Auto Insurance Claims: Claim, nerve pain, accurate idea

Question
Details-
-rear ended on freeway as traffic slowed for heavy traffic
-cited driver, USM, no driver license, no job, legal issues
-current medical bills including 26,000 for hospital -40,000
-lost work 10 days
-required to self cath for 5 weeks
-major issue is compression of c-5
-may have long term loss of use in hand (hard to prove I guess)
-constant ongoing nerve pain
-all the other stuff that goes with this type of injury, lost vacation, missed work and the self cath every 6 hours has limited freedom...still ongoing problem
Question:  Based on the facts above and not wishing to have an attorney how should I figure pain and suffering that is reasonable.  My major medical is paying the bills, but I am sure will wish to be reimbursed.  Any thoughts would be of great help.
Thank you,
Steve

Answer
Hello,

No one can give you any accurate idea as to what this case is worth without knowing ALL the specifics on your pain and injury, especially on a forum like this.

It sounds like you have some very serious injuries and if you are trying to settle this by yourself without the assistance of an attorney, your dealing with the insurance company is like a lamb being left to slaughter!

I personally have been through what you are going through when I was rear ended by a school bus while stopped at a light and he hit me at 60mph. That was 12 years ago. I am now disabled courtesy of that experience. Yes, I looked into the future at the time, but everything turned out worse tenfold, including the demise of my 20 year marriage.

I do not know your reason for not using an attorney, but I sure would recommend it. The insurance company is not your friend. You are just a number, the lowest number they can get you to sign off on.


Consider as well which many don't--in many states if you get a settlement, your major medical will do everything they can to collect.

My major medical paid out $40,000. They got this money right off the top of the settlement!!! I don't know if this is your situation, but I never knew it and found out the hard way, just as many have since 1997. This is why you need an attorney. If you are required to pay the medical back, the attorney can negotiate that fee.

Do some checking around before you dive into settling this yourself. I will give you some free advice however, DON'T believe anything your are being told by the insurance company. They have a tendency of leaving details like this out.

Check all your options before rushing into settlement. Look at the future.

Good Luck!

Rob