LAW SUIT - AAAGGGHHH................

My attorney called me yesterday. Yes, I have an attorney.It all started June 8, 2007. My DH and our Princess (the Teacher - I may start referring to her like that), had just left for California, on June 7th, to visit DH's Grandpa for his birthday, who was turning 103!! I had decided not to go, I was still grieving pretty bad and just didn't want to get out of the house, much less, do anything fun.

Anyway, on June 8th, my girlfriend called me to come swim at her condo on the bay. So, I got all packed for swimming, and took some beer in an ice chest, but had to stop at the convenience store to pick up some ice. I chatted with the cashier, paid for my ice, then walked toward the ice compartment, inside the store.All of a SUDDEN, I SLIPPED! My right foot went up in the air first, then, of course, I followed, and BAM!! I landed on the right side of my body on my right elbow and forearm and the side of my right hand! As I fell, my body slightly twisted and my left hand slammed on the concrete floor automatically, I suppose so I wouldn't hit my head! Double O-U-C-H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I thought about pushing myself up, but was shaky and saw that I was surrounded by a HUGE puddle of water! There were no signs anywhere advising such. I screamed as I went down, and of course, there was no one in that aisle to witness my fall!!! Then the clerk (girl), her manager (that was at the front when I purchased the ice) came running, along with another employee that I had not seen before.They helped me up, then walked me to a table and sat me down.

The manager asked me if I was ok. I said either, yeah, or I think so. I was in SHOCK, and thought it probably wasn't as bad as I thought. THEN, I remembered all of the slip and fall cases that we had worked on when I worked for attorneys. So, I told them that I wanted an ambulance. I am SO GLAD I DID! The manager immediately called the ambulance, then came at me with forms and a camera. Did he take a picture of the puddle? Noooooo.... actually, he ordered the employee to mop up the water as soon as I was sat at the table. He took pictures of my shoes (flip flops) and my right side of my body. There was nothing to see yet. I was wearing my swimsuit underneath a long swimsuit cover (just down to my ankles).

The ambulance came and we went to the ER. I thought I would get taken right in (and so did the Ambulance guy - cuz he tried to run me thru the back); but we were told that I would have to wait. I called my girlfriend and told her what had happened. She was going to pick me up when I was done. I told her don't bother coming now, cuz I didn't know how long it would take. So, wait I did for 4 hours! During that time, my elbow swelled to the size of a grapefruit, and my back and my right side, and my left leg, hurt like the dickens! When I was finally taken to the back, I had x-rays taken everywhere that it hurt. I was so ready to get out of there and go home and lay down to sleep. (So much for the sun and fun!).

I called my girlfriend when I was going into x-rays and told her to come on down. We then went to the drug store and left my prescription. I asked my friend to take me home, cuz I was falling asleep from the meds they had given me at the hospital. So she did. She also contacted another friend to help pick up my truck from the evil convenience store! She came back with my prescription and truck, as I was falling asleep. She said, well I don't think I'm gonna spend the night (as we had planned). I groggily said that's fine. She said too many bad things have happened today. I think I need to go home, seems there's bad karma out there. I said that's fine, as I was falling asleep.SO..... of course, I had called my DH from the hospital, and so we were in touch.

The next day or maybe 2nd day, I called the convenience store administrative office to file a report. The receptionist kept giving me excuses for 2 days. So, I called my insurance. She gave me a number to call. So, I looked for an attorney, above all, in the yellow pages! I had been out of the legal field for about 5 years, so really didn't know whom to call. Everything changes so much (especially in a small town). Anyway, I found one who wanted my case. Since then, I have been going to a back doctor (as my bulging disc had started acting up), a hand doctor and a chiropractor. Both of my hands are still stiff in the morning when I awake. I have to work them out with a putty like lump of clay for them to relax. They still hurt like H*ll, when I try to make a fist.So, the time has come to give my attorney all of my medical paperwork, and we go forth into a lawsuit and preferably, settlement. I'm pretty nervous that I have to give a recorded statement, then a deposition. YIKES!! I have always been on the other side, so it's very weird being on this side. I will make an appointment with my attorney next week. The saga will continue......