I was going eastbound across an intersection on a green light. I was crossing a busy street (4 lanes in each direction). Two cars heading eastbound ahead of me had already made it through safely. I was about 3.5 lanes in when a lady going southbound runs the red light and comes speeding at me. I hit the brakes so she won’t hit me directly in the driver’s side door. She hits me in the front left side of my car at about 40+ mph and I go spinning 90 degrees.

My shoulder slams into the side of my door and then my head hits the glass. The glass doesn’t break.

A police officer comes to help. He takes our insurance information and our statements. He goes back to his police car for 10 minutes and then comes over to hand me a piece of paper that has all her info on it. On the back of the paper, it says “A Los Angeles Police Department report is not required and has not been made.”

Tow trucks are called. I receive a phone call from her insurance company almost immediately, but I don’t answer it because I’m speaking with my own insurance company. My car is towed and may be wrecked. Her car has minor damage to the bumper and hood, but doesn’t seem to have any internal damage.

I went to the emergency room that night to get x-rays. Nothing was broken and I got a prescription for muscle relaxants.

I get a lawyer the next day and do not speak with her insurance company at all. I began going to a chiropractor for physical therapy for my shoulder. I’ve also gone to the doctor another time to get a painkiller prescription for my shoulder and headaches I’m getting. All of the visits are paid on a lien basis.

I do not have any witnesses because I was in shock and wasn’t thinking straight. It was almost two weeks ago, so I’m going to post up flyers in the area to see if anybody saw anything.

In instances like this, how long does it take to get paid by the insurance company? I’m in between jobs, so I’m not sure if I get lost wages. But I work piecemeal jobs as a background actor and this has prevented me from working. What is a reasonable amount to expect in a case like this?

Tags: Accident, Car, Lawyer, light, long, Settlement, till, wrecked