Hey,
I was a fairly new officer when I was involved in a rollover crash in my
personal vehicle. I spent the next 4 months in St. Johns Mercy. My department
called my father after 1.5 months and told him that they were seperating from
me. My dad then told them we would be speaking to a lawyer regarding the
situation.
The situation on the evening preceding my accident was my watch commander
called me to a meeting on my day off. On the 37 mile trip back home I skidded
in a corner and rolled my Geo Tracker convt, was ejected......resulting in a
broken neck and damaged spine at the c7 level. After six years of court battles
the judge and the review board deemed my accident in the line of duty because I
was called in by my superior officer.
The sad part to my situation was since I was a Rookie officer I wasnt making
much, but I did get 80 percent of my backpay wages paid for the six years I was
in court. I took the lump sum settlement for the rest of the deal.......which
again I was thankful for but didnt amount to near what you would expect. I did
hire a financial planner to help me figure out how to make this last and if I
live small it might .
The hell I went through with nothing but 688.00 a month for my first six
years as a quad humbled me to say the least. I couldnt volunteer, work or even
mention doing anything during the six years for fear of not getting a dime. I
was driven around in a baby blue 1984 ford wheelchair van with no tie downs
that I was trapped on at least six occassions. My parents divorced during this
time and I was written off by my entire
family except for my dad, mom and lil bro. The thing that I did that saved me
was I wheeled the 3 mile loop in my neighborhood and met enough people to get
me into the swimming program, regional center, and a few other services.
Cheerios and a banquet tv dinners was my meal everyday unless mom picked up a
burger. My father at that time worked second shift and was gone from 2-12
midnight and I was on my own during those times. He would come home in a rage
and ask me why I lived.......tell me I should have died and rid him of the
burden.
I was ready to purchase the bike. I called sportaid and all but I
was having issues on where to store it so I held up for the time being. Im
still going to do it though. Will tell you about it when I get it.
Ron c7
