by pagina » Tue May 18, 2010 07:01 am
I was the passenger in a car accident back in December. My boyfriend was driving through an intersection when the light turned yellow right as he passed the bar, a man in a f150 ran the light and turned right into us. We were going around 45-50mph at the time we hit. My boyfriend ended up completely fine except for a gash in his leg and a totaled car... I, however, ended up with a punctured lung and possible fractured rib. The reason I say possible is because when I went to the emergency room the night of the accident they took xrays and told me they looked good and that I would be very very sore but fine. They called back two days later and said they found something and needed me to come in for more xrays. Long story short they ended up sending me to a pulmonary doctor who informed me that i had a punctured rib and possibly a fractured rib but to go back for more xrays to find out. I asked him if there was anything they could do for a fractured rib and he said no, it would just tell us if your lung was punctured off of impact or because of the rib. I didnt go to get more xrays becuase i didnt see the need in getting further in debt and having my credit knocked more. By this time we had found out that this accident was going to be a bigger deal than just deciding fault even though the man who ran the light was the only person who got a ticket. It has been an insane battle. The insurance companies finally went to court because both refused to pay. It was determined that the other insurance company failed to make there case. I have at least $2000 dollars in medical bills and a chest that is still healing and hurts at times.
I have a couple questions...
Was it stupid not to go back for more xrays?
How much should i expect for pain and suffering? I would like to have an idea that way i know if i should accept it or keep fighting. This whole thing has taken over 5 months and were still going with it.
And would it help my case at all if i went back to the doctor for a checkup?
Thanks for any help! Im sorry the explanation was so long... i just figured the more information the better.
I have a couple questions...
Was it stupid not to go back for more xrays?
How much should i expect for pain and suffering? I would like to have an idea that way i know if i should accept it or keep fighting. This whole thing has taken over 5 months and were still going with it.
And would it help my case at all if i went back to the doctor for a checkup?
Thanks for any help! Im sorry the explanation was so long... i just figured the more information the better.
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 12:00 pm Post Subject:
I have a couple questions...
In the words of the great Forest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does" lets call it 'unwise' not for your claim but for your health, if your chest is STILL hurting, I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't want it to stop hurting, and find out 'for sure' what's wrong...Was it stupid not to go back for more xrays?
How much should i expect for pain and suffering? I would like to have an idea that way i know if i should accept it or keep fighting. This whole thing has taken over 5 months and were still going with it.
NO ONE on this board can give you a figure, we'd have to see all your medical records, review the accident blah blah...AND more importantly you shouldn't even consider settling until you have healed, or got back to as good as you're going to get...and it doesn't sound like you are there, per....a chest that is still healing and hurts at times.
And would it help my case at all if i went back to the doctor for a checkup?
'help my case'? See here's where injured people and adjusters/insurance companys get sideways with each other...it shouldn't be about building up your claim, (trying to get more money)..it should be about getting well, and your injury..period...I always figure, if a person is truely hurt then they are going to see a doc, regardless of who's paying for it..if you're hurt you're hurt...if you're not, your not...so if you 'need' to see a doc, then go, do NOT go if your only motive is to pad your claim...Thanks for any help! Im sorry the explanation was so long... i just figured the more information the better.
you are correct..So what exactly is your doc or medical records saying about your injury? Did you miss any time from work? Has the carrier made any offer yet? Has your boyfriend settled?
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 02:46 pm Post Subject:
im not really into building my claim... i just want them to pay me something so i can get my medical bills out of my life... im sure my credit is being hit. its been 5 and a half months and they just went to court. the court didnt actually say that they had to pay for anything... they just said they didnt make their case. its been a fight for anything. my boyfriends car was totaled so he had to buy something else that would get him from work and back out of pocket. they have been very very unhelpful and honestly im at the point that i just want them to give me the money and get out of my life!! sorry for my little rant but its very frustrating!
as for my injuries. the only time my chest hurts is when im doing something very exerting... the doctor said it could take 6 months or more before i feel completely back to normal and that there really isnt anything else to do but pain killers. i was on lortab, naproxin and flexril for several weeks. now i feel completely fine other than my lung seems to be weaker than it used to and the occasional pain. doctor said that was normal too. nothing happening thats out of the ordinary so i hadnt seen a point in going to the doctor just yet.
i just want an idea of what would be good to settle on. everyones telling me to sue because of the amount of pain i went through and them being complete honest to goodness jerks! i dont want to go into that at all!! i just want them to settle but i dont even know a little bit what i should expect.
is it legal to refuse a claim when it was your client who ran a light?? i dont understand how they did that.
the carrier has made no offer and are impossible to get a hold of. they went to court on the 5th and we have been unable to contact them sense then.
my boyfriend has not settled yet. neither of us or his insurance company can get a hold of them.
i missed no work because i was not in work at the time but going to school full time.
thanks for your help! im honestly not out to get money i just dont want them to try to convince me my injury was "no big deal"
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 03:06 pm Post Subject:
the only time my chest hurts is when im doing something very exerting... the doctor said it could take 6 months or more before i feel completely back to normal and that there really isnt anything else to do but pain killers.
Broken ribs are a pain in the . . . chest. It will be a long time before it feels fine.
i just want an idea of what would be good to settle on. everyones telling me to sue because of the amount of pain i went through
Everyone is a lawyer. Well, if as you stated, your primary concern is to have your medical bills covered, then acting reasonable with the insurance company will get that taken care of. If not the party that ran into your boyfriend's car, then you file a claim against your boyfriend's insurance company. Or both. (You can only collect once -- so you let them sort it out.)
When they're ready to settle on the actual damages, the medical bills, and you get an agreement for 100% of that loss + future directly-related expenses, then you can ask, "Now I experienced an awful lot of pain and had to take a lot of prescription drugs and other painkillers. Can I have a little extra for that? I'm not trying to be greedy, but, to me, it's worth $xxx" (probably not more than one comma and only one digit to the left of the comma -- that's for you to decide).
If you're acting reasonably, you should expect the same in return. Doesn't always work that way, but usually.
You'll have a harder time dealing with a credit card company than most insurance companies.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 03:39 am Post Subject: broken ribs
I'm not at fault for this accident, but I had broken/shattered ribs and a collapsed lung and a tube in my chest for a week. I'm off work for a month? what should I expect for pain and suffering? My bills eceeded $30,000.
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 04:56 am Post Subject:
Always Start a new thread for your query.
While I'm really sorry for your sufferings, determining an amount for pain and suffering can be tough.
You may get the help of your treating doctor to give you an idea, you may also ask your insurance agent and he might provide you with a proper figure.
Usually the amount for pain and suffering is kept high as it's negotiated down while settling.
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