I am currently pursuing several avenues of legal advice/representation but I'm asking here because I know there are some with the capacity to answer these questions without the inclination to lie.
To make a long story short (and yes this is the short version)..
About a year ago I was in a car accident where I was a passenger sitting shotgun. It was a single car accident where the driver lost control of the car and smashed into a canal embankment. The other two people in the car had minor injuries (if any at all). I on the other hand was not as fortunate. I suffered a broken back where the second lumbar of my spine was shattered. I was taken to memorial hospital - soon after I was airlifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center. There, I was admitted, underwent 8 hours of surgery (where they put in a cage, a plate and a set of screws) as they fused the bones back together. I spent approximately two weeks in a hospital bed. Once released, I spent the next several months recovering from what was a near paralyzing accident.
Once I was able, I got on the phone with a lawyer; he sent a P.I. to my house and after some paperwork they began to investigate the driver, the state of his ownership of the car and his insurance. Months passed by, no call, and it were assumed that there was no claim to be sought (no insurance).
So here we are about 2 weeks short of a year since the accident and out of the blue I get a call from an AAA insurance adjuster who tells me the following: The car was not registered to the driver and, in fact, it was his wife's car who was previously deployed under military service. He took the car unbeknownst to her and drove it around at his own discretion. She returned from her military service and saw that the car was missing so she reported it stolen, in which case it was filed as being "impounded and sold". He proceeded to tell me that somewhere along the line he came across some paperwork that said the car was actually wrecked and that there were passengers in the car, one of which suffered a major injury. Here's where it gets a little suspicious. The adjuster tells me that there is a maximum claim of $15,000 which is far from what I accrued over my stay in the hospital. He tells me that he is sending me paperwork; all I need to do is sign it and he would send me a check for $15,000. Now here is what I am wondering:
Is it possible (I would be a fool to assume it is not) this claim adjuster is lying about the $15,000 payout because he knows if I take them to court they are fucked? I know insurance companies are shady, but is there not a law against an adjuster falsifying information like that? He did all but drive to my house with a suitcase full of money like he wanted me to have that shit. A friend of mine said he is doing this because if I sign the papers and take the money I can no longer pursue AAA for more legal damages.
If he is honest about the claim, does the maximum $15,000 claim deny my ability to pursue pain/suffering and other damages?
If you have any knowledge on the subject please advise.
To make a long story short (and yes this is the short version)..
About a year ago I was in a car accident where I was a passenger sitting shotgun. It was a single car accident where the driver lost control of the car and smashed into a canal embankment. The other two people in the car had minor injuries (if any at all). I on the other hand was not as fortunate. I suffered a broken back where the second lumbar of my spine was shattered. I was taken to memorial hospital - soon after I was airlifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center. There, I was admitted, underwent 8 hours of surgery (where they put in a cage, a plate and a set of screws) as they fused the bones back together. I spent approximately two weeks in a hospital bed. Once released, I spent the next several months recovering from what was a near paralyzing accident.
Once I was able, I got on the phone with a lawyer; he sent a P.I. to my house and after some paperwork they began to investigate the driver, the state of his ownership of the car and his insurance. Months passed by, no call, and it were assumed that there was no claim to be sought (no insurance).
So here we are about 2 weeks short of a year since the accident and out of the blue I get a call from an AAA insurance adjuster who tells me the following: The car was not registered to the driver and, in fact, it was his wife's car who was previously deployed under military service. He took the car unbeknownst to her and drove it around at his own discretion. She returned from her military service and saw that the car was missing so she reported it stolen, in which case it was filed as being "impounded and sold". He proceeded to tell me that somewhere along the line he came across some paperwork that said the car was actually wrecked and that there were passengers in the car, one of which suffered a major injury. Here's where it gets a little suspicious. The adjuster tells me that there is a maximum claim of $15,000 which is far from what I accrued over my stay in the hospital. He tells me that he is sending me paperwork; all I need to do is sign it and he would send me a check for $15,000. Now here is what I am wondering:
Is it possible (I would be a fool to assume it is not) this claim adjuster is lying about the $15,000 payout because he knows if I take them to court they are fucked? I know insurance companies are shady, but is there not a law against an adjuster falsifying information like that? He did all but drive to my house with a suitcase full of money like he wanted me to have that shit. A friend of mine said he is doing this because if I sign the papers and take the money I can no longer pursue AAA for more legal damages.
If he is honest about the claim, does the maximum $15,000 claim deny my ability to pursue pain/suffering and other damages?
If you have any knowledge on the subject please advise.
