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Expert: webfoot - 6/2/2006


Question
It has been 2 months since the demand letter was sent. The adjuster says the nurse is still examining the x-rays and they shoul be talking with me shortly. Is this normal? Or does is take longer than this?
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Followup To

Question -
Hi, I was hit by a guy that ran a red light on Oct. 2, 2005. He admitted that to police and his insurance company. I had to get extensive dental surgery because of several top teeth being knocked out, and I have been diagnosed as having Post traumatic stress disorder. I am currently taking trazadone and zoloft. my total medical bills are $14,000.00.Accident happened in Ky. but his insurance company is in Charlotte North Carolina.

Answer -
Beverly,
I'm sure sorry that you've had to go through this and hopefully you will soon make a full recovery. It certainly sounds like a real nightmare.

However, my expertise lies more toward the actual automotive side of the insurance forum.  I have handled minor bodily injury cases mostly involving soft tissue injuries and can only address your question from that standpoint and my gut instinct from industry experience.  You are also receiving a very candid and honest answer as I have no product or service to offer on this forum.

Having your teeth knocked out in an accident is a pretty serious injury and should result in a fair settlement.  You will have to judge what level of compensation that you are willing to accept without going through the legal system.  

I do know that in many bodily injury (BI) settlements, I was often willing to offer as much or nearly as much as the claimant's attorney ended up getting.  Therefore, the claimant actually received less money through the attorney, due to the 33-50% contingency that the attorney received.  This, however isn't always the case.  

Answer
Two months sounds awfully long to conduct an investigation, but they may be looking at other things now with the PTSD claim.  Generally, it's in the company's best interest to get these things settled ASAP so there is likely something else going on there.

I'll be interested in hearing the outcome on this one.
Thanks,
Matt

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webfoot

Expertise

Auto damage, liability, insurance fraud. I am a full time auto insurance adjuster with experience in collision, theft, liability and fraud investigation. I am also an ASE Master Auto Tech and I-Car Collision Platinum certified. My experience includes 15 years in the auto repair industry, a B.S. in Criminal Justice, Law enforcement and auto insurance. ****** NO "PRIVATE" QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED. I HAVE FOUND THAT NEARLY ALL PRIVATE QUESTIONS COME FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING OR ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT FELONY INSURANCE FRAUD AND I'M NOT HERE TO HELP YOU! ****** I AM HERE TO ANSWER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, CLAIMS PROCESS AND SOME SIMPLE LIABILITY QUESTIONS. I CANNOT ADDRESS COMPLEX LIABILITY SCENARIOS WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THE INFO FROM BOTH SIDES IN FRONT OF ME. QUESTIONS ABOUT PREMIUMS OR HOW INSURANCE IS RATED SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO YOUR PERSONAL INSURANCE AGENT WHO KNOWS A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT YOUR HISTORY THAN I DO. I'VE NEVER SOLD INSURANCE AND DO NOT KNOW IF YOUR INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE RATES WILL GO UP IF YOU MAKE A CLAIM. THOUGH I'VE HANDLED SOME VERY MINOR SOFT TISSUE INJURY SETTLEMENTS, I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER INJURY RELATED QUESTIONS. I'M NO INJURY EXPERT AND I'LL LIKELY SAY SOMETHING TO HURT SOMEONE'S FEELINGS AS I BELIEVE THAT MANY SOFT TISSUE PAIN AND SUFFERING CLAIMS ARE OVER DRAMATIZED. UNLIKE MANY OTHERS, I AM ON THIS FORUM AS A VOLUNTEER WITH NO PRODUCTS OR SERVICES TO SELL AND PROMISE AN UPFRONT ANSWER BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN BOTH SIDES OF THE INDUSTRY. IF YOU PROVIDE ME WITH A HONEST VERSION OF EVENTS, I PROMISE A CANDID AND HONEST ANSWER IN RETURN. I CANNOT ADDRESS ALL CLAIM SCENERIOS DUE TO DIFFERING STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, BUT WILL DO MY BEST. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AN HONEST ANSWER MAY BE ONE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE SO IF THAT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, PLEASE DON'T ASK THE QUESTION. LASTLY, I DO NOT ACCEPT RATINGS AS I DON'T DO THIS FOR RATINGS AND WISH TO SPEAK FREELY.

Experience

20 years in automotive industry, Currently in insurance claims, worked actively as technician and shop owner until about 10 years ago. Current ASE Master Auto Tech and I-Car Platinum Collision Certifications, B.S. Criminal Justice and 10 year auto insurance/extended warranty background

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