Legal Question in Personal Injury in Rhode Island
Car accident/ settlement
i was hit almost 2 years ago,by a man pulling across a 2 lane high way (i was stopped at the time) i spent over 1 year in therapy, for my neck and lower back. because of the injuries i could not work one of my part time jobs.. the ins. co. offered me 12,000 my medical bills are over 9,000 after everything else i would end up with 200.00 my lawyer told me to wait and see what the ins. comp. might come back with, before we think of going to court. I feel helpless due to the fact of lost income , my neck and back will never be the same,it was like getting a slap in the face. can anyone tell me if this is a normal proc. for car ins. com. to do........thank you
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Car accident/ settlement
Hello ~
A case's value depends on many factors, not just the amount of your medical bills. Also taken into consideration are your lost wages and pain and suffering caused by the crash. The quality and experience of your attorney is also considered. Your attorney, who should be experienced in evaluating and handling these cases, is in the best postion to advise you. Given the little information that you provided, it seems that the offer of $12,000 is pitifully low.
Is it a normal procedure for insurance companies to make an initial offer that is very low? YES, it's what they do! It's why injured people need lawyers to protect them.
If you feel that the insurance adjuster is not giving you the respect you deserve during the negotiations, consider either filing suit with your current attorney or consider changing attorneys.
Best wishes for a complete recovery.
~ Bob
401.351.8900