This is long, I'm sorry.....

I have a question for those of you who may be more experienced with this than I. I recently was rear ended which left me with a little bit of damage to the car. That has been resolved and the car is looking like it did before. It was just the rear bumper that took some cosmetic damage. I however had to go to the doctor for a little more than a month for my neck. I didn't think it was a very hard hit, but the x-rays showed that I had mild wiplash and I was treated for that.

After my scheduled medical visits, my doctor has told me that I'm ok to just come back to him "when I need to" and that I should be ok. I have about another 5 months of excercises that I have to do myself at home and aside from that, I'm ok. I've since gone back to the gym and do not feel much pain, just a little tightness in the back of my neck occasionally. No big deal. Nothing that a little ice doesn't cure.

I went to the person's insurance company to give them my medical payments to be reimbursed and they told me that they'd pay them, but if I settle for those payments, they won't cover any other payments I have. I don't think I'll have any, but you never know. Maybe the neck will flair up, or like my doctor said, "I'll need to come in for an adjustment."

I don't want to do anything dishonest, and I don't want to milk the other insurance company. The agent told me that once they pay my bills, and I settle with them, that will be all the compensation they will give me. If I ever have to go back to the doctor, too bad. My bills so far have been about $100, so I don't mind sitting on that for a while, but he told me to just wait a few months incase I need to see the doctor.

Here's my question (finally): I thought that they would give me my payments, and a little extra incase I needed to go back to the doctor, or for pain and suffering. There was a lot I couldn't do for a month and a half while I was in my condition and have just now (after 2 months) been able to get back to normal activity without soreness (gym, running, staring at a computer all day at work, etc). Again, I don't want to cheat them, but I figured they owed me more than just $100, ecspecially since I may have to go back to the doctor in a couple of month. What is resonable? I don't want to be dishonest, but I was put out of normal activity for 2 months and had to go to the doctor 2/week during the time. Anybody have any experience with this??? I don't want to be an ass, but I'm just confused. I thought that when they settled with you, they gave you something extra for the future just in case, plus the time away from work.

In most cases you have a statute of two years to settle with an insurance company. Don't let them rush you into settling. Some companies will try to get you to settle and avoid paying any more medical bills later. You were injured, had to seek medical advice and are undergoing treatment...make sure you are 100% back to normal before signing any dotted lines. And yes they should pay you for time away from work.