Auto Insurance Claims: Auto Claim, mild brain injury, lump sum settlement

Question
Hello.  A friend of mine was a pedestrian walking and hit by a car she has aaa insurance and this attorney she had filed a civial lawsuit quickly after her filing a claim without her concent and aaa did not send a denial letter.  No one has explained to her what benefits she should get and so far aaa has paid nothing to date and she has no job from a mild brain injury she is having a hard time with school.  She fired the last attorney and has no repsentation now and the aaa attorneys are calling her doctors telling them about a bias midleading police report indicating her injuries are minimal and that she is a lier wanting only money, but obviously her injuries state differently.  She did not have complete broken bone but has nerve damage, whiplash, mild brain injury. How can we get aaa to send a letter in writing why they are not paying for her income while she is off work?  How can we make sure they stop talking with the doctors?  How do you find out what benefits she is entitled to?  She needs help cleaning the house and getting a ride to the doctors when she needs
to be under for procedures.  Since this last attorney sucked and kepted changing the deposition she did, she did do a deposition about one month ago, we are not sure what to do next.  There is another insurance company involved for workers comp but they stoped paying back in 2006.
 Please help."


Answer
Hi Carolyn,

This is a very complicated situation.

AAA will not pay any lost wages or medical bills as they are incurred. This will be a one time lump sum settlement once all of the medical treatment in completed.

Since there are significant injuries as well as a possible workers comp claim involved, I would highly recommed that you find a new attorney. However you must know that there will be no settlement until all treatment is finished. The is may still take several months or even a year or more to reach a settlement. It is not a quick process.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh