| I Didnt Realize I Had So Few Friends | | | | The lack of clear rules and rights overwhelms car |
| Minneapolis, MN, August, 2002 When Daniel Prins | | | | crash victims, often traumatized and |
| wife was injured in a car crash he thought all he | | | | shell-shocked. This is especially true in states with |
| had to do was notify his insurance company to | | | | No-Fault provisions and damage limits. Even more |
| get matters resolved. After all, another driver | | | | disconcerting is that it is difficult to obtain good |
| who was charged with DWI hit his wife Johanna | | | | information. The Internets search engines, for |
| and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance. | | | | example, provide few clues for victims and are |
| After weeks of frustration, Prins, Marketing | | | | skewed to offering suggestions and advice for |
| Consultant, built an Internet Assistance Program | | | | accident perpetrators and those seeking DWI |
| The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America. The | | | | defense. |
| site provides free information for car crash | | | | The Road To The Attorneys Office |
| victims on how to protect themselves against | | | | I dont consider myself an ambulance chaser, said |
| serious financial exposure ( | | | | Prins, but it only took a short while for me to |
| I Didnt Realize I Had So Few Friends | | | | realize I was out of my league. Just imagine, I had |
| While insurance company claims personnel are | | | | to negotiate with my own insurance carrier about |
| usually courteous, Prins had no idea that his wifes | | | | the pay-off value of my car while the accident |
| case was immediately compartmentalized. He had | | | | was caused by a DWI driver with another |
| to deal with a cast of about a dozen (medical bills | | | | insurance carrier. Prins credits his attorney with |
| from the hospital, his own and other drivers main | | | | expediting the damage recovery process, and his |
| insurance contact, the police, claims adjusters, | | | | web site now chronicles a step-by-step selection |
| property damage, etc.). In the process, he found | | | | process. |
| out that most of these individuals have their own | | | | The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America |
| agenda. Said Prins: I believe the only people truly | | | | The site Car Crash Victims Alliance Of Americaat |
| on our side were the Emergency Crew and Police | | | | provides FREE information and planning tools for |
| at the scene of the accident. | | | | accident victims. If nothing else, says Prins, visiting |
| Accident Frequency Is Astonishing | | | | our site will save accident victims hours on the |
| About 42,000 people are killed on our nation's | | | | phone. We suggest the dos and donts. It includes |
| highways each year. The fact is vehicle crashes | | | | a section with Frequently Asked Questions, Check |
| are an even greater threat to life and health in | | | | Lists, Helpful Links, etc. The site is funded by |
| the U.S. than crime! In 2000, there was one | | | | attorney listings and specialty products sales and |
| murder every 34 minutes, while one person died | | | | services. |
| from a traffic crash every 13 minutes. There was | | | | Powerful Allies |
| one violent crime every 22 seconds, but one | | | | The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America links |
| crash-related injury every 10 seconds. Traffic | | | | to powerful Federal programs at Brakes On |
| crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. | | | | Fatalities ( and Buckle Up, America ( If we can |
| for people ages 6-33, and their economic cost is | | | | help prevent one accident by having people visit |
| estimated to be $230.6 billion per year. | | | | these sites and the information they convey, we |
| Victim-unfriendly Environment | | | | have made a meaningful contribution, says Prins. |