How much will car insurance pay for my accident?
Question:
I live in Logan, Utah and I was stopped at a red light when a car rear ended me going about 35 to 40 mph. I got whiplash and my neck, back and shoulder's have been hurting since. I also have headache's. The insurance company that will be paying for my injuries is allstate and they said they won't pay for excessive bills. How can I tell which bills they will count as reasonable and which bills aren't. I don't want to end up paying for anything, but I need to go see someone. Will they pay for chiropractors? massages? going to the doctor? I just don't know. I am also wondering how much money they will pay me once I settle. I'm not able to go to work because I'm a hairstylist and I can't hold my arm's up very long. I already tried to go to work, but I just couldn't do it so i came home early. Please Help! This is my first accident and I don't know what to do
Answer:
As a former auto adjuster, I can give you some facts to think about.
It appears that after this accident you did not go to the ER, nor have you been seen by anyone for your whiplash. After a rear end accident, whiplash is common and could be expected. I suggest you make an appointment with your family doctor if you have one or if not, go to an urgent care vs the ER, since the urgent care is less expensive. A doctor will explain if you need physical therapy, a chiropractor or just need some pain meds and/or muscle relaxers. Do what the doctor tells you, since they will exam you and know what is best. Also, if you are unable to work, you will need a doctors statement showing you are unable to work period, otherwise they will not consider that in your claim. Many people do not work after an accident and many adjusters will allow a day or 2 no problem, but if more, you better have a doctors statement saying unable to work.
Now one other thing that may surprise you, but Allstate will not be paying your medical bills period. So if you think, go to the doctor and submit to Allstate to pay, forget it, since they are not YOUR insurance company. I suggest you call YOUR auto insurance company to see if you have medical payments and/or PIP coverage on YOUR policy to pay for any medical bills.
Now here is where the real problem comes on what is reasonable or what they really mean is over-treating. Allstate years ago used a data base that based on your injuries and treatment received, will tell them if the bills were reasonable or if the computer told them that you over-treated. So if this database says that based on your injury, you should have treated and been well by 3 months and you continued to treat for 6 months, then they will not pay for the last 3 months of treatment and throw it out. That was years ago and even if you were to ask them, they will deny they use it today or ever in the past. They may have stopped using it.
So what will happen is that AFTER you are done treating, they get copies of the medical bills and all the medical reports from your doctors, then they will make you an offer of settlement that would include REIMBURSEMENT of your medical bills plus pain/suffering.
No one here on Y/A can tell you what your injury is worth since at this point if you have not been treated by a doctor who can document that you in fact are injured. Even if you state that you had such and such treatment and the cost was such and such, even myself as a former auto adjuster could not state what your settlement might be worth, since we do not have your file and any medical reports you would get from treatment.
Call your own insurance company and they will advise you if you seek medical treatment.
good luck
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