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Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

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Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#11

Post by busterarm »

taxicabjesus wrote: post #9

Get an attorney. There are plenty who specialize in auto injuries. As otterley said, many injury lawyers work on contingency. Furthermore, many will help you get medical attention while you're waiting for Uber to cough up money to pay your bills. One of my taxi passengers was going to a Chiropractor. She'd lost her car in a car wreck caused by the other driver. The chiropractor paid her taxi fare, and billed the pass…

Contact Morgan & Morgan. This is their specialty. Let me know if you want more info.

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#12

Post by Symbiote »

> It's been hurting more but I currently don't have an insurance (life of an early stage startup founder...)

European here. I thought "Obamacare" was supposed to prevent this?

Otherwise, it seems crazy for anyone to take the risk of founding a startup, and not being able to afford insurance.

(I know people that avoid going to the doctor when they should, me included sometimes, but it's nothing to do with money.)

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#14

Post by masukomi »

mtmail wrote: post #3

If your body is still hurting after one week, well, go see a doctor. I can imagine everybody you told the story so far said the same. Also get health insurance. Not the answer you're looking for but in the US medical costs can ruin your life.

how would he know if he had a concussion and internal bruising if he hadn't been to a doctor?

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#15

Post by mrits »

masukomi wrote: post #14
mtmail wrote: post #3

If your body is still hurting after one week, well, go see a doctor. I can imagine everybody you told the story so far said the same. Also get health insurance. Not the answer you're looking for but in the US medical costs can ruin your life.

how would he know if he had a concussion and internal bruising if he hadn't been to a doctor?

The same way the rest of us self-diagnose? WebMD at 2 A.M

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#16

Post by davismwfl »

Go see a doctor, you not having insurance won't affect them seeing you or billing the auto insurance for your care. Also, depending on what state you are in, remember some states limit the amount of time you have to make a claim. In my state it is 14 days, after which you forfeit your right to make a medical or injury claim. There are probably some ways around it, but why mess with it. Even if nothing comes of this all and you just need some time to heal, at least you have protected your rights in case there is something more serious that is found later.

Other option, go to a personal injury attorney (I know but they do exist for a reason). A reputable PI Attorney will help you protect yourself, get seen by a physician faster if you need help there, and will file all the paperwork etc for you. They get paid by going after the insurance, so just expect that, and they will get a response, not the brush off.

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#17

Post by chris_va »

Symbiote wrote: post #12

> It's been hurting more but I currently don't have an insurance (life of an early stage startup founder...) European here. I thought "Obamacare" was supposed to prevent this? Otherwise, it seems crazy for anyone to take the risk of founding a startup, and not being able to afford insurance. (I know people that avoid going to the doctor when they should, me included sometimes, but it's nothing to do with money.)

It's not socialized medicine. Technically it made it possible to get insurance subsidized (or fully funded) if you cannot afford it, prevented insurers from pricing with anything but age/gender/tobacco/location, and dings you with small tax penalties if you don't buy it (on the assumption that everyone will eventually then buy insurance and the net cost to society will go down).

Honestly, probably a better long term solution than socialized medicine, but it still allows individuals the freedom to screw up and not buy insurance.

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#18

Post by wayn3 »

masukomi wrote: post #14
mtmail wrote: post #3

If your body is still hurting after one week, well, go see a doctor. I can imagine everybody you told the story so far said the same. Also get health insurance. Not the answer you're looking for but in the US medical costs can ruin your life.

how would he know if he had a concussion and internal bruising if he hadn't been to a doctor?

If your car gets hit in the side and you knock yourself out on the back of a seat, figuring out you've got a concussion doesn't require expert problem solving skills.

Re: Ask HN: Hit-and-run during an Uber ride

#19

Post by wayn3 »

ricardobeat wrote: post #13

When riding a taxi, is it normal to expect that the taxi operator covers health costs for any accidents not caused by their driver?

One of the reasons for insurance is that most people do not have the funds to immediately take care of the costs that accidents cause.

If someone crashes into your car, you usually call your own insurance and they pay for your expenses so you can carry on with life. Then they get the money from whoever was responsible. Usually some combination of the other party and their insurance.

With taxis, it works similarly. The operator is supposed to be insured and their insurance will float the cash.

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