# I've Been Hit By a Drunk Driver **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699 "2009-01-10T19:36:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/61 "2009-01-12T23:00:31Z")
Dude, what a shitty story. I’m really sorry to hear that you’re in so much pain. But it sounds like you’re recovering. Very best of luck to you, and I’ll be checking in to see how your rehab goes! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/62 "2009-01-13T00:05:04Z")
> [@Juniper200](#): > > Don’t beat yourself up over that. It’s one of the hazards of her job to deal with people who are angry and frustrated about not being able to do things they used to do without even thinking. > > Best wishes to you and Deva. Exactly. I’m not a PT, but a nurse and we get yelled at and cussed out frequently by frustrated pts who want to do more and just aren’t ready yet. (we also get dirty looks etc from people who CAN do more but don’t want to). IOW, it comes with the territory. IMO, as long as you say you’re sorry after (and mean it), go ahead and snap (within reason, of course!). ---
**Author:** ![Maui\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Maui\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maui_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/63 "2009-01-13T04:23:26Z")
Success! I was able to urinate on my own today… Twice even. I’m well on my way…and they say I might be able to leave on Friday to head back home. Let’s hope! I’m excited. Though the muscle pain from everything has hit me, and at times it’s so sharp it knocks the wind from me and I choke up, the nurses have to remind me to breathe at those times. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/64 "2009-01-13T04:44:35Z")
> [@Maui\_Lion](#): > > However, the doctor came by and said once I can pee on my own (they took the catheter out this morning) … Oh geez, I had two catheters removed last year (sequential, not at the same time) following shoulder surgery, and that’s a horror in itself. It felt like I had gonorrhea whenever I had to pee for a couple of days afterward. :eek: Hang in there! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/65 "2009-01-13T13:04:11Z")
> [@Maui\_Lion](#): > > Success! I was able to urinate on my own today.. Twice even. I’m well on my way..and they say **I might be able to leave on Friday to head back home.** Let’s hope! I’m excited. Though the muscle pain from everything has hit me, and at times it’s so sharp it knocks the wind from me and I choke up, the nurses have to remind me to breathe at those times. That’s great news! ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/66 "2009-01-13T13:09:06Z")
Unlurking. How goes it with the ambulance chaser? I hate them, but this is one case where they deserve to make a living… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/67 "2009-01-13T23:20:32Z")
What word from Ze Coppairs? Is she in jug? ---
**Author:** ![Maui\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Maui\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maui_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/68 "2009-01-14T00:35:16Z")
The attorney has been working on my case since we contacted him. The next thing I remember I have to do, or so I’m told, is sit with him and the insurance people of the other driver to talk about what happened. And the drunk driver was in jail, but is now out on bail, so right now she’s out and about I suppose. My mom has gotten me a wheelchair as well as a shower chair, and next week or so we’ll build a ramp so I can get into my home proper. For a while I’ll be living in a small room adjacent to the garage. They took my cast off today and equipped me with a big black boot thing, but couldn’t get it all the way on due to swelling. I like the cast better, it might have been a bit heavier but it was at least sturdier. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/69 "2009-01-14T00:48:03Z")
Have you had an Occupational Therapist check your house? They can help in identifying and suggesting solutions to wheelchair access problems(depending on the size of your house) and help with any special equipment you may need. Take drunky for everything you can. ---
**Author:** ![Maui\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Maui\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maui_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/70 "2009-01-14T01:51:19Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Have you had an Occupational Therapist check your house? They can help in identifying and suggesting solutions to wheelchair access problems(depending on the size of your house) and help with any special equipment you may need. > > Take drunky for everything you can. Well they can’t check my home since I live on another island and all, but we got some equipment like a wheelchair and a bath seat thing for using in the shower. And we’ll make a ramp for my wheelchair to get into the main home. So we’re trying to get things in order, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/71 "2009-01-14T01:59:00Z")
I was thinking more of furniture placement, narrow hallways/dooorways, things along those lines. If you can get around some with a walker or crutches that will make it easier but even then sometimes you still have awkward maneuvering. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/72 "2009-01-14T02:17:52Z")
Find an Occupational Therapist on the island your home is on to go check it out. It doesn’t have to be the same one you’re using now. Still wishing you speedy healing! ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/73 "2009-01-14T14:01:12Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > Many call for Draconian punishments for drunk drivers. What should be the punishment be for a sober person who is speeding, runs a light, and causes a death? > > Not excusing DWI. In Ohio, that’s a maximum of six months in jail and $1000 fine. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/74 "2009-01-14T18:38:56Z")
> [@spike404](#): > > Many call for Draconian punishments for drunk drivers. What should be the punishment be for a sober person who is speeding, runs a light, and causes a death? > > Not excusing DWI. [blatant hijack] A person that is so dependent upon alcohol that she puts herself in the position of getting trashed at a bar or wherever, with no other way to get home (or no plan) afterwards, is a total slimebag. Aside from being a non-drinker and having a simple aversion to the notion of getting drunk all the time, much less driving afterwards, I did try to objectively analyze your question. Here’s what I came up with: 1. People drive. I take driving as a simple necessity of the modern era for the vast majority of the population. But drinking is not. Drinking is an indulgence and, if abused, a weakness. So, a speeder is already doing something that must be done, whereas a drunk is being weak, indulgent, and self-centered by getting drunk and following that up with climbing behind the wheel. Does this absolve speeders that kill people? No, but I think it reduces the moral severity as compared to what the drunks do. 2. From 2007\*, around 41k traffic fatalities. 13.5k from guys driving with .08 BAC or higher. Speeding fatalities are around 12k. However, these circles have a huge 40% overlap–of course a ton of the drunks are speeding when they plow into whatever or whoever. So when I subtract that (roughly) 5k from the 12k, I get 7k. So, we have about half the amount of sober guys plowing into whatever and whoever as compared to the drunks. 15% of all sober traffic fatalities involved speeding, which pretty much bears out what I just wrote, since about 30% are due to the BAC problem. 3. To add insult to injury, in 2007, of all alcohol-impaired accidents, 14% had prior crashes, 8% had prior DWI convictions, 23% had speeding convictions, and 25% had prior suspensions or revocations. This pisses me off to no end. Somewhere between one-fourth and three-fourths of these asses have already had a wakeup call, and they did nothing about it. (In all fairness, I don’t have matching stats for speeders.) So to answer your question, IMO, the drunk motherf\*ckers are committing a much more egregious crime than speeders. [/blatant hijack] - Info came from [here](http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.6a6eaf83cf719ad24ec86e10dba046a0/) and [here](http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811016.PDF). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/75 "2009-01-14T19:21:26Z")
Damn. You’ve been through hell, Maui Lion. I’m so very sorry you’ve had to endure this ordeal. Checking, I see Hawaii has a Dram Shop law. Might that apply? I’m sure your attorney is aware but you might mention it just to be sure. Oftentimes the SoL is 2 years. Again, my sincere sympathies and best wishes for a full recovery for you, your friend and members of your families who are suffering due to this along with you two. ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/76 "2009-01-14T19:37:24Z")
**maui** Has anyone from MADD Hawaii contacted you? They have good outreach and victim support services (at least here in our state). Many of their volunteers and coordinators have personal experience with drunk driving crashes and can assist you during your healing process. [www.maddhawaii.org](http://www.maddhawaii.org) Good luck!! ---
**Author:** ![Maui\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Maui\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maui_Lion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/77 "2009-01-14T20:03:59Z")
The attorney did bring up the Dram Shop law, actually. He got started on that right away AFAIK, as time is of the essence in this sort of thing. I don’t know how that’s going though, but it’s going. I hope we can find out where she came from. If she came from a bar in upcountry Maui, I want the place taken down as well in court, to pay for all this. As for MADD, no, nobody’s contacted me at all from that organization. I visited a therapist here once or twice but that’s it. I may very well go home in a few days, and today I learned to get in and out of a car. I passed that with ease as if I’ve been doing it for years. To everyone who has offered to send cards…I hope I get them. If I somehow don’t, I just wanna say…thank you so much. Just knowing there are people out there who care, the people all on this board, it means a lot to me. I hope you’re all blessed, I really do. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/78 "2009-01-14T20:20:37Z")
Offering my sympathy and support, as well as prayers for your recovery, Maui Lion! You’re a Doper, and we care about you! Keep us posted and keep your chin up. Ellen ---
**Author:** ![Aithele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Aithele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aithele)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/79 "2009-01-15T06:17:42Z")
I’m very sorry to hear this happened, **Maui Lion** , but very glad you and your friend are alive. I hope your road to recovery is a smooth one. Keeping you and Deva in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699/80 "2009-01-15T06:35:26Z")
Being alone when your body parts aren’t working is really scary. I made it through 2 hip replacements, and I’m like a hundred years older than you. So be proud of yourself for the progress you’ve made so far. And I hope you make it back to Maui soon. Best of luck with the lawyer stuff, too. Nothing can really compensate you for the horror you’ve been through, but after an auto accident (been in only one myself, but I still have PTSD because of it) you need to find out how to “make things right”. Money isn’t everything, but it sure does help. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-hit-by-a-drunk-driver/480699.md?page=5)