two claims? I was rear-ended & I filed against the other person's insurance (that person unfortunetly didn't survive & along with my neck/back pain the doctor said I am going through post-dramatic stress syndrome) My car was totaled & I got a rental car today, got it for 70 days. I was told by a friend that I can have two seperate claims, he said not to settle on the medical part yet but I could settle to get what the car is worth so that I can pay the loan off. I don't know if this is true & the insurance company is so hard to get a hold of so if anyone knows this answer please let me know. I don't want to get the bad end of the deal. Thanks.
2007-08-09 08:39:20 · 7 answers · asked by Jay 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Hiya:
What your friend told you is just kind of awkward sounding but some people might think of it that way. The insurance company will call it "features" (You really only have 1 claim...with 2 features...get it?)
You have a property damage claim/feature for damage to your vehicle.
You also have a bodily injury claim/feature for your injuries.
You could actually have MORE claims. Like: A med pay claim with your OWN carrier.
Should you and why?
Maybe. If you are seriously injured it will likely be a while before you can settle your bodily injury claim. All the while you treat...bills are racking up.
Unless you allow your medical providers to have a lein against your settlement (which essentially means they are paid before you are)......they are going to be wanting their money....and soon.
If you have 1st party coverage with your insurance company - you pay for and are entitled to Med Pay benefits. Those benefits come in handy when you have medical bills that are piling up and it's going to be a while before you settle.
Most people don't want to use their insurance but.......why not get what you are already paying for?
Anyway.........
About the car....please keep in mind that the insurance company does not owe to pay off your loan. Most people are actually upside down in their car loans and this is not a good situation for them. I'm not sure how much you owe on your car or what the total loss value is but........there is a real possibility that your car could be a total loss and the money you get from it will not be enough to cover your loan. Ouch. That can be a really ugly situation. People get really mad about it. I hope that is not the situation with you.
Hope you're back to 100% soon.
~jifr!
2007-08-09 09:47:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jifr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can settle the car claim, but don't settle the medical. I had the same problem only mine didn't start until a couple of months later and took several months to get my meds working so I can drive again. I settled my medical earlier so now I have to pay for all this on my own health insurance. Worst mistake I made. And it's Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
2007-08-09 09:33:38 · answer #2 · answered by Frosty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friend is probably talking about claiming more than one type of damage. Some insurance companies set it up as "one bi claim, one collision claim, one rental claim", and some do it all as one claim.
Absolutely, you can wait to settle the medical, but ask for prompt payment on the car itself.
2007-08-09 09:58:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your friend is correct, but it is gonna be tricky with the medical part since the other person is no longer here. They will most likely go after the family of the other. But this is a prime example of why we spend so much hard earned money every month on insurance
2007-08-09 08:50:10 · answer #4 · answered by Goes Without Saying 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can settle on the claim of the :"car" before your medical expenses...Wait till the doctor clears you before you do that...
2007-08-09 08:47:50 · answer #5 · answered by just me 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would really get a lawyer to help guide you through this. make sure you get one that wins if you win. you don't want his meter ticking collecting hourly fees from ya. i hope your body heels well. my best to you.
2007-08-09 09:41:57 · answer #6 · answered by CHA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friend may be correct but be careful.
DON'T SIGN ANYTHING until your lawyer
clears it and explains it to you.
2007-08-09 14:12:33 · answer #7 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋