June 4, 2010, 9:25 am
Ok. Got rear-ended 5 months ago, not my fault. Other car's insurance USAA paid for the damage on Lexus SUV which was $5000 (bumper, trunk and central pipe, muffler). I've been receiving medical treatment and doctor said my maximum recovery date was last week. Medical Bills are about 7000 bucks. So I was hoping to settle without a lawyer ebcause I didn't want to pay lawyer 1/3. The insurance lady called me and said "We are offering you $1500 for pain and suffering alone. Not including medical bills" and said, I should call back ASAP as she was going to be promoted and change job so she wants to settle my case before she leaves so that the other adjuster doesn't have to start from scratch again.. HAHA. (that's not my problem) My frirend settled for about 15k last year for similar injury for pain and suffering only and he's laughing at the lady's $1500 offer saying that tha'ts 10% of what he got. What's the ideal settlement I should counter the lady? How about the medical bills? If I settle pain and suffering now, who takes care of med bills? you think Is it better to deal with a lawyer?