Car Accident (Has This Happen to Anyone Else)

[Anonymous]

A couple months ago I, along with two other people, were in a car accident (not at fault), which resulted in my car being deemed as a total loss. I and the person at fault had the same car insurance, which seemed to make the process go faster, in regards to the payout of my car. I am just now trying to get some medical attention for my back pain etc….the insurance is now saying they are probably not going to cover any medical bill or offer me a pain/suffering payment since its been so long after the accident happened? One person in the car who sought medical treatment right away has received four hundred dollars and all medical expenses have been paid! Can they do this to me?? Is this worth suing them over? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Well, from their perspective how are they to know you didn't do something else to injure your back in the last two months?

[Anonymous]

OP here, excellent point, but one of the reps explained to me that I could always seek medical attention whenever I needed it since the claim would take awhile to be settled. I feel like I have been taken advantaged of by my own insurance company.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? You think you can wait a few months and then be offended that the insurance company might not welcome such a claim with open arms? And that you're being taken advantage of? Come on, grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? You think you can wait a few months and then be offended that the insurance company might not welcome such a claim with open arms? And that you're being taken advantage of? Come on, grow up.

Yes, if my insurance adjuster told me I could wait when he clearly knew upfront that waiting would screw me over in the end. Your snarky comment is completely unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

But really, you have to realistically expect that the insurance company is going to take your word for it that an injury that only now is getting you to seek attention can be tied to that accident. And even if the adjuster told you that, you should be worldly enough to realize that an insurance company is not going to be too excited to pay a claim that they can't in any way see for sure happened in the accident. If you wanted to be sure to have it covered, you should have gone to a doctor immediately.

Big shocker, insurance companies try really hard to not pay claims. And you gave them a big ole' gift by not immediately seeking medical attention.

[Anonymous]

Why didn't you get medical attention at the time of the accident?

Your claim now could be related to anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? You think you can wait a few months and then be offended that the insurance company might not welcome such a claim with open arms? And that you're being taken advantage of? Come on, grow up.

Yes, if my insurance adjuster told me I could wait when he clearly knew upfront that waiting would screw me over in the end. Your snarky comment is completely unnecessary.

I agree with the PP. if it makes you feel better, I probably wouldn't have added the last sentence. But you let a couple of months go by. Anyone, especially someone with a financial interest in the situation, would question the cause and effect of the injury and need for medical assistance with that much time in between.

Do you have the name of the person who told you that you would be ok and the date they told you?

[Anonymous]

If you can prove it is related tot he accident then they have to cover it. yes you can sue them. I wwould push back and tell them they can either send you to a doc they will cover or you will start looking for counsel. Unless you signed something agreeing that you were not injured and waived all claims (you didn't, did you, OP, when you accepted the check for your car?), you are not anywhere close to being time barred for your claims. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

And what's the best way to prove an injury is related to an accident? To go to the doctor right after it happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And what's the best way to prove an injury is related to an accident? To go to the doctor right after it happened.

Not necessarily. The type of injury may make it clear it is related to the accident. Also, many soft tissue injuries do not show up for awhile, PP. Early in my career, I was involved in cases where there was a real question as to the cause of the back problem, the claim did not come up for many months, and the plaintiff won (too bad for me; I was representing the insurance company).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? You think you can wait a few months and then be offended that the insurance company might not welcome such a claim with open arms? And that you're being taken advantage of? Come on, grow up.

You are an asshole, PP.

OP, I was rear-ended recently in the last month and my insurance said I had up to a year to submit medical bills. I really felt a lot of pain and stiffness that day. Some has subsided and some has not. I don't think it's weird putting off going to the doctor b/c you don't know what will just go away and what will linger.

Which insurance is it?

[Anonymous]

There's a difference between when it's okay to submit medical bills and when you go for treatment.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your trying to screw over the insurance company.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hate to say this, but if you insurance company (which you share with the at-fault driver) was on the ball, you have probably already signed away your rights to sue. Check your records or with your agent. Or the person who got only $400 may have signed away their rights. Insurance companies try to get those in accidents to do this right away just so they don't have to worry about claims like yours coming in months or years after the fact.