My children and I were involved in an automobile accident approximately 5 months ago. We were sitting at a traffic light and someone rear-ended us. Fortunately, both myself and the guy that hit us were both driving pick-up trucks as he did hit us hard. I took both my daughters to the doctor (they are 12 years and 8 years old), and my youngest daughter had a bruise clear accross her stomach from the seat belt, and her neck hurt. The doctor diagnosed her with a deep contusion to the stomach and a neck strain. My 12 year old was complaining of a headache and her neck hurting. The doctor diagnosed her with a cervical/neck sprain and gave her a prescription for the pain. She had a headache for about 5 to 7 days before it went away. This was the only time I took them to the doctor as they started feeling better after a few weeks.
Now, here is my question**************the gentleman's insurance company that hit us will not pay for their doctor bills until we settle the claim. I told the insurance company that I didn't feel the need to obtain an attorney because I didn't expect that I would need one because I don't want anything that's not due to me. However, the insurance adjuster only offered to settle my daughters claims by paying their medical bills and giving both my daughter's $100.00 each to settle.
I think that this offer was not a fair one. I feel that based on my children's ages and that my 12 year old really complained about her neck hurting for a while after the accident, the offer to settle should have at least been $500.00 each, in the event either one of them would have any future problems, particulary my 12 year old. Can you tell me if I'm out of line for thinking this way? I mean, by the time I add up my gas for my vehicle to take them to the doctor, my time off work to take them, gas to pick-up and drop off the rental car while my truck was being prepared and to and from the body shop and my time off work for this as well, I am losing money when the accident wasn't even my fault.
Is $500.00 a reasonable settlement amount for each child? Is their a typical settlement amount for these types of injuries and accidents. Please help as I have no clue what is fair and reasonable for this type of situation. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I almost forgot, we reside in Georgia. Thanks.
Now, here is my question**************the gentleman's insurance company that hit us will not pay for their doctor bills until we settle the claim. I told the insurance company that I didn't feel the need to obtain an attorney because I didn't expect that I would need one because I don't want anything that's not due to me. However, the insurance adjuster only offered to settle my daughters claims by paying their medical bills and giving both my daughter's $100.00 each to settle.
I think that this offer was not a fair one. I feel that based on my children's ages and that my 12 year old really complained about her neck hurting for a while after the accident, the offer to settle should have at least been $500.00 each, in the event either one of them would have any future problems, particulary my 12 year old. Can you tell me if I'm out of line for thinking this way? I mean, by the time I add up my gas for my vehicle to take them to the doctor, my time off work to take them, gas to pick-up and drop off the rental car while my truck was being prepared and to and from the body shop and my time off work for this as well, I am losing money when the accident wasn't even my fault.
Is $500.00 a reasonable settlement amount for each child? Is their a typical settlement amount for these types of injuries and accidents. Please help as I have no clue what is fair and reasonable for this type of situation. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I almost forgot, we reside in Georgia. Thanks.