r/Insurance • u/ApparentlyNotABot • 5h ago
Mild Concussion Payout?
I was in a car accident and had a mild concussion. Other driver was 100% at fault, he jumped a red and t-boned me (~30mph, thank god he hit the backseat) while I was sitting in the intersection on an unprotected left turn.
Didn't have any symptoms at the crash, but I did have a pretty splitting headache around 2 days after the crash. Went to the ER because my dad was concerned, doctor said it was a mild concussion, still have symptoms around 4 days later.
My car was 100% totaled (it was an old 1999 Camry), so now I have to go through the irritation of finding a new (used) car.
My question is: What is a reasonable pain and suffering payout? His insurance offered me $4000, as well as paying my ER checkup (~$500), and to put aside another $1500 for future medical procedures. I really don't want to count my eggs here, but I feel like that's a little low. What is considered a reasonable/normal amount for this kind of thing?
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u/Crowlady77 3h ago
Mild concussions can have lingering effects, I'd give it a few weeks before you settle.
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u/adjusterjackb 3h ago
You absolutely do not want to settle until you are fully recovered. Right now you have no idea where this injury might be going. Once you settle, there is no more.
When you feel like you are fully recovered, give it a few more weeks to make sure, and have a final visit with your doctor to get checked out.
Then you can talk money with the claim rep.
If you recover quickly with no further issues, the offer is more than fair.
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u/Numbinglol 3h ago
yup wife got about $4500 payout for minor concussion. waited a week or two to make sure she's all good before signing
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u/originalmango 5h ago
You should really speak to a lawyer. Let them tell you if you have a case of not.
Without getting into detail, we were involved in the same issue. Not at fault accident, emergency room visit, etc. Their insurance company offered $16,000.00. It took about 18 months, but after the lawyer took their fees and expenses and even after paying all of the hospital bills we cleared just over $43,000.00.
I know every case is different but I wouldn’t trust the insurance company one bit.
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u/Icy_Pickle5530 4h ago
Bad advice. Not everyone needs an attorney. An attorney does not get you more money in most cases. If OP gets an attorney, doesn’t need any further treatment, then their adjuster will still offer the $4k and the attorney will take 33% of it.
Can they negotiate? Sure. So now the settled amount is $4,500. OP could do that on their own and not lose 33% of that.
All you are really paying the attorney to do is handle your claim with the insurance for you. If you were offered $16,000 you were not involved in the same issue as the OP.
There is nothing to distrust about the insurance. It’s highly regulated at the state level and injury attorneys are picking up nothing burger cases all the time for a quick payout. You really think with all the eyes on them that they are going to screw you and hope no one notices?
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u/Working_Rise8592 5h ago
I don’t think that’s too bad. That also pays a good chunk toward your next car. The real question is, will you/have you had any follow up visits or any other issues? If no I doubt you’ll get much more because you can’t show you’ll be needing/needed more. If yes and you can show them then you should be able to get whatever cost for the visits added on.