I had a fall 18mos ago. after each offer (2 so far) I seem t

by Guest » Wed Dec 29, 2010 06:47 pm
Guest

I had a fall 18mos ago. after each offer (2 so far) I seem to be the one coming up short on my injury.
Lawyer-$6600
Insurance company $13,000 and me $236.00. How can this be. shouldn't the insurance comapny be willing to take a portion of the offer AFTER the insurance co. gets paid instead of OFF THE TOP MONEY?

Total Comments: 3

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 12:52 am Post Subject:

I seem to be the one coming up short on my injury.

[/quote]Lawyer-$6600[/quote]Don't mention coming up short and then subtract the amount your attorney is charging! This is _your_ money... the insurance company is paying it to _you_.

Insurance company $13,000 and me $236.00. How can this be.

Simply because your math is incorrect. it's $13,000 being paid by the insurance company, of which you are pocketing $6,836 after your bills are paid.

shouldn't the insurance comapny be willing to take a portion of the offer AFTER the insurance co. gets paid instead of OFF THE TOP MONEY?

This makes no sense.

I'm _guessing_ some of the money is owed to your health carrier? If so, for that $6600 you are paying to your attorney, he/she should offer to negotiate the amount down that is owed to your health carrier. I'd certainly insist that this be done. $6600 is a lot for a few hours worth of work.

Again, what you are paying your attorney is between you and him/her. _You_ pay that bill... not the insurance company.

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 05:42 am Post Subject:

How can this be.



It is the result of using a lawyer (at a cost of 33%) to negotiate with your insurance company, and that person not doing a very good job of it. You probably could have come to the same place on your own and been $6600 ahead. And a lot sooner than 18 months down the road. A $20,000 claim to an insurance company is like a raindrop in the ocean. They write those checks without even blinking.

This is precisely the reason many of us here only recommend getting an attorney involved when you and the insurance company have come to the point where there is no more movement and you still feel that your claim is being undervalued. This is especially true of relatively low value claims (those with only one comma in the money amount).

Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:58 pm Post Subject:

I find so many of our visitors who don't count upon the cost of hiring a lawyer. Max is right in suggesting that an attorney should be hired when we come at a dead end. It has to be a situation wherein the claim seems undervalued. We'd also need to calculate what we'd be left with after meeting the attorney fees worth 33% of the settlement.

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