Okay...I'll put this out. I'm in a world of hurt.
I was in a car crash, far from home. A Vaxxident - an elderly, fully-vaccinated driver "lost control" and swerved her car into the opposing lane of traffic, at 35mph. In the opposing lane, was me. Me, my pickup, my RV travel-trailer.
I was going 30 mph. Combined force of impact, 65mph. The Fully Protected driver got the worst of it - the Chevy Cruz was destroyed, and her even-older passenger died of his injuries. Which, as you know, complicates things.
My own truck and trailer are a grey area. Airbag popped off. Unlike the driver of the Pelosimobile, I walked away...my neck torqued from the airbag, but otherwise, okay. The weight of the trailer, twisted up the rear frame member of the truck as it ran in in the crash. A motorcycle in the load bed, broke free, and damaged the header board of the bed - and is damaged, also.
But, no glass was broken. The doors still opened - I emptied the truck at the impound lot, easily. It's badly banged but I'm not sure it'll be totalled.
Now I have no vehicle.
ALSO...the financial types here will cringe...I have a note on the truck.
NOT a big note. I owe $3000 on the truck. I did that, a couple of years ago, for the low interest - better than selling k-rands, I thought.
Now I have payments due. Now, the insurance company is slow-walking things.
So are the investigating authorities.
I have talked, after the fact, with the state trooper. He stressed, after investigation and witnesses, I am NOT considered at fault. But I have no report; I have no liaison with the two insurance companies (different company for the RV trailer) AND PAYMENTS ARE DUE.
AND...I cannot get a lawyer. Since I cannot (honestly) claim an injury, no ambulance chasers want to talk to me. ALL the expenses of an interrupted trip...the hotel room, the rental car, the lost equipment I couldn't carry back...not interested. My insurance doesn't cover a rental. I can't find a WAY to go after the other party's insurance company.
My agent can't help me here, as it's legal advice.
First, how would you advise finding a lawyer? Or is it worth it? I figure the costs are $12,000 lost money. That's not a big money on contingency; but it's not small potatoes for a retiree, either. The local bar association is useless. I called two online law firms, again, useless. They wanted to coach me on faking a medical injury.
Second, how do I get out of paying the monthly on the payment? The INSURANCE COMPANY is now liable. The truck is destroyed. I now have to buy another...at the VERY least, I have to save my monthly income to make another buy. The insurance is to pay off the balance; and if they don't pay, it's not JUST my problem. I can't see paying for a rig that's gone and when responsibility is now some other party's.
Finally, INSURANCE PAYMENT. Due in two months. If I let the policy lapse - because I have no driveable vehicle - they will have NO incentive, absent a shyster-lawyer to FORCE them (and I can't hire a shyster, now) to make it square. But payment for the insurance, is $400.
Any suggestion as to how to get good advice, and maybe a damned lawyer who really wants to help his client?
I was in a car crash, far from home. A Vaxxident - an elderly, fully-vaccinated driver "lost control" and swerved her car into the opposing lane of traffic, at 35mph. In the opposing lane, was me. Me, my pickup, my RV travel-trailer.
I was going 30 mph. Combined force of impact, 65mph. The Fully Protected driver got the worst of it - the Chevy Cruz was destroyed, and her even-older passenger died of his injuries. Which, as you know, complicates things.
My own truck and trailer are a grey area. Airbag popped off. Unlike the driver of the Pelosimobile, I walked away...my neck torqued from the airbag, but otherwise, okay. The weight of the trailer, twisted up the rear frame member of the truck as it ran in in the crash. A motorcycle in the load bed, broke free, and damaged the header board of the bed - and is damaged, also.
But, no glass was broken. The doors still opened - I emptied the truck at the impound lot, easily. It's badly banged but I'm not sure it'll be totalled.
Now I have no vehicle.
ALSO...the financial types here will cringe...I have a note on the truck.
NOT a big note. I owe $3000 on the truck. I did that, a couple of years ago, for the low interest - better than selling k-rands, I thought.
Now I have payments due. Now, the insurance company is slow-walking things.
So are the investigating authorities.
I have talked, after the fact, with the state trooper. He stressed, after investigation and witnesses, I am NOT considered at fault. But I have no report; I have no liaison with the two insurance companies (different company for the RV trailer) AND PAYMENTS ARE DUE.
AND...I cannot get a lawyer. Since I cannot (honestly) claim an injury, no ambulance chasers want to talk to me. ALL the expenses of an interrupted trip...the hotel room, the rental car, the lost equipment I couldn't carry back...not interested. My insurance doesn't cover a rental. I can't find a WAY to go after the other party's insurance company.
My agent can't help me here, as it's legal advice.
First, how would you advise finding a lawyer? Or is it worth it? I figure the costs are $12,000 lost money. That's not a big money on contingency; but it's not small potatoes for a retiree, either. The local bar association is useless. I called two online law firms, again, useless. They wanted to coach me on faking a medical injury.
Second, how do I get out of paying the monthly on the payment? The INSURANCE COMPANY is now liable. The truck is destroyed. I now have to buy another...at the VERY least, I have to save my monthly income to make another buy. The insurance is to pay off the balance; and if they don't pay, it's not JUST my problem. I can't see paying for a rig that's gone and when responsibility is now some other party's.
Finally, INSURANCE PAYMENT. Due in two months. If I let the policy lapse - because I have no driveable vehicle - they will have NO incentive, absent a shyster-lawyer to FORCE them (and I can't hire a shyster, now) to make it square. But payment for the insurance, is $400.
Any suggestion as to how to get good advice, and maybe a damned lawyer who really wants to help his client?