QuestionMy son was hit by a semi, semi driver sited and admitted he just didn't see my son on highway. Our car spun three times went across the median and ended up on other highway. The auto body shop that my insurance adjuster uses painted the car ( came out with two colors since they didn't match the paint right, we were told take it or pay 15 a day as it stayed there, we took it and dropped it.) They gave us back car and it shook as we drove it, we called insurance and said that it shook they said take it back to auto body they have a place they take it to for checking. Other place said car fine, we took it to another place they said several things wrong with it. tie rod, bent rims, and other things underneath, so insurance again says bring it back to auto body, I had went in a dip on gravel and scraped the front bumper now auto body says my car was wrecked again and that why tie rod etc problem. We didn't try to be dishonest and claim whiplash or any injury to try to steal from the semi insurance, we sure aren't going to cheat to have our car fixed. What is my next step, insurance seems to be only wanting to believe this auto body shop and the tire shop they took it to. The tire shop we took it to wrote out a paper saying everything wrong they found, I gave it to auto body, they called my insurance and say they are done with my car and its new damage. Thank You for any response.
AnswerHi Dawn,
Your question deals with a property damage issue, but I am also going to add a comment about your son’s possible soft tissue injuries.
It sounds like you have enough at stake to warrant spending a little money to hire your own expert. www.SettlementCentral.Com helps with personal injury claims, but our visitors also ask about property damage issues.
I have this page on hiring an expert to help with auto repair shop problems. Take a look at it to see the advantages of hiring an expert http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0457.htm to negotiate with insurance companies and auto body shops.
I would like to see you read up on some other topics that should help you with your auto.
Auto accident first steps—auto body shops—rental car rights http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0458.htm
Auto insurance adjusters and collision repair shops http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0456.htm
Insurance cash for diminished value claims http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0455.htm
FAQ: diminished value insurance claims http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0454.htm
NOW, on to your son’s situation. You and I would surely be under treatment for injuries if we were to be hit by a semi and spun three times. Surely youngsters are better able to deal with trauma, but still, I will bet that he has suffered some soft tissue injuries. Even months after the accident it is never too late to seek medical or chiropractic care from the accident.
Your son’s body suffered a VERY LARGE TRAUMA, and likely impacted his soft tissue connections in ways we do not yet even know. OK, maybe for HIM these injuries do not amount to a long term deal. But in soft tissue cases such as this, the full extent of most injuries is not known immediately, or for months, or even not after finishing early rounds of treatment, because the injured person has to undergo some of the wear and tear of everyday life, including the pounding his body will receive from a day's work. Even jobs that appear not to be physically demanding can be hard on an injured body.
For example, have you ever stood all day with few breaks, as a store checkout clerk or a jewelry salesperson does? Or sat all day at a computer, as a secretary or phone service center employee does? Many jobs will interfere with healing, and you have no way to know how your son's body will respond until he has experienced sufficient physical exposure to load-test the internal scar tissue as he heals.
I don’t know what kind of work your son does, but there is a good chance he will develop pain. Hence he might be tempted to make an early settlement just to get some money. Don’t let him do it. Here is page from my website that shows in detail why you should never make an early personal injury insurance claims settlement http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0211.htm
And, of course, once he settles, THAT IS IT: your son will never see another dime in pain and suffering money. By the way, did you know that getting an early settlement is a favorite trick of the insurance adjusters? Please see my website wherein we show Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0092.htm
I know that you think this is going on too far with this one topic you never asked me about, but I HAVE TO TELL YOU that this is a REAL danger that I have seen many times. So just have patience a bit longer and commit yourself to convey the following to your son and make him follow it. Tell him this:
There may be a dull ache at night following a day at work or some physical activity or pain the next morning. DO NOT LET LITTLE PAINS GO UNATTENDED SINCE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL CONTINUE OR GO AWAY. We all hope and believe that such little pains will disappear soon. But on the other hand, we have no way of knowing since this is the way serious fractures and soft tissue injuries can behave.
So, when this happens, even if a couple months or more post-treatment, do not hesitate to SEE A DOCTOR AND ATTRIBUTE THE PAIN TO THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION. It is NEVER TOO LATE TO REPORT PERSONAL INJURIES FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0104.htm
"No medicine: no money"; medical costs increase worth of personal injury insurance claims http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0045.htm
I trust that my extra time here has produced some information that has been of value to you, and thus I would respectfully request that you take the time to locate the FEEDBACK FORM on this site and leave some feedback for me.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
http://www.SettlementCentral.Com
