We were rear-ended at a red light back in Feb. Police was called and a report filed. I ended up going to see a Chiropractor from Feb - May for treatment for my neck. The bill is close to $2000. The insurance of the person who hit us only wants to pay $500. What can I do? Is it going to cost me if I get a lawyer. I don't want any extra money. I just want the bill payed. I don't have the money to pay the difference (1500) Will threatening them with a lawyer get them to work work with me? I am not sure what my options are. thanks..
2007-06-25 09:10:49 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
They were 100% at fault. Theres a police report to prove it. Also I was seeing the Chiro 2 times a week. I had headaches and upper neck and back pain. I am in Arizona, and I dont think this is a no fault state. The person hit us as we were sitting still at a red light. There were witnesses and a report filed.
2007-06-25 10:10:31 · update #1
I received a letter stating based on their evaluation that they felt $500 would be what they would pay. I have left several messages with the claim rep and she has yet to call me back to explain what the basis for this was.
2007-06-25 10:12:17 · update #2
In a personal injury lawsuit, you can get an attorney to represent you at no up-front cost to you. But they will usually want about 30% of your settlement. That's if they think you have a good case. They are going to want to sue for much more than $2000, because that's not enough money to make it worth their while.
2007-06-25 09:31:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Threaten a lawyer all you want, the insurance company has lawyers too and getting a lawyer doesn't change the simple truth which is this: the guy that hit you only owes you for reasonable and necessary medical treatment for injuries as a direct result of the accident-they don't owe you for a bill you turn into them. If your DC overcharged you (they ALL do by the way), that's between you and the DC and no one else.
Sorry to be mean, but there are NO guarantees your "bills get paid" when you're in an accident....payment of bills is always the responsibility of the patient.
2007-06-25 15:40:43 · answer #2 · answered by bundysmom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They wouldnt just offer you 25% of your medicals for no reason. If you went and had valid treatment and they owed for it.. theyd pay it.
I can only think of 3 reasons this would happen:
1) They only feel there driver is 25% at fault- it this case.. they would only owe 25%
2) they think you got excessive treatment. Lets say this was very minor.. they wont just cover months of medicals that you didnt need
3) you live in a "no fault" state... where your own insurance will cover the other percentage
Can you explain better why they say they will only pay 500.00?
*****
Alright- with your new information... they likely have no idea what your bills are... when thats the case (when you havent given them permission to see the bills yet..) they basically have to make a guess....
Call your adjuster back.... if you dont get them.. press "o"- or find a way to talk to someone.
Let them know you are ready to discuss settlement. Have your receipts ready to prove you had that much treatment... they shouldnt have any problem paying.
Youve just got to understand.. when they have nothign to work with.. they just kinda have to guess to get it done. Show them the bills... and you sound like a reasonable girl.. they will pay for it.
Dont threaten a lawyer.. they could care less.. actually.. i like when people get lawyers cuz lawyers are sometimes more reasonable.
2007-06-25 10:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The second response you received is more on track and please don't listen to the first response. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to demand payment for injury. If you are just asking the other insurance company, this would explain why they offered you $500. Don't ask, demand payment with proper documentation. I suspect it wouldn't be a problem if you had documentation from your primary physician or any physician to go to the chiropractor. Please document your payments to the chiropractor by making copies of the checks. If you haven't made any payments, send the chiropractor's bill along with the other documentation. Now, send a certified letter immediately. Firmly tell the chiropractors office to document your injuries in a letter to the insurance company and keep copies of everything. If your chiropractors office does not do this for you, it would be an indication they took advantage of you and treated you upon your request, and not out of medical necessity. If you have valid injuries, they are easily documented, so send it certified to the insurance company. Ask for the insurance agent's superior and send a copy to their superior. If they tell you they don't have a superior, talk to anyone else in the company and get someone elses name. But, do not, instead, go to friends and co workers and ask them to pay out of pocket to sponsor your doctor's bills like the first person said. It is your responsibility to follow thru with actions that are required for you to be reimbursed. Your case will be easy to document if you had a primary care physician that recommended a chiropractor. Some chiropractors are still considered "not medically necessary". You should have a referral from a medical physician to go to a chiropractor. I'm sure you didn't just go to the chiropractor first. I'm sure you had a medical doctor check you out for injuries and once the doctor ruled out internal injuries and broken bones, you were sent to the chiropractor for any pains not caused by a life-threatening injury. If you have the documentation, this will not be an issue anymore. I suspect a lawyer would add on mileage to and from the doctor, any medication, and the good old pain and suffering. Just tell the insurance company you will contact a lawyer to add all these additional costs and inconveniences. Of course a lawyer will be happy to get involved because he just won't go there and ask for the $1500 if you can document this expense. He'll ask for more and insurance companies know that. Let the insurance company know you know that, IF YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION to prove real injury. I am very symphathetic to actual injuries, but not if someone is ripping off the insurance company. I'm sure they are assuming you are ripping them off if they haven't received anything from you but phone calls. Send them documentation that shows the medical necessity.
2016-05-20 01:06:06 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As i said before in the questioned I answered. Get people to sponser you. Tell companys you need some money. don't go for a LAWYER it just doesn't work out. and the person who hit your car should help you out. its their fault this happened. HOPE this helped.!! :]]] accidents happen.
2007-06-25 09:18:16 · answer #5 · answered by galaal13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let your insurance company know they will fight it out with the person's that hit you. No lawyer fees that way
2007-06-25 09:24:00 · answer #6 · answered by Pengy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋