wednesday woes!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
wednesday woes!!
10
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 5:23pm
I got in a car accident, my car is seemingly not worth repairing, and I probably have to get a new car (be careful what you wish for, you might get it!). The other driver was totally at fault, her insurance company isn't contesting anything. DD was with me and she's fine, but my back is aching!

So, ladies...anyone been here? What can I expect from my insurance company??
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 5:32pm
Oh, Bay! HUGE HUGS!!!!!

I've been there! My ex and I were in a car crash that was totally the other driver's fault . . . . and our car was "totalled" (deemed unworthy of repair).

The other driver's insurance company offered us low kelly blue book value for our car, and offered to pay our medical expenses (I was taken away by ambulance - I had whiplash, a severe contusion on my left knee and a broken collar bone from the seat belt that saved my life). And that was it. OUR insurance company? They did ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOTHING.

I hired an attorney (kind of - LOL - I worked for an attorney who handled my case for free since I did all of the work on it) and went after the insurance company - who settled with "my attorney" for a good amount.

I'm so glad your dd is fine! Where is your back hurting?

Avatar for cl_beckty
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 5:55pm

Oh, hug hug HUG!


I am SO sorry this happened to you. How awful. Thank GOD your daughter is ok. Are you getting to a chiropractor pretty quickly to get your back taken care of? Even a slight fender bender tweaked J's back out last winter, and they did fix him up. It sure doesn't take much to mess it up.


I can't say that I have any advice at all for you. I've never "used" my insurance and around here at work we have on our vehicles, but it's never been a situation where a vehicle was totalled that we owed money on, or that we pushed for more. We do ok here, and it wasn't worth the fight.


Keep us posted and take care of you!!!

Becky

Becky

 

 

Avatar for comountainsprite
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 7:05pm
Huge hugs. Not a lot of advice, we got a pretty fair settlement when ex totalled the jeep. Totally his fault. I do know though that we had a problem when I was in high school and mom totalled her new husband's car (only a month after they got married too). Anyway, the insurance company was balking at some medical bill stuff they should be paying and instead of getting a lawyer (since it was pretty clear they should be paying) we went to the state insurance comission. The insurance company changed their tune and it didn't cost us a dime to get them to do what they were supposed to. Good luck.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 8:12pm
Thanks, that's a great tip about going straight to the top instead of turning to a lawyer...their cut is so great that it's not worth the hassle. I knew that I wanted my next car to be one of those hybrid cars, but I just read online that the waiting list is six mos to two years depending where you are in the country!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 8:15pm
When I got rear ended four or five years ago, I went to a great chiropractor, but he was clear across town and when you have to go two or three times a week...you want one in your hood. The neighbor says she knows of one that people rave about, but she hasn't gotten back to me...I could just get my HMO to refer one if she doesn't get back to me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 8:20pm
The dealer says that my insurance company is pretty good to work with and I haven't heard many people complain about them...I was talking to the claim adjuster just awhile ago and she says that they'll do a little bit better than kelly blue book value if it comes to it. Heck, I wouldn't pay blue book value on my car myself. It was rated top family car in Consumer Reports, but it's a lemon.

It's my waist that's hurting...it didn't hurt at the impact, but later after the jitters went away, it started to ache and I've been taking motrin, stretching and moving. When I got up this morning I could hardly move, but the walking really helps.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2004
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 10:08pm
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Unfortunately your pain will probably be worse tomorrow but hopefully you can find a physical therapist and work through it. If your insurance company is willing to work with you I think that is the best way to go - quicker and less energy for the same result. Good luck.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Wed, 07-14-2004 - 10:09pm

Hi Bay, I'm so sorry to hear about your accident!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Thu, 07-15-2004 - 3:20pm
Hugs! I was in a pretty bad car accident last October and had to have physical therapy and chiropractic adjustments for nearly 6 months to get my neck back to normal.

My situation was similar to yours- the other guy was 100% at fault and there was no contest. My insurance gave me the option to let them handle everything and then they would duke it out with the other guy’s insurance. All of my treatment was paid for through my Personal Injury Protection which is a usual part of auto insurance. My car was repaired through my insurance and the other guy’s insurance reimbursed my deductible within a few days.

Check your insurance plan...most run of the mill basic plans will have at minimum $10,000 in PIP protection which you can use towards treatment of your injuries. Get the treatment you need now while the injury is still fresh. Letting it go can make it far worse later.

Now that my treatment is over, my insurance will collect payment from his insurance. His insurance company will also be contacting me within the next couple of weeks to discuss a personal injury settlement. Although I am not an expert at settlements with insurance companies, they have been very straightforward with me and I did not feel the need to get a lawyer involved. If the situation were different and the insurance company was contesting the claim, I would have probably hired one to make sure my best interests were looked out for.

If you go the Do it yourself route, make sure you keep records of all of your treatments, cost, days missed from work, time taken from work to go for treatment etc... This will all matter when it comes time to settle.

Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Thu, 07-15-2004 - 3:27pm
One more thing, although i'm glad to hear that your daughter is ok and neither of you had to be ambulanced to the hospital, etc... Please don't assume that she is ok just because she has no pain. Sometimes pain from a car accident doesn't manifest itself until days or weeks later. I would be on the cautious side and have her checked out by a doctor just to make sure.