NonDawg Car Accident Advice
- Thread starter Darth Dawg
- Start date
When I was a claim rep for one of the top 3 auto insurance companies, 95% lawyer couldn’t do shit to help with property damage. So DO NOT hire an attorney unless you’re injured from the accident. The company may try to lowball you some at first, but stand your ground and you’ll get the same payout as someone who stood their ground at the behest of their attorney. There’s a reason most attorneys don’t touch their client’s PD claim at all. Pointless.
Agreed. An attorney NEVER impacted my settlement amounts when it came to PD, they just got in the f’n way.
My lower back has tightened up and is sore. I’m going to a Dr. after work today just to get checked out.
Probably a stupid thing to say but you’d be surprised - hang onto any and every bill you may have related to the injuries. Make sure the other guys insurance company is aware you’re seeking possible treatment too so they can get a BI adjuster on it.
Glad it wasn't worse. My advice, keep ALL YOUR receipts for any out of pocket expenses related to the accident. Gas, time off work, transportation expenses, etc. If you're not seriously injured do not get an attorney as they'll drag the process out and take 30%.
Follow doctors instructions in regards to treatment and follow up plans. When you speak to at fault parties insurance advise them of your injury and that you've sought medical treatment so they can open an injury claim. Send all your receipts to them once you've completed treatment.
Hope you feel better soon. If you didn’t seek a whole lot of treatment and aren’t looking for much Don’t hire an attorney. Wouldn’t be worth the time or cost. As a BI adjuster I had authority up to 2500 and sometimes more if it was warranted. But you’ve had to seek a bunch of treatment or think you might may be worth hiring one.
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Yeah....that's not how that works.
My pro bono DV practice continues to grow.
To that dudes credit, his insurance company DOES have attorneys (you know, like me) but they’re not really there to help policyholders get money
That's what I'm thinking too. There is a huge negotiable element with injury claims. Not so much so with PD claims. Heck, most injury attorneys aren't even going to get involved the PD claim at all.
My guess is that if the OP is hurt and hires an attorney, his attorney is only going to focus on the BI claim. I think it's pretty rare, almost non-existent have an attorney for only the PD claim
your goal is to get the truck totalled out, the value of your truck is much lower than it would be without the wreck and if u are financing you are likely waaaay upside down now and just fixing the truck wont make up for your financial loss. Get a lawyer because he will battle the insurance company. A good lawyer will get it done plus some money for trouble. DO NOT TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN or you will get screwed.
To echo what has been said, get your own attorney to look out for you. Don’t trust any insurance company and don’t do it yourself—and I say this as an insurance defense attorney.
Don't trust the insurance carriers, but trust the attorneys??
Axle broken? Its totaled if so. Front ends are expensive as well in general. If you are not hurt dont call a lawyer. Your insurance company if good can guide you and if the other company balks file under yours. Dont make it too complicated, get it replaced and move on.
When you’re paying them to get you money. Yeah they win when you do.
GAP only comes into play of the vehicle is a total.
Courts are backed up 2-3 years, the AutoZone rep knows that and will use it.
@Darth Dawg
how bad is your neck and back? I’m sure you must be having terrible headaches. You could have long term injuries while also suffering loss of consortium.
This is precisely why I pay my $99 ... I knew this thread would deliver. Although I agree with @donalsonville_dawg - tremendous amount of misinformation ITT - he called it early. Good luck OP on figuring out the correct advice to follow - so I’ll abstain from chiming in to only confuse you further.
I want to thank everyone for the advice. I just got out of the dr. office and it might be more serious than I thought. I’ve already contacted a lawyer and will get that process going tomorrow.
A brand new truck is going to be repairable unless you did some catastrophic damage. Any new truck is north of 30 grand and an insurance company will go to 70% of the total value in most cases.
A broken axle won’t nearly total a new truck. Even if he bought a Ford Ranger, that’s a 30 thousand dollar truck. They aren’t totaling anything unless that estimate starts around 60% of the value.
Been doing this a while. You are right, but I would suggest he do his best to get it totaled. It will never been the same if it is damaged too much.
Maybe if it’s a 1+ million dollar claim with major implications. That’s about the only way that’ll happen
I’m about to say something that is very key to your success with dealing with the other people insurance companies. That is
You have the right to remain silent.... you can’t introduce your own statement. When they call I wouldn’t say a word . With being like someone like autozone make the sweat it , they you are not feeling well to talk now . That phase there will tac on a few hundred.
You have the right to remain silent.... you can’t introduce your own statement. When they call I wouldn’t say a word . With being like someone like autozone make the sweat it , they you are not feeling well to talk now . That phase there will tac on a few hundred.
I don't know Jack crap about how insurance companies do their thing but do NOT be afraid to fight for what you think is fair. STICK to your guns no matter what! I had to go through a DV argument with an insurance company who said they didn't have to pay ANY DV to me. Insurance companies bank on you being ignorant. Same thing with me, other person's fault. Adjuster tried to pull the wool over my eyes. I told him I did not agree with him and I would not accept their settlement. So, I filed a complaint with the state insurance commissioner. Had a nice chat with them. You have to do that stuff online. I had scanned documents, uploaded them through the online forms; was very detailed. Complained and put in writing the adjustor's name. What do you know, the adjustor (the same one who said they would not pay anything), gives me a call and says I will be sent a nice $900 check. My car was 3 years old. ))
It was how it worked when my daughter was in an accident and it worked quite well
I will tell you this - if you are in a wreck and it is the other person's fault, always GO TO THE DOCTOR! You are hurt, and you will be checked-out! This is the best leverage you have - trust me, from first hand experience twice in the past three years.
