how does this affect my application URGENT

[gooloogooloo]

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today i got a letter from an attorney that was assigned by my insurance company. the letter basically told me that i have been sued for a civil action.

it was back in sep. 2000 when I hit a pick up truck on state route while i fell asleep on the road to my monthly drill (when i was in reserve). it was the minorest accident you can imagine. none of us got any injury.i didn't wear seatbelt, but only thing happened to me was my head hit on the wind shild which woke me up. it was just a light bump. my car's hood collided with the pick up truck's read bumper. my hood was bend; so was his read bumper.

it was literally just bend- later my insurance company paid them $500 for the repair of their truck (a married couple).

later i drove that car for a month without problem, then i sold it.

weeks after i went on the hearing in the court. i was fined $85 for improper driving which was monir than reckless driving or even speeding. (speeding subtract 4 points, improper driving subtracts 3 points.)

two years later, today, i found that these two people, each filed a motion of judgement against me. one claims a total of $150,000 (compensatory and punitive), the other claims a total of $400,000 from me.

beside nearly freaking out and trying to know what to do next, i worry that will this case negatively affect my application?

will the app asks me have i commited a crime or, have been guilty in any court ruling?

please help me!

 

[SMW]

A civil action is different than a criminal proceeding. These people sound insane. Your insurance company lawyer will take care of it for you.

 

[gooloogooloo]

thankns

 

[Rudy1223]

Goo,

Unfortunately this type of situation is very very common. People simply want a get rich quick way out. Remember to be honest during this entire proceeding. If lying, these people will be exposed for what they are, liars. Try to stay alive, we're with you!
Your chances for medical school are not changed because of this, dont panic. If I were in your situation, any medical school that is to selfabsorbed and not understanding of a situation like this (if it were to come up) is not a medical school I would be interested in attending.


Take care

 

[gooloogooloo]

thanks

 

[Tweetie_bird]

I am sorry you are going through such a horrid situation. Talk about stress!! I think you should contact a person by the name of "JurisDoctor" on this board who seems to know a lot about both, medicine AND law. SDN has to utilize this person's judgement before for other reasons, and i think he/she could help you.

Tell em Tweetie sent ya!

 

[qweewq11]

And although you are a future physician you weren't wearing your seatbelt because...?

 

[gooloogooloo]

thank u bird~ i will find the doc jd

well orgy, cuz i am lazy butt. btw, i fell asleep while driving on highway (state route speed lim. 55) and didn't get hurt at all. i could have hit something on the side of the road than a car that moved at similar speed as i. i can only say that God really had mercy on me. then i never force myself to drive again while under fatigue.

 

[banannie]

almost exactly the same thing happened to me!. i was sued 2 years after an accident for things like mental anguish. basically, they're doing this now because the statute of limitations is 2 years, so they wanted to squeak it in. like someone else said, your insurance company will take care of it. i wouldn't worry too much. my insurance company told me this is very common and usually their case is dismissed (as it was for the people who sued me)

 

[Doc Holliday]

Goo - My understanding is that felony convictions are what one needs to be concerned about, not civil actions. Besides, you haven't been convicted of anything at this point and from the sound of it, you prob'ly won't be any time soon! Your app is not in danger.

Maybe JurisDoctor can expand on the following point, but tort law in the USA badly needs to be overhauled. The system is currently stacked to encourage BS lawsuits while serving to pack courthouses full of cases that prevent real justice from being done. I'm not intending to make a blanket statement, but let's get this fixed already! - dh

 

[Celiac Plexus]

What you've described is commonly referred to as a "shakedaown". Basically the people that you hit must have seen a late night lawyermercial and decided to try and cash in. What typically happens is that your insurance company settles out of court for a fraction of the amount that you're being sued for. They will probably settle for around 10-20K. The upside is that you won't have to get involved at all since your insurance company has their own lawyers that handle these kind of claims all the time. The down side is that everyone's insurance will go up a little in the long run.

At any rate, it's a civil action and therefore is not relevant to medical school admissions.

Good luck!

 

[Random Access]

I could kick their a$$ for you, if you'd like? They're idiots...

It shouldn't affect your application though. You don't have any criminal charges, and rightly so.

 

[kiping]

i don't think that this will affect your application. good luck to you- your situation totally sucks, i'm with Random Access- we can kick their butt for you.

 

[gooloogooloo]

thank you guys, i will talk to my lawyer tomorrow. i am much relieved after hearing from all of you.