she's gone to Tahoe heaven.... if you own a car read this

[aussieguy]

red light runner  at high rate of speed just killed my Tahoe ...... just when I was getting back out on the water after the summer heat and the bathroom remodel

cant talk a lot about injuries cause there will be an ongoing case.

but can say Mrs AG (she was driving alone) and  has some very severe but not life threatening injuries that will take a long time to heal.

thanks in advance for all your well wishes for her... but can't say anything else (you understand).

The accident will be proved 100% the other driver is at fault, that intersection has not only a  red-light camera BUT it also has traffic camera + there were witness statements. other driver was cited on the scene/hospital.

So here is what I found ...

other driver has claimed she is not at fault... her insurance company now has to investigate.  Hope she knows that lying to your insurance company carries repercussions.

Accident report can take 10 days to be posted. 

so won't know nuthing for at least 2 weeks.

can't get a rental  car from their company until they accept responsibility

My policy:

a) we didn't get comprehensive cause it seamed crazy to pay higher premiums on such an older vehicle

b) didn't get under insured  (stupid of me for not knowing about Bodily Injury not being required)

but we did get bodily injury

because I thought it was required.  cause in Aussieland it is always required and here in Florida I have never been offered a policy without  bodily injury.

but Florida allows you to register and drive a car on the road without having Bodily Injury

The other driver bought a policy without bodily Injury (so her insurance company claims).

All you need in Florida is PIP and Property Damage register and to drive.

Florida is a no fault state... just found out how crazy that gets.
ok..... so medical expenses are started getting paid through my own Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
injuries to Mrs AG will likely allow us to SUE outside of No Fault for damages / pain and suffering.
but this other driver not having bodily injury coverage .... No lawyer will take the case unless you PAY upfront to sue the other driver.

Now the Tahoe will be covered under the at fault driver's No Fault  Property damage but you know what a lowball offer they will try and make me take...

but here's the Kicker that most people don't know.

Florida has a Financial Responsibility law which requires if you are at fault in an accident causing injury you MUST have at the time of the accident....  Bodily Injury Insurance (10,000 per person  20,000 per accident)

if you don't have it and you cause an accident with injuries  watch out ! ! !

your license and registration may be suspended for up to 3 YEARS.

if you are taken to court and a judgement is is against you...

you may also lose you license for up to 20 years until you have satisfied the judgment ...

if you don't have Bodily Injury Liability on your insurance  go add it NOW !

Good insurance companies won't sell policies without Bodily liability

Cheap assed cut price policies... you better check what you got for your $$$$  they won't tell you their policy puts you at risk.

be careful when you buy cheap insurance the inconvenience and frustration  quickly mounts up

get the MOST coverage you can afford and don't think it will be alright if I skimp some.

[shadowxmas]

Aussieguy. Sorry I missed the post about Mrs. AG's accident. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

[SkyJay]

very sorry to hear this news.
hope her suffering is minimal and shortlived.
I know a v e r y good personal
injury guy if you need.
will keep yall in my heart and prayers.
its gags gone wild out there btw

[tears143]

wow.. that's dumb... I wonder which insurance company lobby for this rule... Apply only to people but not company that sell insurances "WITHOUT" the need to tell people that they need to buy it.
>.<

[sctaz]

Pick one

www.google.com/search?hl=en&sxsrf=ACYBGNR-BJXtvZKsYKYJU9epBmPjOXJoTw%3A1572637916844&source=hp&ei=3Iy8XfOHMerH_Qarx5SoBA&q=personal+injury+lawyers+in+tampa+florida&oq=injury+lawyers+in+tampa&gs_l=psy-ab.1.1.0j0i22i30l6.2776.16334..20324...0.0..0.213.2508.9j13j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i131j0i20i263.uj5JtQ6HUio

[havetofish]

Best Wishes for the Mrs.

[aussieguy]

we did contacted one of the largest Accident law firms in Tampa/Clearwater
they initially agreed to take the case

when they found out that the other driver didn't have Bodily Liability .... "Sorry can't help you"


we have access to an ordinary attorney and will be be perusing what limited options we have.
best outcome probably would be... we'll garnishee wages for a long time.
I actually don't agree with suing for huge amounts ... but I do want what's fair.


the other driver will have to come to some agreement/settlement with us
or risk losing their license and registration on ALL household vehicles until she pays off any judgment against her.

that's where I say to you all.... Make sure you have some Bodily Liability...

YOU CAN STILL BE SUED UNDER FLORIDA'S NO FAULT 

if there is broken bones  or significant permanent scarring  and other reasons

if you only carry the minimum Bodily Liability $10,000 you are sued for 50,000..... Insurance pays 10,000

YOU pay 40,0000 out of your own pocket.

It's the responsible thing to do and you can suffer real hardship for years if you cause an injury and are judged at fault

[montylfl]

Sorry to hear. Surprised you said no attorney would take. This is any easy win. These cases are alway on contingency. No lawyer should ask for payment upfront. They are already guaranteed $3000k on PIP

Happy to recommend a lawyer. What county did the accident happen? Message me if you want a referral.

[aussieguy]

other driver has no Bodily Injury Liability insurance.
I could argue the case myself if I wanted to
BUT unless the other driver is rich then there is little chance of actually getting any money.

we have researched / the person ......... no assets.

so if a lawyer took it on as contingency..... they would work for nothing cause getting a judgement is easy actually getting paid ..... just about as rare as hens teeth.

[mackeralsnatcher]

Hope your wife heals up quick.

[seabird]

I hope for a speedy recovery for your wife. And that somehow that you can get financial relief.

[carlf]

Wishing your wife a speedy recovery. Hope you at at least recover some of you financial losses.

No Fault is horrible, most states did away with it years ago is my understanding

[aussieguy]

update...
Finally got me a replacement vehicle YUKON with 167K miles, and everything works as it should
Can tow the boat once I change the oil pan gasket oops found that it leaks oil when parked in my driveway which has a pretty good uphill slope...
All the GOOD Tahoes/Yukons are snapped up pretty fast the rest have multiple warning lights , electrical problems or extremely high milage.

took the at fault insurance company about 11 days to finally accept responsibility. Once they did they provided a rental car for about a week. in which time they inspected my Tahoe and deemed it a total loss. ( Duhhhhh no kidding! )

They used Kelly Blue Book value to determine my cars worth. I expected that they used their own valuation method and would give me some crazy low-ball offer but their offer was reasonable. The Yukon i just bought was paid entirely by their check.


We have retained a lawyer for injuries.

[tears143]

Dec 7, 2019 7:09:11 GMT -5 aussieguy said:

update...
Finally got me a replacement vehicle YUKON with 167K miles, and everything works as it should
Can tow the boat once I change the oil pan gasket oops found that it leaks oil when parked in my driveway which has a pretty good uphill slope...
All the GOOD Tahoes/Yukons are snapped up pretty fast the rest have multiple warning lights , electrical problems or extremely high milage.

took the at fault insurance company about 11 days to finally accept responsibility. Once they did they provided a rental car for about a week. in which time they inspected my Tahoe and deemed it a total loss. ( Duhhhhh no kidding! )

They used Kelly Blue Book value to determine my cars worth. I expected that they used their own valuation method and would give me some crazy low-ball offer but their offer was reasonable. The Yukon i just bought was paid entirely by their check.


We have retained a lawyer for injuries.

Well glad they gave you a reasonable offer... again the offer should not be based on blue book value but the value to replace it, just fyi... hope you don't need this information.

[shadowxmas]

Aussieguy. Glad you got some money for your vehicle and hope you get a bunch more to help with Mrs AG's care and recovery. Wishing her a full and speedy recovery. It sounds like it will take time but remember slow and steady wins the race.