Auto Accident with injuries. A 17/18 yr. Old ran into back end of my car while I was sitting at a traffic light. No arugument on who was at fault. Repairs to my automobile were handled to our satifaction. Although...
The hit was hard enough to cause damage to the driver 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... Accident occured 2/20/02 — chiropractor treatment ended around end of May... Fast forward to Aug. 27/02 — the claims adjuster calls 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 & loss. So... I asked Allstate to tell me the amount of the chiropractor bill. ($3,100.00)... Then (from word of mouth) I figure it was fair to take the bill times (3) to arrive at a pain an suffering amount. = $9,300.00 (just a figure to start with) - She then explains that they are allowed to automatically deduct 30% = $6,510.00 — BUT, NEXT thing you know she figures the amount they can offer is $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. (2 seperate issues) - WELL... The chiropractors office calls Allstate almost 2 months later to ask about payment & Allstate is happy to tell them that we have 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! - Never once did they tell me that. &
I have tried on every level to complain to Allstate about this situation and they all have told me the same thing. Too bad, Get a lawyer. - I also called the corporate office in Chicago to complain about being misled/deceived & Guess what, got the same response & then I asked to speak to the next highest up (the president of Allstate)& was told that the President of Allstate doesn't speak to the public. His name is; Mr. Edward Liddy &ph# 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. No mention of me 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.
Charles
Buford, Georgia
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