Back in February 2023, I was in a bad accident where another car ran a stop sign, causing me to T-bone them and lose control, landing in a ditch. The result? A traumatic brain injury (TBI), and my doctor said my seizures are from the TBI. On top of that, I’ve got neck and back problems, memory issues, constant headaches, and even ringing in my ears. It’s hard to process that they think $16k is a fair offer given all of this, especially with over $40k in medical bills. Is this typical as a starting point in negotiations?
UPDATE: I found a much more experienced attorney today who really helped me understand the situation. Moving forward with her instead. I’ll be leaving a review for my old lawyer to warn others—they seemed more focused on a quick payout.
prince said:
What are the policy limits here? Also, is there a lien on your settlement for the medical bills? This could mean there’s not much left to offer.
This is why having decent UM/UIM limits is so important! I was rear-ended and had to get a disc in my neck fused. The at-fault driver only had $50k, but I had $250k UM/UIM, and my insurer paid the policy limits.
@Ocean
I’m going through my own accident claims right now, with a long recovery journey. The at-fault driver has a $250k policy plus umbrella coverage, and it might just be enough to cover all my treatments. Keeping fingers crossed that I’ll be pain-free someday!
@Greer
Took conservative treatment for two years before needing surgery, which thankfully left me pain-free. You deserve the full limits from both the driver and their umbrella!
People really need an Insurance 101 course before getting a license. A lot don’t understand how policy limits work or what they mean in cases like these.
Paden said:
People really need an Insurance 101 course before getting a license. A lot don’t understand how policy limits work or what they mean in cases like these.
One of my customers used to teach a class on this at the local college. It was a quick overview on insurance basics, but the school eventually stopped allowing it.
Paden said:
People really need an Insurance 101 course before getting a license. A lot don’t understand how policy limits work or what they mean in cases like these.
They’d rather keep insurance confusing and profit from it.
If you don’t have a lawyer, get one ASAP. The statute of limitations for injury claims might be running out, depending on your state. With a TBI and long-term effects, you need someone experienced to help maximize the value of your claim.
@Zora
In my state, insurance companies must disclose policy limits when requested with the correct paperwork. Sometimes it’s surprising what limits actually are.
Adrian said:
Was diagnosed with cancer twice this year (and survived), but my bills went over $1M. Without savings, I wouldn’t be here today.
Healthcare in the U.S. is tough due to little regulation on billing practices. My mom’s thyroid tumor treatment ran up over $35k in uncovered expenses.