Is $1600 a fair offer for a accident settlement?

Question

We were in a recent accident and my 18 yr old son went to the hospital with a pain in his side soon after. He was released about 2 hours later and given a muscle relaxer. He seemed fine and didn't have to continue taking the med. The insurance adjuster called and offered the above amount factoring ambulance, pain & suffering (bill from hospital sent was $762) I was wondering if this was fair or should we renegotiate? My husband has a lawyer for his injuries but due to my son not having continual problems, he's not being represented. Any suggestions? Thanks

Answer 1

absolutely NOT enuff $$$ - get another lawyer, one who has your son's interest in mind and is not 2 lazy - geez Louise!!!!

Answer 2

I was in an accident ( not @ fault) and their  insurance comp has been trying to offer me a settlement, since the very next day.  That was several years ago. In your case the  bills,and ambulance ride equal  that amount  alone.  Pain and suffering, you have to think about not just now but in the future. Get a lawyer.  It took a year for a problem to arise which was a direct result from the accident I was in.  I had to have surgery. Now a year aft. surgery and still in physical, emotional,and psychological pain.  Good luck!

Answer 3

sounds too low to me, don't take it and talk to a lawyer before you talk to the insurance company.

Take my word for it because it happened to me years ago and to this day I have pain but was never paid for it because at the time the pain didn't seem to be a concern. Now that I am getting older, it is rough and I have no way of going after them.

Answer 4

To me it sounds like he wasn't really even injured. I think that is a VERY generous offer. I would not have offered that much. I would take the money and run. They are paying meds and offering some money for your son's inconvenience (spending 2 hours at ER) since there was no injury to speak of. Very good offer.

Answer 5

My first question would be, who was determined to be at fault for the accident? If you or your son were determined to be at fault, I would take the offer because you aren't going to get very far in court otherwise.

Answer 6

So the insurance company is sending just enough to cover the ambulance costs and the hospital bill.    Did your son miss any work as a result of this accident?  Did he see a psychologist, mental health provider, physician, chiropractor or other professional after the accident in order to address medical and/or emotional issues of  stress, trauma,  anguish, pain, flashbacks, etc. experienced as a result of the accident?

Even if the answers to both of those questions is, "no," the amount you are being offered seems to be cutting it too close and makes no allowances for expenses that you might have forgotten or overlooked, not to mention additional hospital expenses that have a way of trickling in after the fact.

Answer 7

How much are your son's total medical bills?   Was this the adjusters first offer?

If his total bills are 800 then 1600 is very fair. Your son has a soft tissue injury. He was sore for a bit but did not have to take all the medication and no follow up was necessary. It's not a big money injury.

If you want to counter- you can - see what the adjuster does with it. You may want to counter at 2400 and see what the adjuster comes back with - They may end up splitting the difference with you at 2000. The adjuster will have room to move (if it's a first offer) but not a lot. They are not going to offer 1600 if they are willing to pay 5000. But they could offer 1600 and be willing to go to 1800 or 2000.

**** not legal advice -- only a lawyer can give legal advice -- use at own risk ***