Please help 16 yr old in accident

mama54 · #1 07-20-2005, 11:07 PM

What is the name of your state?Tennessee My 16yr old daughter was in an accident.She was a passenger.The car flipped several times.There was no question that the driver was at fault.My daughter recieved a closed head injury,or concussion and a seperated ac.The claims rep for the other company acts like these are soft tissue injurys and the liability claim aint worth much.Is this true.She has suffered alot of pain and is still emotionally distraught.Thanks

teflon_jones · #2 07-21-2005, 08:18 AM

What is a separated ac? I'm drawing a blank...

A (minor) concussion is considered a soft tissue injury.

mama54 · #3 07-21-2005, 09:07 AM

Something seperated in shoulder,I know its very painfull.Do you know how much these types of injuries settle for in a accident personal injury claim?

teflon_jones · #4 07-21-2005, 10:19 AM

There is no standard for settlement beyond medical bills plus maybe some amount for pain and suffering. How much that amount is is impossible to determine.

mama54 · #5 07-21-2005, 10:47 AM

So who determines that amount.If its the insurance claims rep,Do you just accept whatever they offer?The claims rep came to my house,he told me that she was an innocent passenger,and deserved something,and wanted to know what amount we were looking at.Sounds fishy,coming from the drivers claims rep.

djohnson · #6 07-21-2005, 03:00 PM

If you are looking to get more out of this than medical and a possible pitance for pain and suffering, you need an attorney. Because it is a soft tissue injury, I personally don't think you could get very much.

mama54 · #7 07-22-2005, 01:55 PM

I am looking for medical,and pain and suffering.She has been in alot of pain.it has ruined her summer,she still has headaches,she plays basketball,but cant play now due to the seperated ac,it is very painfull.Is there a scale they go by to determine for pain?

#8 07-22-2005, 02:01 PM

yeah, you need the assistance of a legal specialist to determine the proper amount that you need to ask as compensation. it will not only include financial damages but physical pain and emotional suffering too. you can search an attorney through online referral services.

mama54 · #9 07-28-2005, 08:05 PM

meatcutter can you please answer this one.Thanks

Meatcutter · #10 07-28-2005, 09:07 PM

Mama54

I don't have a number for you because most pain and suffering settlements are worth what you are willing to accept. I would first off ask the claims adjuster to let you know what he is offering. Alot of times in negotiations they will try and have you give them a value, if it's low then they will respond with and offer that is a little bit less.

Have him evaluate the injury and make you an offer then reasses and see if this offer is acceptable to you. I am a bit biased against attorneys as more often the not i see them take alot of the settlement that the victim should have received. But attorneys do command respect and if you feel the insurance company's offer is very low then you might consider an attorney. A shoulder seperation and concussion demands a decent pain and suffering settlement.

Sorry I can't give you a number but again, the value of the claim is really what you think it's worth.

mama54 · #11 07-28-2005, 09:36 PM

Thanks for the info,at least it tells me that even though the claims rep acts like these injuries aint much,they are worth something.I told the insurance claims rep that we wanted to file a bodily injury liability claim.He ask me what I thought it was worth,that was a month ago.How long should I give them,before I hire a lawyer.Would really like to settle this myself,but when he told me the injurys wasnt worth much,I TOLD HIM THAT i WOULD JUST HIRE A LAWYER.He just told me that it wouldnt make the claim worth more.Thanks