50cc Scooter vs Jeep Grand Cherokee - Cage Match

[Roo]

didn't have one in but let me tell you, when you're in the ER waiting for hours between x-rays/CAT scans, getting pumped full of IV opiates (dilaudid), 1 single snus is satiating enough to make a man cry. My girl left the ER at 1AM to take the baby home, and I wasn't wearing any clothes as they had cut them all off, so I asked her for a snus and tucked it into the waistband of my bloody boxer shorts. Around 3AM a med student was helping me take the boxers off and get into some sweats, and I didn't see it but the snus had to have fallen on the floor. He probably thought it was a little turd.

[sgreger1]

didn't have one in but let me tell you, when you're in the ER waiting for hours between x-rays/CAT scans, getting pumped full of IV opiates (dilaudid), 1 single snus is satiating enough to make a man cry. My girl left the ER at 1AM to take the baby home, and I wasn't wearing any clothes as they had cut them all off, so I asked her for a snus and tucked it into the waistband of my bloody boxer shorts. Around 3AM a med student was helping me take the boxers off and get into some sweats, and I didn't see it but the snus had to have fallen on the floor. He probably thought it was a little turd.

As you saw it fall to the ground you shed a single tear, then spent the next few minutes contemplating if it was still good despite having been on a hospital floor. In the end you decided to pick it up and pop it in and then got aids.

[jmdkodiak]

This sort of stuff must happen all the time

[Crow]

Damn, Roo... I'm glad you're okay.

Get well soon, bud!

[truthwolf1]

Caught on camera, minutes before the incident.



j/k. Good luck in your pain in the ass recovery.

[WickedKitchen]

I hope the recovery is going well, Roo. That's a terrible thing that happened to you. I hope that you're not in too much pain, man. Sucks.

[Snusdog]

Roo give us an update bro.........how you doing?

[Ainkor]

Just got a chance to read the thread. Glad you made it out in once piece!

Let us know how your getting along and hope you start feeling better soon.

[Roo]

Roo give us an update bro.........how you doing?

Thanks dog, I'm hangin in there. Today the anger is really setting in, this is really fcuking up my life at the moment. I can't use my left arm at all and therefore can't hold or otherwise take car of my 15 week old daughter; I can't do shit around the house, and when I try, my girl gets pissed because I'm not resting and trying to reduce swelling, etc. This is putting a strain on our relationship, as well as that between me and my daughter since I cannot physically interact with her. The pain is still bad, the bruising is epic, and my right ankle and foot are mysteriously swollen up like a pig now. I've just been pretty well pissed off and grumpy today.

I have decided not to get a lawyer immediately and sign off on 30-45% of the settlement right away. I have done a lot of research and talked to some friends and family, and people seem to be divided firmly into 2 camps regarding legal representation for personal injury. Many things that a lawyer would advise me to do I am already doing: I've taken lots of photos off all my injuries and bruises and swelling, photos of the Ruckus from all angles, and I have a list of questions for the orthopedic surgeon next friday. One thing I want to know is my limit for how much weight I can bear with my arm and for how long. I will build this into my case as not being able to take care of my infant daughter for x-number of months, which has tremendous value, and the additional physical strain this puts on my wife as well as emotional strain on the both of us with regard my limited parenting abilities. I'm not trying to sound like some pussy sue-happy flub, but I do want some cash for dealing with the myriad ways this jackass driver fcuked up my life for the short term. Of course I will also get documentation from work for loss of wages, and from the doctor specifically documenting my injuries. I consider myself to be a decent writer, and I think I can come up with a solid demand letter to present to his insurance company, assuming he has one. The goddamn cops still haven't released the police report to me yet, so that is pissing me off as well. If the settlement offer is garbage and I am not able to effectively negotiate on my own, at that time I will retain legal council.

So in short, I'm in pain and pissed off, but still feeling quite lucky to have my head, spine, and neck intact, and that this all happened at relatively slow speeds. Thanks for asking, and thanks for all of your collective concern. I'm going to take a couple pills, grab a snus, go sit outside in the sunshine on my new adirondack chairs, drink a beer, and e thankful for what I have.

[Snusdog]

Sorry it has been so ruff bro............hang in there and interact as much as you can with the baby (voice, eye contact, pats)......you might not be able to change diapers..........but she will still know you are there and care

One thing you need to consider is the lingering effects of a trauma like this to the body................(loss of full motion to the arm............back aches............head aches).............things that might not show up for 6 months or more..........any settlement needs to reflect the likelihood of future complications (cause once it is settled.........it is done.............there is no coming back later and adding things on)

While you might not want to retain a lawyer at this time................it certainly would not do any harm to consult with one.................most injury lawyers offer this for free and may even come to you if you cannot get to the office in your condition.

The disadvantage of hiring a lawyer is that they get a cut
The advantage is that very often WHAT they take a cut of is much larger.

In a small claims case the amount is negligible and so it may cost you to hire a lawyer in the end
In a case like yours..........with more at stake and the potential for long term complications...........it may very well cost you not to get a lawyer.

The legal department at the other guys insurance company is paid to give you the bare minimum.........it will ALWAYS be less

just my 2 cents

keep us posted and know you guys are in our thoughts and prayers

[Roo]

Thanks Dog, I appreciate the input. I still have some time to think about it since I still don't have the police report. Also I did contact one of the big firms in town yesterday that claims a lot of experience with motorcycle accidents in particular, and gave them all my information. They will be calling when that report comes out.

[sgreger1]

Thanks dog, I'm hangin in there. Today the anger is really setting in, this is really fcuking up my life at the moment. I can't use my left arm at all and therefore can't hold or otherwise take car of my 15 week old daughter; I can't do shit around the house, and when I try, my girl gets pissed because I'm not resting and trying to reduce swelling, etc. This is putting a strain on our relationship, as well as that between me and my daughter since I cannot physically interact with her. The pain is still bad, the bruising is epic, and my right ankle and foot are mysteriously swollen up like a pig now. I've just been pretty well pissed off and grumpy today.

I have decided not to get a lawyer immediately and sign off on 30-45% of the settlement right away. I have done a lot of research and talked to some friends and family, and people seem to be divided firmly into 2 camps regarding legal representation for personal injury. Many things that a lawyer would advise me to do I am already doing: I've taken lots of photos off all my injuries and bruises and swelling, photos of the Ruckus from all angles, and I have a list of questions for the orthopedic surgeon next friday. One thing I want to know is my limit for how much weight I can bear with my arm and for how long. I will build this into my case as not being able to take care of my infant daughter for x-number of months, which has tremendous value, and the additional physical strain this puts on my wife as well as emotional strain on the both of us with regard my limited parenting abilities. I'm not trying to sound like some pussy sue-happy flub, but I do want some cash for dealing with the myriad ways this jackass driver fcuked up my life for the short term. Of course I will also get documentation from work for loss of wages, and from the doctor specifically documenting my injuries. I consider myself to be a decent writer, and I think I can come up with a solid demand letter to present to his insurance company, assuming he has one. The goddamn cops still haven't released the police report to me yet, so that is pissing me off as well. If the settlement offer is garbage and I am not able to effectively negotiate on my own, at that time I will retain legal council.

So in short, I'm in pain and pissed off, but still feeling quite lucky to have my head, spine, and neck intact, and that this all happened at relatively slow speeds. Thanks for asking, and thanks for all of your collective concern. I'm going to take a couple pills, grab a snus, go sit outside in the sunshine on my new adirondack chairs, drink a beer, and e thankful for what I have.

Like I said previously, the lawyer is an absolute must, but since you decided not to go with one, remember that special damages is 3x whatever the bill was. So if your bike was worth 5k and you had 5k in medical bills, special damages is 30k. Time off work x3= more special damages etc.

I am guessing they are going to have you off wok for this, what did your doctor say? No amount of research can substitute for a lawyer though, half the reason for the lawyer is just because he is a lawyer and insurance companies treat claimants with lawyers differently and you always get a higher payout. You will have to calculate lifetime medical costs as well as a reasonable pain and suffering amount too but I forget how that is all calculated.


As far as the demand, letter, PM me your email address and I will send you a copy of the one our lawyer served recently for our auto accident, you can copy it verbatim and just replace the dates and amounts with your info.

Glad you are getting better but it's a long road ahead, at least your neck wasn't messed up too bad (or your spine) those are the two gifts that keep on giving if you know what I mean.

In a small claims case the amount is negligible and so it may cost you to hire a lawyer in the end
In a case like yours..........with more at stake and the potential for long term complications...........it may very well cost you not to get a lawyer.

The legal department at the other guys insurance company is paid to give you the bare minimum.........it will ALWAYS be less

This x1000. A small claim doesn't need a lawyer, but in a claim like yours there are a lot of things that go into it. The difference will be like a $10k payout or a $50k payout with a lawyer. Even paying the lawyer 35% you will get more, the lawyers have a way of making the numbers larger to account for their expenses.

[Bigblue1]

I have to agree with sgreger and say a lawyer is a must. Any personal Injury attorney worth their salt Doesn't charge up front anyway. If they even think they see a case they'll work contingent on payment tied to a settlement. That my friend is the only time in your life that you will like doing business with a greedy lawyer.

[GoVegan]

Hang in there Roo and I am wishing you a speedy recovery. I think you are taking the right approach and you are a living testament to the value of helmets!

[sandman1911]

Good God, only MIA for a couple of days and someone tries to whack a member here. Hang on there Roo, we are all wishing you well. Motorcycle accidents hurt like hell, been there. Take plenty of snus, snuff, and painkillers.

If the guy has insurance, lawyer up and sue the shit out of him, or seek what is fair.

If he isn't insured, then I don't know how it is where you live, but here you can go up to $10,000 in small claims court. If the deadbeat POS don't pay you can file what is called an "Abstract of Judgement" sometimes that can force him pay up (sheriff sell, wage garnishment), or if you live in a debt friendly state take that abstract of judgement to your local place that reports to the 3 major credit bureaus. He won't be able to sell or buy shit until that judgement is satisfied.