If my ins(car) was 30/60 why did they only pay out 21,000. my med bills were just over 13,000.?

Question

car accident, have to sue my self, the drunk who hit me, didnt have anything. Now, my lawyer will get about 7500 and I probably get 1-2k. That sucks!!!!

I had 2 MRI's, 2-3 mos chiropractor, 3500 ER visit first night.So, yes they are 13,000

Answer 1

Here's what I think you are talking about.

Your vehicle was struck by an uninsured motorist. So you had to file a claim against your uninsured motorist coverage which provides uninsured motorist bodily injury limits of 30,000 per person and 60,000 per accident.

You incurred 13,000 in medical charges. You hired an attorney and the claim was settled for 21,000.00.

From the claim settlement - the Dr's who treated you get paid. Then your attorney gets paid (usually 1/3 of the settlement) - It should be outlined in the retainer contract you signed - you get what's left over.

What your attorney should do - is get in touch with the medical providers and see if he can get them to reduce their charges (cut the bills). It's not unusual of attorneys in my area to do this - and he may be doing that.

An injury claim is valued based on the injury itself. Because of this, having an attorney does not increase the value of the claim. You choose to hire the attorney -therefore, it's your responsibility to pay him. The insurance company is not going to add 1/3 to the settlement so you can pocket the same amount of money. Had their been no attorney - then the settlement probably would have been the same amount.

The value of your claim is not based on your policy limits. Even if you had one million dollars in coverage, your claim is still worth only what the injury is worth. However, in accepting the settlement - your attorney will also look a the facts of the accident, liability law in your state, venue where trial would be had, how good of a witness you would be, how good of a witness the other guy would be (among other things), and the injury itself. Since how much the attorney gets depends on how much you get - he's going to try and get as big a settlement as he can. The more you get = the more he gets.

You will have to ask your attorney why the claim was worth 21,000. After all, you're paying him 1/3 of your settlement - so at least make him earn it and ask him your questions. Since he is familiar with all the specific details of your case - he will be in a better position to explain it to you than we will.

Answer 2

Your mistake for getting a lawyer rather than asking your agent to work it for you for free.

Your question is too vague. What's 30/60? BI Limits? You can't collect under BI on your own policy. How was $21K split up? What are your medical payments? How about uninsured motorist coverage limits? Collision coverage??

You really need to sit down with your agent and ask them.

Answer 3

They pay on the value of the claim not the amount of coverage you have. The amount of your meds are irrelavant. 13k could be 1 ER visit or months of physical therapy.

*-*-*-*-*-*-Okay AD (the answer below) said it perfectly-*-*-*-*-*- Makes my answer look like junk ;)