Tested out the airbags yesterday. (jano) Pics added pg 3

Janice -- I'm back.  (Home finally.)  I just called Andy (my boss) and he's got a client in Wisconsin - if you will email me and tell me what city you live in, I'll get the "sane attorney referral line" working and see if we can get a line on someone GOOD and reputable for you.

That doesn't mean don't look on your own ... but usually someone knows someone who knows someone and you can at least run a sanity check on something like "ewww NOT him" or "oh yeah -- he's darned good". 

I don't know if they "advertise" in Wisconsin -- but that doesn't mean someone is good -- it just means they have a hefty advertising budget. 

I know it's scarey -- but if the adjuster calls you -- just plain tell them you need a day or so before you talk to them.  It's perfectly acceptable -- don't do anything while you feel numb, dumb or pressured. 

I'm only a legal secretary -- but have been one for many years -- and I've sorta seen the good, the bad and the ugly of all of it.  I've never done much personal injury BUT I know enough to know that often problems crop up weeks later that just aren't apparent now and you can truly suffer badly for many years simply because you "didn't know" at the time of an accident. 

Do some looking for a car (and this might be a good time to truly discuss if you want another of last year's model (you might get a good deal on the same car new) OR you may want to use this to simply get into a 2008.  Husband should have a good idea on that.  I'm no help there -- just trying to help you think in advance.

 If you haven't already done so:

1.  Call your ob/gyn -- schedule yourself for a full going over -- by YOUR doctor, not just whoever was on call on the "B" team at the hospital during the night

2.  You've notified YOUR insurance carrier, right?

3.  Make sure work knows you were out for an accident-related thing

4.  Have you gotten all your stuff out of the car?  Was anything ELSE damaged? 

i.e., start making lists.  Make copies of anything you give an attorney -- go ahead and make a list of stuff to give to an attorney:  your insurance info (include the dec page/front page of your policy and call and get one if you don't have it), your car insurance, the papers from when you bought the car, including VIN number, etc.,

Holler at me for anything -- but do email me or PM me with your city so I can get a better target area for an attorney for you. 

The other thing you can do is go to http://www.lawyers.com -- that's Martindale-Hubbel's website -- and they're the list of the best attorneys.  Not everyone is listed on MH ... and it's no assurance someone IS good.

Do find out what the website is for Wisconsin's Bar Association (Bar Association is to attorneys what the AMA or Wisconsin's state version is to doctors -- every state has it's own 'bar' - which is the test attorneys have to pass to practice in a given state).

Gosh I'm sorry -- I'm in legal secretary over-drive here, but I am so sorry this had to happen but gosh I'm glad you're ok and we're gonna just keep praying that little Throckmorten (or whatever your'e callin "shim" til you know better what they are *grin*) is FINE AND DANDY. 

*hugs* (and Billy is all over me here and wants to say HI YA!!!)

I am so glad you and baby are OK!  My friend was in an accident while she was pregnant.  It wasn't serious, just hit from at a stop light from a stoped position, just enough to give her a little jolt.  She ended up in the hospital with contractions for almost a week and went back once or twice with the same issue before she had the baby.  She was with her mom in her mom's car and her mom's insurance actually covered her hospital bills, paid her for her time off work and every other cost related to the accident.  I would make sure you are covered on this one and probably contact an attorney as well.  I don't know what is better, but it is also possible that your insurance company will hire an attorney anyway.  I think in Texas that isn't at all uncommon.  My boss' son was recently in a little fender bender and they wanted to just pay for the damage and not file it on their insurance.  The insurance people told them that was a bad idea b/c it could go to court etc etc....and it did, and 2 years later they are still dealing with this person trying to milk them for everything they can get over a fender bender that was really nothing. 

Wow. Very glad you're okay.

 Thanks so much everyone. Especially Callie. I'm printing out your post. I'm going to PM you in just a sec.

To answer your questions.

1. My OB is on vacation until the 8th. I'm going to call her and go over everything. I already have an appointment set up for the 18th. Maybe she'll be able to get me in sooner.

2. Yes, I've called my auto insurance and health insurance, and explained the whole situation.

3. I called work before DH drove me in to the hospital, then again a few times while I was there to update them. They're super cool about it, and told me to take the rest of the week off.

4. Since the whole passenger side of the car was in a snowbank, the side curtain airbags were still inflated, and there was glass everywhere, I could only reach a few things. I grabbed my insurance and registration info, CDs, rx sunglasses, and my doggie guardian angel charm (happy mail gift from Annie). I'm having DH drive me in tomorrow to get the rest of my junk.

Hi Billy Billy Bilbo booger butt! Wiggle wag wiggle wag.

And yes Megan, I think I'd better take one Pirate with my Aspen. 

First off, I am so sorry to hear of your accident, but I am very very relieved that both you and the baby are fine!

I agree with Callie, I am also a legal assistant, but I do work on personal injury and civil litigation.  We actually have a few cases similar to yours, and you do have a good case.  If you have any questions before you talk to a lawyer, I know the laws between here and where you are are different, but I don't mind asking the lawyer I work for. 

Bear in mind that these cases, unless settled, take a while to complete.  We have once ongoing since 1998 but that involves the city lol.  But in the end, it IS worth it, because Callie is right, at this point in time things might not look so bad, but who knows about what complications could potentially arise. 

One thing (not considered legal advice ;) ) Do NOT NOT NOT under ANY circumstances sign ANYTHING from his insurance company that has anything to do with releasing him or the company.  If they want you to sign something, it will probably be in legal mumbo jumbo, take it to a lawyer to look over.  Or between Callie and myself we can probably decipher it for you if need be.  If you need anything, or want me to ask the lawyer I work for anything, let me know, I don't mind!

But bottom line, I am so happy that you are okay!

Thanks for your non-legal advice, l.michelle. I really appreciate any tidbits I can get.

I feel much better after "talking" to my i-dog buddies. At least I know what direction to head from here. You guys are awesome! 

Oh my gosh! I am so glad that you and the baby are OK.. That is so scary!

oh Jan, I was totally kidding about faking an injury to get an u/s!!!!!  Wow, is all I can say. I'm SO glad you and the baby are ok. This sounds stupid, but after reading your response in my other post and knowing things were ok, I STILL teared up just imagining what you went through(stupid pregnancy hormones that don't ever seem to go away after giving birth)!

I will say a little prayer that 1. you feel better 2. that your little bambino is ok 3. that your whole car situation is figured out and you end up with a better car! and 4. that your next u/s is more revealing!

Holly Cow!  Happy New Year!  Wow, glad you're ok, and the baby's ok.  I used to work for a chiropractor, and signs of whiplash, etc. can take up to months to show...you're allready having signs, but be prepared to possibly contact a lawyer in case you have more complications with your neck, back, etc.  In fact, my suggestion would be to talk to one anyways.  I also worked for attorney's so you may want to talk to one anyways, especially before you settle anything w/ the insurance companies.  Glad you're OK, and hope you feel better soon!

Thanks Alli, Janet & Emily. Em, I laughed when I read about faking an injury! That was funny. I know the pregnancy hormones contributed to me freaking out so much. I still would have been freaked, but just not so hard! I usually have pretty good control over my emotions. I think I had a mini-meltdown. The other two guys probably thought I was cukoo. Not that I care.

Thanks for your prayers!!

I'm already starting to think... hmm... should I get another CR-V in a different color? I love the dark pearly blue, but in the winter they salt the roads here and it looks really bad on the dark blue. Also, it has a black interior, which shows every single rusty red Rupey hair. They have a nice sagey green that I'm considering. It has an ivory/tan-ish interior, which would hide Rupey hairs better, but probably not the best for hiding baby stains. Hmmm.

I'm definitely getting another CR-V. One of the main reasons I chose it was for the awesome safety ratings, and boy were they right. It looks horrible now and is really crumpled, but that's because the vehicle absorbed all the impact. The seatbelt held me so tight that I didn't get hit too hard in the face by the airbag. Honda re-designed it for '07, so I don't think there's much of a change for the '08 models. Maybe I'll still get a good deal on an '07. Gosh, this is so not what I expected to be doing this weekend! Amazing how quickly things can change.

janobonano

I usually have pretty good control over my emotions. I think I had a mini-meltdown. The other two guys probably thought I was cukoo.

I'm glad that you & the little one are alright.  Even if the car didn't fare too well.

Your insurance company may provide you with an attorney.  Mine did, after an accident over the summer.  I would call & ask them. 

 <>

Just do like I did and not allow any baby stains to get there! My Audi's interior was in awesome shape when I sold it at SIXTEEN years old.  Both DSs had been in it as infants and it looked almost new.  My Intrepid (current car)  is eleven years old and it looks NEW inside and almost new on the outside (one scratch and a couple of chips).

I am SOOOOOOOOOOO glad you and baby are OK! Spend a couple of days taking it easy and if you know anyone who has a hot tub (with OB's permission of course) go soak in it.  I  was t-boned years ago and my inlaw's Jacuzzi was wonderful for the aches and pains. 

 Janice, I am so glad you and the baby are okay! Man, those car wrecks can really make you thankful for seat belts and airbags. Though that is one warning they do need to add to airbag covers - that the 'smoke' in the car isn't from fire! I thought the same thing when we had our bad one in 2001. It makes the panic and stress even worse. I'm sorry you got burnt by it though. I never did figure out how I managed not to have any burns - everyone I've ever talked to has been burnt by the airbag.

When we had ours, we didn't know not to give statements to the ins. companies till after we talked to an attorney. Oh well. Too late by then. Definitely make them pay for a rental car for you though. And in Texas, part of the settlement includes money for missed work. If your DH missed work as well, I wonder if that is covered as well though? The girl that caused ours ran a red light and hit us plus two other cars - totaled 3 cars, Mom's included. It took until 2006 for our case to be settled, but that was partly due to hurricane Rita. So it can take awhile, but Callie is right about making sure the baby is okay and not settling to quick. They are going to try to get off with paying as little  possible, and you don't know what problems may come up that should be covered. I really wish I had idog in 2001 when I had to go through all this!

I learned a hard lesson in that wreck. The whiplash was severe, but medical doctors just gave me pain pills. They weren't doing anything to help the problem, so I went to my chiropractor. Insurance doesn't like to pay for chiropractic care unless backed up by hard medical evidence. So if you do see one, be sure you see your GP as well.

Take care of yourself! Keela would be more than happy to come curl up with you and give (cold) nose kisses everytime you move! ;) So glad you are okay!!!!!

Amy 

wow! i'm very glad everything is ok! so dangerous! you had me really worried there! take it easy, ok?