If we have been rear-ended, how do we get a reasonable amount as settlement?

Question

My two children and myself were rear-ended back in April. We were stopped at a traffic light and hit by a truck. The company accepts fault for the accident. My children and myself have been receiving physical therapy and chiropractic care since the accident. I had to go on light work duty. The Company at fault agrees to pay all medical until date of settlement, but keeps giving low unreasonable numbers to cover any future medical and inconvenience fee. I wish to receive a fair amount, but fee as low as what they are offering is not reasonable. I am unsure of what would be considered a fair amount for this situation.

Erven Nelson · Answer

There are a lot of factors, and you need a good personal injury lawyer to help you. Factors include total medical bills, lingering pain and disability, prior medical history, lost work and wages, etc.

Robert Lucky · Answer

It is very common for insurance companies to give you very low offers. This is why it is important to employ an attorney as soon as possible to handle your case. Attorneys, such as myself, who are familiar with these cases can assist you in working through the system established by the insurance companies. I hope to hear from you soon.

Ronald A. Steinberg · Answer

Your cases are worth whatever you can prove to a jury.

Salim A. Khayoumi · Answer

You should immediately retain a personal injury attorney in the area or state where the accident happened. Usually the attorney will not charge you flat fee; but rather, a contingency fee. This means you don't pay anything unless your attorney wins or settles.

Gregory Janks · Answer

I guess your question isn't from Michigan since it would be your  vehicle insurer, not the striking trucks insurer, that would be paying  your Michigan No Fault Benefits (ie: wage loss, medical expenses and  replacement services). So I really can't answer what the law/chances of  recovery are in another State. You should get a free consultation from a  local lawyer that regularly handles motor vehicle crash cases. Usually  you will find that an insurer will only make low ball offers if you are  unrepresented, hoping you will take whatever they offer as you can't  evaluate what your case is worth. That is why a lawyer that regularly  handles these type cases can be invaluable to you.

Paul Whitfield · Answer

Insurance companies will cheat you all they can get by with. You ought to have a good PI attorney evaluate your cases. value is based on the amount of medical bills, what the drs say, what the future might hold, the amount of property damage and how the collision occurred

Alexander Gilburg · Answer

It is impossible to determine an appropriate amount from the information you proved.

Arman Moheban · Answer

It depends of the extent of your injuries.

David Stoddard · Answer

It is difficult to get the adjuster to take you seriously if you are not willing to file a lawsuit, which I do not suggest you do yourself.

Georges Shers · Answer

They do not owe you for any inconvenience fee unless they agreed to pay for that, aside from damage to the car, rental car use, health care treatment bills, wage loss, and pain and suffering [which includes residual permanent injuries]. For the cost of future medical treatment you need to get a statement from someone they will consider reasonable most insurance carriers do not rust chiropractors since they are largely physical therapists with a good bed side manner who often over treat. Their attitude is, not unsoundly based upon medical opinions, that if a certain type of treatment does not cure the problems after several weeks it will not cure it after several months either. What is a fair amount for future treatment can only be guessed at until you get the needed health care written opinion. If they are continuing to pay for on going treatment, do not settle until your condition has reached a level of maximum improvement and further  treatment will not help except to briefly relieve pain.

Gregory Shurman · Answer

The best way to assure a reasonable settlement is by having competent legal representation.

James Eugene Hasser · Answer

Quit anguishing over it and talk to a personal injury lawyer. That is what they do.

Hamed Yazdanpanah · Answer

You will require to retain an attorney.  For years, personal injury attorneys have been blaming bad faith tactics by the insurance carriers.  Recently CNN?s Anderson Cooper conducted an undercover investigation into these tactics and to better understand why you will require the aid of counsel to receive fair and reasonable settlement for your damages, we ask that you take a few minutes and review these four links below, in the order they appear.  If you are unable to click on the link, please cut and paste them on your browser and then watch them.

Thomas Edward Gates · Answer

You need to retain an attorney to assist you.  You will continue to get low offers without one.

Amanda Johnson · Answer

To get your car fixed I'm sure you knew to take your car to a body shop  so how is it that you don't know to go to a lawyer for a proper  evaluation of your case?

J. Michael End · Answer

It is impossible to tell you the settlement value of your and your children's claims without learning a lot more about the injuries.  In my opinion, you would be best served by hiring a lawyer to help you deal with the insurance company.  The insurance company will not pay you the true value of the claims unless you have a lawyer helping you.  The insurance company knows that you could not get a good verdict without a lawyer, so the insurance company will not be reasonable with you. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Wisconsin runs three years from the date of the accident.

Matthew Kaplan · Answer

If you are not recovered fully, you should not be talking with the at fault driver's insurance. Your treatment bills should be paid by your own insurance. You have two years from the date of loss to file a law suit, so there is absolutely no reason to discuss your case with the other insurance company.

Briny Woods · Answer

This is a very common scenario.  Often, insurance companies will only pay the medical bills and low ball you on your pain and suffering, although significant.  Generally, when negotiations fail, we then have to file a lawsuit in the Court.  Speak with an attorney and have them review your medical records and bills, to independently evaluate your injury cases. will not be valid.

Jill K. Whitbeck · Answer

Get an attorney.  The insurance company will not treat you fairly  without  one, and a good attorney can help set the value of the case (which will  not  be known until you are done treating or have reached maximum medical   improvement).

Glen Shearer · Answer

If you can't reach a reasonable settlement I would suggest that you get an attorney involved. Keep in mind that the attorney will take a portion of what you settle for. Sometimes an attorney will agree to just take a percentage out of what you get in excess of the offer.

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If we have been rear-ended, how do we get a reasonable amount as settlement?

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