Thanks. You did it!

[rbnyc]

Thanks for the good vibes over the past several days of my trial. The jury ruled that both drivers were at fault and the insurance company finally offered us a settlement. It's over.

We had the choice to go on and seek a jury award for damages, which would most likely been far in excess of the amount for which the defendants were insured. However, I did not want to take anyone's personal money. The only reason we went to trial is because the insurance company had refused to settle.

When the settlement was offered after the verdict this afternoon, my lawyer and I stepped out to discuss it. When we went back inside and my lawyer announced that I was taking the settlement because I understood that a further award would be paid from the defendants' personal assets and I did not want to do that to them, the parents of the girl who hit me started crying. The mother came over and thanked me. It was very humbling to be thanked by someone you'd taken to court. I told her I was sorry I had to put her through all this. She said she understood. At the very close o the proceedings we were holding hands.

I am so grateful that I will never have to testify about this again and I can let the details fade.

And I am so grateful for your support through all of this.

Thanks Lounge Pals!

[1gobluedem]

1. Good for you

The right thing to do triumphs over greed. If only the country will follow.

Congratulations. I'm glad this is over for you.

[rbnyc]

3. Thanks so much.

:toast:

Baby needs a bath--I'll be back.

[Haole Girl]

2. Wow

Great post. Great story. If only more people had your compassion...the world would be a better place! :hug:

[rbnyc]

7. That's so sweet of you to say.

I feel bad for the girl's parents. They were terrified. I never intended to take their money--but we couldn't tell anyone that or we'd have no leverage.

Really, it's their insurance company that put them through hell. (And their daughter--I can still hear her screaming and crying that her favorite shirt was ruined in the emergency room while they were trying to find my baby's heartbeat--but now is the time to put the details behind me.)

Thanks so much again.

[In_The_Wind]

4. You can finally put all of the details out of your mind and heal.

I'm glad it's over! :loveya:

[rbnyc]

8. Thank you.

It's nice not to feel I have to go over it and over it. I can just let it all float off.

[ThomCat]

5. That's awesome. I hope the settlement was enough.

:)

[rbnyc]

10. It will make a couple important things much easier.

It's not tons of money--just what they were insured for. But now I feel that everyone who contributed has owned their responsibility, and the money, while it won't change our lives, will take the edge off certain life decisions. I'd rather have it than not have it.

:)

Thanks.

:hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Yaaaaaaay! So happy for you Rene!

:bounce: :party: :hug: :allthatotherstuff:

[rbnyc]

11. Woo-Hoo!

Thank You!

[GOPisEvil]

9. I'm glad you can start the process of putting this behind you.

I also hope that you will soon realize the karmic benefit of not being greedy and vindictive.

:hug:

[rbnyc]

12. Me too.

Thanks so much. Even aside from the fact that I didn't want the driver to have to quit school and her family sell their home, we could have spent another week in court, I could have fallen further behind at work, and continued to re-live all the details of what happened, we could have been awarded a million dollars, and we could have spent the rest of our lives trying to collect it. It just seemed destructive from every angle.

There's really no monetary equivalent to a baby, or to being able to stand up at your own wedding. So what's the difference between $50,000, $100,000, $1,000,000 or $5,000,000? None of it equates..so why hurt people, and go through hell to do so?

:loveya:

Good to see you.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. It's obvious you're not a Republican

You have WAY too much compassion for the ones who hurt you and yours.

Congratulations for being a good person. There are far too few of you left.

[rbnyc]

18. Thanks so much.

I still have some anger toward the girl. What makes me mad is that she knew I was trapped in the car, and she knew I was pregnant, and she never asked about me, or approached our car--she was only concerned about herself.

The other thing is that, although it was an accident--no one wanted this to happen--I think that people don't take driving seriously enough. People think that rolling stops are ok--people think that yellow means get through the intersection as fast as you can, even if you had time to stop before entering the intersection. It's not ok. Every time a person makes a decision like that, they are putting people's lives at stake. I wish people would really think about that every time they get in the car.

Thanks Again.

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. That's wonderful news, Rene....

and you were very generous in victory, considering how horrible that accident was. Damn insurance companies.

[rbnyc]

14. Insurance companies are evil.

But I'll take their money.

:evilgrin:

[cally]

16. I admire you so much

First you've dealt with incredible heartache with grace, then you've shown total love to your child, and now the ability to forgive. Thanks for being here.

I think you would have gained nothing by continuiing the legal fight. I've watched others fight legal battles and it hurts them. You made the right decision IMHO.

[rbnyc]

19. You're gonna make me cry...

...but in a good way. Thanks so much for the kind words.

[bicentennial_baby]

17. Oh Rene....you brought tears to my eyes.

I remember the days after your accident so vividly...My heart broke for you...And then the joy of Garrison...What happiness!! I am overjoyed! :hug: :hug: :loveya: :hug: :hug:

[rbnyc]

20. So Sweet!

Thanks so much for being there.

:loveya:

[buddhamama]

21. Rene...

you know already... :loveya: :hug:

[rbnyc]

22. I sure do.

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[LSK]

23. Glad it worked out for you

:)

[rbnyc]

24. Thanks so much. (nt)

[rbnyc]

25. Thanks so much. (nt)