Is it legal for her to drive without liability insurance?? It's not in Iowa.
sorry....stinks to be at the mercy of some jerk....but in reality we all are!
You are lucky it's not worse....and I hope it's not!
Take your drugs and lay low for the weekend...and make a voo doo doll if it'll make you feel better!
Linda C

When I lived in Texas (getting a design degree at UT Austin), anyone found without proof of insurance (even if they actually did have insurance) would spend a night in jail. Same sentence for anyone with a dog not on a leash.

I have liability, which is required, but I also have insurance against uninsured drivers, and it has paid off for me. Also, filing a claim against an insured driver did not raise my rates, as that is illegal here. Are you sure you are not insured against uninsured drivers? For me, the cost is extremely minimal, and I couldn't imagine being without it, since one never knows what another driver has.

If she does not have insurance, you can still sue her and force her to make payments. Talk to a lawyer, if necessary.

I do hope you start to feel better, but you might have repercussions that last for quite a while.

Lars

Here in Michigan, if the other driver does not have insurance, my own insurance pays for repairs to my vehicle, and like Lars, there is coverage against uninsured drivers.

It is also criminal here to drive without insurance, and it's a misdemeanor, not a civil infraction for which a ticket would be written.

Amanda was in that accident this summer and had whiplash, she's just now starting to feel completely better, it's been three months, so expect to feel crappy for a while.

Sorry....

Annie

I do have coverage for uninsured drivers, but I am not sure what all it does cover. I'll have to wait and see how it plays out today. If she truly is not insured, my insurance adjuster will take over.

It is illegal to drive without insurance here, but I am not sure what the penalties are. I was in too much pain to ask the cop a lot of questions yesterday. I just wanted to get to the ER and lay down! Felt like my head was gonna explode!

I'll talk to him more today when he calls and get more detail.

I'm feeling better this morning, just a dull headache and my shoulders ache. My neighbor has a car trailer so I am going with him to get my car out of the impound lot. No sense paying $35 a day storage. Other than that there's not much I can do until Monday, except maybe get a rental car.

Man...I was really hoping to get 300,000 miles on the Toy! LOL

Linda

Oh, Linda, what a bummer! You be careful with that head. Did they do xrays of your head? I'm worried about you hitting it and having those headaches.

People drive without insurance all the time. What does the legality have to do with anything? They don't care.

Sally

Did the ER folks tell you to start taking Aleve/Motrin (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories)? If not, start now, then call to find out!!!! (BTDT)

Sally also said exactly what I am worried about - remember Natasha Richardson.

Everyone should check to see if they have the maximum uninsured as well as under-insured. Years ago I was the first car in a series of four on a freeway - I was the only one not pushed into the car in front. All three cars behind me had no insurance. That was an eye-opener. I also learned to pay a few bucks to cover car-rental while my car was being repaired.

I'm so sorry.

Sucky Friday for sure! So sorry to read this, but glad you are feeling a bit better today. I think it is a good weekend to lay low and not do too much.

Hope this works out OK for you in the end.

Janet

Oh Lord, Linda, I hope you're feeling better. That's classic whiplash symptoms for sure. You're probably going to be feeling this for a couple months. Once the swelling goes down a little, a good physical therapist can show you some light self massage techniques that will help tremendously.

Sure, it's unlawful not to have car insurance, but that doesn't seem to stop a lot of people. The figure are infuriating.

Here is a link that might be useful: Insurance Research Council's 2008 Uninsured -by-state report

Jessy, they gave me a RX for a NSAID. (Hee hee, I feel like I am spaeking another language....maybe it's the Vicodin...)

Still waiting to hear if she is insured or not. Her deadline was 45 minutes ago and still no word.

Linda

Linda hope you are feeling a little better today. Hope this woman has insurance. She lives in a motel? Oh dear....

Linda, wow, it sounds like you were lucky to escape with just whiplash. Not that whiplash is anything to laugh about - I needed a couple of months of physiotherapy after getting rear-ended at low speed a couple of years ago. I do hope the woman turns out to have insurance, and that you will have a quick recovery.

Well, no word from the woman and no call from the cop, either. I tried calling the cell phone number she put on the accident report and it is "unavailable". Have to say I am not surprised. At this point I am pretty sure there is no insurance and I will have to claim this on mine.

I hope that cop nailed her to the wall for running the light and driving uninsured. People are telling me I can sue her for the damages....but SHE LIVES IN A MOTEL!

I think I just have to let it go and let my insurance company go after her if they want.

I don't want much, just another used vehicle, my ER bill paid and compensation for the day of work I missed. But I'm sure I'll have to fight for every dime. (sigh...)

Linda

No matter how you try, you can't get blood from a turnip....and you end up feeding the "suits"....and helping send my grand kids through college....:-))
I'm sorry...I would nail her if I could....but unfortunatly I cant'.
Linda C

Linda, I am so so sorry that you are hurt. I hope you feel better soon. I'm glad it wasn't any worse.

It infuriates me that people drive without insurance. I pay a small fortune to have my car insured, inspected and registered. Others should not be able to get away with breaking the law. I guess car insurance is one of the things people give up when times are tight.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through --

but sorry to say, I suspect she now lives in a different motel

LOL, Sweeby! I bet you are right!

Ah well...I am just glad I have never had to live in a motel.

Yes, we pay a small fortune to be insured and registered also. And now I'll have to pay another small fortune to fix the damage done by someone who will get nothing more than a slap on the wrist and be on her merry way. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time....whaddya do?

Sorry. I am beginning to sound bitter. I don't mean to, it's just that I have this headache.....

Linda

Linda,you have every righ to be bitter.I am sorry you have go through all this.

((HUGS)) Shelley

Linda, I hope you're doing better today. I've been thinking about you.

They passed a law here in Texas that they can and will impound your car if they pull you over and you don't have your proof of insurance with you. I thought that was too harsh, as there's times I've forgotten to put mine in the car, or thought I had but hadn't. Now I'm wishing your accident was in Texas so they could have towed her car and she'd be stranded like you are. I have to say I've been much more careful to make sure my proof is in the glove compartment (instead of the pudding!)

You take care of yourself, Linda.

Sally

Linda, I'm so sorry you're experiencing the whiplash, headache, and all the other hassles caused by this accident. I hope that the headache and other aches will be lessened somewhat today. The legal mess may take longer to clear up. I was rear ended a few weeks ago and thankfully was not hurt and had everything repaired by the other driver's insurance, but it was still a hassle taking time off from work to go see the appraiser, pick up a rental car, etc. And the matter was complicated by a mix-up in the bumper order, with two wrong bumpers being delivered before the right one finally arrived at the body shop. Nothing is *ever* straight forward and easy.

Rest up and try not to worry.
Hugs,
Teresa

Linda, I certainly hate to hear about your accident. I hope you feel better soon, I'd suggest you check with your PCP Monday, though.

Here is what I learned from my accident (almost a year ago to the day) and hope it helps:

If there is a chance in he$$ the lady has anything, try to recreate the accident on paper now with great detail and see if there are any witnesses and talk to them and get their statement now and get all of their contact info. (I was unable to do this for about a month, which was way too long.)

I had PIP on my car insurance policy. This has paid for some of my lost wages...I think it was 80 or 60% per month, not alot with a limit of $2,500, but certainly enough to make a dent. It would also pay to have someone help me with my day-to-day chores, which I didn't use, as I had enough work loss to cover the $2,500.

I also had med pay on my car, not supposed to have both said insurance agent, but I did and they are picking up some of the med bills my insurance company didn't pay. The limit was $25,000.00 and this has helped.

The truck driver and his company had insurance, but it is now a he said/she said. I was furious the first couple of months after the accident at the truck driver and his company, but once I let go of that I got better. I hired a law firm on contingency, but doubtful I'll ever recover anything, but you never know, so you might talk with an attorney on a contingency basis only.

Take care and let us know how you are doing.

Brenda

You worry me with that headache. Hopefully you see your doctor soon? The car and the woman that hit you are probably not worth worry until you are taken care of. Ask doc about ice packs for your sore spots... frozen peas make a cheap easy ice pack. Take note that vicodin is mostly a huge dose of tylenol... careful not to over do that stuff. I think (but have not checked) the new guidelines on tylenol recommend not more then 2000mg a day which is only 3-4 vicodin tablets.

Sounds like some serious damage to your vehicle. I'd look close at the repair estimates and consider putting the money towards a different vehicle.

A couple stories in the Detroit newspapers recently about people being caught with no license, no insurance, and dozens of traffic tickets. With the national economy in trouble there has probably been a sharp increase in the number of people with lapsed insurance. In Michigan a person can miss three out of ten questions on the license exam and still get a license!... sort of explains the drivers that don't understand stop signs and brake lights.

: )
lyra

Thanks, Brenda for that info. Based on your advice I sent an e-mail to the eye witness asking hime if he'd write up a statement of his account of what happened.

I doubt I'll recover anything from the woman that hit me, I will call my insurance company again tomorrow and get the ball rolling on my end.

Lyra, you're right...I think I am looking at a different vehicle. Even if the Rav can be repaired, it's probably not worth it. It's a 12 year old car with 240,000 miles on it.

Thank you all for your concern and kind words. I have to go to the hospital tomorrow and turn in my insurance papers for the ER visit. I'll try to get in with my PCP for a quick visit, too. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

Tomorrow should be a better day, I can get some questions answered and I'll feel a lot better about it all.

Linda

Linda, I'm so sorry this happened. I just want to tell you to be very cautious with your neck. Take extra care to avoid shaking or stressing it. When I was rear-ended I seemed okay for a couple of days, had to drive to get the damage appraised, then drove two hours in a decrepit loaner car that rattled my bones. By the third day I was a total wreck and in a LOT of pain. So I always advise people to be more careful than they may feel they need to be.

OMG, I am sooooo relieved! The State Trooper called me yesterday to tell me she came thru with insurance information. She has insurance! WHEW!

Feeling better today, probably because of the reduction in stress now! LOL Had a follow up appointment with a doctor yesterday and all is well.

Linda

Linda

Wonderful news,I know you are so relieved.

Shelley

~whew~

Don't stop taking the NSAIDs (I don't think Vicodin is one?)

Hold your breath to make sure she has enough insurance to cover you

Call your insurance agent and review your coverage!!!!

Good news, Linda, that has to be a relief.

When Amanda got hit by the motorcycle, it totalled her Blazer. There is apparently some kind of special insurance for motorcycles, which doesn't cover another vehicle (probably because the motorcycle driver usually isn't lucky enough to survive an impact with a Blazer, I suppose). No payment at all, and she had PLPD because it was an older vehicle and was paid for. Medical bills were paid, though....

I'm glad you're feeling better. Now vehicle shopping. Ugh. I drive vehicles until they die because I HATE to shop for them.

Annie