Need an answer by Monday

by fireyone » Sun Apr 05, 2009 01:25 pm

I am trying to figure out what is fair here. About two years ago my daughter was with me when involved in a car wreck. She had some whiplash and a swollen face (from airbag). She seen her doctor a few times over a month and then a chiropracter for about 2.5- 3 months following the accident. Her leg was swollen also and the family Doctor would not allow her to go to cheer camp so she had to drop off the squad since she could not complete the camp which was required.
Now the chiro lost all her records when moving to a new location. He said the new chiro had them and the new chiro said the old one did. Never got to the bottom of this after searching for a while so we finally gave up. The only records there are now is the hospitol and ER records, the family doc records and all the tests.
The other company is offering $2,000. At first I thought this seemed okay but now I am double guessing myself. See I know it is suppose to be what you feel is right but I am afraid I am making the wrong choice here. Her medial bills were roughly over a fifteen hudred without the chiro bills. This guy failed to bill the insurance because he was caught up in a big move. Can someone give me an honest idea as to if this is fair? I am considering the amount of bills and loss of cheering and don't know if the offer sounds so good now.
I have to call sometime on Monday so I wouls really appreciate the help. Thanks

Total Comments: 7

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 02:30 pm Post Subject:

There is just no way to know what is fair based on the information you can post here. What I can say is that the adjuster can/is only going to be able to consider the medical bills submitted. The doctor not billing is doing you no favors as he/she is not helping your daughter show the extent of her treatment. Have none of the bills been paid? If so, it seems like the amount of medical bills submitted are more then $2000????

My recommendation is to have your daughter write a quick letter explaining how disappointed she was in missing camp and how this has affected her. After all, if this were to go to court she would be testifying and a judge/jury would hear what she has to say about what she went through. Since this is her settlement I think the adjuster should hear about her loss directly from her. You could fax the letter.

You've been around enough to know that if this is the initial offer that the adjuster will offer more. But without those missing bills it is probably going to be low.

If any bills have not been paid you should speak to the doctors about getting them lowered once you've settled.

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 07:32 pm Post Subject:

Thanks T-scope for answering so soon. None of the chiro bills were ever paid because the dhiropracter never submitted them. I even went to his office and asked about them. He told me he had to get to it. After he moved further away I called and told him if he was going to want paid he needed to get the blls in because if he submittd after the settlement I was not personally paying them. No bills and no records so I gave up.
As for medic al bills I doubt they were ovcer $2000. I beliee they just fell short of $1500. I am not going to accept this offer and have my daughter write the letter. That I must say is a really great idea. Thank you for the suggestion. As for the other medical bills they have all been paid. I doubt the chiropracter will come back for payment since he can not find these records and all this time has passed. It has been almost two years and over 18 months since any treatment was given.
So I will call tomorrow...once again thanks. If you think of anything else let me know.

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 07:34 am Post Subject:

Hi tcope,

If any bills have not been paid you should speak to the doctors about getting them lowered once you've settled.


This means another negotiation. What could be done if the amount is more than $2000 (including the chiro bills) and the chiro comes back? I guess fireyone isn't ready to pay them personally.

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 01:26 pm Post Subject:

What could be done if the amount is more than $2000 (including the chiro bills) and the chiro comes back? I guess fireyone isn't ready to pay them personally.

I'm not sure what you are asking. Some of my concern is that the chiro _will_ come back sometime in the future and bill for the service. While fireyone states that those bills won't be paid as the doctor waited, fireyone would still have a legal obligation to pay the bills. Personally, I'd send a certified letter to the chiro and put him/her on notice that unless the bills are sent within a few days, they will not be paid. I'd point out in the letter that they have been asked for several times and the office has refused to supply them. The BI settlement is final. So if bills come in later, they are not paid for by the BI carrier later on.

Fireyone needs to make sure that _all_ medical bills are considered by the BI carrier. There is a time limit (the Statute of Limitations) that needs to be considered and I think that time is coming up soon.

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 03:30 pm Post Subject:

Tcope, you were right this was only a first offer. I am going to get that registered letter sent before even letting this go any further. I said no to the offer and let them know I want to take care of this chiropracter first. I seem to be running into a little problem though. This guy is now not at the other office (the one he moved to) either. Seems there is no way of getting a hold of him. Not sure if he would even have any records..it all seems hopeless.

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 06:19 pm Post Subject:

I'd send a certified letter to his last known location/office. Was there nothing given out when treatment was rendered? You can't make him give you the bills, you can only do the best you can.

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:38 pm Post Subject:

Nope nothing given out at all. Just walked in got treatment and walked out. I'll try sending something to the other address. Thanks for the good idea.

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