My list of people to keep in my prayers has been getting rather long as of late, but I think I can squeeze you in
I was originally going to try to post something funny to keep your spirits up, but then I remembered how much laughing hurt last time I was in the hospital. Since you apparently have a spinal injury, I assume that convulsions in your diaphragm are probably not the best form of therapy.
Fortunately, your cloud may indeed have a silver lining. Assuming that the police charged the person who hit you with reckless driving or reckless endangerment, you should have a solid civil case for seeking compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, insurance expenses, physical disability, and legal expenses. If you wanted to be a real bastard you could also seek compensation for a variety of mental stresses that could have presumably been caused by the accident, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's unethical, and you'd lose your shirt in legal fees. There is a good chance that the guy could go bankrupt paying for his defense alone, and you cannot squeeze water from a rock.
Whether the driver of the SUV was charged with anything or not, the best course of action might be to seek a reasonable settlement, and I have little doubt that any attorney you hire will reach the same conclusion. Have a care, however, when agreeing upon terms for a settlement. You're smart enough to know to be careful with such things, I am sure, but I'll state the point if only to remind you; Make absolutely sure that your attorney does not take more of your settlement than could be expected from his or her average hourly rates. Many attorneys will attempt to get you to agree upon a percentage before approaching the defendant's council. If you have a solid case that could net a great deal of compensation, that course of action could result in you receiving significantly less compensation than you are entitled to. My advice, in essence, is to shop around for the best deal on legal representation.
That said, we do not have an attorney-client relationship in any fashion, professional or unprofessional. I make no claim to having any capacity for giving legal advice as I am not a licensed member of the American Bar Association or any other licensed, accredited, or mandated legal institution. The remarks preceding this paragraph should be, in their entirety, regarded as being completely devoid of legal accountability and reasons presented therein should not be taken by anyone as sound legal council. Furthermore, these remarks are not intended to imply, suggest, or otherwise convey any form of legitimacy. These statements are intended to be evaluated for entertainment purposes only.
Get well soon, Mike
