From: bergman@panix.com (Mark Bergman)
Subject: Re: Dealing with the Insurance Scum
Organization: Panix Public Access Internet & Unix, NYC
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 18:18:35 GMT

In article <29426@oasys.dt.navy.mil> smennitt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Stuart Mennitt) writes:
>In rec.motorcycles, twang@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Tony Wang) writes:
>>
>>        Makes for a difference. Some major things to remember. If you
>>can establish that the accident was a result of their driver's
>>neligence, you can walk away with much more than the bill to tow and
>>fix the bike. You can also sue them for pain and suffering. Among them
>>the lost of riding time. This route is best done with a legal
>     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>	 Why don't you just sue God when it rains?
>
>>representative, and will take time. It will cost you nothing, as the
>>lawyer collects ONLY if he wins. On the other hand, if you settle for
>
>Do you do ambulance chasing lawyer commercials?
>
>>any amount now, you could lose all claims to injuries that may be
>>related down the road. Insurance companies love to pay off the small
>>claims like yours, and not have to deal with a hugh payoff like mine.
>>My first case netted me $8K after covering all bills and a monthly
>>"allowance" of $150 for 14 monthes. My second case is still in
>>process, going on 31 monthes now, but the lowest payoff goal my lawyer
>>has set for the case is $125K of which I can easily net $25K+ after he
>
>It's a relief to know you're being fairly compensated for all of your
>pain and suffering.  Is this for "lost income" or for "missed riding
>time"?
>
>>is charging so much, but you're entitled if you can establish fault. I
>>say milk it for all you can, and get a new bike later.
>
>I say get paid for the physical damages done: bike, gear, doctor bills,
>and lost income if you were in the hospital.
>Any more and you're screwing the general public.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

So, I've "screwed the general public" by being compensated for close to
7 years of daily pain, sometimes quite severe, as a result of being
rear-ended on a single-lane, 1-way street? Maybe some of this "extra"
compensation will pay for, say, a taxi to work while I'm in a cast and
can't ride?  Or pay for orthopedic devices for a lifetime that no
medical insurance covers? Sure, settlement numbers look huge. But a
single payment is intended to compensate for all past AND future
expenses involved. And don't forget, having settled such a lawsuit
usually eliminates any future health insurance coverage for anything
having to do with the accident. If my medical condition from the
accident gets worse in 5 years, my health insurance will not cover it,
they'll point to the settlement and say "Use that money, that's what it
is for..."

I'm not in favor of nusiance suits, and it has taken a lot to convince
me that I "deserve" this settlement. Think about the whole issue some
more before you speak. Think about the people involved, not just the
numbers. Think about living for 50 or 60 years, constantly affected by
a single moment of another person's stupidity at the wheel of a motor
vehicle.  Maybe you'll sound more like a human being and less like Dan
Qualye moaning about how lawyers are destroying American productivity.

----
Mark Bergman		'77 KZ1000  (Biker, Stagehand, (former) Unix user support grunt)
Brooklyn, NY
718-855-9148

bergman@panix.com
{cmcl2,uunet}!panix!bergman