So whos been Sued?

[habernac]

happened to me about 15 years ago. Some idiot 2 cars in front of me decided to be a good samaritan and stop to let someone onto the road. It was about -30C, so stopping quickly wasn't an easy thing to do. The guy in front of me slammed on his brakes and narrowly avoided the moron who stopped. I wasn't so lucky, my delivery van smashed into the back of the truck, I watched some poor guy's head hit the back window of the truck. They sued our company for damages. The company's insurance took care of it, I never heard anything about it after I filed the police report.

[FlamesKickAss]

and this is why the 4000 cap needs to be in place. They werent going to do anything and then cap gets taken off and they decide to try it since the cap isnt there anymore. what a scumbag

As for the insurance rates, they dont get affected by the amount paid out just if something was paid out or not. At least with my experience

[troutman]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

and this is why the 4000 cap needs to be in place.

Don't get me started. The cap was illegal, immoral, fraudulent, and possibly criminal.

fredr123 found these illuminating articles:

Here's an excellent example of journalism from Charles Rusnell at the Edmonton Journal regarding the insurance industry crisis. Make sure you check out the related stories (three are posted online so far: here, here and here) to get a sense of some of the things that go on unseen in the political process.

[FlamesAddiction]

Man, I wish I knew you could sue for so much. I was rear ended one time sitting at a red light. The person just didn't see the light.

My car was totalled (but I couldn't get much from insurance because it was a very old car. I spilled scalding hot coffee all over myself, was sore for several days, and I missed the 1st day of classes and was in catch-up mode the rest of the semester. Plus, I lost repoire with my profs for not showing up.

If a little 5 km/h rear ending is worth $100k, then I should have sued for $1 million.

[Buff]

I rear ended a guy about 2.5 years ago. My little plastic car didn't fair too well against his big metal truck. Damage to his truck? A 1/2" tear to the rubber guard on his bumper. Mine? Hood bent, bumper wrecked, radiator cracked and head lights broken. We were traveling at less than 40 km/hr and I had already begun to break when I hit him, so I'm not quite sure how fast I was going when we collided.

The guy kept teasing me that he's feeling back and neck pain and he can feel a million dollar lawsuit coming on. For the next two years I was worried, but nothing came of it. I reported the accident to my insurance company and at the time that I reported the hit he hadn't reported to his company. I'm guessing he never did but just him teasing me about suing me made me feel uneasy about it for two years.

The guy kept telling me that I'll be buying a new car because it wasn't worth fixing my car. It wouldn't have been fixed if my wife's uncle wasn't a retired insurance agent who began his career as an autobody mechanic. He got parts for cheap and fixed it up for me too. We figure that I saved $2000 by going that route.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by troutman

Don't get me started. The cap was illegal, immoral, fraudulent, and possibly criminal.

I take it you're not being sarcastic. At least I hope so.

About 3 years ago I was rear ended pretty badly. It was a good friend of mine, though. I was stopped at a T intersection, waiting to turn right. There was a fair amount of traffic, so it wasn't until the light finally turned before I could go.
MY friend came screaming up behind me anticipating that I was going to turn, but since I was watching the traffic and not the light, I didn't realize it had changed until all the red light runners had passed me.

He smoked me hard enough to total his car, my truck had a couple thousand dollars in damage.

The adjuster called me to find out about injury. It wasn't until the next day that my neck stiffened up pretty badly. It was better after a week or so, but it took about two months before I could look up or tilt my head all the way back.

She convinced me that since the cap was $4,000, I was entitled to something like $1,700. For the hell of it, I told her I'd take two grand. She agreed, I signed a piece of paper stating that I was happy with the settlement and that no further action could be taken.


Now I'm starting to feel some residual effects that I can only associate with that accident as I haven't ever had my neck jarred like that.
When I tee off, after my full swing my head feels like it locks in place and turning my head back is a bit painful.
There are a few little things like that that I wonder if they're going to get worse and possibly require treatment. If so, I'd be annoyed paying for it myself. I kick myself often for signing that contract. I don't care about getting a million dollars, I care about getting proper treatment and not having to pay for it.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Now I'm starting to feel some residual effects that I can only associate with that accident as I haven't ever had my neck jarred like that.
When I tee off, after my full swing my head feels like it locks in place and turning my head back is a bit painful.
There are a few little things like that that I wonder if they're going to get worse and possibly require treatment. If so, I'd be annoyed paying for it myself. I kick myself often for signing that contract. I don't care about getting a million dollars, I care about getting proper treatment and not having to pay for it.

You lying, malingering SOB. You're just looking for a payday at the expense of hard-working Albertans who just go along minding their own business paying insurance premiums. It's scammers like you who drive up the cost of insurance and are making it impossible for the average Albertan to afford insurance. You ought to give up your little charade now before things get any worse. Some nerve...

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Now I'm starting to feel some residual effects that I can only associate with that accident as I haven't ever had my neck jarred like that.
When I tee off, after my full swing my head feels like it locks in place and turning my head back is a bit painful.

A little off topic, but I think I can advise some help for you.

I was rear-ended in a car accident a few years back. My lawyer sent me to a chiropractor. To be honest, I have never had much respect for that profession, because I always figured it was flakey, aromatherapy feelgood womanly hooey.

I respect the sh-t out of it now.

I had a chiropractor who was an ex Marine. I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs, and this guy was big enough to lift me off the ground by my head. In a matter of 3 weeks, I was "fixed". It was unbelievable. Not only was my neck pain gone, he took care of an arm injury from 8 years before (similar to your neck - where it would "lock up" in weird positions, and ache sometimes). He grabbed my arm, and lifted me off the ground by my elbow. I heard this very tiny "click" and haven't had a problem since. All he said was "wow, that was really subtle".

So my advice is to go find a big burly chiropractor, and give him a few visits. If it doesn't work, at least you tried. If it does, super.

It worked for me.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by fredr123

You lying, malingering SOB. You're just looking for a payday at the expense of hard-working Albertans who just go along minding their own business paying insurance premiums. It's scammers like you who drive up the cost of insurance and are making it impossible for the average Albertan to afford insurance. You ought to give up your little charade now before things get any worse. Some nerve...

Hey, I also deal with a lot of the people who make those types of complaints... and I can tell you probably about 75% of time make you want to go have a shower afterwards.

Have you ever represented someone you thought might have been embellishing an injury?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

A little off topic, but I think I can advise some help for you.

I was rear-ended in a car accident a few years back. My lawyer sent me to a chiropractor. To be honest, I have never had much respect for that profession, because I always figured it was flakey, aromatherapy feelgood womanly hooey.

I respect the sh-t out of it now.

I had a chiropractor who was an ex Marine. I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs, and this guy was big enough to lift me off the ground by my head. In a matter of 3 weeks, I was "fixed". It was unbelievable. Not only was my neck pain gone, he took care of an arm injury from 8 years before (similar to your neck - where it would "lock up" in weird positions, and ache sometimes). He grabbed my arm, and lifted me off the ground by my elbow. I heard this very tiny "click" and haven't had a problem since. All he said was "wow, that was really subtle".

So my advice is to go find a big burly chiropractor, and give him a few visits. If it doesn't work, at least you tried. If it does, super.

It worked for me.

Can I get some contact info? Is this magician in Calgary? It really annoys me when I make a full swing and I'm gazing at my ball but the the tinge of pain goes and ruins the celebration of a well hit ball.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

A little off topic, but I think I can advise some help for you.

I was rear-ended in a car accident a few years back. My lawyer sent me to a chiropractor. To be honest, I have never had much respect for that profession, because I always figured it was flakey, aromatherapy feelgood womanly hooey.

I respect the sh-t out of it now.

OT: I'm still skeptical of that field. Some of it is like what you described (good for injury) and some of it is flakey. Like chiropractors dealing with healthy people, children and infants. Even a chiropractor making someone come in for an adjustment every week for years and years is sketchy IMO. Sometimes chiropractors pair themselves with flim-flam like aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture and the like. And some of them think you can cure other aliments not related to your back or neck from adjustments. Anyways, I'm not slamming the whole field, just the ones who step out of their realm.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, my wife was in a smash up not quite two years ago. We saw a lawyer about it and he advised us to wait for the Cap thing to be solved. At $70 for a massage and $32 for Chiropractor....you burn up $4000 pretty damn fast if you require each service every week. 2 years later I'm out over 5k in after tax money out of our pockets, and that is with employer benefits covering part of the costs. It doesn't take much to cause a 100k injury anymore, thats not a whole lot of money when you consider someone may suffer discomfort for the rest of their life as a result of that injury.

[moon]

Originally Posted by fredr123

You lying, malingering SOB. You're just looking for a payday at the expense of hard-working Albertans who just go along minding their own business paying insurance premiums. It's scammers like you who drive up the cost of insurance and are making it impossible for the average Albertan to afford insurance. You ought to give up your little charade now before things get any worse. Some nerve...

Take out the sarcastic green font and you have a solid post.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Burninator

OT: I'm still skeptical of that field. Some of it is like what you described (good for injury) and some of it is flakey. Like chiropractors dealing with healthy people, children and infants. Even a chiropractor making someone come in for an adjustment every week for years and years is sketchy IMO. Sometimes chiropractors pair themselves with flim-flam like aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture and the like. And some of them think you can cure other aliments not related to your back or neck from adjustments. Anyways, I'm not slamming the whole field, just the ones who step out of their realm.

I'm a little biased against that field also, since my girlfriend's taking Physical Therapy at UofA right now, and she kind of influences my thinking, since I really don't know anything about the medical field. That and I have this annoying second cousin who's just finished chiropractor school, and insists people address him as "Dr." even though chiropractors aren't doctors. Also, something about "cracking" your back really doesn't jive with me. I think its one of those things where it works for some, but doesnt' work for others, and depends on the chiropractor himself.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Yeah, my wife was in a smash up not quite two years ago. We saw a lawyer about it and he advised us to wait for the Cap thing to be solved. At $70 for a massage and $32 for Chiropractor....you burn up $4000 pretty damn fast if you require each service every week. 2 years later I'm out over 5k in after tax money out of our pockets, and that is with employer benefits covering part of the costs. It doesn't take much to cause a 100k injury anymore, thats not a whole lot of money when you consider someone may suffer discomfort for the rest of their life as a result of that injury.

FWIW, under the capped regime there were certain treatments you could receive that were pre-paid and pre-authorized. This was true previous to the cap but the price of services covered was lower. The $4000 cap for soft-tissue injuries was only applicable to damages for pain and suffering.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Yeah, my wife was in a smash up not quite two years ago. We saw a lawyer about it and he advised us to wait for the Cap thing to be solved. At $70 for a massage and $32 for Chiropractor....you burn up $4000 pretty damn fast if you require each service every week. 2 years later I'm out over 5k in after tax money out of our pockets, and that is with employer benefits covering part of the costs. It doesn't take much to cause a 100k injury anymore, thats not a whole lot of money when you consider someone may suffer discomfort for the rest of their life as a result of that injury.

Don't get me wrong. I have no problem at all with this person recieving money that they are entitled to. If my fender bender at less than 5 km/hour (while causing no damage to eithe vehicle -and I drive a Cavalier) caused his extreme injuries and pain for life, then sure. I'm just wondering how exactly he is going to prove all of this. I suppose that is why they go to court. Though if they settle out of court, like most people have told me will most likely happen, then are they just accepting his claims without and proof?

[troutman]

I'm quite skeptical of Chiropractors. I'm open to being convinced otherwise (no anecdotal evidence please). There is evidence that it can help with lower back pain - other than that, it seems to be complete bunk:

http://www.geocities.com/healthbase/chirolinks.html

Chiropractic is the most divided profession of any kind that I know of. This division is just one of the myriad ways it resembles religions and cults. What can one expect when the founder himself, D.D. Palmer, considered his creation a religion? It has been described as a biotheological cult, and I can't think of a better description. "The Big Idea" is where it's at. If you don't understand IT, you can't understand chiropracTIC.

Chiropractic is to science, what Scientology is to religion. It is just as much a pseudoscience, as Scientology is a pseudoreligion.

My criticism is not directed at ethical, reformist chiropracTORs. It is primarily directed at the profession itself, IOW at
chiropracTIC, that keeps producing and protecting the "real" chiropractors who are traditional, "straight" and
"subluxation-based". They are like dinosaurs, who should have been extinct a long time ago, but are still being educated
in even the largest chiropractic schools. Many of the newer and younger chiropractors are even worse than their
forefathers.

I do not hold the extreme views of certain chiro skeptics, who seem to consider all DCs as crooks, and manipulation as
having no value at all, etc. While their criticism is often correct, I believe that they go too far and thus impede the efforts
of reformers. It's not that black and white an issue, and is often based on a lack of understanding of physical medicine.

If you have a problem in need of health care, seek a qualified professional, usually starting with your MD. Above all, keep
a skeptical attitude toward all claims that seem too good to be true. They usually are!

http://www.chirobase.org/

http://www.chirobase.org/01General/controversy.html

Although it has existed for nearly 100 years, the chiropractic health-care system has failed to meet the most fundamental standards applied to medical practices: to clearly define itself and to establish a science-based scope of practice. More disturbing is the fact that chiropractic has made no contribution to the worldwide body of knowledge shared by the health sciences and continues to isolate itself from the mainstream of the health-care community.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Hey, I also deal with a lot of the people who make those types of complaints... and I can tell you probably about 75% of time make you want to go have a shower afterwards.

Have you ever represented someone you thought might have been embellishing an injury?

Read fred's article he found linked above, titled "Insurance Industry Finds Fraud Where None Exists"

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...f-ec0de5c7cd38

The media, including The Journal, took the coalition, and its study, at face value and reported that auto insurance fraud had become common, was increasing, and was at least partially to blame for skyrocketing premiums. Unfortunately, none of it was true.

In fact, the examiners did not find any proof of fraud in any of the files examined.

Despite the fact that the study found no evidence whatsoever of fraud, the coalition, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada, repeatedly stated as fact that the study showed fraud was being committed on a large scale. By claiming that 24 per cent of all personal injury claims in Alberta were fraudulent, the coalition and the insurance bureau had effectively accused nearly a quarter of all accident-injured Albertans of fraud, an unsubstantiated accusation that was nevertheless widely reported by the media.