Pathetic state of things

[JugglingFreak]

Just a venting at something that never ceases to amaze me. The "lawsuit happy" nature of people today.

Here's the story:

Grocery shopping with the family. I was looking at something with my back to my wife, my wife calls to me.

I turn around not realizing the cart is closer to me than I thought. Surprised, I step back (well, stumble back) and twist my ankle.

Now, the floor was clean, dry, flat and no obstructions. This was just a magnificent display of my (lack of) dexterity.


Well, I sprained it and have a small brace to wear now for a while.


I've told this story to several people pretty much the way I described it up there. Generally making a joke out of the fact that a twisted my ankle on NOTHING.

What has got me shocked is this: Almost every person has asked if I was going to sue the store or suggested that I should sue them.

I stand there dumbfounded and explain again that the store didn't do anything wrong, I'm just an idiot and I get "Well, I'd make it look like it was their fault".

I just can not grasp this mindset...

I really had no other point than to vent. Sorry.

[Theme Park Where]

Had the same thing happen to my mother. She was putting her wallet back in her purse and fell off the curb at the grocery store. She hurt her shoulder and required surgery. The store wouldn't believe that she didn't intend to sue although she kept insisting it was her fault. I guess too many other people would have sued because the curb wasn't properly marked or something, even though it was a normal curb in the place where normal curbs are usually found.

[DisneyMom]

Ahhh, yes, we need to 'document defensively' when charting.....all in mind of a potential lawsuit. "patient identified, complains of small scratch .25cm right index finger at 2000 today, existing bandage gently removed, medications reviewed,allergies reviewed, immunizations reviewed and current, patient pain level 1/10,wound washed with normal saline and gently patted dry with sterile guaze, patient placed in room for MD exam"

[svickersart]

It's the lawyers that have caused this, ever since they started advertising on TV. It used to be it was considered unethical to advertise on TV. Theres on in Anaheim that specializes in sueing Disney, has had a dozen or so cases against them. In our area just watch TV at lunchtime and you will see them, FOX station around here is big with them. I remember back when California was the Golden State, now we are the sue me state.
Steve

[hobie16]

My wife hit a wet spot inside the store at ScumOfTheEarth-Mart. The employees and manager freaked out and wanted to call the para-medics. She shook it off and told them they ought to keep the place in better shape.

[Tara_Lee3]

I was running through the college parking lot trying to make it to class on time. (my fault I was late.)
I stepped on a metal grate that surrounded a small tree and slipped a minor fraction of an inch.
(my fault I wasn't watching where I was going)
It was just enough to throw off my stride and send me in an undignified sprawl onto my shoulder.
(once again, my fault for running, and maybe for not taking dance lessons...)
I ended up with a bent collar bone.
(Yes bent, apparently they don't always break)
A 'good samaritan' helped me up and took me to the nurse's office. She suggested x-rays at my family practice provider, just in case.

Yep.. pretty much all my fault. Better planning could have avoided it all. Or, failing that, at least a bit more awareness of where I was. The only thing the school could have done was make the gratings a bit more rough for better damp traction.

Nevertheless, about two weeks later I get a letter in the mail from the school full of concern and offers to pay for my medical treatment. *shrug* I had to wear a sling for a bit as everything I jarred loose settled down, but that's why I have medical insurance.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Funny, MY mom was shopping at her local grocery store, and pushed her cart down one isle, the kid that was cleaning up forgot one of the "wet floor" signs after mopping up, and down she went. bruised her leg. Went to the doctor at the insistance of the manager and checked out o.k.....UNTIL that night she had a terrible pain in her chest and had trouble breathing... ambulance to the hospital. turns out she had developed a blood clot from the bruise that broke off and went into her lungs. She was taken care of, and the store manager found out, visited her in the hospital, and paid the medical bill, even though they had medical insurance!

She was telling me that, and asked why he would pay it, when they had insurance. (as you imagine, a law suit never occurred to her!)

[BRWombat]

It's the lawyers that have caused this...

Agreed, but never forget that alongside every greedy lawyer there is a greedy client.

Bless you, JugglingFreak and others here, for not having that "how can I milk this for all I can" attitude!

[felinefan]

You wanna hear something bizarre? Mom and I were at Target for a couple of things, and mom wanted a new battery put in her watch. They don't do it there, the jewelry saleslady stated, because of "liability issues". So she gets the toolbox and we both have a go at trying to pry the back off; no dice. Mom finally decided to use her cellphone as a watch--she left earlier today to go to her brother's in L.A., and tomorrow she, my uncle and aunt are flying back east on family business. Liability on a watch? Granted, it was a Winnie the Pooh watch, but it was a Timex, not a Rolex! WTF? Now I've heard everything, if people are willing to sue over a watch! What is this world coming to?

[Randy B]

Agreed, but never forget that alongside every greedy lawyer there is a greedy client.

True and some of this may be layed at the feet of the media that has publicized some of the huge settlements for stupidity. When you have an entire generation who is infected with entitlement-itis and "I want everything but don't want to work for it" syndrome, when they hear that someone got a million for spilling their coffee in a stupid accident caused by the consumer, or the huge settlements for silly things like paper cuts from filling out welfare forms, it just inspires greedy clients (GC). And if a suit is manufactured or stupid and they lose, there is rarely any repercussion to the GC. And then if you add a few unscrupulous lawyers (aka Ambulance chasers- AC) who encourage these GCs the result is the outright silly rules regulations and "for your own good" protections that clutter our lives. If the GC and the AC were regularly penalized (financially and/or otherwise) for bringing frivolous suits if the judge and or jury decide the suit has no merit and obviously more of a nuisance suit or "fishing" suit, at least some of the more obvious stupid suits may be cut out.

JMHO

Randy