This insurance / gasoline debate

[Mann Law <mannlaw@indy.net>]

	Many days after the thread began, and our little gasoline-soaked 
buddy asked the age-old question "what should I do", Dwight [I'm betting 
an insurance man, correct?] steps up to the plate and offers the 
following advice:  

		"Leave your lawyer out of it.  All you will do is spend
		more money than you'll probably get....Remember, it's all
		about putting your car back to the way it was before.
		That's it."

	Hmmmmm.  I find it ironic that Allstate [one of the largest auto 
insurers in the US] was recently investigated by the New York Attorney 
General [Dennis C. Vacco] for sending out letters to certain people 
involved in accidents with Allstate-insured drivers discouraging them 
from hiring an attorney to settle the case.  Allstate of course later 
agreed to stop sending the letters, pay thousands of dollars to the state 
for the state's costs, etc.

	Insurance companies understand, by and large, that once lawyers 
get involved, things get "messy".  Funny how once someone that knows the 
law gets involved in the case [BTW, the *vast* majority of claims 
adjusters are not lawyers, nor do they have any legal background 
whatsoever] the BS about "all you are entitled to" stops.  In fact, in 
many cases, what is offered in the way of settlement to the person before 
a lawyer gets involved is nothing but a small percentage of what the case 
often ends up being settled for.

	Now, before the e-mail box here gets filled with non-Audi content 
lectures, let me say this, I did not post this until long after this 
thread should have probably died.  Does Christian [sp?] have a case 
against the local 7Eleven--I have no idea.  Should he hire a lawyer?  
That is a personal choice that again, I have no idea on.  Is the case 
*only* about putting a car back the way it was? Well, kinda depends on 
what happens to the guy that got the gas bath doesn't it, Dwight? I do 
agree with Dwight on the fact that "sh*t happens", but, then again, that 
is why we buy insurance, isn't it?  

	Bruce