| "I Didn't 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 Internet's 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 Attorney's Office |
| victims on how to protect themselves against | | | | "I don't consider myself an ambulance chaser," |
| serious financial exposure ( | | | | said Prins, "but it only took a short while for me |
| "I Didn't Realize I Had So Few Friends" | | | | to realize I was out of my league. Just imagine, I |
| While insurance company claims personnel are | | | | had to negotiate with my own insurance carrier |
| usually courteous, Prins had no idea that his wife's | | | | about the pay-off value of my car while the |
| case was immediately "compartmentalized". He | | | | accident was caused by a DWI driver with |
| had to deal with a cast of about a dozen (medical | | | | another insurance carrier." Prins credits his |
| bills from the hospital, his own and other driver's | | | | attorney with expediting the damage recovery |
| main insurance contact, the police, claims | | | | process, and his web site now chronicles a |
| adjusters, property damage, etc.). In the process, | | | | step-by-step selection process. |
| he found out that most of these individuals have | | | | The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America |
| their own agenda. Said Prins:" I believe the only | | | | The site Car Crash Victims Alliance Of Americaat |
| people truly on our side were the Emergency | | | | provides FREE information and planning tools for |
| Crew and Police at the scene of the accident." | | | | accident victims. "If nothing else," says Prins, |
| Accident Frequency Is Astonishing | | | | "visiting our site will save accident victims hours |
| About 42,000 people are killed on our nation's | | | | on the phone. We suggest the do's and don'ts." It |
| highways each year. The fact is vehicle crashes | | | | includes a section with Frequently Asked |
| are an even greater threat to life and health in | | | | Questions, Check Lists, Helpful Links, etc. The site |
| the U.S. than crime! In 2000, there was one | | | | is funded by attorney listings and specialty |
| murder every 34 minutes, while one person died | | | | products sales and 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. |