85 year old man crashed into my new car yesterday (pics)

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Originally posted by: jvarszegi
Originally posted by: sm8000
Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
i wouldnt dare sue an old man, id forgive him, hes old and his reactions and control arent wat they were. yeah id want the insurance to cover repairs but i wouldnt seek further money by askin for compensation

Hell with that, he shouldn't be driving. He's eighty-freaking-five! If he thinks he's responsible enough to take the risk of driving at his age, he should live up to that responsibility. He should cover his fair share.

Exactly. It's all about the responsibility. If the man can't drive, he's putting everyone's life in danger by driving, and he should know better. What if he was an old drunk man? Age and drunkenness similarly impair driving ability-- impaired vision, slowed reaction time, etc.
If he were drunk, then Lucky could easily prove malice/intent to harm. But just being old is no reason to claim undue suffering.
 

farmercal

Golden Member
Mar 23, 2000
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my back and neck hurt like a motherfvcker, and my GF neck and shoulder do as well. I don't give two sh*ts whether you laugh or not. Hit your head on a steering wheel and then talk to me.
I don't understand how you hit your heat on the steering wheel. I was in an accident where a drunk pulled out in front of me when I was going 50 mph and t-boned his truck. I didn't hit my head on the steering wheel, the seat belt wouldn't let me move that far forward. Were you wearing a seatbelt? What about the inflatable air bag. Are you telling me that car that is only six months old does not have an air bag?
 

rise

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
9,116
46
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meh, my case was a little different as i was hit on a highway (rte 3) heading home from the cape by a drunk driver. i never saw him, he took off. turns out he had just got out of jail the previous day, he went and hid in a detox for a couple days and then was finally arrested again, claimed his car was stolen, of course.

anyway, his insurance company tried screwing me too, told me i'd be entitled to nothing even tho i was out of work for like 3 weeks, keeping in mind i was doing about 70 and he managed to side/swipe rear end me. the witnesses says he was flying and i went head first into a guard rail at probably 40 mph after ding a couple 360's in the road.

when i got counsel, they waited until the day before we were to go to court and settled. of course the lawyer takes 1/3 for doing practically nothing, but it was a hell of alot better than what the insurance co. wanted to give me.

and you're not suing him, but his insurance company. if you're seriously injured, get counsel.

 

Argo

Lifer
Apr 8, 2000
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Originally posted by: Quasmo
I got sued for $10,000 for rear-ending a lady.

Well, you should know that no means no. You're lucky you didn't go to jail.
 
Jun 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: z0mb13
Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
Originally posted by: Lucky
So I was taking my GF to work in my 6 mo. old scion tc yesterday. Came to a 4 way stop, turned, and started accelerating when this car came out of a car wash exit at about 20-25 mph and hit me. Didn't have a chance to avoid it.

You can see here and here how the accident happened, and pictures of the two cars here that show the damage.

Shortly after the accident both my GF and me started to have severe back and neck pain. We went to the hospital for about 5 hours and came home with pain medication and muscle relaxers, and told to take a few days off work.

Now it's my understanding that my medical bills, the prescription copays, lost wages, and my car deductible will be covered by his insurance. But I'm being told my rental car is not covered by my insurance (didn't have the extra coverage) or his. And my insurance is telling me also that he's not responsible for that even if I took him to small claims court.

In addition to my rental car being covered, I would like a reasonable amount for both my girlfriend and I for pain and suffering. It's not a major case so it's not worth taking on an attorney yet (I don't think), but I would like a reasonable amount. Anyone have advice on how to proceed with this and why his insurance would not cover my rental car?


i cant believe u are going to get compensation of the old man? thats how i take it (please correct me) i think this compensation thing is outta control..."oh noes!!11!1!!!1oneone! i tripped on my doorstep im gunna sue the git that built the house!" its pathetic

i wouldnt dare sue an old man, id forgive him, hes old and his reactions and control arent wat they were. yeah id want the insurance to cover repairs but i wouldnt seek further money by askin for compensation

my friend go rear ended once very badly, he was stopped at some light and a woman just sailed right into the back of him, had whiplash for weeks and missed alot of trainin, and aggrevated an old shoulder injury. womans insurance payed for a new car for them and that was that everything sorted, they just got on with their lives after that. didnt feel the need to sue or get compensation.

but we're british, guess we have a different mentality to you yanks. british > americans

but but you have bad teeth!

:D:D


came back from the dentist just last week.....100% fine, these badboys are soo white they could be in a colgate add, now stop whining, its time to get hardcore and do it the brittish way, leave the old man enjoy his pension or what ever it is you guys have over there to help the old people.

i bet that guy is part of the reason you can have a nice car an whatnot, all the wars america have been in, so pay the guy a little respect and jus leave him be. do u not get sick pay over there?
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
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Meh. I was gonna tell you how to get your rental car and time off work paid for, but I decided not to once I read that you were going to try to profit off the accident by pushing for punitive damages.
 

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
4,269
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Originally posted by: Lucky
Thanks for the rational response woods.


i wouldnt dare sue an old man, id forgive him, hes old and his reactions and control arent wat they were. yeah id want the insurance to cover repairs but i wouldnt seek further money by askin for compensation

I don't care whether he's old or not, he caused the accident and he should pay up for what he is responsible for. That includes my rental car and a reasonable amount for having to be in bed doped up on drugs for however long it takes to feel better.

Reasonable amount: $0

You had neck pain after an auto accident, let me call Ripley's. Why do you think you're entitled to anything beyond compensation for your car, medical bills, and a rental car? It's beyond me.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,378
12,866
136
Originally posted by: Lucky
Thanks for the rational response woods.


i wouldnt dare sue an old man, id forgive him, hes old and his reactions and control arent wat they were. yeah id want the insurance to cover repairs but i wouldnt seek further money by askin for compensation

I don't care whether he's old or not, he caused the accident and he should pay up for what he is responsible for. That includes my rental car and a reasonable amount for having to be in bed doped up on drugs for however long it takes to feel better.
:thumbsup:

I received a nice check for my written off car because of a senior's driving issues. I managed to find a nearly identical car a few months later. My car was a fully loaded 17,000 km 1977 1/2 Chrysler Lebaron coup (firts year and the 500th car made) that was my grandfather's car. I snagged a 1979 Lebaron coup in very good condition and used my old car as a parts car.
 

jvarszegi

Senior member
Aug 9, 2004
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Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: jvarszegi
Originally posted by: jumpr
What is this pain and suffering bullshit? You got hurt, his insurance will pay for your medical expenses. I don't think a car accident qualifies as any sort of undue psychological stress for you, much less for your girlfriend, who was a freaking PASSENGER. MAYBE if it was a severe injury accident or a fatal crash you'd qualify for punitive damages/pain and suffering, but I think any reasonable judge would laugh in your face, as I'm doing right now.

EDIT: I'm looking at a law textbook now which states that punitive/compensatory damages (which is essentially the 'pain and suffering' euphamism we all hear) is reserved for cases where the defendant is shown to have acted in malice or intentional wrongdoing. You clearly don't qualify for this.

You shouldn't talk out of your ass. Intent is not important to prove for any sort of loss, unless you're talking a slander or libel case.

If you need to look in a textbook, you're not an expert.
By asking for 'pain and suffering,' Lucky is asking for cash from the old man as 'punishment.' Lucky and his girlfriend have experienced no serious injuries, are psychologically/emotionally unaffected by this accident and are being appropriately compensated by the old man's insurance company. By asking for compensatory damages from this man, he'd have to prove that there's some sort of undue stress or particularlized harm that he's experiencing as a result of his accident.

I'm consulting a textbook because I'm not an expert, nor have I claimed to be one. I'm a fourth-year political science student who's taken a class in tort law. I'm somewhat knowledgeable in this area, so I'm offering him my advice.

Okay, maybe I misread things. If there's no lasting damage (physical or psychological) I wouldn't expect to get any extra compensation. If there is, the OP's got something, but like you say, he'll have to prove it.

I think it's become trendy to moan about the "litigious nature of our society", for all sorts of pretentious a$$holes; that's all I hate. (I'm not accusing you of being an a$$hole, just explaining.) In the recent election, Edwards was demonized in the right-wing media because he'd been a personal-injury lawyer. (I'm an independent and did not vote in the election.) People who talk this way blithely ignore the fact that injuries do happen, all the time. Even hard-to-prove-or-disprove back pain does happen, like it happened to my father.
 

Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: venk
how ther hell did you hit your head on the steering wheel when the guy hit you on the side?


I don't understand your question.
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
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depends on the insurance companies I guess...I got hit really badly last year (pics were posted, yes), and the other insurance company offered money upfront for a rental car and some "hurting" money :p

I wasn't going to seek any extra cash, but they were so afraid of a lawsuit that they offered immediately.
 
Jun 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: Lucky
Thanks for the rational response woods.


i wouldnt dare sue an old man, id forgive him, hes old and his reactions and control arent wat they were. yeah id want the insurance to cover repairs but i wouldnt seek further money by askin for compensation

I don't care whether he's old or not, he caused the accident and he should pay up for what he is responsible for. That includes my rental car and a reasonable amount for having to be in bed doped up on drugs for however long it takes to feel better.


seriously....you lot are just to soft, what a bunch of wimps, i remember being T-boned at a junction when my mum was driving, we were in a renault espace (7 seater MPV) we ended up in someones garden. all we did was exchange insurance info and that was that, the guy even came round the same day to see if we were ok, (he had his car fixed!!)

me n my mum had killer headaches and bad knecks for about a week, we even drove the espace back home (such a tough car) no compensation involved and guess what we're ok financially too

Edit: the guy who crashed into us, jumped the gun too early while he was at the junction, in his boy racer vauxhall astra. the guy was a complete chav tw@t definately some one you'd sue just becuase they are the scum of the earth, we never, no need to.
 

farmercal

Golden Member
Mar 23, 2000
1,580
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I don't understand your question.
What he means is that when you are hit from the side, your head would go from left to right or right to left, not back to front (as in a head on collision).
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
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Originally posted by: Lucky
Originally posted by: venk
how ther hell did you hit your head on the steering wheel when the guy hit you on the side?
I don't understand your question.
Not wearing your belt, eh?
 

TheLonelyPhoenix

Diamond Member
Feb 15, 2004
5,594
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Is it just me, or does everyone think that being inconvienced with an accident (that didn't cause any injuries) qualifies as pain and suffering?

Walk it off, dick.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
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Sorry you got in an addicent man, that blows.

This pic makes me the saddest of all though: Text

I know, I know... bleeding hearts unite. Good luck with this situation, I hope it doesn't drag on too long.
 

jvarszegi

Senior member
Aug 9, 2004
721
0
0
Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: jvarszegi
Exactly. It's all about the responsibility. If the man can't drive, he's putting everyone's life in danger by driving, and he should know better. What if he was an old drunk man? Age and drunkenness similarly impair driving ability-- impaired vision, slowed reaction time, etc.
If he were drunk, then Lucky could easily prove malice/intent to harm. But just being old is no reason to claim undue suffering.

Malice isn't important in a drunk-driving case. I think you're slightly confused there. Negligence is all that's necessary-- and it's treated sort of like a tort, you basically don't have to prove anything beyond documentation of a fact. If the driver blows hot, he's automatically assumed to've been negligent.

I'm no legal expert either, but I'm pretty sure that if you do some research you'll find out that I'm speaking the truth. The old man doesn't have to have been intending to harm anyone; road rage cases are very rare.
 
Jun 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: meltdown75
Sorry you got in an addicent man, that blows.

This pic makes me the saddest of all though: Text

I know, I know... bleeding hearts unite. Good luck with this situation, I hope it doesn't drag on too long.


exactly, you wil be the biggest TW@T in the world to sue an old man, who probably fought for your freedom anyway, becuase u have a little neck ache
 

Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
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Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Is it just me, or does everyone think that being inconvienced with an accident (that didn't cause any injuries) qualifies as pain and suffering?

Walk it off, dick.

I don't understand why severe back and neck pain do not qualify as inujuries to some people here....


Not wearing your belt, eh?

We both were.



What he means is that when you are hit from the side, your head would go from left to right or right to left, not back to front (as in a head on collision).


Look at the pictures. I was hit diagonally. Almost as much straight on.
 

Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
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Originally posted by: jvarszegi
Originally posted by: jumpr
Originally posted by: jvarszegi
Exactly. It's all about the responsibility. If the man can't drive, he's putting everyone's life in danger by driving, and he should know better. What if he was an old drunk man? Age and drunkenness similarly impair driving ability-- impaired vision, slowed reaction time, etc.
If he were drunk, then Lucky could easily prove malice/intent to harm. But just being old is no reason to claim undue suffering.

Malice isn't important in a drunk-driving case. I think you're slightly confused there. Negligence is all that's necessary-- and it's treated sort of like a tort, you basically don't have to prove anything beyond documentation of a fact. If the driver blows hot, he's automatically assumed to've been negligent.

I'm no legal expert either, but I'm pretty sure that if you do some research you'll find out that I'm speaking the truth. The old man doesn't have to have been intending to harm anyone; road rage cases are very rare.


That's my understanding as well.
 

C'DaleRider

Guest
Jan 13, 2000
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Originally posted by: agnitrate
Originally posted by: Lucky
defensive response

I didn't say that you wouldn't get paid for your hospital bills and medical expenses. I just said you wouldn't get crap for pain and suffering.

-silver

Actually, he probably will get some compensation for pain and suffering. The gentleman's insurance company most likely will make an initial offer that is a bit more than the total of his medical bills and car repairs.

At least that's what State Farm insurance did for me when a young girl, an 18 yo college freshman, hit me while I was walking across the street in a crosswalk with the light. She had a red, was talking on her cell phone, and wanted to make a right-on-red, legal when everything's clear.

I was pushing my Cannondale road bike alongside me.........talking with a friend I'd just caught up with. He was a few paces ahead in the crosswalk. She, the driver, never looked in front of her when she thought she saw a clear enough spot in oncoming traffic and gunned it.

Unfortunately, I was right in front of her car when she moved. She had about a 12 ft. runup before she hit me, and knocked me about 10 ft. out into the road.

Bent the frame on my bike and cracked one of the carbon wheels. Caught my left knee with her bumper....quite swollen for a few days. Still twinges when it rains.....

State Farm paid for a complete new bike....mine was only two months old at the time. Pid for the ER visit and subsequent MD visits. And, without my asking for it, offered me $1200 for "pain and suffering" on top of the aforementioned costs if I'd sign a release indemnifying them and her from any further responsibility for anything resulting from the accident. Of course I signed.......why turn it down?

Not once did I even hint I was going to seek an attorney's advice, seek to sue, nothing. But the offer was made and I accepted. And please tell me you'd not take it, either. :roll:

So, in his case, he'll probably be approached by the gent's ins. co. with a similar offer.....actually both he and his GF will both be approached since both were involved.

Such is life.

Oh, as a little funny that hapened during this......when I was talking with the ins. adjuster, we were discussing the bike and its cost. He had heard a bike was involved and when we spoke, I said my bike was damaged and had to be replaced. He said, "Sure, now it's worth, what....$200-$300?" He almost choked to death when I said, "No, it cost $1575." Guess a bicycle in that price range wasn't even on his radar, much less in his realm of reality.

"Well, I have to see a receipt that you paid that much for it....I can't believe a bicycle can cost that much!!!" he damn near demanded disbelievingly.

He was a bit more mollified in his phone voice when he had a copy of the receipt in his hand an hour later. I guess I broadened his horizons that day.