. The liability limits haven't been used up by making medical payments, kwim?

Also, if you do get sued, your insurance company pays a law firm to defend you and pays any settlement or verdict up to the limits of your policy. In your case you said you have an umbrella policy which is great, so you are pretty well protected. You are doing everything right!

I have worked in the field for many many years. Most plaintiffs' attorneys really don't want a judgment against a defendant personally unless the defendant is Donald Trump or someone really wealthy. They are seeking money from the policy you had with the insurance company.

Also, frivolous suits are routinely thrown out of court, dismissed, or dropped by the plaintiff's lawyers when they realize the case isn't "worth" anything. Yeah, there's always a crazy case that winds up making news, where it is portrayed as someone unjustly getting tons of money, but usually there is either more to the story or it is a fluke. I think we all have dealt with insurance companies enough to know that they don't like to freely give away money. Many have taken a hard line with what they consider frivolous cases. Of course, they also take a hard line with some valid cases.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't remember that story. It's sad if that's true in Tennessee. I know in my son's accident my insurance paid for everyone's medical with no problem. If their injuries had gone over my liability limit then I guess the only recourse would be to sue us. Maybe Madrell needed more than their insurance covered?

From what I gather it was for her own insurance to pay the claim period.

Very confusing--but if there is a state law that requires a lawsuit before a payout--it is just very wrong.

Again--that is just the wikipedia article. I did not investigate it further--as I was just verifying that it was something that she had to do to get her claims paid. Not sure why it was that way.

And again--some people do have a very valid reason to sue (as in Barbara's case) and not everyone is out to make a quick buck or lose responsibilty.

In my collision--I simply didn't know who to deal with a hit and run driver. I wasn't seeking to sue, but getting legal counsel doesn't always mean that is the plan.

 

[manning]

Back in 2001, my mother had a 23 year old woman JUMP IN FRONT OF HER CAR while holding her baby.

My mother was driving slow (about 15 MPH due to the weather) and was able to slow down even further but still hit the woman.

Baby was fine, the woman ended up with a broken hip.

the woman was diagnosed with PPD (Post Partum Depression) and my mother was cleared of any criminal negligence, but the woman sued her 6 months later for TEN MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!

The woman claimed that due to the pain of the broken hip, she became a witch (with a capitol B) and her boyfriend left her (and the baby). Since he was "soon to be a famous rap star" she figured that she had lost his income, and now my mom had to pay.

It actually went through the courts for 8 years! (the woman kept firing her lawyers when they told her to get a grip on reality) and finally last year it was all over and done with... with the woman being fined $2500 and my mom being off scott free.

Not exactly scott free. I bet it cost her money to defend herself not to mention the emotions she experienced.

 

[cm8]

Uh, oh! Our sickness is slipping through the borders to you! You better quarantine it quick!

 

[iwrbnd]

Wow! Thanks for all the information! Us Disers are smart people! I've learned a lot about how insurance and suing works. Some things make me feel better, some still scares me. Thanks everyone!

 

[minnie56]

DH had an 'incident' some years back on a Disney Bus on New Years Eve. He ended up in Hospital overnight and in the wee hours I took a cab back to the Contemporary Resort. The Cab driver gave me a Lawyers card that has good success with lawsuits against Disney! I was dumbfounded..I was exhausted and my only concern was that he would be ok and we could pay the bill!!!!

 

[iwrbnd]

DH had an 'incident' some years back on a Disney Bus on New Years Eve. He ended up in Hospital overnight and in the wee hours I took a cab back to the Contemporary Resort. The Cab driver gave me a Lawyers card that has good success with lawsuits against Disney! I was dumbfounded..I was exhausted and my only concern was that he would be ok and we could pay the bill!!!!

Did you end up using the lawyer?

 

[minnie56]

Nope

 

[iwrbnd]

Nope

I'm so glad and I hope your husband recovered quickly!

 

[minnie56]

He did, thank you.
Had the best check up $17,000 can buy!