How much will an insurance company pay for a whiplash injury?
I was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer at a low speed (10 mph). There was only about $900 damage to the bumper of my SUV. I went to the emergency room and had x-rays and went to a chiropractor for 8 weeks for whiplash. The chiropractor charged $4000 for treatment & the emergency room bills came up to $1900. So, my total medical bills were $5900. The other driver's insurance company accepts 100% liability. Is $5900 too much money to expect the other guy's car insurance company to pay for treatment of a whiplash injury? I'm in NC.
I am sorry to say this, but yes, it is a lot. Although you could go on your knees and beg, but I don't recommend that.
Yep, that's too much to expect payment for, with $900 of damage to your car. I just got rearended, had $5,000 damage, and $250 of medical bills. I'm not sure *I* will get a settlement offer (ok, I probably will, because I'm pregnant, but it WON'T be much, and it will be based on the possibility of a baby injury).
You can't count the chiro treatments or "testing" that didn't come up with anything. $1900 probably means xrays & mri's and such. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury. It's not worth much, sorry.
If they offer you $250, grab it. They're more likely to offer you nothing.
$900 in damages to your SUV? That is very minor damage. The insurance company will look very closely at your injury claim. The medical bills will be reviewed to determine if the appropriate treatment was being used. Expect the insurance company to check any prior insurance claims you have filed and to look into any prior injuries you have had. Feel lucky if they pay for all of your medical bills.
I would expect them to maybe pay your ER and nothing else. There are bio-mechanical engineers that can do studies with the damages sustained to determine if injury is possible and I am guessing they would say injury was not possible. Take what they offer and run
Answers:
Well it depends on the state you live in. Since it was a semi they will probably pay all medical bills without blinking an eye as the fact when you have a class a you are responsible for most accidents even when they are not your fault.
if you're diagnosis at the ER was a whiplash, I would believe you would probably get your ER visit covered and MAYBE a chiro visit but it seems excessive for a whiplash as typically you just rest for a few days and maybe some painkillers. 8 weeks of chiro...sounds like they took you for a ride. But, it may be questionable whether they will even pay for the chiro visit. If the ER determined it was necessary, you may have a fighting chance for that but then the doctor comes looking like a bit of a quack too. I wouldn't say take whatever they offer but I definitely wouldn't argue with them too much because at this point, anything they give you for your injury is a gift due to the minimal damage to your vehicle and the low impact speed...