Q: Value of shoulder labrum tear from rear-end accident.

A: First of all, let me commend you for having the foresight to carry reasonable limits of insurance. It is exactly this type of situation where that pays off. Irrespective of the at fault driver's policy limits, you have at least $250,000 of coverage available, without looking at the policy.

All of your medical bills beyond the $5000 that you had in med pay coverage need to be processed through your group health insurance. Nobody else will pay them. If you tell a doctor or hospital that it was "the other driver's fault," they see dollar signs and place a lien on your file. So what? So the MRI that your insurance would have paid at $900 (leaving you a liability of $600) will end up costing you $2000 or more.

It is important that you understand even if the other driver admits fault at the scene and never disputes fault, the at-fault driver's insurance company never pays any of the bills. They remain your responsibility because they are your medical bills. With very rare exception, and insurance carrier will not pay one dime on a claim until they have had an opportunity to evaluate what the claim is worth OR they are able to determine that the claim is worth much more than the policy limits in which case they will simply tender the policy limits. BE CAREFUL! If you do not have an attorney and you accept the other driver's policy limits without the express written permission of your own insurance carrier, you could very well eliminate your insurance company's responsibility to pay you on an underinsured motorist claim. It is important that you are represented by experienced counsel who knows how to handle this situation.

If your torn labrum was the only injury to your shoulder, you should not be experiencing ongoing crepitus (grinding sensation) in that shoulder. You may have suffered further injury and you may need an additional surgery. The truth is that no meaningful estimate can be made of the value of your injury until it is known, with certainty, that you do not need further medical care and what, if any, permanent deficits you have sustained. Moreover, it may seem obvious to you that your shoulder injury was related to the auto accident but on your facts, the torn labrum was not diagnosed until at least two months after the accident so the insurance company (both yours and the other driver's) may well deny causation and make you prove it by deposing your orthopedic surgeon.

These matters are complicated. Another factor that is necessary to provide any meaningful estimate is the total amount of medical care that was billed (not paid) to all medical providers. This is yet another great reason to bill all of your medical care through your group health insurance. You would also need to know the total amount of any lost wages related to your injury. If you had a policy of short-term disability or long-term disability that paid any benefits while you are off work, those carriers need to be paid back so it is necessary to include any sums paid by those carriers to the sum billed by your medical providers. That number is called your special damages. Nobody can tell you what it injury is worth without knowing the special damages. Contact a few attorneys to make certain that you choose one with whom you feel comfortable. Good luck.