Q: I was a passenger in my company car and hit head on by a driver who crossed the center line and into our lane.
I was a passenger in my company car that was hit head on by a driver who crossed the center line and into our lane. My current attorney gave me a settlement amount of what he felt was fair and the lowest he would settle for. I was also agreeable to that amount. He called me a week later and told me he settled for a much lower amount, but would not tell me why. He stated the insurance company does not have to give a reason. I stated that I was not agreeing to the settlement. What are my options? I would like a new attorney that is more assertive and able to provide answers. Do I have to settle for the lower amount; I feel like my attorney just wants to settle asap and I was being mislead.
A: You do not have to settle, and you are always free to fire your attorney and hire a new one. That being said, I believe it is always worth while to try to talk things out with your current attorney, but if you are not satisfied with the answers, you can always ask for your file and take it elsewhere.
A: Mkes sense to sit down and discuss it with him. You have other layers of insurance to go after in Pennsylvania, and by settling for a little may be compromising much. Contact a member for the Pennsylvania Assn for Justice--we give free consults so you can have hour question answered. A problem may be if you stopped treatment early assuming "well, they know I'm hurt" will do it--it won't. You get compensated based on what's in the medical. Also, workers comp has it's hand out for what they paid--I assume your attorney computed that in the settlement. If you lost time from work you may be eligible for "wrap around wage loss" for that part of the wage loss not covered by comp (after the 1st five days).
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