Settling a Car Accident Claim

[caraccidentmyrtle]

Last Thursday I was in an accident in which my father's car was totalled (1989 Mercedes). A 16 year old girl ran a stop sign which caused the collision, and she was cited for failure to yield.

When I got into the accident my shoulder and ribs felt a little sore, but I figured I was ok otherwise. Later that night and especially the next morning I was in alot more pain than I imagined. It was extremely hard to get out of bed the next morning. I went and got X Rays done on my shoulder, and also on a finger which was extremely sore the next morning. Nothing was broken. It is now 5 days later, and the pain has gotten alot less severe, though it still hurts and is generally not comfortable. The affected areas are right shoulder, right rib cage, and bruising and soreness on my right leg. The finger is pretty much better.

I met with the other driver's insurance company today, and they offered $1000 in addition to paying the $300 medical bill. It has now been 5 days and I still have some slight pain and discomfort. Should I accept this offer, or is not even reasonable at all? Should I wait longer to see if the pain goes away completely?

[Mr. Knowitall]

It's your call as to whether you think the settlement offer is sufficient, or if you want to negotiate for more or hire a lawyer. Try to get a clean bill of health from your doctor, as you will release all claims when you settle. If the $1,000 is their first offer, you can assume that they're willing to offer more if you negotiate. An insurance adjuster will never make their best offer up front, and will usually offer at most 1/3 - 1/2 of their target.

[despair]

I am stunned that you have been offered $1000 for a bruised shoulder and the pain etc of 3 weeks along with your medical bills

My daughter was injured May 05 her medical bills alone are touching 50K which she has had to borrow yet the at fault drivers insurance co who have admitted liability refuse to pay one penny

My daughter will now be in permanant back pain and disability for life and she and her family can starve for all the lousy USA Insurance Co care .......they dont even care if my daughter looses her house as a result she has already lost her business because she cant work and USA lawyers wont take on the case because the at fault drivers BIL was only $50Kand we are UK citizens

Wonderful way the USA treats tourists !!!!!!!!!!!