Postby WildcatOne » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:57 pm
I called my Dad yesterday to see how he's doing. He said they just got back from Austin (200 miles from Galveston) where they went to their friend's 80th birthday party. I said, hesitantly..."UH...Did you drive?" He said "No, I didn't drive. Muriel drove. I quit driving." I don't think he heard me release the deep breath I was holding. He said "I'm still adjusting to this, but I said I quit and I'm not going to go back and drive again. It's not safe for me and other people anymore, like you said." I said "Dad, you are a man of your word. I appreciate that about you. Thank you." He said "I'm pissed off about it, so don't thank me. It makes me mad. But I know I can't drive anymore safely. It's like starting a new life again without driving, which I did all my life. I feel helpless. I don't like other people driving me around, but I can't accept the alternative to that anymore." I gotta hand it to Dad. He can't remove himself from the car insurance until the whole thing (the wreck) is settled. One of the people in the cop car or both of them (the cop and the prisoner she was taking to jail) are suing him. The cop and the prisoner were both walking around talking and filling out accident reports, but they can wake up a week later and their backs are hurting. Plus, there is mental anguish and time off from work, plus legal fees. A lawsuit has become standard procedure. The insurance company has to handle the lawsuit and make a settlement with the people he hit, who weren't injured but can claim they were and they'll get a money settlement package from the insurance company, then the insurance company will drop my Dad from their policy. This is the third claim against him. He also expects to have his license revoked at the court hearing in September. So he's just going to wait for that but in the meantime he's out of the driver's seat. He's not happy about it but he's sticking with it. Way to go, Dad! Cheers, WC1
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