This is in Maryland. I'll try to be brief.
I was in an auto accident in October 2002. The car in front of me stopped suddenly when trying to enter the highway, and I clipped the back of his car trying to avoid him. The police came, and noone was cited.
I was contacted by his insurance company requesting all of my information and payment for an unspecified amount in 2003, then nothing again until 2004. I wrote to them requesting a copy of the damage report and claim amount. They sent me this in March 2004 with request for total amount $736.00. Because I admit I was following too close to the other driver and I had no interest in going to court over a relatively minor amount, I paid them each month, and they sent me a letter each month stating my updated balance. When I called them in November 2004 to make my final payment (which should have been $100), the rep who answered stated he just that month took over my case (I had dealt with another individual the previous 8 months), he put me on hold for a while, then came back to the phone and told me I owed "a lot more than that." He stated I owed $30,000 for medical expenses. I flipped out and asked why I had not been previously notified. He said they didn't know about it when they sent my total balnce due back in March. I asked for some proof of this amount due.
A few days later I received a "check stub" in the mail for $30K paid to the other driver dated April 2004, and no other documentation.
When I asked them why noone had notified me between April and November that I owed this, he stated that he didn't know. Seeing as how I was in contact with them every single month during that period, I find that a little odd.
I asked for further documentation proving why I owed this much; I never received anything except a form trying to get me to sign over all rights and promise to repay the entire amount. I refused to sign this.
I now have reason to believe they have filed suit for $25,000 (I received a letter from a defense lawyer a few months ago trying to get my business), but have not received any summons or notification.
Do I have any chance of avoiding total payout? I have no problem paying what I owe, but I find this whole dealing totally shady.
I was in an auto accident in October 2002. The car in front of me stopped suddenly when trying to enter the highway, and I clipped the back of his car trying to avoid him. The police came, and noone was cited.
I was contacted by his insurance company requesting all of my information and payment for an unspecified amount in 2003, then nothing again until 2004. I wrote to them requesting a copy of the damage report and claim amount. They sent me this in March 2004 with request for total amount $736.00. Because I admit I was following too close to the other driver and I had no interest in going to court over a relatively minor amount, I paid them each month, and they sent me a letter each month stating my updated balance. When I called them in November 2004 to make my final payment (which should have been $100), the rep who answered stated he just that month took over my case (I had dealt with another individual the previous 8 months), he put me on hold for a while, then came back to the phone and told me I owed "a lot more than that." He stated I owed $30,000 for medical expenses. I flipped out and asked why I had not been previously notified. He said they didn't know about it when they sent my total balnce due back in March. I asked for some proof of this amount due.
A few days later I received a "check stub" in the mail for $30K paid to the other driver dated April 2004, and no other documentation.
When I asked them why noone had notified me between April and November that I owed this, he stated that he didn't know. Seeing as how I was in contact with them every single month during that period, I find that a little odd.
I asked for further documentation proving why I owed this much; I never received anything except a form trying to get me to sign over all rights and promise to repay the entire amount. I refused to sign this.
I now have reason to believe they have filed suit for $25,000 (I received a letter from a defense lawyer a few months ago trying to get my business), but have not received any summons or notification.
Do I have any chance of avoiding total payout? I have no problem paying what I owe, but I find this whole dealing totally shady.