accident insurance settlement advice?

[ronstang94]

Got t-boned and shoved into the vehicle on my other side, in my stang almost 2 years ago. Had a couple appointments each with two doctors. Had two MRIs. Was on a perscription medicine for a while. Had physical therapy 2-3 times a week for a month. Couldnt move my neck for a week. In pain for two months. Reoccuring pain once and a while. Medical bills totalling $3,194. My medical insurance company gets discounts, so they only paid $1,464. The other cars insurance company is liable, so they will be making me an offer, and out of that money I will have to reimburse my insurance company what they paid.

What is a good settlement offer?

They offered me $4,000

Thank You

 

[inphiniti]

was ur car totalled?? so ud basically be walking away with $2500 ur end.. its not too bad, it would help especially now with tax season around the corner, ud definitely have some extra cash laying around to pay off some bills and such... or u could always dump it into the car

 

[ronstang94]

no, the car was not totalled. She got fixed.

Since both me and the car suffered emotional damage from the accident. lol. I will be spending that money on goodies to make the both of us very happy

 

[Black95GTS]

Take pictures, hire a lawyer, go after every cent of their policy. 10 years from now when its cold out and your neck aches you won't have an opportunity to get pain and suffering money. I had to get surgery on my shoulder due to a car accident 9/07, surgery 3/2008, and now that its really cold out, I'm starting to ache again. 9 months later, and I'm 25 in top shape, and by top shape I mean weights 3x a week, 6 minute mile, 335 pound squat, 245 pound bench, 385 pound dead lift. My lawyer recommended I hold out, take it to court, and get the most (of course he makes more this way too).

It won't hurt to at least call a lawyer. My $.02.

Adam

 

[94-302-vert]

Take pictures, hire a lawyer, go after every cent of their policy. 10 years from now when its cold out and your neck aches you won't have an opportunity to get pain and suffering money. I had to get surgery on my shoulder due to a car accident 9/07, surgery 3/2008, and now that its really cold out, I'm starting to ache again. 9 months later, and I'm 25 in top shape, and by top shape I mean weights 3x a week, 6 minute mile, 335 pound squat, 245 pound bench, 385 pound dead lift. My lawyer recommended I hold out, take it to court, and get the most (of course he makes more this way too).

It won't hurt to at least call a lawyer. My $.02.

Adam

Call a Lawyer... I was in a similar position.. insurace offered me $5k, i got alawyer wo only took his share out of anything over the $5k... basically since I didn't miss any work i got pooned... but I still walked away with $7500ish...

 

[95strokerPSU]

Take pictures, hire a lawyer, go after every cent of their policy. 10 years from now when its cold out and your neck aches you won't have an opportunity to get pain and suffering money. I had to get surgery on my shoulder due to a car accident 9/07, surgery 3/2008, and now that its really cold out, I'm starting to ache again. 9 months later, and I'm 25 in top shape, and by top shape I mean weights 3x a week, 6 minute mile, 335 pound squat, 245 pound bench, 385 pound dead lift. My lawyer recommended I hold out, take it to court, and get the most (of course he makes more this way too).

It won't hurt to at least call a lawyer. My $.02.

Adam

Couldn't agree more. You can't predict the future and shouldn't have to live with pain without compensation for something that wasn't your fault. In general I think lawyers are ruining the country with how quick they have made people to sue (and for stupid reason; ie McDonalds coffee spill lady) but when it comes to personal injury that was another person's fault I think it's justified. I'm not saying go for huge sums of money, but the sum should advance your life....like down payment for a house money.

 

[inphiniti]

Take pictures, hire a lawyer, go after every cent of their policy. 10 years from now when its cold out and your neck aches you won't have an opportunity to get pain and suffering money. I had to get surgery on my shoulder due to a car accident 9/07, surgery 3/2008, and now that its really cold out, I'm starting to ache again. 9 months later, and I'm 25 in top shape, and by top shape I mean weights 3x a week, 6 minute mile, 335 pound squat, 245 pound bench, 385 pound dead lift. My lawyer recommended I hold out, take it to court, and get the most (of course he makes more this way too).

It won't hurt to at least call a lawyer. My $.02.

Adam

by all means, im not trying to be a dick here bro... but dont u think thats a little too much weight to be doing on a recently repaired shoulder?

 

[Black95GTS]

by all means, im not trying to be a dick here bro... but dont u think thats a little too much weight to be doing on a recently repaired shoulder?

:OT:If you think so... 10 months of physical therapy and working my ass off. I still can't overhead press more then 95 pounds or do pullups without pain. My injury was to my labrum, which is the connective tissue on the anterior of the shoulder. Basically my entire left shoulder came completely out of the socket on the left side due to a violent rear-ending. I have 3 screws in my shoulder.

Squats and deads don't really affect it, the only thing I have to worry about is Bench, and I'm not where I was before the accident.... the first time my doc let me bench press I could barely do 135. Muscle memory recovers fast though.

Its just annoying that I can't sleep on my left side, or when I'm on the couch with the lady if my left arm is around her it falls asleep fast, or when I shoot skeet its hard to keep the gun stable, etc etc etc

Its not the big things, its the small things.

Adam

 

[94CobraPace]

Do not take the 1st offer. Counter offer twice what they offered, it you think that is fair. A lawyer is not a bad idea, but they usually get 1/3 of the settlement, so they need to get 1/3 more for you to come out even. You can always threaten with getting a lawyer to get them to up the offer. Remember, the insurace company is trying to pay out the least, getting a lawyer will cost both of you money.

 

[94-302-vert]

Do not take the 1st offer. Counter offer twice what they offered, it you think that is fair. A lawyer is not a bad idea, but they usually get 1/3 of the settlement, so they need to get 1/3 more for you to come out even. You can always threaten with getting a lawyer to get them to up the offer. Remember, the insurace company is trying to pay out the least, getting a lawyer will cost both of you money.

Just get a lawyer and the deal with the lawyer is that the $4k is yours 100% and he gets his cur out of anything additional he brings you... Worked for me...

 

[inphiniti]

:OT:If you think so... 10 months of physical therapy and working my ass off. I still can't overhead press more then 95 pounds or do pullups without pain. My injury was to my labrum, which is the connective tissue on the anterior of the shoulder. Basically my entire left shoulder came completely out of the socket on the left side due to a violent rear-ending. I have 3 screws in my shoulder.

Squats and deads don't really affect it, the only thing I have to worry about is Bench, and I'm not where I was before the accident.... the first time my doc let me bench press I could barely do 135. Muscle memory recovers fast though.

Its just annoying that I can't sleep on my left side, or when I'm on the couch with the lady if my left arm is around her it falls asleep fast, or when I shoot skeet its hard to keep the gun stable, etc etc etc

Its not the big things, its the small things.

Adam

again, i wasnt tryin to be a dick at all so hopefully u didnt take it that way... i just figured id ask, seemed like a lot considering i do weightlifting as well and know how it is sometimes if somethin gets tweaked..

 

[ProKiller]

basically the insurance company is paying you off to shut your mouth. They want to give you $xxxx now for any future medical bills that you might have for the damage done. make it worth your while. like said before you don't know the future. i'd call a lawyer

 

[ronstang94]

thanks for all of the replies, not sure what I will do yet. Ill probably be back on here when she finally sends me the paperwork. How does the 2 years since the accident rule work? I have to file a law suit before the time is up? or the law suit needs to be resolved before the 2 years are up?

 

[Black95GTS]

thanks for all of the replies, not sure what I will do yet. Ill probably be back on here when she finally sends me the paperwork. How does the 2 years since the accident rule work? I have to file a law suit before the time is up? or the law suit needs to be resolved before the 2 years are up?

In MA its 3 years, and the settlement would be complete before 3 years is up. It must be different state to state. Once again, another reason to get a lawyer. Also remember you get interest the longer it takes, for example in Mass its 12 percent per year, so a 1000 settlement would be worth 1120 bucks after a year, etc etc

Keep in mind, he gets NOTHING unless he produces. All lawyers will make some time and sit down with you, and they will tell you straight up if its worth their time to take your case. No cost to you and you'll at least learn something.

Adam