need advice please

from the "beautiful" (not!) State of Indiana.
Me and my son were rear-ended (at a stop light) resulting in minor car damage ($500). Impact was strong enough to cause whip lash injury to me (son is ok). Pain to left side of neck, numbness to left fingers, stiff neck. Therapy, anti-inflammatories and pain killers. Most of my range of motion (about 95%) regained but occasional pain to shoulder blade and neck when turning my head.
Submitted my mri, dr bills and pharmacy bills. My doctor refered me to a neurologist due to mri findings. Insurance claims adjustor stated that she cannot believe the amout of injury because my vehicle only sustained $500 in damages. In the same breath she said she will be fair and look at this and get back to me. Sounds to me she already decided. Need advice please. What are my options?
P.S. I have not gone to any more dr appointments because am afraid I am going to get stuck with the medical bills.
What amount should be the settlement for? And how do I approach the insurance with this?

your option is to contact and attorney and have him/her write a letter to the insurance adjuster stating "We await your quick action on this claim"....

And then set up a few hoops in your front yard so your neighbors can watch the show your insurance adjuster will give jumping through them to end this quickly.

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

She said that for two reasons, neither of which you would know because you're not an attorney.

1. She had to say she'd look at it "to be fair" in order to comply with the law;

2. She sees these types of accident claims each and every day and sees people who overtreat (read, "making a mountain out of a molehill") all the time.

She is an adjuster. She knows the laws. You don't. That's why you're "surprised" about certain things. This may be the biggest thing that's happened to you in years; but, believe me, it's a yawn for adjusters.

So, what do you do?

You even up the playing field and retain your very own personal injury attorney. That way, there's no more surprises for you.

IAAL

That was a quick reply! whished you guys worked for the cable company..lol
Thanks. I will start looking around for a lawyer soon...will post results then.

Good luck and remember, I want a ringside ticket to the show....

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

[quote]Originally posted by Mrtech
[b]


That was a quick reply!

MY RESPONSE: Mrs. Liable says that to me all the time - - but, she's not talking about a "reply" when she says it. Definitely talking about something else.


wished you guys worked for the cable company..lol

MY RESPONSE: She says that to me too.


Thanks. I will start looking around for a lawyer soon...will post results then.

MY RESPONSE: You're welcome, and good move. We await your next syllable.

IAAL

All of your advice point to hiring a lawyer BUT a friend of mine that was in a similar situation says that if she had to do it all over again, she would have settled without a lawyer. She said the fees ate alot of the settlement. She feels that her original insurance offer plus if she had "negotiated" with them she would have gotten more since the insurance company would have saved the need to use their attorney.
I know ins. co. have lawyers on retainer so the expense is not that much. My confusion is since the accident was "minor" and my injuries are not life threatening, just minor reduced activity changes, that my settlement is very little. I dont want lawyers fees taking a big bite of that......

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by Mrtech
All of your advice point to hiring a lawyer BUT a friend of mine that was in a similar situation says that if she had to do it all over again, she would have settled without a lawyer. She said the fees ate alot of the settlement. She feels that her original insurance offer plus if she had "negotiated" with them she would have gotten more since the insurance company would have saved the need to use their attorney.
I know ins. co. have lawyers on retainer so the expense is not that much. My confusion is since the accident was "minor" and my injuries are not life threatening, just minor reduced activity changes, that my settlement is very little. I dont want lawyers fees taking a big bite of that......

**A: oh, in that case and based on your friends one scenario, don't hire a lawyer.

Originally posted by Mrtech
All of your advice point to hiring a lawyer BUT a friend of mine that was in a similar situation says that if she had to do it all over again, she would have settled without a lawyer. She said the fees ate alot of the settlement. She feels that her original insurance offer plus if she had "negotiated" with them she would have gotten more since the insurance company would have saved the need to use their attorney.
I know ins. co. have lawyers on retainer so the expense is not that much. My confusion is since the accident was "minor" and my injuries are not life threatening, just minor reduced activity changes, that my settlement is very little. I dont want lawyers fees taking a big bite of that......

Sure they will talk to you, sound all nice and they will say they will work with you.. but they are only looking out for the insurance company and how fast they can settle the claim. Not to mention how cheap. When you hire a lawyer you have someone working for you not the insurance company.

So if you don't want the full amount you are entitled to sure work with the insurance adjuster yourself but if you want your rights protected.... get a LAWYER!

Did not hire a lawyer yet because I have not had the time.
Went through therapy, mri and medicine. Neck is much better but not back to how it was before the accident. mri doesnt show concrete evidence of recent injury ("degenerative changes with some mild cord compression") In other words, I am in pain for good and maybe due to arthritis (yeah, right. I didn't have this pain before or the crunching and popping in my neck till now)
Adjustor sent an offer to pay medical bills plus 1000 for "pain and suffering" which amounts to about $4000 total.
How do they arrive at this figure? She says the car damage was only 500 so my injuries could not amount to much.
Is it lawyer time or should I accept her offer?
thanks