I've been in an accident...

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...but I'm ok.

Here's the scenario in a nutshell:

Friday, I was driving a 1984 Chevy Cavalier Wagon North on Allison Ave.
near my home (the car is my Mom's, but I had permission to drive it, this
is ok w/ insurance co.).  It was 1:00 PM on a beautiful partly cloudy day.

As I crossed Sherman Ave. with a GREEN light, a red Pontiac (Sunbird??)
came straight through his RED light (at my left) and slammed into the front
end of the car I was driving with enough force to turn my car 90 degrees. 
I was restrained, and it probably saved me from more serious injury
(strained back and neck so far).  The front end of my car looks much like a
crunched up foil ball now.  If I had been going only slightly faster than
the 25 mph I was going, the other car would have hit my door instead of the
front end (at about 45 mph) and either seriously injured or killed me
(Praise the Lord).

I never saw him coming because there is a building blocking the view of
that part of Sherman Ave. right before the light.  And the man driving the
red car was about 65+ years old with his wife and Grandson in the Car.  No
one was hurt (thank God).

Anyway, to make a long story short, 3 witnesses verified to the Police
Officer the color of the lights (yes, it's in the report), and the driver
of the other car was cited for failure to stop at a red light.  One witness
was travelling directly behind me, another was directly behind the other
driver, and the third was stopped in another parking lot, but saw
everything (including light color).  Everybody involved was insured (the
law in Ohio).

I didn't hurt at the time (except for where my head hit the driver's door
window from my car turning).  But a couple of hours later, my back began to
hurt.  My husband took me to the Emerg. room and the doctor there released
me without x-rays and gave me an Rx for Motrin (600mg!!!).  It did NOTHING
for the pain, which only worsened as the night progressed.

I woke up today (Saturday) and could NOT move my head off the pillow
without severe shooting pain in my neck.  We went back to the ER.  This
time they took x-rays.  Nothing was broken, and no ligaments were torn,
etc.  The doctor guesses the inflammation in my back muscles reached my
neck.  This time the Rx was Naproxin (500 mg!!!).  We'll see how that
works.  They gave me two collars to wear a soft one and a more rigid one
(I'm paying for it, I may as well keep it).  Aside from reading my email
and going to the ER, I've been bedridden since about 3:30 PM Friday.  (BTW,
I invited a fellow patient in the Waiting Room to church!  He said he and
his wife wanted to get back to church for their kids.  I invited him and
explained how great the kids' program is at our church.  He liked that a
lot, and said he would definitely be at church SOMEWHERE for Easter.  Pray
for him and his family!!)

Naturally, the guy is contesting the ticket (claiming he wasn't sure what
color the light was).  What he doesn't remember is that he, himself,
admitted the light was red when the Officer took his report.  All of the
witness' statements (and phone #s, etc.) to corroborate this are in the
report.

The problem I'm having (and the area I need prayer most in) is that his
ins. co., during their investigation, is refusing to commit to payment of
any type (I expected this much).  They said IF they accept fin.
responsibility, we can just send them the bills, no problem.  BIG problem. 
I've already lost 2 days of work, have experienced much pain and suffering,
and 2 ER visits so far.  

I've been advised by my father, my husband, my mom, my uncle, and
Progressive Ins. (an uninvolved company I just called to see what they
thought I should do---VERY nice people) said that I should contact a lawyer
to protect my rights as far as the personal injury is concerned (lost
wages, pain and suffering, ER bills, etc).  I'm going to see my pastor
tomorrow at church to see what he thinks.  After all, I'm not suing the
*person*, I'd be suing the company.


Oh well, I can't type anymore, my back hurts!
If I don't write again before the "vacation from the list", have a happy
Easter!


Anneliese