September 12, 2023 Most Recent Posts
Virginia Almost in Canada – Silvio O. Conte NWR
To Stowe and the Flume
I intended to do at least one more post on my last weeks in Vermont before writing of my trip back to Virginia. But my heart is no longer in it.
I arrived on the farm lane September 7.
I parked Winnona in the barnyard.
On the following Thursday September 12, I had a dermatology appointment in Charlottesville. I was proceeding through a 4 way stop at which there were no other vehicles when I was hit broadside by a flying Toyota Tundra truck. T-boned is what I’ve been told. Here is poor Ruby followed by her assailant who suffered not a scratch as you can imagine from the giant front end protective bars. What in the world are those for if not just to protect the vehicle when it plows into others?
Her insurance company is Progressive and a more horrid company I cannot imagine. They declared Ruby a total loss and do not feel responsible at all for returning me to the situation I was in when she blew through the sign. They should make it possible for me to have a Honda set up for towing and with a hullivator kayak rack on the roof. What they are offering me would not buy those two alone not to mention a car even of the same year as Ruby.
It is now October, 3 weeks from tomorrow was the accident, and I am still receiving medical treatments (back and neck issues) , still have been unable to find a car I can afford to buy and have set up. Progressive is pressuring me to settle and I have no intention of doing that until I am set up as I was.
If any of you could suggest where I might buy an already set up Toad for a Blue Ox hitch or where I might find a 2011 or 2015 standard transmission Honda Accord that I could outfit apparently at my own expense. I would SO appreciate it.
Time is ticking down for me to be able to keep my November reservations which, like the year of Winnona’s vandalism, I may sadly have to cancel. With yet more fees.
Meanwhile Ms Toyota Tundra drove away from the scene and on to meeting friends at the park. She actually told me this. I’m sure she has not been at the doctor’s 3 times a week or on the phone for days on end dealing with all of this as I have. It won’t cost her a penny unless they raise her insurance rates. Any why would they for as little as they are offering to pay me off. I’m not even sure the policeman cited her for reckless driving. The signs were not the least bit obscured. On the phone?????
Yes I’m bitter and yes I know that’s not helping anything. It just seems WRONG that the victim does all the suffering. I’ve had a hard time believing all of this.
Hope you feel better soon and don't sign off until you know you are doing good again.
ReplyDeleteYes they've been hounding me to let them write me a check and I'm ignoring them. So sorry blogger made you anonymous but thanks for commenting.
DeleteI'm glad you're no worse than you are!
ReplyDeleteI've read that dealing with an insurance company is a pain in the you-know-where and takes patience.
Find several cars (ads) that are fitting replacements, find what it would cost to have the necessary parts (base plate, roof rack) bought and installed.
Then you can show them what you want to have happen to repair the damage done to your vehicle and return you to your life & what it would cost.
Your physical injuries are a separate subject, I know zero about what to do about that other than what I've heard from radio/TV lawyer ads.
Was anyone given a ticket by the police?
Good luck!
They claim the car cannot be repaired and I have no recourse. I've shown them what it would cost me to buy the same car and to outfit it with base plate wiring and kayak rack. It's more than twice what they're offering. She admitted fault so I'm assuming she got a ticket but I don't know that for a fact as the policeman did not inform me or give me any information that would indicate that. All I got was her insurance information. It's been a real nightmare. Thanks so much for your comment and ideas.
DeleteI regularly read your blog, but don't comment. This is an exception, in that your insurance agent should be the one going to bat for you with Progressive. This is part of his responsibilities/duties as your agent, even if you are not submitting a claim to your insurance. We were hit many years ago and our agent took care of dealing with the insurance company of the one responsible. Did you file a police report? It is probably not too late to do that. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment whenever you choose to make it. I don't have an "agent", I have Geico and they have great rates but preach the standard line. The police came and she admitted she ran the stop sign. No idea if he charged her with wreckless driving since there is no way she should have been going fast enough to miss that stop sign on a residential street.
DeleteYes, the wrecked car is a hassle - but, the MONEY is in your personal injuries. Keep going to your doctor (never say you are cured). Get a lawyer immediately & sue the other driver. It will maybe take a couple years or maybe they will settle quickly. Get a lawyer who specializes is personal injury accidents.! He might sue for (example : $300K, settle for $150K, lawyer gets 1/3, you get $100K). That's how they do it.! Your own insurance company should help you with the car - but, you need a good personal injury lawyer for the Money.$$$.
ReplyDeleteNever tell him you're better. This is a litigous society and if you have been injured, you should be compensated. There are plenty of lawyers who will take a case like this because the insurance companies would rather settle than pay a huge award by a jury.... You deserve not only money to replace Ruby with all the additions but also to compensate you for pain and suffering....
DeleteThank you Roger for your great advice. You are one I trust implicitly. I do have a lawyer and I can only hope I will recover enough to at least get me back to where I was before she hit me and to cover the complete difficulty this has been for me. I have done nothing since I returned but deal with this problem which has many aspects.
DeleteThanks Cactus Flower. I think this is sage advice. Unfortunately in Virginia, the other driver's insurance takes care of everything not yours. Anytime you talk to your insurance agent, it seems your rates go up. Really appreciate your comment and your advice.
DeleteOh, Sherry, how awful. I have no expertise in this area, but two things come to mind. One, shouldn't it be your own insurance company who covers this? They would then go after her insurance company. Two, would an independent adjustor be of help to you? Best of luck to you. It certainly is unfair that the victim does all the work!
ReplyDeleteIt's all so complicated. Since she admitted fault, I was given her insurance info and they contacted me. I took Ruby to my body shop and they too said that she had bent the frame and I shouldn't fix it and it would cost more than any insurance company would give me to do so. In this country laws are created to favor corporations not consumers. They get to decide how much your car and anything on it is worth. Thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it.
DeleteWhat others have said. Your insurance company should go to bat for you. I agree with hiring a personal injury lawyer.You have lots to fight for! I would think the personal injuries would interest a lawyer. I'm sorry you are in pain....You need to tell Progressive you are going to sue her for damages and personal injuries. Who's saying the car can't be repaired? Progressive? Get some estimates from body shops to be sure of that. Reasonably priced used cars are very difficult to find these days as the price has gone up tremendously, and especially one suitable for towing Keep us posted if you can. We are pulling for you to get fair treatment.
ReplyDeleteI had my favorite body shop look at Ruby first and they said the frame was bent and would not be safe to drive if repaired and would cost as much to repair or more as the car was worth. It's a real mess. I was definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time and she was definitely paying no attention. But she walks away and I'm left with the mess. Pain and all.
DeleteSo awful. And a shock when I first saw the damage to Ruby. You were so smart to not tell the police officer on the spot that you felt OK, cause you knew the medical damage might reveal itself later. The week after your accident, one of the 4 stop signs was actually down, and I watched a car blow through the intersection at high speed. So dangerous there. And the stop sign was UP when you were hit, altho those construction vehicles parked on the side might have obscured it? Wrong, wrong, wrong. I'm so sorry, friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane. So appreciate your support
DeleteSherry, I am *so* sorry that this happened. I am also thankful that you are alive after an accident like that. I wish that I had something to add, but other commenters have already said everything I would say. I believe that you can still get the police report. Please take very good care of yourself.
ReplyDeletePam it's a good idea for me to see if I can get the police report. Thanks for suggesting it.
DeleteOh my! I too am so sorry that again you've had more than your share of bad luck! Losing your beloved Ruby, and not being able to get a suitable replacement is frustrating for sure. Keep up with the fight, don't settle!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels it seems like I've had more than my share of bad luck Laurie. Sometimes I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself.
DeleteYou don't realize how much you have to do after an accident. Your "to do" list is way longer given that there are practically NO manual transmission Hondas. Plus it has to be set up with the proper base plate corresponding to the year of the car so that it can be towed behind the RV and you need to replace the kayak rack. Let's hope that you find the right car and then everything else will fall into place. xxxooo
ReplyDeleteYou have a great command of what I'm facing. It's wonderful to know someone understands the entire picture of the fix I am in. Thanks so much for your support in all things.
DeleteI agree with what others have said...don't let the insurance company pressure you, and immediately contact a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases. You obviously can't get justice unless you get a lawyer involved. You deserve a replacement vehicle comparable to the one you lost, no matter how much it costs the insurance company (and I sure hope they significantly raised that careless woman's premiums). I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I'm just glad you weren't seriously injured or killed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurel. Being the victim is a lot of work and time just to get your life back to what it was 5 min before the incident.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear Progressive has been lacking as our experience with them has been stellar for both repairs and an accident. There's no way you should be having any contact at all with the other driver's insurance company. I've never heard of that when both parties have insurance. Of course VA could have different laws than I'm used to. It may be your insurance company you should be suing. At least check with a couple attorneys to see what your rights are. I hope you're healing and will soon be 100%. Poor Ruby!!
ReplyDeleteYes poor Ruby. I really miss her. She was wirh me for all of my RVing life and before. I feel like I have abandoned her. She didn't deserve what happened.
DeleteSo sorry Sherry. Insurance companies are not fun to deal with. Hope this is resolved in time for your winter travels.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking like in addition to everything else I'm going to have to cancel at least early winter reservations. But your tragedy is bigger than mine. How is it recovery going for you?
DeleteReally hope Progresive or Geico can help resolve this well for you and soon. So very frustrating!!
ReplyDeleteFrustrating isn't nearly a big enough word even infuriating won't do.
DeleteSo so sorry When I was hit, my insurance took care of it even though the money came from the other company and call the police department Re any charges toward her. Do not settle. Make Waves- and a lawyer first visit is usually free to see whether there is a case
ReplyDeleteI have retained a lawyer Jackie after so many people suggested it and my injuries did not get better. I'm so frustrated with the whole thing. We will see what good that does and how long it takes.
DeleteI just cannot imagine how hard this has been for you. I am glad some of your readers have some suggestions. Sadly, I have none. I have been ruminating over this post of yours ever since I read it, unable to make a coherent even slightly helpful response. Just know I am thinking of you and hoping that this works itself out for the best. I do hope you can get through all the inconvenience with at least a modicum of sanity.
ReplyDeleteSue you have been a faithful follower for years and been through all of my trials tribulations and tragedies. I absolutely am so grateful for your friendship.
DeleteContessa here. I am a Canadian that was hit here in Canada by a US vehicle. My car was totalled. I am lucky to be alive. I did sign up with a personal injury lawyer and he did all the communication with the US insurance company. The lawyer got a percentage of my settlement which was about 20K, I got around 40k. It took close to two years to settle. FYI the longer you don't sign the more they try and up the money they will give you. Hang in there. This too shall pass.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know it was you Contessa since blogger seems to want to make you anonymous.. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to deal with this as an International incident. Sure hope it doesn't take 2 years to solve this. It's true that this too shall pass and I thank you for reminding me. I have a tendency to feel picked upon that so many big difficult problems have happened to me in the 4 years since David's death.
DeleteOh, Sherry, I was so sad to read this. I wish I had seen it sooner. My daughter, husband and 1-year old grandson were hit on the interstate by a Navy sailor who had fallen asleep at the wheel and didn't see the traffic coming to a stop. My son-in-law didn't work for several years and my daughter had a TBI. I asked him if their insurance handled things and he said the attorney did. You shouldn't sign off with Progressive for at least 6 months in case your injuries don't resolve or something new comes up. My son-in-law said:
ReplyDeleteAn attorney will get all the money spent on medical back plus will help get the car replaced. People don't realize most insured motorists have $100K coverage on people and $300K on property. An attorney even taking 33% will see to it that everything is replaced plus medical is taken care of. If you use your insurance they reimburse for full billing not just deductible.
My son-in-law was trained as a diesel mechanic so when I told him you were looking for a standard transmission, he said:
Most people don't understand how to transfer an automatic transmission into neutral for tow purposes without the key in the ignition.
I'm not sure if you would be open to an automatic but that would open up more possibilities. My son-in-law could discuss an automatic transmission tow situation if you would like. I sure hope things are getting better and you are making progress in some way. I'm so thankful you were not severely injured. I'll be praying for your physical healing and the vehicle situation. I hope to hear good news from you soon.
Beverly I'd like to talk with you about this. Can you email me at rvdreamlife@gmail.com?
DeleteA lawyer is the right course of action in this.
ReplyDeleteI'm just seeing this now. I'm so sorry this happened. The biggest thing is to make sure you are ok. Don't settle that part until you've had time to see how things go. I'm glad you weren't injured worse. What a mess is right. Yes, probably a lawyer would be beneficial. Good luck.
ReplyDelete