Just got hit head on ! Vehicle totalled

[Quarter Mile'r]

Overwhelmed !

Good evening all ! That smiley to the left has a serious amount of pain
happening but that's expected.

I have to say I am totally overwhelmed withthe responses and good advice
you folks have come forth with. I have hired a lawyer with 27 years
experience solely in the field of Personal injury and ICBC claims with a team
of six of them working together.

I got a phone call today from a guy who witnessed the girl who hit me,
he said he she passed him on the hill going like a bat outta hell and
dissapeared around the curve in the road where she hit me head on.
He then came around the corner and saw the pile up. Well at least I
have a witness to her excessive speeding. This can only be of some help.
The fella gave me his name and number and said he would be glad to offer
a signed statement for my claim. Man there are some very nice caring
people in this world and that alone makes the healling process all that
much easier, and that I extend with gratitude to all of you as well.

Another interesting bit, I just found out today that the girl who hit me,
her mother works for ICBC but I don't know in what capacity !!

Marvin "ol buddy.......you are one sick bastard as Vman states........
But I love your way of thinking !!

Anna, to you sweety.......I wish I had you to cuddle with right now.

Will keep you posted as to how it all goes so off to bed now......groan!
Drugs kicking in right about now so should sleep OK.......I hope.
Oh almost forgot......thank you to you all for the flood of responses and
especially PM's. You guys and gals make the healing process a lot easier.

I must say I am concerned about being able to race this year but damn it
if I have to go in a wheelchair I'm gonna rip down that track if it kills me !!
I know, I know, just don't get caught doin it with a claim going.

THANK YOU !!


..............QM'r

 

[mick_eight]

Hey Qm get well, and I hope with all the money You get you will be quick to forget the pain . Take care.

 

[Annalise Lane]

OMG Qrt'm, how the hell did I miss this thread !!

So Sorry you have to go threw this in your life, but I'm sure glad you are alive and basically in one piece.

Cross your fingers, your ready for race season in a few months.

~ SMOOTCH ~​

 

[KingLeer]

Lawyers On Contingency

I have to say, that I would never use a lawyer who works on contingency, unless you had very little chance of winning or if it was a class action suit. The lawyers who are really good don't work on contingency and you don't want to use anyone who isn't. Also, even if your lawyer is working on contingency, you will still have to pay disbursements.

From my experience, and from judging the facts as you describe them, you will do better paying fees than contingency.

 

[KingLeer]

Lawyers on Contingency

I'm offering QM my opinion based on my experiences. Don't know why this has to be an argument with you Reddog. Let him make up his own mind. By the way...do I object to them getting a cut?? I never object to anyone getting their fare share, but I have been involved with cases taken on contingency that were so clear cut that the matter solved without even going to court. Fairly large settlement..in 6 figures..and the lawyer still took his 40% contingency. If he had been charging his fees he would have made $ 5,000.
But hey..its not our money it's QM's. If the facts are as he stated them, and with the witness (es) he has..I think he has a pretty good case.

 

[Gentleman First]

The lawyer I had after my accident

was purely on % of settlement.
I personally like that idea best.
Its in the lawyers interest to work hard and get you a good settlement.
As the more you get , the more they get.
I like that if they get you nothing, they just worked for free....some no damn way are they going to let that happen

He earned his 27% as far as i am concerned

 

[richmann]

Sorry to hear this bud. Unfortunately your injuries will heal long before the pain caused by ICBC will go away!

Having seen a few people through this before. I can suggest (as others have above):

1.) Get a lawyer
2.) Document every expense, missed work, anything
3.) Go see a doctor frequently to document any pain, missed work or loss of quality of life
4.) Be prepared to wait 2+ years before you see any settlement

Having gone through this a few times myself remember that ICBC is the ENEMY! Don't tell them antthing. They will do anything to reduce your claim.
They will use your words against you.

One thing I would add to the above is to keep a DAILY diary of all pains and any other way the accident negatively impacts your life. The diary means way more in court (if it goes that far) than you saying to a judge that your back hurt all year.

 

[Sonny]

Always be aware that your conversations with insurers are recorded and stored digitally along with all other information about your claim. What you say can and will be used against you.

 

[Sonny]

He earned his 27% as far as i am concerned

Contingency fees in Canada range typically from 15% to 30%. Get a good lawyer for sure, but negotiate! If your case is a slam dunk, there is not much work for them to do nor expenses to incur, so the percentage should be lower.

 

[carefulone]

Contingency fee arrangements cut both ways for lawyers.

Yes it is true that a contingency fee agreement encourages a lawyer to work hard for you, because the larger the settlement, the larger the fee, but there is a down side as well.

A lawyer who acts on a contingency fee basis has to wait until the case is resolved before the lawyer collects a fee. Lawyers need cash flow too. As a result, the lawyer may (consciously or unconsciously) have a tendency to recommend an earlier, lower settlement, rather than recommending waiting until the settlement offer rises.

In addition, because most cases do settle, there may be a reluctance in a lawyer who acts on a contingency fee basis to put in the huge amount of work that trial preparation involves until it is absolutely clear that a trial will go ahead.

I am not saying that contingency fee arrangements are bad - just that they have their downsides as well.

There are lawyers who will enter into contingency fee agreements that have a sliding scale of percentages - if a case settles early, the percentage will be lower.

On the question of out of pocket expenses, they of course vary from case to case. Some cases, such as those which involve specialized expert evidence, can be very expensive. If you are self employed, and have to involve accountants and valuators as well as doctors, the costs can be very high. If your collision results in a permanent disability, which permanently affects your ability to earn income, the costs of occupational therapists and a whole host of others also mount up.

 

[BS Detector]

Hey Buddy. Really sorry to hear of your accident. Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[Sweetiepie]

I don't have any advice but I want to wish you a speedy recovery and good luck with your claim. Take care!!

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

Just an update, went and seen the sleazebag Icky Bic adjuster yesterday.
I told him after I let him say his piece that I have sought legal council on
this, and that I'm to only sign papers that are needed for starting the part
7 requirements and for a loner car.

So he brings me some papers to sign and lays them down on top of a file
which has a bunch of other papers in them. Am I being too suspicious here?,
but he holds the paper on top of the file and wants me to sign it.

I started blabbing about something and he relaxes and I move the paper
off the folder and onto the desk where I sign it for part 7.

Then he opens the folder and says I need one other paper signed and its
for medical release form. I told him at this time my council instructed me
to not sign those as of yet. He then gets all huffy and is getting up to end
the meeting I say wait a sec, where's the paper for the loner car.

He goes, " Oh sorry about that I forgot".........Ya fuckin right!
So the cheap prick gets me to sign that and gives me a whole six days for
a loner car. Which is negotiable after the time but he states the reason for
the six days is so that people don't take advantage of it.
As far as I'm concerned they can shove there loner car.

All I can say is I thank you guys again for helping me decide on getting a lawyer I just can't stand those retards who work as adjusters for claims.
Buncha friggin' bloodsuckers that piss me off to no end!


............QM'r

 

[georgebushmoron]

Shit I got a loaner car for a full 14 days without even one complaint when I got into an accident early last summer.

 

[roadwarrior]

"Immediate" medical release only if "immediate" wage compensation?

Then he opens the folder and says I need one other paper signed and its for medical release form. I told him at this time my council instructed me to not sign those as of yet. He then gets all huffy and is getting up to end
the meeting I say wait a sec, where's the paper for the loner car.

If ICBC is immediately paying for your loss of wages, then ultimately don't you have to sign the release of medical information form. Within a few days right?

I'm only asking the above because, I remember someone involved in a lengthy claim of more than two years, who wasn't being reimbursed (immediately / monthly) for loss of wages. And because of that fact, that person DIDN'T have to have any medical professional release any medical information. Despite ICBC's "snoop" attempts, that were swatted down by the compensation lawyer - who was fond of reminding health professionals to that effect.

There's some specific Law / act / or regulation to that affect.

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

Yes and no, since I have a lawyer handling the case they have the right
to the medical stuff first (IE I have to sign the lawyers papers for release of
medical reports and such since they are representing me), then ICBC gets their hands on it secondly. Basically lawyer gets it first then they submit
to ICBC.

...........QM'r