<Begin Segment 26>

[Ed. note: This transcript has been edited by the narrator]

TI: So let's talk about the accident, Christmas Eve.

SA: Yes, (...) right after dinner I was supposed to report back to the hospital because I didn't have any family (to celebrate with, so I took) the night shift. So we started off, and unfortunately, the snows were piled up, and in Minnesota, up in the north, (snow piles) up. It's not a joke, it really is high, snowdrifts. Anyway, this (old) fellow, was kind of (on a) rise, a little rise, and he came up on the other side. (He) was an old man, (...) actually way up in his years (...). And he had been denied a driver's license because of his age, and yet he was driving on the wrong side of the road. Of course, I suppose you can't tell because the snow is deep, but we collided head-on, and (with) enough force that... we didn't have any of these, any safety equipment of any type, air bags or anything like we have today. So I went down and I hit the dash with my jaw, and so broke it in three places, which is why I have (these) dentures here in the lower front. I had a head concussion, (too). And all I remember is I got put in a ambulance, and it headed for Hibbing, which was the nearest big town with a decent hospital. Because where I was, (the hospital) was a small one in the village, and nobody there could (do too much surgery). We had doctors, but I don't think they wanted to tackle anything like that. And because I was in from St. Mary's (nursing school in) Rochester, they drove me to Hibbing, which was the place with the best hospital mainly due to the open mine that they have. (They have) the world's biggest open ore mine, and so they had a million dollar schoolhouse, glass schoolhouse and everything, and they had the good hospital. So I was driven there in (an) ambulance, and they took pictures of me there to show how deformed I was. I had (a) broken clavicle and broken ribs. And I was conscious all that time, 'cause I remember the ambulance (...) siren going on.

So they did the best they could patching me up, but the interesting thing to me was the insurance company couldn't see me because the doctors locked the door on 'em. Because one of 'em had a nephew that was an attorney just back from the war, (...) from (the Guadalcanal area), too, Pacific Theatre. And he wanted to have a good job, and so of course I'm a good (client) 'cause I didn't know anything about insurance or anything, so this was great. (An) "open and shut case" because the other man (had) died (...). He was (driving) on the wrong side, so the case (was closed, it was now) with the insurance company. It was a clean case where they would give me the entire amount (to settle). This way, (the) attorney (...) didn't have to do anything (...). So he took (their statement), it was five thousand dollars, at that time it was quite a bit of money.

TI: So I want to make sure I understand. So while you were being examined, they locked the door so the insurance person could not come in?

SA: Well, (the insurance company) wanted to settle the claim immediately.

TI: With you?

SA: With me.

TI: While you were being treated?

SA: Well, yes, because that's the best way to do it, isn't it, (for) the insurance company. Maybe it was a day after (that), they came in, because that was at night, late, and I think they came the next day and they were trying to get in and couldn't.

TI: And what they were trying to do was figure this out so that the doctor could be paid and all that?

SA: Well, it's like, yeah. Well, the doctor wanted his nephew to take the case so he could (make some money, just being back from World War II, as a commission).

TI: And so his nephew was the lawyer who was doing this?

SA: Yeah, (he was) my lawyer (...). And Dr. Clelland (and) Dr. (Boltz), they really doctored up the picture, putting all that ketchup looking like blood on me. And to tell them that I was deformed for life, which is not true, because they set it. But I had these (...) Steinman pins, and I still have the (scars) to keep the jaw intact. So it did look terrible, and they had my (photo taken). (My jaws were) out of line, and (I) was bleeding (a little), but not as much as they were trying to make it (seem). I shouldn't even say that, (...) but it was true, and with the clavicle out, (I looked deformed).

TI: And so your lawyer was working against the other insurance company?

SA: Oh, yes. Well, they have to deal with the insurance company, so they would ask for more and then the insurance company would have to (settle for more). (That worked and) they gave me the settlement, (...) it wasn't really half -- he gave me three thousand (and the lawyer took) two thousand (with very little work). He didn't have to do anything, 'cause it was "open and shut." (No witnesses, and the old fellow who hit us had died.)

TI: Okay.

<End Segment 26> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.