Hit By a semi truck
10-31-2012, 05:53 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Hollywood, FL
Posts: 211
Hit By a semi truck
So on the 29th at around 10:30pm i was driving north on i-95 in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area when a semi truck in my left lane merged into me. He hit my driver side and I flew to the right and hit another semi truck, spun around to the left into oncoming traffic and got hit head on by a f350 county work truck and spun around again and slammed into the left guardrail and stopped. Luckily Im ok, just some whiplash and a cut on my wrist... It was determined the Semi was at fault and now my car is sitting in a tow yard. Does anyone have any advice on how to pursue the truck company and their insurance to help replace my car? A lot of people are telling me different things but im not really sure what to do here. Im not injured badly but I would like to get a new car out of this whole ordeal while still being as honest as possible... any advice? I'll have better pics when i get to the tow yard..
10-31-2012, 05:58 PM
#2
DAMN, dude, that sucks. Glad you're more or less OK.
Obviously there were cops involved. You get in contact with YOUR insurance agent and get the info of the trucker. It should be in the report. Your insurance will take care of the rest. THEIR insurance will cover your rental.
Obviously there were cops involved. You get in contact with YOUR insurance agent and get the info of the trucker. It should be in the report. Your insurance will take care of the rest. THEIR insurance will cover your rental.
10-31-2012, 08:22 PM
#6
DAMN, dude, that sucks. Glad you're more or less OK.
Obviously there were cops involved. You get in contact with YOUR insurance agent and get the info of the trucker. It should be in the report. Your insurance will take care of the rest. THEIR insurance will cover your rental.
Obviously there were cops involved. You get in contact with YOUR insurance agent and get the info of the trucker. It should be in the report. Your insurance will take care of the rest. THEIR insurance will cover your rental.
THIS!!!
Glad you're OK, bro. Getting in a tango with 2 semis in a car usually ends up with you getting run over...You got driving skills and some luck brother.
11-01-2012, 12:05 AM
#7
WHo is the insurance provider of the truck? ALso who is your insurance provider? Typically when it's a commercial vehicle there really isn't a lot of drama or fighting over it.
11-01-2012, 08:13 AM
#10
Glad to hear you weren't significantly injured.
As Amerikana said, you contact your insurance and give them the police report information. They will handle it from there. While you may have to pay upfront for your rental car (depends on your insurance coverage) you will get reimbursed later. Be ready for this to take a while...a couple months.
You will likely be contacted by their insurance as well. They may offer you a "settlement". I would suggest you don't take anything until all your injuries are healed and your medical bills are done. In California, any settlement money you have with the insurance goes to paying your medical bills, not your health insurance. I don't know if Florida has the same law, but worth a check. Their settlement should include enough to cover your property (including any aftermarket parts such as wheels, intake, audio/video systems, etc), medical bills related to the accident, and "pain and suffering" which is somewhat vague meaning this is where you can get a bit of extra money for yourself. Make sure you have your receipts for that aftermarket stuff because they will want to see it.
As Amerikana said, you contact your insurance and give them the police report information. They will handle it from there. While you may have to pay upfront for your rental car (depends on your insurance coverage) you will get reimbursed later. Be ready for this to take a while...a couple months.
You will likely be contacted by their insurance as well. They may offer you a "settlement". I would suggest you don't take anything until all your injuries are healed and your medical bills are done. In California, any settlement money you have with the insurance goes to paying your medical bills, not your health insurance. I don't know if Florida has the same law, but worth a check. Their settlement should include enough to cover your property (including any aftermarket parts such as wheels, intake, audio/video systems, etc), medical bills related to the accident, and "pain and suffering" which is somewhat vague meaning this is where you can get a bit of extra money for yourself. Make sure you have your receipts for that aftermarket stuff because they will want to see it.
11-01-2012, 11:22 AM
#12
you also might wanna have his logbooks supeonaed. If the company has digital logbooks then have your lawyer get the records,if he has paper logs then the company is required to keep copies as well as the driver.again have your lawyer supeona the records. If it states the he was supposed to be sleeping instead of driving, thats better for you in the end. for instance if he picked up a load in cape coral fla ran out of drive time in golden gate fla then what the hell was doing in ft lauderdale. If its determined that the driver was out of hours and still continued to drive well that just makes it that much sweeter for and your insurance company. glad to see that your ok though and good luck that and cellphone records texting while driving fines last i checked was 1200 to 1500 dollar fine
Last edited by Kountz430; 11-01-2012 at 11:30 AM.
11-01-2012, 03:45 PM
#15
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 153
you also might wanna have his logbooks supeonaed. If the company has digital logbooks then have your lawyer get the records,if he has paper logs then the company is required to keep copies as well as the driver.again have your lawyer supeona the records. If it states the he was supposed to be sleeping instead of driving, thats better for you in the end. for instance if he picked up a load in cape coral fla ran out of drive time in golden gate fla then what the hell was doing in ft lauderdale. If its determined that the driver was out of hours and still continued to drive well that just makes it that much sweeter for and your insurance company. glad to see that your ok though and good luck that and cellphone records texting while driving fines last i checked was 1200 to 1500 dollar fine
Don t worry , the cop s 1st things he does is look at the trucker s logbook , if their s any wrong doings , he ll get caught .
11-01-2012, 03:58 PM
#16
I do this as well...consistently
OP, glad you are ok man. This has to be one of the craziest stories I've heard. To be able to walk away from this is amazing.
That bodily injury would help raise your check btw. On a medical note you should see an chiropractor on the trucking company.
OP, glad you are ok man. This has to be one of the craziest stories I've heard. To be able to walk away from this is amazing.
That bodily injury would help raise your check btw. On a medical note you should see an chiropractor on the trucking company.
11-02-2012, 07:24 AM
#19
id be pissed, i got run of the road by one trying to merge, the funny thing is i merged doin 65 and he was behind me, literaly he speed up so i couldnt get infront without clipping him.
but it sounds like it could have gone alot worse, its good to see no1 got to hurt though.
but it sounds like it could have gone alot worse, its good to see no1 got to hurt though.
11-02-2012, 04:33 PM
#21
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 176
Thank god you didn't get too hurt. Just make sure you have a lawyer, and contact your insurance. Keep calling and nagging them for answers a couple of times a week, and hopefully you can get your car repaired at Nissan back to specs for free. See the doctors, and maybe even get a check out of it if all goes well. Looks like there might be some frame damage, you need all new bumber, lights, subframe, fenders, radiator, doors, basically looking at like 15k repairs after labor, maybe they will just let you get a 2013 Maxima out of it or something and maybe a check if you're really lucky.
Last edited by LazYRaCeR; 11-02-2012 at 04:45 PM.
11-02-2012, 07:06 PM
#22
Damn man, glad you are alright. Start looking for another car because this one looks totaled. Look up values on your car so you can have around about of what you will get. Idk about Florida, but in New York they add tax to what the car is worth.
11-03-2012, 12:12 PM
#23
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Hollywood, FL
Posts: 211
Looks like there might be some frame damage, you need all new bumber, lights, subframe, fenders, radiator, doors, basically looking at like 15k repairs after labor, maybe they will just let you get a 2013 Maxima out of it or something and maybe a check if you're really lucky.
11-15-2012, 02:39 AM
#27
Wow when i read your story i thought the car was going to be a heap of twisted metal. It makes me feel a lot safer knowing how well our cars are built.
My coworker got hit by someone who ran a read light today, and it was pretty bad.
I am glad you are okay! Good luck and hope you get a new car out of all this!
My coworker got hit by someone who ran a read light today, and it was pretty bad.
I am glad you are okay! Good luck and hope you get a new car out of all this!
11-15-2012, 08:13 AM
#28
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Get a lawyer and sue trucker/company for injury, medical expenses, car replacement etc.
Any lawyer would pick this case up since it's already determined to be the trucker's fault, almost guaranteed pay day for you and the lawyer.
Any lawyer would pick this case up since it's already determined to be the trucker's fault, almost guaranteed pay day for you and the lawyer.
Some sad pics here.
12-20-2012, 12:05 PM
#34
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Near Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 36
Ive lived in both Jax and Ft. Lauderdale, and South FLorida is worse BY FAR. A bad day traffic wise in Jax is better than a good day in traffic down there.. It used to take me 45 minutes to drive two miles from work to home. I started riding my bike when it wasnt raining. Cut my commute home by 30 minutes.
12-20-2012, 12:24 PM
#35
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Hollywood, FL
Posts: 211
Curious as to how this has turned out for you. Anything going on with your car?
My insurance company paid 80% of my medical bills and the rest is in limbo. I have been attending a physical therapy for my back and I have 38 days left of it. The other insurance company offered me 3400 for the car but I have not accepted a settlement as of yet. They paid for a rental car ('12 altima) for two weeks and cut me a check for reimbursement of towing expenses (500). I do have a lawyer whos handling the personal injury claim but I have no idea when it will be resolved, im assuming after I complete the therapy and receive all of my medical bills back. And thats where I stand, driving a 2000 toyota corolla missing being in the VQ club...
12-20-2012, 03:47 PM
#36
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 175
Well, as of almost two months later... The car is still in my possession, sitting in the back of my house rusting up..
My insurance company paid 80% of my medical bills and the rest is in limbo. I have been attending a physical therapy for my back and I have 38 days left of it. The other insurance company offered me 3400 for the car but I have not accepted a settlement as of yet. They paid for a rental car ('12 altima) for two weeks and cut me a check for reimbursement of towing expenses (500). I do have a lawyer whos handling the personal injury claim but I have no idea when it will be resolved, im assuming after I complete the therapy and receive all of my medical bills back. And thats where I stand, driving a 2000 toyota corolla missing being in the VQ club...
My insurance company paid 80% of my medical bills and the rest is in limbo. I have been attending a physical therapy for my back and I have 38 days left of it. The other insurance company offered me 3400 for the car but I have not accepted a settlement as of yet. They paid for a rental car ('12 altima) for two weeks and cut me a check for reimbursement of towing expenses (500). I do have a lawyer whos handling the personal injury claim but I have no idea when it will be resolved, im assuming after I complete the therapy and receive all of my medical bills back. And thats where I stand, driving a 2000 toyota corolla missing being in the VQ club...
Unfortunately Im going through a similar experience; had an argument with a 4th gen trying to turn in front of me at a stoplight, needless to say both cars lost that battle.
They offered me $5k for the car as well as $500 for pain and suffering. Definitely wont recoup the money I put in the car but at least they made me a reasonable offer. They should do the same for you, don't accept anything less.
12-21-2012, 01:44 AM
#37
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
sorry to hear about your accident
im in trucking biz, owned my trucks and drivers at one point
this truck that was at fault, was it an owner operator that owned the truck or company driver in company eqip?
usually they pay pretty big premiums for ins and deductible is high too and if its a big trucking comp , trust me , they are lawyer-ed up and your case can be in court for long time before you get anything, and sicne you weren't injured to bad and your car wasnt an exotic i wouldn't count on to much, despite what people think these days trucking companies are not rolling in dough
best of luck dude but have a back up plan
im in trucking biz, owned my trucks and drivers at one point
this truck that was at fault, was it an owner operator that owned the truck or company driver in company eqip?
usually they pay pretty big premiums for ins and deductible is high too and if its a big trucking comp , trust me , they are lawyer-ed up and your case can be in court for long time before you get anything, and sicne you weren't injured to bad and your car wasnt an exotic i wouldn't count on to much, despite what people think these days trucking companies are not rolling in dough
best of luck dude but have a back up plan
12-21-2012, 09:21 AM
#38
That's a bad situation, but at least you got a lawyer which should help you get some more money. I don't know if this is true in other states, but in California, any medical bills related to an auto/moto accident are required to be paid by insurance or the persons involved. So, keep all your medical bills incurred since the accident for the accident as you may have to pay back anything that was covered by your health insurance provider.
