In August of 2013 I was sleeping in a tent with my husband in a field. When a drunk driver in a giant truck backed into our tent. If my husband had not woken up I would be dead. My husband pulled me up just in time for the truck to ram my head. I ran through pip in about 3 months and I have horrible ptsd. Cannot deal with life. Terrified of driving and camping. The noise of big trucks still make me jump. The guys insurance have not been kind to me and are taking forever. I want this done and over with.. I don't know what I deserve, I just want my life back.. Thanks for listening.
Ronald David WiltonEmployment / Labor AttorneyEncino, CA ·
You absolutely need an attorney and should hire one before you try and settle. Try clicking on the Find a Lawyer link at the top of the page to get started.
You definitely need to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. Most provide free consultations and work on a contingent basis. Email attorneys now and set up teleconferences for tomorrow. has a tool to help you find one: http://www.attorneyqna.com/find-a-lawyer
Adam A StudnickiPersonal Injury LawyerScottsdale, AZ ·
The adjuster working for the other driver's insurance company is not your friend. His or her goal is to pay you as little as he or she can get away with.
Insurance adjusters love working with unrepresented people because they are familiar with the game and you are not.
At minimum, get a consultation from an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area before you settle.
Also, remember there are strict deadlines for making legal claims. Sometimes insurance companies drag their feet to try to get people to miss those deadlines.
You can use the "find a lawyer" tool on this site, or Google, to search for lawyers.
Best of luck.
First off, I'm sorry to hear you have had to go through this ordeal. I would recommend you speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Generally, consultations with personal injury attorneys are free and you would be able get your questions answered. You should be aware there is a three year statute of limitations in Washington (assuming this occurred in Washington). You will either need to settle your claim with the at-fault insurance company or file a lawsuit to toll the statute by the three year mark. An attorney can help you understand what your rights are and what you are entitled to recover for your medical expenses, future medical expenses and your pain and suffering. I wish you the best.
Hire a personal injury lawyer now. We are paid on a contingency fee basis meaning we are paid out of the settlement or judgment at trial, so no out of pocket fees for you. We often recover at least double for clients and usually more than they could have on their own, even after attorneys fees and medical bills are paid. Call around. Consultations are free. Normal contingency fee is 33% of settlement and usually there is plenty remaining for the client, depending on the facts of the case and any mitigating factors.
Howard Clifford HoytDUI / DWI AttorneyLees Summit, MO ·
Insurance companies have problems with injuries of this nature. They like to see broken bones and stitches. You need to present medical evidence of your issues. Get with a local attorney.
Everyone else has given you good advice: get a lawyer. Now I'm going to be the bearer of bad news: no matter what, your life will not go back to where you were before this accident happened. No lawsuit will fix that. No settlement will fix that. This accident happened and the only option you have is to deal with it as best you possibly can. That means psychiatric treatment and counseling. THe success of your treatment will largely depend on 1) the skill of your providers; 2) your network of support; and 3) how hard you are willing to mentally work on putting the past behind you and moving on to a productive, fulfilling life that is not hampered by the events of one night long ago. You have a long, uphill fight, but it isn't insurmountable. Whenever you get discouraged, remember that some people have been through much worse than you and they have managed to make it back to a normal life, and you are just as smart, caring, thoughtful, and hardworking as those people; if they can do it, then you can achieve a normal life, too, if you just keep at it. I wish you the absolute best of luck.
Sorry this has happened to you. Third-party medical charges are covered under most private health insurance plans. If you have health insurance, I would recommend submitting outstanding past medical charges and future medical charges to your health insurance. So that you don't have to deal with the at-fault driver's insurance carrier and you can focus on your recovery, you may want to hire an attorney. The "Find a Lawyer" link can help you find an attorney that can help in the effort of you getting your life back.
