Insurance offering just above medical bills for car accident - WA
car accident attorney Washington Aug 24, 2026
Location: Washington State Car accident in February 2026 (not my fault). Went to my doctor the next day. She referred me to massage and Physical Therapy. The total treatment lasted about 4 months. There were two very painful relapses including a follow-up doctor visit at one of them. I should've, but didn't miss work because I'm an tax accountant and it's my busy season. Total medical bills were about $7,350, which PIP already covered and will be reimbursed separately by the at-fault driver's insurer. I'm negotiating for pain and suffering directly with the at-fault driver's insurance adjuster, no attorney involved yet. Opened at $16k, came down to $14k. Adjuster offered $6,000, I pushed back, they escalated to a supervisor, and the supervisor held firm at $8,000 — citing that treatment was mostly massage with limited PT, and that 4 months with two relapses is 'typical' for soft tissue injuries. Questions: Is $8,000 reasonable for general damages? At what point does it make sense to bring in a PI attorney instead of continuing to negotiate myself? Is there real leverage in threatening small claims court, or is that mostly a bluff at this point? Any input appreciated, especially from anyone who's dealt with Travelers specifically.
