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This is a story of my fight against ICBC, my auto insurance company, and how I lost seven years of my life. Seven years ago I was hit, broadsided in fact, by another car. $8000 damage to an old beater that wasn't even worth $10000. The accident wasn't my fault, but somehow I am left with a piece of crap that will never sell again. I suffered some whiplash, and didn't make much of it. They tried to get a statement from me and close the case. Don't!!! In retrospect, find a personal injury lawyer. Anyways... over the next few weeks, it got worse and worse. My neck and back froze stiff and cramped up. They played real nice... offering massage therapy etc... anything to keep me in line. Over the next 1/2 year, the muscle got stronger and cramped more and more. I looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame, seriously. Unfortunately, with soft tissue and nerve damage, treatment isn't clear cut and doctors basically said it can't be cured. Due to the pain, I had to quit my regular job and work part-time at a desk job with lower pay. The insurance company tries to drag things out past the time limit when you cannot make any claims. Don't let this happen. So the day before the deadline, I get a lawyer and file a claim. Nothing much, just a foot in the door to keep my options open. Thats when things went from cordial to nasty. They had their "expert doctors", doctors that don't even practise, just provide back to the insurance company that there wasn't wrong with me. One treatment was botox. I was losing hope in life, so I went along since they'd pay for it at $1500 pop. They pump 6 shots into my neck and back. As the toxin takes effect, my arms and half that side of my torso goes limp. 1 month later, same thing. 3 Times my dose could paralyze someone. Anyhow, maybe it works for some, but for me it did squat. After 6 months, I regained normal muscle control but still looked like Quasimodo with muscular atrophy. Facing the rest of my life with no ability to work, I had no choice but to sue. Then things got ugly. A got a new insurance "rep" and everything was now through the lawyer. They wanted a number from me. Don't give it. They offered $18,000. Over the next 5 years it was a battle to see if I could keep paying the bills. They goals was to wear me out. The took the longest possible time to respond. Meetings were cancelled and rescheduled at the last minute, went' I've already arranged for the lawyer. My personal injury lawyer charged 30% of the settlement, but regardless of the outcome, I was still on the hook for the fees and expert witness medical bills which racked up to $60,000. She was great though. Look for lawyer who is a bulldog. They had spies following me and taking pictures, hoping to catch me lifting a bag of groceries or something. I guess that's a good thing to catch the fakes and cheats. They were just so incompetent. One time I did a 3 point turn on a street just to see if the loser would follow too. Yup. Finally, I had to decide whether to take this to court. It would cost another $40000 whether I win or lose. For the insurance company it could go either way... a favorable judgement could be $500,000 - $1,000,000 just on lost wages. They wanted to talk and the case was settled out of court for $180,000. So after lawyer fees, I got $120,000. Not great, but i couldn't afford to go in the hole for 100K. They must have spent $200,000 over 7 years to fight me. What I got pales in comparison to what I lost. My life will never be the same. |