Re: typical compensation for a no-fault auto accident
There are many factors to consider including the following just as a short list of examples: (1) what was the total amount of the medical bills?; (2) which particular insurance company is involved?; (3) even though your wife did not miss work, you may have incurred other expenses, if so how much? did you need extra child care, housekeeping services, etc. were there incidental expenses that were not reimbursed by the insurance company? (4) how was your wife's recreational life affected?
... And so forth ...
I know that this is going to sound like self-promotion, but you really do need to hire an attorney if you want to get your best settlement from an insurance company. Their adjusters are trained extremely well to low-ball the amounts that they pay (just ask the body shop who repaired your car --- they'll almost certainly tell you that it is common for the insurance adjuster to write an estimate that is significantly less than the actual repair costs --which requires the body shops to call back and argue for more money). They do the same thing with attorneys, and they do it in spades with people who are not represented by counsel.
You also need to make sure that when you hire an attorney, that you hire one who knows how to deal with adjusters. Our office, for example, has at least one former adjuster right on staff to make sure that we know how they are trained an operate.
It also makes a difference if you hire a firm that has a track record for trying cases and winning because adjusters know which are the firms that just won't take a case to trial because they always settle, which firms try them and lose, and which firms know how to try cases and win. Adjusters will pay more to firms that offer a credible threat.
An attorney will also make sure that all of your PIP claims are handled appropriately (and if you had retained an attorney a bit earlier in the process, they would also have been available to assist with the logistics of getting the medical bills paid, the car repaired, etc.)
Please feel free to call me directly if you have any further questions.
Lawrence R. Holzman, Esquire
Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane, Suite 400
Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 220-2200
fax (301) 220-1214
Disclaimer: Please note that the posting of this response is not intended to constitute legal advice. You should contact an attorney to obtain information applicable to your situation. This posting is not confidential or privileged and does not create an attorney/client relationship.
