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Terryberry6 · Jun 24, 2008, 07:02 PM

About six months ago my daughter was rear ended at a stop light, her car was totaled.
She was taken by ambulance to the hospital with back pain prescribed pain meds. And released. She saw a chiropractor for a month after but discontinued because they wanted payment up front and she could not longer afford it. She still is in pain, she goes to school and by the end of the day her back is in spasms. Her medical bills total a little over 4,000, the adjuster called and offered her 4,000 for her bills, 4,000 for pain and suffering and six months medical, this is her first offer. My daughter wondering if she should take it, she is getting worried because the med bills are past due. Does this sound like a reasonable offer, or should she hold out for more? Thanks for your help.

Fr_Chuck · Jun 24, 2008, 07:17 PM

No settlement, she should be making them pay her medical bills and find out exactly what is wrong and how much treatment. And they should have been billed the doctor to start with.

You can't even begin to guess at a settlement unless you know the exact physcial issues.

excon · Jun 24, 2008, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Terryberry6

Does this sound like a reasonable offer, or should she hold out for more?

Hello Terry:

The adjuster works for THEIR insurance company. His job is to offer as little as he thinks he can get away with. The question is, are you going to let him?

The Padre is right (I get tired of saying that). You need a lawyer NOW. You needed a lawyer from the beginning. IF you DID have a lawyer, ALL her medical bills would be taken care of and her FUTURE medical bills would be guaranteed...

It they're offering $8K, the injury is probably worth $50K. Did they offer nothing for her car?

excon

George_1950 · Jun 24, 2008, 09:23 PM

The offer is not reasonable. What state?

IM4U · Jun 24, 2008, 11:13 PM

Beware of a premature settlement in which you agree that the insurance company has fulfilled all liability.

twinkiedooter · Jun 27, 2008, 12:32 PM

If she is still having pain and spasms it sounds like her back and her injuries are still not resolved. It is never a good idea to settle a case with unresolved medical problems. Have her consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. He will make arrangements for her medical bills to be paid (even the ones she still owes on) and have future medical bills paid for until her unresolved problems are taken care of. THEN he will negotiate a settlement for her. That's how it should be done. Trying to play attorney yourself when you are dealing with an insurance company is never a good idea. Ever.

motorwasp · Jul 3, 2008, 08:35 AM

That offer was the bare minimum. Most insurance companies will start at 2 times your bills for minor scrapes and bumps and depending on your injuries go as high as 6 times your bills which include, but are not limited to, prescriptions, gasoline to and from the doctors appointments, over the counter stuff such as a heating pad, plus lost time from work, child care, etc etc. She needs to explain to the treatment facility that this is a result of an accident and she needs care as well as copies of the Doctors medical reports, bills, etc. Proof! That's what the insurance co wants. Proof of everything from gasoline to prescriptions to the police report showing the accident was not her fault. I wouldn't accept anything until I was sure everythig was going to be OK and not some life time problem.
Just my 2 cents worth.

ScottGem · Jul 3, 2008, 10:05 AM

Get an attorney. An Personal Injury attorney will take this on a contingemcy basis so they only get paid out of the settlement. She should have consulted an attorney right off the bat.

What about her car insurance, health insurance? There is NO way she should have stopped treatment or be worried about medical bills. Her doctor should have been billing the insurance company directly.

No this is not a good offer!