Ep 57: Healing Physically, Financially, and Emotionally: Life Following A Catastrophic Injury

Welcome to the catastrophic comeback podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clark speaks, helping you find hope, purpose and joy after a catastrophic injury.

So in terms of after the legal process is over, and you and you were able to obtain a settlement, how would you advise people to look at that money? Is it like, is it like you win the lottery and, and you just go crazy, and

it's Monday won't last forever. And just, if you're gonna buy something, buy something that's an asset and take it to somebody that's a financial adviser, don't put it in your bank account? Because you could open your phone one day and say, Oh, I got this much money, where can I go buy today? Right? So if it's not your bank account, you don't think you have it?

So and that money is there for a purpose, right? That money is supposed to last and be for very specific things going into your future. So Right?

I mean, you can roll over in the bed, or one of your things in your back pocket. You know what I'm saying? And don't have workman's comp any more money? Because either gotta be there. Yeah.

Well, so. So a big thing for us at at our firm is, is we want to help people recover physically, financially and emotionally. And so at the end of a case, where we have been able to obtain a settlement or a judgment for somebody, we do try to connect them with a financial adviser who can help them do those things. And did that was that did that end up being a good thing for you? Are you glad that you did that?

Yeah. I'm very, very glad that I did that.

And how have those people helped your financial advisers? How have they helped you? And what have they done to secure your financial future?

Basically, they just, I told him, I gave him all of it, and said, Well, I wouldn't bought me a house. Obviously, I needed a house. And I gave him the rest of it. And just I told him to invest it. And I guess what they do, I guess, and I just don't, I don't ask about it. I just get a little bit from just they give me a little bit every month that I need, other than I don't get from a drone business. And the rest I just tell them, I don't need to know about it.

You mentioned your drone business. One of the things that I think that's cool is that before you were a person who you drove, and did you load and unload

trucks, heavy equipment, transport heavy equipment, okay, before the

accident, that was what you did for work. Right? And you were good at it. You made money and you support your family. Okay, now, you're not able to do that.

I still getting asked me. Oh, yeah. I on my land. I've built me a room and everything. Well, that's cool.

Okay, well, so what could you do that for work?

I could, I mean, I've worked every company in Wilmington, and they just see me in a wheelchair and they think it's could be snowing me? Sure. And I've told him I'm good. I'll write down. Well, I will not do if I get hurt. I want to do anything. Yeah. I work for minimum wage for all he knows. And I just want to be in it. You'd like to do it. Better than sitting at the house? Yeah.

So So So you haven't been able to work in that industry

anymore? No. But I haven't ever take pictures of it so

well. So so that was what I was going to ask you about. You started a business. Tell me about the business as you started, please.

I started a John business. Basically just taking pictures and videos for anybody like really tree surveying. Like dark people build piers, a couple of buddies of mine. Like a tree service company uses me.

Did you know how to do that before? Have you taught yourself how to do that?

I didn't I didn't fly during one time before the accident. I taught myself how to do it.

And so do you know how to edit and do all the technical stuff that's connected with that? Yeah.

Had to learn all that to wow, what's the name of your drone business? It's called cam Jane services. Wow.

And how can somebody find you if they wanted to, as well? I'm on Facebook. Can FCM cm came drones and Drone Services. So All right, great. And then so you work with realtors, land surveyors, dock builders, those kinds of people, anybody who needs drone footage,

I've followed a couple of my buddies on their boat Oops. Oh yeah, it's for like fishing tournaments and those types of things, not just for them to have cool video of them on their boat. You know what I mean? Go on Sunset and stuff. You do any search videos? Yeah, I'm doing I can video any, anything you want video is that fun? Is Real fun.

Do you have to travel with that at all?

I've had to travel one time, one job was in. I think it was in right on the border of South Carolina. This guy had a big ol hog farm that he wanted pictures.

And now we've talked about mindset and staying positive. And we've talked about your life before what the accident was like, and some of the dark times and some of the good times. What were some of the setbacks that you had along the way where you were like, you know, what was going well, and then you were like, you know, it felt like the wind got knocked out of your sails.

One time, I was just, it was really when I had the excavator, I basically use it, use that thing as nonde, or six to nine. And I wasn't too much and I got precious or what, and I had to stay off of it for a couple of weeks. And just money fun. And A

is it fair to say that? In this process, there will be setbacks, they're willing. Like, I've got it all figured out, everything's going great. And then there's going to be a place where you're

Yeah, there will be I mean, I broke this leg in two places on that excavator, how that foot broke this ankle, this is all after the accident.

And then how do you? What do you do to get back and continue your journey and your process?

Make sure everything is here. I mean, I can only stay in the bed for so long. So I'm gonna do something, wrap it up as best I can. And make sure at least drive around. You know what I mean?

For you, it sounds like this is just who you are. You're a person who is going to be positive, who's going to be active is going to find a way. Hey, sir, have you met people through this process? That are like you in that respect?

I've met a couple. Yeah, I've met a couple of them that I still talk to one of the guys that I met from the hospital actually. He lives up in Raleigh. Now he has he has his own like art business stuff, or does big canvases and stuff like that is really cool. But he's he stays doing acting like Jay,

do you stay connected with people like that approach this? Like?

We talked to him probably every couple of weeks or something like that? Have

you seen people who don't have that same positivity and don't have that same active approach?

I've seen a lot more than and what does that look like? Me? It's not good. I mean, you try to see how they're doing and don't Oh, no, I've been dead for someone like me, man, you want me to come pick you up or stuff like that. Just like I said, there's two ways to take it, you can either be positive about it, or you can be negative, and basically, what it means sitting in your rooms in your house all day.

So the positive is, you have a positive mindset, you get up and you go, you try and you try and you try again,

even if it hurts if it hurts, just keep on going and start feeling better. And

the negative is anger, frustration, bitterness, and that sort of thing. Exactly. And then it's pretty clear which of those paths that you chose. Do you think it was important that you took legal action to deal with us?

Yeah, I think it was, because I didn't know anything about any of that when I was in the hospital, but I honestly didn't know who the heck was walking in my thing? I'm glad y'all did. And I didn't know anything about any of that.

Did you find that? Having a professional with you was helpful in terms of guiding you through that process? 1,000% is are those is that something you would recommend to somebody else? Yes, definitely.

I don't know what I would have done without my impression

is in these catastrophic cases. Insurance companies, they'll start off especially workers comp will start off paying for everything because they don't have any choice. They'll be nasty. Right? And then over time, what did you see happen and

go down? They start paying for lists. They start not being as nice. They don't email you back.

Do you feel like we were prepared you for that?

Yeah, that's legal. helped me a lot with that. Because they'll answer to the legal person a lot better than the answer to me.

Would it be difficult for you to assess what the value of A claim was if you didn't have legal help, Oh, yeah. Yeah, I got, like, if I'm in that situation, I wouldn't know. For example, you mentioned your dad is a fix his boats, and he has both repairs and and, you know both spend time on the water. And if something's wrong with the boat, I wouldn't know if it was 500 or 5000, I would have no idea. Because I don't do that work every day. And that's why I just have to kind of trust the person that I'm with.

Exactly. That's exactly right. I didn't, I didn't know how much I would be getting. Well,

so So are there any any final words of advice that you would have to somebody that might be going through something like this?

Just think about the positives. Think about all the positives that you still have you still got your family, you still get your life? Still have may have your kids. You know what I mean? You still life ain't over. If you wake up every day.

It's a positive day. Well, that is great. I appreciate so much for being here.

I appreciate you having me, man. Thanks for sharing your story, sir. Good to see you. Good to see

you. Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next time.

Welcome to the catastrophic comeback podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clark speaks, helping you find hope, purpose and joy after a catastrophic injury.

So in terms of after the legal process is over, and you and you were able to obtain a settlement, how would you advise people to look at that money? Is it like, is it like you win the lottery and, and you just go crazy, and

it's Monday won't last forever. And just, if you're gonna buy something, buy something that's an asset and take it to somebody that's a financial adviser, don't put it in your bank account? Because you could open your phone one day and say, Oh, I got this much money, where can I go buy today? Right? So if it's not your bank account, you don't think you have it?

So and that money is there for a purpose, right? That money is supposed to last and be for very specific things going into your future. So Right?

I mean, you can roll over in the bed, or one of your things in your back pocket. You know what I'm saying? And don't have workman's comp any more money? Because either gotta be there. Yeah.

Well, so. So a big thing for us at at our firm is, is we want to help people recover physically, financially and emotionally. And so at the end of a case, where we have been able to obtain a settlement or a judgment for somebody, we do try to connect them with a financial adviser who can help them do those things. And did that was that did that end up being a good thing for you? Are you glad that you did that?

Yeah. I'm very, very glad that I did that.

And how have those people helped your financial advisers? How have they helped you? And what have they done to secure your financial future?

Basically, they just, I told him, I gave him all of it, and said, Well, I wouldn't bought me a house. Obviously, I needed a house. And I gave him the rest of it. And just I told him to invest it. And I guess what they do, I guess, and I just don't, I don't ask about it. I just get a little bit from just they give me a little bit every month that I need, other than I don't get from a drone business. And the rest I just tell them, I don't need to know about it.

You mentioned your drone business. One of the things that I think that's cool is that before you were a person who you drove, and did you load and unload

trucks, heavy equipment, transport heavy equipment, okay, before the

accident, that was what you did for work. Right? And you were good at it. You made money and you support your family. Okay, now, you're not able to do that.

I still getting asked me. Oh, yeah. I on my land. I've built me a room and everything. Well, that's cool.

Okay, well, so what could you do that for work?

I could, I mean, I've worked every company in Wilmington, and they just see me in a wheelchair and they think it's could be snowing me? Sure. And I've told him I'm good. I'll write down. Well, I will not do if I get hurt. I want to do anything. Yeah. I work for minimum wage for all he knows. And I just want to be in it. You'd like to do it. Better than sitting at the house? Yeah.

So So So you haven't been able to work in that industry

anymore? No. But I haven't ever take pictures of it so

well. So so that was what I was going to ask you about. You started a business. Tell me about the business as you started, please.

I started a John business. Basically just taking pictures and videos for anybody like really tree surveying. Like dark people build piers, a couple of buddies of mine. Like a tree service company uses me.

Did you know how to do that before? Have you taught yourself how to do that?

I didn't I didn't fly during one time before the accident. I taught myself how to do it.

And so do you know how to edit and do all the technical stuff that's connected with that? Yeah.

Had to learn all that to wow, what's the name of your drone business? It's called cam Jane services. Wow.

And how can somebody find you if they wanted to, as well? I'm on Facebook. Can FCM cm came drones and Drone Services. So All right, great. And then so you work with realtors, land surveyors, dock builders, those kinds of people, anybody who needs drone footage,

I've followed a couple of my buddies on their boat Oops. Oh yeah, it's for like fishing tournaments and those types of things, not just for them to have cool video of them on their boat. You know what I mean? Go on Sunset and stuff. You do any search videos? Yeah, I'm doing I can video any, anything you want video is that fun? Is Real fun.

Do you have to travel with that at all?

I've had to travel one time, one job was in. I think it was in right on the border of South Carolina. This guy had a big ol hog farm that he wanted pictures.

And now we've talked about mindset and staying positive. And we've talked about your life before what the accident was like, and some of the dark times and some of the good times. What were some of the setbacks that you had along the way where you were like, you know, what was going well, and then you were like, you know, it felt like the wind got knocked out of your sails.

One time, I was just, it was really when I had the excavator, I basically use it, use that thing as nonde, or six to nine. And I wasn't too much and I got precious or what, and I had to stay off of it for a couple of weeks. And just money fun. And A

is it fair to say that? In this process, there will be setbacks, they're willing. Like, I've got it all figured out, everything's going great. And then there's going to be a place where you're

Yeah, there will be I mean, I broke this leg in two places on that excavator, how that foot broke this ankle, this is all after the accident.

And then how do you? What do you do to get back and continue your journey and your process?

Make sure everything is here. I mean, I can only stay in the bed for so long. So I'm gonna do something, wrap it up as best I can. And make sure at least drive around. You know what I mean?

For you, it sounds like this is just who you are. You're a person who is going to be positive, who's going to be active is going to find a way. Hey, sir, have you met people through this process? That are like you in that respect?

I've met a couple. Yeah, I've met a couple of them that I still talk to one of the guys that I met from the hospital actually. He lives up in Raleigh. Now he has he has his own like art business stuff, or does big canvases and stuff like that is really cool. But he's he stays doing acting like Jay,

do you stay connected with people like that approach this? Like?

We talked to him probably every couple of weeks or something like that? Have

you seen people who don't have that same positivity and don't have that same active approach?

I've seen a lot more than and what does that look like? Me? It's not good. I mean, you try to see how they're doing and don't Oh, no, I've been dead for someone like me, man, you want me to come pick you up or stuff like that. Just like I said, there's two ways to take it, you can either be positive about it, or you can be negative, and basically, what it means sitting in your rooms in your house all day.

So the positive is, you have a positive mindset, you get up and you go, you try and you try and you try again,

even if it hurts if it hurts, just keep on going and start feeling better. And

the negative is anger, frustration, bitterness, and that sort of thing. Exactly. And then it's pretty clear which of those paths that you chose. Do you think it was important that you took legal action to deal with us?

Yeah, I think it was, because I didn't know anything about any of that when I was in the hospital, but I honestly didn't know who the heck was walking in my thing? I'm glad y'all did. And I didn't know anything about any of that.

Did you find that? Having a professional with you was helpful in terms of guiding you through that process? 1,000% is are those is that something you would recommend to somebody else? Yes, definitely.

I don't know what I would have done without my impression

is in these catastrophic cases. Insurance companies, they'll start off especially workers comp will start off paying for everything because they don't have any choice. They'll be nasty. Right? And then over time, what did you see happen and

go down? They start paying for lists. They start not being as nice. They don't email you back.

Do you feel like we were prepared you for that?

Yeah, that's legal. helped me a lot with that. Because they'll answer to the legal person a lot better than the answer to me.

Would it be difficult for you to assess what the value of A claim was if you didn't have legal help, Oh, yeah. Yeah, I got, like, if I'm in that situation, I wouldn't know. For example, you mentioned your dad is a fix his boats, and he has both repairs and and, you know both spend time on the water. And if something's wrong with the boat, I wouldn't know if it was 500 or 5000, I would have no idea. Because I don't do that work every day. And that's why I just have to kind of trust the person that I'm with.

Exactly. That's exactly right. I didn't, I didn't know how much I would be getting. Well,

so So are there any any final words of advice that you would have to somebody that might be going through something like this?

Just think about the positives. Think about all the positives that you still have you still got your family, you still get your life? Still have may have your kids. You know what I mean? You still life ain't over. If you wake up every day.

It's a positive day. Well, that is great. I appreciate so much for being here.

I appreciate you having me, man. Thanks for sharing your story, sir. Good to see you. Good to see

you. Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next time.