Sideswiped!!! Aaarrrggg!

[sheppard]

Just minding my own business today. Just finished my last account for the day. Had been raining for a few minutes on thr road and I'm rounding a corner I've traveled a hundred times.

In front of me I see a car careening out of control with his wheels pointing the opposite way that he is traveling.

Bam! Hits me on the drivers side and knocks me up off the road.

Oh...did I mention I had ALL my equipment on my trailer too?

Got out and walked around for less than a minute and fainted flat on the ground...how embarresing!

Tow truck finally got there...told the paramedics I did NOT want to go to the hospital!

So how many days do you guys estimate I'll be with out my F-150? Prudential is apparently going to pay the claim. The kid was found at fault- driving too fast for conditions.

Any thoughts?

Cordially,

Sheppard

[J-mike]

sheppard, did you get hurt?

[sheppard]

Ache all over. Plan on giving myself 48 hours to find out where all the real pain is, then I'll hit a chiropractor (sp?).

Banged my knee when I fainted.

If his Ins. Co. pays everything I'll start to feel great real quick!

Cordially,
S.

[crazygator]

Take two aspirins and call me in the morning.....LOL

Glad you are OK! I am sure the equipment will be ok soon enough too!

[A1 Lawn@Landscapes]

Go to the hospital and get checked out !!!
The kid was found at fault. His insurance has to pay medical bills unless your state is different from mine. I am not saying to invent an injury, but you could be hurt and not know it yet. The fact that you fainted should be a clue that your body was dealt some sort of trauma.

[Hoosier Mower]

Sorry to hear that but I'm glad your okay!

[longviewlawncare]

i agree. it is better to checked out now.

[lawnman250]

Sheppard,
Glad you came out ok. Hope your truck and equipment weren't messed up very bad. However, if you are aching now, you will be worse tomorrow. If so, be sure to go to the hospital and get checked out. Like others stated, the other guys insurance will have to cover your costs unless your state laws are different from mine. Since it was your work vehicle, their insurance company should be required to rent a vehicle for you to use in the business until you settle the claim on yours.
My wife was on the way home from planting pansies for a customer one evening in the fall of 2001, a lady pulled out in front of her to turn left and my wife t-boned the lady's car in the driver side. Wife was in a 1/2 ton Dodge 4X4 truck, she was in shock and thought she was ok that night and didn't want to go to the hospital. The next day, she was sore as can be and could not move her neck or turn her head at all. I took her to the emergency room and got her checked out, found out she had a bad case of whiplash and a mild concussion. She wasn't able to work or even drive the whole winter. She still has trouble with her neck and frequent migrane headaches as a result. Doctors say she will have these problems for the rest of her life.
So by all means, get checked out. You can replace the truck, but it won't do you any good if you are not able to drive it.
Hope everything works out for the best for you, keep us posted.

[maple city]

As a former EMT, and a person who is currently involved in a lawsuit over an accident where insurance won't pay...

My advice is to get checked out at the hospital.

If there are physical problems later because of the accident, you need to have it on record that these injuries are from the accident.

Just quit being embarassed and get checked!!

It's better to be safe than sorry!!

Also, don't let your insurance company get away with anything. Make them pay what your claim is worth. If they try to short change your claim, talk to a lawyer.

Good luck, hope you feel better soon!

[DLCS]

I'm glad to hear you are ok, but you need to get checked out. I would go see a doctor first thing tomorrow. His insurance will pay for all of it since it was his fault. Also, I wouldn't worry about your truck make his insurance company get you a rental until yours is fixed. Just take it easy for a few days.

[qualitylandscaping]

I'm a certified first responder and volunteer w/ the local FD...


I found out last year that you don't get any insurance reimbursment, if you refuse ambulance transport at an accident scene. If you tell the EMT that must take your sign off, that you are "ok", and you sign the release form saying that you have no need for medical attention; you are responsible for any fees associated with later hospital/doctor visits, because for some reason, you were fine at the scene but now you have a broken arm or a concusion??? That's NYS law, I don't know about other states...

[qualitylandscaping]

Ohh I'm sure you guys don't believe I'm in the FD either... So here's my ID card and my name badge....

[DLCS]

Originally posted by qualitylandscaping
Ohh I'm sure you guys don't believe I'm in the FD either... So here's my ID card and my name badge....


Anyone care?:rolleyes:

[drobson]

Also a former EMT for way too many years. Any lawyer will get a claim paid even if you refused treatment at the scene. The insurance companies know that a lot of people will refuse even if they are hurt. They could be in shock, or just unaware of their injuries at the time. But you should go to the hospital, even if you feel ok, and the other guys ins co will pay the medical bills. And you don't need to wait for reimbursment, just don't pay it when you go, they can't make you pay for medical treatment.

I've seen the worse case scenario, a woman in a minor accident feels fine and refuses treatment. Later that night has a headache and goes to the ER herself. Gets an x-ray to find that she has a C3 fracture (broken neck). Docs said that if she turned her head the wrong way before she got treated she would be paralized or dead.

Bottom line, get checked out... better safe than sorry, and the other guys ins co will pay. Just don't pay the bill upfront. Also, if you have health insurance, let them pick it up. They will sue the other guys ins co to get their money back. And then you won't have to worry about anything, except making sure you can go back to work when your truck is ready to go back to work.

[qualitylandscaping]

name badge on my uniform..

[Gr grass n Hi tides]

You can still be reimbursed for medical expenses, even if you did refuse EMS transport. You can also still recover the property damage, and possibly lost wages although that might be a gray area depending on your tax returns and business records.

Trust me, I've been a litigaiton paralegal for 10 years and prepared mountains of cases very similar to yours.

To answer the original question about how much work will you miss because of the vehicle being wrecked - it probably won't be long because the carrier won't want vehicle rental fees & potential lost wages to pile up. Be a squeaky wheel. If you don't from the carrier pronto, call them three times per day until the property damage claim is resolved.

Medical care - like others have said go get it ASAP. ANY gap in treatment is fertile ground for the carrier. That's what they hope for. What we hear is "if your guy doesn't care enough to take care of himself why should we?"

Even if you see a doctor and are told he can't help & you'll be fine with two days rest..........at least you have that documented. You never know what the future holds and you'll need that documentation. What if (Heaven forbid) the next time this happens it's a head-on collision and you have severe injuries. You get the idea.

[DLCS]

Originally posted by qualitylandscaping
name badge on my uniform..

Boy, they will let anyone become a volunteer Fireman. :rolleyes:

[qualitylandscaping]

DLCS,

They don't let anyone become a volunteer fireman.. TRAINING, TRAINING, and MORE TRAINING....

I don't know about you, but I like to give back to the community that supports me. I guess your just caught up in your own greed and doing everything for yourself and not thinking about someone else... Ya know, sometimes its nice to think about others. I've been to some really bad accidents and just being there with a patient, holding their hand, and assuring them that everything will be ok; brings feelings into me I can't even describe.

But really, who cares?:mad:

[deere ZTR]

Nobody said anything about anybody being a fireman so shut the hell up. Why would you gloat like that??? Yea fireman are great and all but you dont need to walk around with your chest puffed out going I'm A FIREMAN!!!! WEEEE!!!:dizzy: :mad:

[DLCS]

Originally posted by qualitylandscaping
DLCS,


I don't know about you, but I like to give back to the community that supports me. I guess your just caught up in your own greed and doing everything for yourself and not thinking about someone else... Ya know, sometimes its nice to think about others.


So, if your so thoughtful and doing for others. Why are you bragging about beinf a volunteer Fireman? Why are you so eager to prove it? I don't understand? There are many fireman on this site posting everyday but they don't show pictures of their uniforms. So why are you so eager to prove?

[qualitylandscaping]

DLCS,

You started it by opening your big mouth and talking s*** about me.... You should have known that was coming...

[qualitylandscaping]

sry DLCS, previous post goes to Deere ZTR...

DLCS,

I'm not trying to brag about being a fireman.. Nobody here believes that I even own a lawn care company, so I at least need to back up my statements about firefighthing... If you guys would believe what I'm telling you the first time, I wouldn't have to post pictures to prove anything....:dizzy:

[DLCS]

Originally posted by qualitylandscaping
sry DLCS, previous post goes to Deere ZTR...



There is a button on the bottom of every post. You can edit your own posts.:)

[qualitylandscaping]

Wow!!! Learn new things everyday!

Have a good night guys and girls...:sleeping:

[brucec32]

Originally posted by qualitylandscaping
name badge on my uniform..


16 y/o fire lieutenants.....must be one hell of a department there. Before you made lt. did you have to have another licensed adult in the fire engine before you could drive it? :D

[MuskTurfKing]

Sounds like you're real lucky, some of those minor wrecks can easily be serious. My girlfriend rear-ended a car and totaled them both (women drivers! :p ). She refused treatment at the scene, and a few days later she had a small bump on her forehead from where her head hit the steering wheel. After about a week, half of her forehead was black and both her eyes were blackened. Man she looked bad. lol. Had to give a lot of those "Oh you look fine sweety!" and then kinda look away so you don't laugh.

Hank

[GeorgiaGrassMan]

Originally posted by brucec32
16 y/o fire lieutenants.....must be one hell of a department there. Before you made lt. did you have to have another licensed adult in the fire engine before you could drive it? :D

Would you need a learners lieutenant license for that? Sorry - really I am, but I just couldn't resist.

[Cooper Landscaping]

If hes 16 then he may still be considered a Junior fire fighter (at least he would be in our town) and its possible that that lieutenant rank is within something like an explorer post. I'm a squad leader in the police departments explorer post... lemme go get a pic of my uniform and name badge to prove it :rolleyes: then again i don't think anyone cares :)

-Coop

[Cooper Landscaping]

If hes 16 then he may stil be considered a Junior fire fighter (at least he would be in our town) and its possible that that leauteniant rank is within something like an explorer post. I'm a squad leader in the police departments explorer post... lemme go get a pic of my uniform and name badge to prove it :rolleyes: then again i dont think anyone cares :)

-Coop

[sheppard]

I'm going to call the chiropractor this morning and set up an exam.

Don't ache all over this morning but it's still early. Man I am so concerned about keeping all the accounts current.

Absolutely need a loaner p/u. Cannot just sit and watch the grass grow.

My lawyer can be an absolute monster if he needs to be. If I take him "off leash" then he'll smell blood and start chewing away.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I'll save this in word and refer to it constantly. Also keep everyone abreast of any good or bad changes.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[lugnut#6]

wouldnt the other drivers insurance be responsable for providing a rental truck for you to use?

[griffin16]

You rush to accident scenes to hold peoples hands ??
Please don't come to Massachusetts. We have enough traffic cones at accident scenes.

[colonel landscaping]

Originally posted by brucec32
16 y/o fire lieutenants.....must be one hell of a department there. Before you made lt. did you have to have another licensed adult in the fire engine before you could drive it? :D

if you looked at the pics he posted, his license says explorer on it... just like police explorers there are fire explorers. i was a police explorer and would be a fire explorer but my FD dosent have a jr program yet, you just get voted in. As for a lieu, i know in the police explorers there is rank... you have to take the test get interviewd and the whole 9 yards, and what i know from my friends that are in other FD's in my state that have junior programs the same system applies... he is a lieu in the JR program.

[qualitylandscaping]

Colonel Landscaping nailed it!

I am a lieutenant on the fire side and the president of the post on the business side.

The explorers is a world wide branch of the Boy Scouts. Each fire & police department in the country can have an explorer post. Basically, explorers are firefighters with the exception of not being able to go into an actual "working interior fire".

Also get community service credits which helps meet graduation requirements...

I know, nobody cares:rolleyes:

[DLCS]

Originally posted by qualitylandscaping
Colonel Landscaping nailed it!

I know, nobody cares:rolleyes:


Right, why did you bring it up.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by DLCS
Right, why did you bring it up. :rolleyes: So he could post pics............

[colonel landscaping]

to feel special?... maybe he was bored??...just an idea

[Gr grass n Hi tides]

Originally posted by lugnut#6
wouldnt the other drivers insurance be responsable for providing a rental truck for you to use?

No.

The carrier can put you in a $23.95/day Sunbird and be within their rights. At least it's that way in NC. They are not obliged to put you in a p.u. truck. That goes to the potential lost wage/earning capacity claim.

[dvmcmrhp52]

Gee that was an interesting thread!a guy gets railed and people are talking about the kiddie fire dept.????????????????????????????????????just don't get it sometimes

[sheppard]

Looks like Prudential is going to pay everything they should. My Ins. Co. is not screwing up too bad. Under Florida law any medical expenses are payed by the injured parties Ins. It's call 'no fault ins.' So I've got to handle the expense past my deductable which is $500.00.

Now to the really disgusting part. No one, and I mean no one. will rent me a truck that can pull a trailer. NO ONE! They do not want the ins. liability on the equipmen they own.

Were it not for a couple of friends I'd be dead in the water for two weeks while all my customers decided to drop me. Looks like I've got a workable solution today: I'm borrowing a pick up and renting a car for the guy who is loaning me his truck.

If that falls through for some reason the body shop will just get my truck drivable...the hell with the dents. I can fix them in the fall when I get some time.

Have not gotten much sleep in two nights thinking I could loose my businees all because some little twirp just had to go fast around a corner.

I've developed a new level of disgust of young people!

Cordially,
Sheppard

[Gr grass n Hi tides]

Hang in there, man. Take it one step at a time just like you're doing. Sounds like you're working things out pretty well.

On your auto policy, check into the "medical payments" provision, or sometimes it's called "PIP." This has nothing to do with liability orther guy. If you do have PIP you should be able to access it to take care of medical expenses (even if an accident is your fault). If you don't have it - get it added to your policy although too late in this instance.

[sheppard]

My portion of the PIP is $500.00. That's not a real problem. Getting a chiropractor to honor their scheduled appointments with me IS! Jeez, we're just like cattle to the medical profession.

Cordially,
S.

[hubb]

I had the same problem once. I was a painter and I had to have my truck to work out of. This 16yr old girl hit me and demolished my truck. The ins. co. rented me a mustang! I couldn't find a truck to save my life, so I loaded up the mustang with fives of latex and oil based paints and at the end of the 3 weeks that the auto dealer had my truck that mustang was offically a paint car:p .
You should have seen the look on the guys face when I returned it!

Anyway I would get a lawyer on it right away. Its been my experience that when your lawyer contacts thier ins. co. things get done alot faster and with much more satisfaction.

[sheppard]

Looks like i'll get my truck back Monday by close of day. Prudential is paying all they should. Cut me a check for over 3 grand. Will give that to the body shop Mon.

Went to the chiropractor this past Wed. poked and pulled this and that and said I've got minor whip lash and some mild trauma to the brain. Popped me some good places...felt like a million buck afterward. Said I 'should' be back to normal in about 2 weeks. Told me to take 2 weeks off and get some rest. "Yea, right. In a perfect world and maybe in the winter time!"

Felt like I've been in a dream like state this past week from the wreck. As of today I'd say I'm 80% back to normal.

Still want to kill all young twirps who drive too fast. The arrogance of youth! These bozos are so oblivious to those around them they endanger others!

Cordially,
Sheppard

[Gr grass n Hi tides]

I'm sooooo glad to hear it's going well for you. You've taken good steps though in handling it promptly & getting medical attention. GREAT news about your vehicle.

Now for the grey area................after you have finished treating with your doctor it will be time to settle your injury claim. Just remember, nobody is twisting your arm to accept a settlement right away. Be certain that you really are fine, physically, before you make a "demand" to settle your claim. Also, you might want to start gathering income tax returns and business contracts in order to back up your lost income claim.

[Frosty_03]

GO TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!! Get yourself check out.something made you faint. Just my thoughts!!!! I hope you are alright and good luck. :) :cool: