Visitor Question

Negotiating a whiplash settlement…

Submitted By: Sally (Indiana)

I will try to be brief. I was rear ended in January and ambulanced to the hospital. I had whiplash and a neck strain. I wore a neck brace 24-7 for 11 days. Then I had physical therapy for another 8 weeks. After the 8 weeks, I let a month go by and I was still sore and in pain, so I went back to the doctor and was told to go back to therapy for 6 more weeks.

I continued to have pain and headaches every day until therapy was over. Now I’m trying to settle. My medical bills total $25,000, car damage $5,500, lost wages/commissions, etc. I’m trying to figure pain and suffering amount. I heard you take 3-4 times the medical bills. Is that correct? How does the negotiating work? Thanks.

Disclaimer: Our response is not formal legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is generic legal information based on the very limited information provided. Do not rely upon the information in our response, or anywhere else on this site, when deciding the proper course of a legal matter. Always get a personalized case review from a local attorney.

Answer

Dear Sally,

You’re correct about the multiple system. It’s a reliable formula and has been used by attorneys and insurance companies for many years. Your injuries are “soft tissue.” Soft tissue injuries aren’t nearly as compensable as “hard injuries,” like broken bones, head trauma (more than whiplash), serious burns, scarring, and the like.

For instance, in your case you might start your negotiations at 5 times, or $125,000.00 dollars. Because your injuries are primarily soft tissue it’s more likely the insurance company will offer you 1.5 times the amount of your medical bills. Years ago insurance company didn’t hesitate to pay out much higher multiples for soft tissue injuries. Those halcyon days are forever gone. Today insurance companies won’t hesitate to go to court.

You might try and settle for an amount between 1.5 and 3x your medicals, plus out-of-pocket expenses. Try and keep the negotiations high. Don’t settle for any less than 2x, and try hard to get 3x. In your case, 3x would be a reasonable settlement.

Your next consideration will be the total amount of available insurance to cover your damages. If the driver’s insurance policy limits are the state mandated minimum, it won’t cover all your damages. The insurance company will simply pay you the policy limits. In that case, you may have to sue the driver privately.

Learn more here: Indiana Car Accident Guide

The above is general information. Laws change frequently, and across jurisdictions. You should get a personalized case evaluation from a licensed attorney.

Find a local attorney to give you a free case review here, or call 888-972-0892.

We wish you the best with your claim,

Published:

Leave a Comment

Don’t ask a personal injury question here – comments are not reviewed by an attorney. Ask your question on this page. Required fields are marked *