Back injury/ lawyer need advice
 

Lookin to the lat-g family for alil advice. Back in August of 2011 I got into a car accident where I got hit by a G van. I was siting still and hehit me at 45mph. I received injuries to my neck and lower back mainly bulging disc between vertebrae. 3 in my neck and 3 in my lower back. After the accident, on request from the lawyer, i enrolled in a injury clinic/rehab to try and eleveate the pain and damage. Also visited doctors for check ups. The rehab helped but only temporarily. After 3 month of physical therapy the doctor recommended a nerve block on my lower back to relieve my pain. The effects were only temporary. The doctor then recommended cortisone injections. The injections helped with the pain a good amount, but i was not my priot self. Before the accident i would cycle a minimum of 20mi a day now i cant make it 2mi before back pain sets in. I also dont have the working capacity from before. I cannot lift as mucg or sustain a lift as long as i was able to before. I had to continue working everyday since the accident since i couldnt afford not to. As i sit now i have pain when i wake up. If i sneeze i feel like my back is being broken. We have finnaly arrived to the point of discussing settlements and payments. My lawyer is advising me to stay out of court as to the insurance will try and blame my injuries on my job (im a gm service tech, going on 7yrs now) the lawyer is advising that if we settle he will try and get me about $10k in my pocket. (After paying him and doc bills) Now here is were my questions come in. Does it seem like a right amount for me or do i fight for more. What should i expect to get? And what if i need more doc visits in the future? What do i do? Any advice?

Get a new attorney

What he said X2. I have 3 bulging discs in my back and deal with it everyday, however I can tell you I am in pain everyday. I will never be 100% but I deal with it. My advice to you is that you should try and get in the best physical shape as possible, by this I mean if you are overweight try and drop a few lbs. As for the tatorney you should fire that one and get a new one. Keep this in mind, is 10K worth a lifetime of pain. Hope it all works out for you.

My daughter rear-ended a car which then "supposedly" hit the car in front of them. I say "supposedly" because the girl in the middle said she did not hit the truck in front of her, and there was no damage to the front of the girls car, and none to the rear of the truck up front.

Nevertheless, the guy up front got an attorney and ended up with $18K after filing suit (but before going to court). I know the settlement because my daughter was being sued, and we got a copy of the final payout. I was shocked he could get that amount without being able to even prove he was hit. His attorney would have probably got a third, so he still netted $12K. That's the difference between his attorney and yours.

You need another attorney. I'm not big on lawsuits, but you were obviously injured due to someone elses mistake, and I don't think $10K is a fair settlement for where you are health-wise, especially considering you will likely have ongoing issues, and possibly ongoing bills related to that injury.

Thanks for the advice. We just started the negotiations so well see were it goes. I just have no idea what i should expect or demand.

Sorry to here that you have back problems,your in for a long painful life, as the pain will never be completely gone. I've been using magnesium supplements as recommended by a chiropractor. He told me its natures cortisone shot! It's been a life saver for me. PLEASE get a new lawyer! Good luck!

Travis

My wife was in an accident some years back, broke her leg in 6 places. Hers was a no fault accident on her part as she was a passager in the car. They were hit by a drunk driver and then hit a building. The ins company settled the day before the case was to be heard in court (they new the couldn't win because the only witness was her as she was the passenger). She got 3 times her hospital bills and if she ever has any il effects form her leg they will cover the cost! So far the ins paid to remove the rod from her leg, but thats it after 21 years you wouldn't even know she broke her leg.

That all being said not sure what your laws are in FL but here in IL you can get up to 3 times you medical bills, plus what ever else you settle on!

Get a new lawyer!!!!

Well looks like i got alot of votes on new lawyer. Now i guess i just gotta wait for someone who knows florida laws. Florida is a no-fault state for auto accidents what ever that means.

For sure get a new attorney. I don't know Florida law but the injuries you are describing a worth far more than 10K. I don't know your age or what your plans are for the future, but take a fools advice and whatever you do, DO NOT give up your future medical benefits in regards to this injury. You will never know the on going effects of an injury like this, nor will you know if in the future they will have some type of treatment or surgery to correct it. It's hard not to accept cash when there are so many things you could do with it right now, but a few years down the road when the cash is long gone and you live your life everyday in pain, you will regret it.

I just turned 25. It looks like i will be stuck being a tech for a while. The accident ruined my chances to be a police officer. I haven't settle on anything yet amd i don think i will thats why i asked for the advise of others. I figured 100 brains is usually better then mine, and experience definitely helps too.