My daughter was in a serious car accident about 8 days ago... Do I call an attorney?

Question

4 teens, coming from a church event.  No drinking or texting while driving.  My kid was seated on rear driver s side.  They missed a stop sign, rolled onto a highway and were t-boned.  ALL ARE GOING TO BE FINE.  My kid was the worst injured (jaws of life, helicopter ride to the trauma center) with a concussion, broken jaw, injured hip and some teeth knocked out and loose...  THE DUST HAS BARELY SETTLED and 2 of the other parents are talking about contacting an attorney.

I know this sounds Polyanna-ish of me, but at this point, I m just relieved that my kid is going to live, WALK FINE and is going to be totally fine.  She has literally walked away from a nearly-deadly experience.  It s miraculous.  Her best friend was the driver.  Her mom is no longer alive, and her dad is well-to-do.

My insurance coverage is good, as is his.  What other purpose is there for contacting an attorney, but to sue for "mental anguish" and then put a wedge into a lifelong friendship?  Should I be looking into hiring an attorney?

babyboomer1001 · Answer

Absolutely, you should contact an attorney.  Your daughter is NOT going to be okay.  She is alive.  She is going to have ongoing problems for the rest of her life.  Husband 's jaw was broken when he was young - ongoing dental problems, teeth moved.  Teeth knocked out - dentures or what she will need - I can tell you that she may not want to smile ever again.  A reckless driver wrecked my teeth and smile and I smile rarely now.  When I do, I try not to let my teeth show.  I used to have beautiful teeth, a nice smile.  A concussion - in years to come, there will be issues, most probably later in life.  I walked away from the reckless joy rider too but, I was all bent over and, well, without going into more detail, she will not be just fine.  You owe it to her to hire a good lawyer, to fight for everything she is entitled to including, future medical care.  Hire one soon.  You and she need to be counseled on how to maintain the case without screwing it up, keeping a diary, keeping track of everything.  I hope you are not in a no-fault state.  Ask the lawyer.  If you are, don 't hire him.  Wait six months and then demand the policy limits and hold out and fight for all of it - while submitting proof of the extent of the damages (doctors' reports, etc.).

? · Answer

I think you should wait and see what the other parents do. I'm not clear who they're planning to sue, the driver of the car that GOT t-boned or the driver of the car that DID the t-boning?
I don't think that you have to participate in such a lawsuit if you don't want to, however, it's just that since your kid was the one worst injured, you'd probably have the strongest case which would in turn help their case. 
I happen to agree with you that sometimes it's best just to be grateful for what didn't happen than trying to make a bad situation worse.

Tavy · Answer

You bet you should, you have no idea if any of her injuries will cause problems later on, and who is paying for her care.
The point of insurance is for this, whether it was a no fault accident or not.
You should be claiming for pain and suffering and her long term treatment.
She did not walk away fine, but ended up in hospital.

? · Answer

right...a dude named monica...do you have a new vagina just like transjenner   so sorry she didn't die and has to suffer through you

? · Answer

Up to you.  If she is OK and the bills are already being paid, then...

My daughter was in a serious car accident about 8 days ago... Do I call an attorney?

5 Answers