Auto Insurance Claims: policy limit, cervical herniation, personal injury attorney

Question
Hello Richard Hixenbaugh.
I live in Oregon where I had a car accident on October 2006; I sent a demand letter asking for 200,000 due to a cervical herniation. About 10 days ago the insurance company call and tell me that they will pay the policy limit, which is 25,000, and I will receive a check after a week. 10 days have passed and I have not receive any check yet, so I call the insurance company again and the adjuster tell me; first he need me to sign a release before he can send me the check. So I have to wait another week to receive the letter and sign the release and then he will send the check. I do not know if the adjuster is telling me the true or he is trying to gain some time and to prolong the payment, because he know that I have only 2 years limit to file a law suit.
What should I do in this case?
Also what should I do if the adjuster wants me to sing the release, I think my case worth more than 25,000?
I know that I can go with my own insurance company and ask for underinsured motorist coverage (I have 100,000/300,000 in underinsured coverage); but I do not know what are the steps I must follow; please help.

It would be very helpful if you can provide me detailed answers.

Thank you for you time
Sincerely,
Lan  

Answer
Hi Ian,

You should not sign the release form. If you sign the release form you will not be able to pursue any more from your underinsured motorist coverage.

This type of claim can be very difficult. You need to immediately contact a personal injury attorney to handle this for you. There too many things that can go wrong if you try to do this yourself.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh