Auto accident with injuries. A 17- or 18-year-old ran into the back end of my car while I was sitting at a traffic light. There was no argument about who was at fault. Repairs to my automobile were handled to our satisfaction. Although...
The hit was hard enough to cause damage to the driver's seat frame of my vehicle. I incurred back injuries that lasted for several months. I immediately went to the chiropractor for treatment. I automatically assumed that Allstate would pay the doctor directly.
Well... The accident occurred 2/20/02, and chiropractor treatment ended around the end of May. Fast forward to Aug. 27, 2002: the claims adjuster called me to discuss a settlement for my pain and suffering, wage loss, etc. I am self-employed, and when you are self-employed there isn't a set formula to go by for compensation, dollar amount and loss. So I asked Allstate to tell me the amount of the chiropractor bill ($3,100.00). Then, from word of mouth, I figured it was fair to take the bill times 3 to arrive at a pain and suffering amount, $9,300.00 (just a figure to start with). She then explained that they are allowed to automatically deduct 30%, which is $6,510.00. But the next thing you know, she figured the amount they could offer was $5,000.00. Long story short, I accepted the $5,000.00 for pain and suffering.
Surprise: I had no idea that I was misled, deceived, tricked (or whatever you want to call it). I thought that they were paying the $3,100.00 chiropractor bill and I was getting a check for $5,000.00 for pain and suffering (two separate issues). Well, the chiropractor's office called Allstate almost 2 months later to ask about payment, and Allstate was happy to tell them that we had settled. End of story: we are now expected to pay the chiropractor bill out of the $5,000.00 settlement.
Allstate claims that they explained to me that I would have to pay the doctor bill from our settlement. They never once told me that.
I have tried on every level to complain to Allstate about this situation, and they all told me the same thing: "Too bad, get a lawyer." I also called the corporate office in Chicago to complain about being misled and deceived, and guess what, I got the same response. Then I asked to speak to the next highest up (the president of Allstate) and was told that the president of Allstate doesn't speak to the public. His name is Mr. Edward Liddy, phone 847-402-5448. Allstate Insurance corporate office address: 2775 Sanders Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062. But don't bother to call, he doesn't speak to the public. At the corporate office, we were clearly told that we had reached the end of the line and to get a lawyer.
Lesson learned: unfortunately, even with what appeared to be a simple settlement, I should have called a lawyer. I was deceived when they offered a settlement. There was no mention of my having to pay the doctor out of my own settlement check for what I was told was for pain and suffering. Deception at its best. Now I have a $3,100.00 bill to pay.
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