A car accident

My car accident of September 9, 2008 was finally settled in mediation in September 2010 - a long time - yes, a very, very long time. And I was forced into mediation or faced the alternative of having to wait until 2011 to go to court,because the complaint was not filed until February 2010 rather than before the end of 2009, as I had been advised it would be. And I needed so badly for the entire accident to be behind me (which of course it had been!), that I agreed.
I had never had a car accident before (except for minor dings I caused myself - gate posts moving, street lights, that sort of thing!) and it completely altered my life for quite a while. I stopped driving for about 9 months.
I was simply waiting at a traffic light on Beverly and Curson (LA), one car in front of me. Fortunately, I always leave a distance between the one in front and me, so did not hit that.
I remember it as a huge impact (it was a Continental Navigator and I don't know how many tons they weigh) and I had no idea what had happened. Perhaps the world had fallen down.
Because I was looking in the direction of the light, I saw my boyfriend's hands end up on the glove compartment. My beloved dog lying in the back was thrown forward. And of course, because I was looking to my right, my body was thrown backwards and forwards in a small area behind the wheel. Hence over 2 years later, I still suffer daily pain from whiplash in the right side of my neck and my right shoulder and upper arm. Sometimes my brachial plexus plays up, and nerve ending pain is not something I enjoy!
I got out of my car, a volvo station wagon and the entire rear end was smashed in.
A very beautiful young woman was coming towards me on the phone and I asked her if she was ok. She said she was fine.
As an aside there, was also the very rude man who stopped as he was driving past and yelled at us to get out of the road. I did not mince words with him, just assertively suggested he get on his way, which he could do because he wasn't behind us, however, alongside us, hence blocking traffic behind him! Glad that I am not married to him, that's for sure!
It is not the habit of British people to think of lawyers when they have accidents, however, Farmers Insurance (who insure both parties) acted swiftly.
I received a call the next morning. I gave as best account of what happened as one can do, given the shock. Was I okay? Yes, I answered. A British understatement.
An evaluator came to see the volvo, talked about it being a right off and maybe I'd get about $100. My insurance agent was not optimistic either.
Gradually as shock wore off, the pain in my body increased and I did what I never thought I would ever have to do, I called a lawyer friend and he recommended someone expert at dealing with car accidents. A different breed of lawyers to the ones I frequently negotiated with when I was running Chrysalis Music and managing artists.
Went to the ortho doc my lawyer suggested. A cold man. He agreed that I should see my chiropractor, who at that stage I hadn't seen in over 2 1/2 years, since he was able to correct the problem with my pelvis. I often felt that I had no control over the process whatsoever.
Within a few weeks I was in constant daily pain, sometimes so bad that I simply had to go to sleep to get away from it.
I was afraid to drive. Something I never expected, although there had been times in my low Honda Prelude being on freeways with crazy suv drivers, when I felt vulnerable.
Altogether I had about six weeks of chiropractic work and massage, interrupted by a stomach virus. This came back to haunt me, as to why there were gaps in my treatment - I don't know of anyone who would visit a chiropractor to be adjusted while suffering from a stomach virus, but perhaps there are such people - who knows.
Other pain started and I found that my sciatic nerve (I thought I'd pulled a muscle in my butt, until I saw my GP for a general check up and looked at the large poster of a skeleton), so back to the orth doc, who sent me for mri's.
More delay ensued, as he telephoned me with the results of the mri and without mincing words informed me I had a brain tumor. I politely said thank you and just sat there for an evening wondering. And who calls a patient and tells them that they have a brain tumor over the phone? Made an appointment with Cedars-Sinai.
I thought that being totally blameless in the accident, since sitting stopped at a red light is what you're supposed to be doing and there would be an easy settlement!
But Farmers Insurance are not a good company (web sites dedicated to suits against them - they also own All State and 21st Century and a class action suit for discimination against Mormons)and they argued that all of the pain I was experiencing was because of my age! Well I was 59 when the accident happened, could play tennis, lift things with ease, dry my hair without pain and work out, and wow - suddenly age had caught up with me????
Now I paint with a neck brace, and also when using the computer, or lifting things, otherwise the pain reaches the unbearable level pretty quickly.
My life to that point had not been easy because of my mental challenges, but I was finally getting my life back together. I felt free to move ahead and do what I really wanted to do at school (evil stepmother comes in here, but no description) and that was paint. I was no longer able to work in an office around people, because ptsd, panic disorder and chronic depression makes it almost impossible to do so. I never know what will trigger ptsd, when my mind simply fragments and I feel as if I am looking through a kaleidescope of shards of glass.
The accident took all my progress to a better life away and I had to start again.
The small amount of money I shall receive because of Farmer's aggressive stance and the delay in filing a complaint, is pitiful. Although my lawyer is so pleased with the result they achieved, they've actually put it on whatever websites lawyers put such "achievements". I shall certainly never recommend them.
However, I am on the move forward again.
I intend to let Craig Ferguson and his wife know about the small amount I was supposed to have received by the end of October, although the end of October somehow seems to mean sometime the beginning of November to my lawyer. But then they frequently said one thing, which they later said they hadn't and anyone who knows me from working with me, will remember my ability to remember contracts provisions without having to look at one, what decision was made in a marketing meeting months before, etc.
I am not letting Craig and his wife, Megan know to get more money from them, but I would like them to know how shabbily Farmers Insurance treaed me.
So on to the art store to buy some matting board, and mounting board and then to the post office to mail some sold giclees to the UK.