Personal Injury from a car accient in 12/06?

Question

Hello. I was in a 4 car pile up. I was car #2. Car #4 was cited for the accident, and has paid for the car. I have back injuy and leg numbness. They have not diaganosed me yet. I hired an attorney. He said that will multiple cars, sometimes it takes awhile to settle, due to that. I have been out of work for 2 months now. I can hardly walk. i am in physical therpay and am awaitng an MRI. I am not worried about the money, but my medical bills are piling up, and my attorny suggested i wait to pay them until we reach settlement, to elimnate multiple insurances. Does any one know how long this may take to settle? Also, will the settlement cover all medical expenses, and time missed from work. I cant even get out of bed, and am on a lap top in bed. Does anyone know how pain and suffering work? Also, what kind of settlement is appropriate, i was told by my attorny not to settle on any amount. How do i know? I am only 25 and not sure how this works... Please help!

Answer 1

This is serious load of questions...but I used to be an auto claims adjuster for Progressive.

Average settlement time: Could go forever until your lawyer settles with the insurance company or takes the insurance company to court. Average though...3-6 months depending on how big of an ****** the attorney is. I'm sure the insurance company has already made an offer and that your attorney has already made an absurd counter offer to drive the "middle ground" for settleing the claim up as far as possible. Problem is most attorneys are so darn greedy they won't accept any offer until they are close to having to go to court. Attorney's hate going to court! What will be covered depends on the state, but in most states the person at fault's insurance will cover all medical expenses, time missed from work (but you have to have doctors documentation that you shouldn't/can't be working) up to at fault person's liability limits. Most are 100K per person or 300K per accident, but people with out insurance or the lowest possible legal limits are a whole nother story.
Pain and Suffering are determined usually by the amount of treatment a person has. I'm assuming you went to the hospital in an ambulance after the accident and have had multiple follow ups since. Side note: I hope you havn't gone to a chiropractor, I always thought people were faking it if they went to a chiro instead of a real medical professional. I would think that $25-$30K would be appropriate for pain and suffering assuming that your bills and car were taken care of also.

Three things that strike me:
1) You can talk to someone with you insurance company for help from someone on your side and knows the ins and outs of your states laws.
2) If your bills do become a problem (even other bills) pay at least $5 toward them. Creditors can't bother you if you are at least making some effort to eliminate what you owe them.
3) I hate to say it because I know how difficult this process is, but I wouldn't make a good offer to your attorney on behalf of the at fault drivers insurance company until you have been diaganosed. I'm very skeptical of people that claim pain and numbness but havn't been diagnosed yet after 2 months...sounds a little fishy to me. Don't intend on being mean, but 2 months is a long time for todays doctors.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I am currently in a lawsuit myself from a car accident where the other driver was cited for the accident. I have been going through mine now for 4 years. My medical bills were paid (those were paid and it is something above and beyond any settlement that I will be getting) about a year into it by the insurance company that insured the driver of the vehicle I was in (I was a passenger). Not to bring you down, but it has been a very long process and I've had to jump through many hoops to get anywhere. The other insurance company offered a settlement of 4500.00, and that wouldn't even cover my medical bills. My lawyer is suing for lost wages, plus pain and suffering, and also any future treatment.
You lawyer will be able to best tell you what you should or shouldn't do...and what you can sue for and what you would be able to get. It's in your lawyers best interest to make sure you get the max that you can get.
Just don't talk to the other insurance company, and if they try to contact you refer them to your lawyer.

Answer 3

Because you've employed an attorney...your BEST bet is to listen to the attorney who is the specialist.

Because you have people wanting to be paid for services rendered...I'd STRONGLY suggest you inform you attorney and ask that he write letters to those asking for payment so that they don't see you as someone attempting to avoid payment.

Additionally, as your attorney has stated...with several "litigants" involved, it takes time for companies to settle these type cases. Especially if there is a small amount of coverage.

Many people cannot afford the higher rates for better coverage and only obtain minimal amounts of insurance. Once that goes...you're looking at different approaches to recovering what's owed to the "injured parties."

Hang in there and use your lawyer....that's what he's getting paid for!!

Best wishes!