QuestionHi!
I was in a bus crash accident last year with a greyhound bus. Facts that have been discovered:
1. It does not appear that the driver fell asleep.
2. It appears that the cause of the accident was a
slow leak in the left front tire - - a so-called
"Steer Tire Blowout." Apparently the slow leak lead
to a loss of air pressure which caused the tire to
slowly heat up until it blew out.
3. The bus was traveling at the speed of 78 mph (in a
65 mph zone) at the time of the blowout. Apparently
the bus was in the left lane (passing lane) and was
passing another vehicle at the time of the blowout.
At the time of the blowout the roadway was curving to
the right.
4. Apparently, in response to the blowout the driver
hit the brakes - - which is the worst thing you can do
under those circumstances and accelerated his loss of
control of the bus.
What I got from the accident (diagnosed until now): myofascial pain, massive pulmonary embolism (and since they discovered the MTHFR - a gene about blood coagulation which is not that important according to specialist but... - because i got a pulmonary embolism due to the bus crash (4 days without leaving the bed) I will need observation all my life if I get pregnant and have to stay more than 8 hours sit with injections of heparin.) I've been diagnosed a severe depression with post traumatic stress disorder; anxiety have been developed since the accident. I got a scar on my forehead and in my neck. I'm not sure with the kind of job I have that I can go back to work (31000$ per year, underpaid since I was expecting to go back to work in my field, I have a university degree in public communications.
My question is: what is the value of the claim I should do? I'm all mixed up because there's a lot of information on the net but at the same time, nothing is more personal than my case (like everyone).
Also, it look like the hospital made some mistake regarding me. I told them I was on birth control pills. They put me on heparin at the hospital but once I left, they never gave me Coumadin. I've been told I could sue them but someone else told me I can't. who's right?
Thanks for your help. I really appreciate that.
Karine
AnswerDear Karine,
I am sorry to hear of your extensive injuries. And of course all of these injuries have subordinate problems that they bring to your life. I will see you as restored to good health soon.
As for the last question regarding medical malpractice, we specifically do not ever give any opinion as to that inasmuch as we are pretty much limited to standard insurance claims. A qualified attorney could give an opinion, but you would need to have sustained some kind of damages in order to pursue any such claim. Malpractice claims are tough, so an attorney will not recommend going forward unless there is good liability and significant damages.
THAT topic of damages does lead me to my main response to your inquiry. Please get yourself to a personal injury attorney ASAP. You have no business whatsoever trying to resolve this huge and complex claim on your own. Believe me, I should know inasmuch as my website www.settlementcentral.com teaches personal injury settlement ideas for do it yourself insurance claims.
But we also have a page that tells people like you in no uncertain terms that they are way out of their league in a serious and complex case, and the ONLY way to go is to get an attorney ASAP.
We do not have any attorney program just now for referrals, but I would just look for someone who is a member of your state trial lawyers association http://www.settlementcentral.com/links.php
That way you will have some assurance that the attorney is up to speed on the latest cases and techniques.
As for value, it would be malpractice on my part to even venture a guess, given the lack of relevant information presented. In a complex case such as this, valuation is best done by a qualified personal injury attorney, NOT BY LOOKING ONLINE. Believe me, there are NO GOOD ANSWERS ONLINE for valuation of a case that involves such injuries as you present.
Best wishes for restoration of your health and a good insurance settlement via a qualified attorney,
Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
www.SettlementCentral.Com
