This place saves you a lot of hassle and heartache for a fee…read more..
Let me preface I used these guys (411 Pain) a few years ago during a nasty accident while attending FIU. Initially I felt cheated right after all was said and done (large portion of settlement went to them and the doctors). However after looking back on the incident, overall I have to say it was actually the best option to go with these guys.
You may be asking "how can you say it was the best option to go with these guys - they ripped you off?" -yes, but mostly no (compared to your other immediate options) --Story below:
Right after the accident you are shook up and injured (fractured wrist) - you are not in the right state of mind, your heart is racing, you are shivering you are scared and confused. You call the insurance company, they say "Don't worry we'll take care of you" - you ask what do I do next, they tell you some information and then say that's all they can do (I literally remember it as "blah blah blah blah" - ala teacher from Charlie Brown) ...I don't have health insurance (I was a young stupid student), but was told to go the urgent care/emergency room to get looked at...and it would get sorted later...coming to my senses and being a accounting major (professional cash tight wad in training) this didn't bode well for me...go to the ER room is $500 just stepping though the door and not assurances on how this will be paid.....no......
At this stage I'm about to cry - I really don't know what to do next - luckily I was within sight of the 411 pain bill board. Honestly I never trusted things like this, but I thought it can't get any worse -I had zero net worth sitting in my wrecked car any my wrist is starting to hurt worse....
So I dialed the number was handed off to case manager and he assured me everything would be ok, and setup a visit to the doctor within 2 hours - they picked me up from the tow shop (my car had to get towed off 95) took me straight to the doctors, told me they/someone's insurance will cover this - yep fractured almost broken wrist, and early signs of back injury...,ugh...how am I going to pay for this? What am I going to do without my car? I just want my life to get back in order - I have midterms on the horizon damn it!
The law firm sends their damage appraisers to survey the damage to my wreck of a car while I was seeing the doctor and told me over the phone that it looks pretty bad and will take a few days to fix providing I find the right garage - I didn't even want to ask the estimated cost of repairs - however before I could utter the words - they said I shouldn't worry about it, and that Kanner & Pintaluga will take care of me and they will see to it my car gets repaired. The driver takes me to their office where I sign and fill even more paperwork, talk to the lawyer who will be handling my case - everyone put me at ease as this was a very stressful time for me (I would guess for anyone really) Reading through the documents with a clearer head - it basically said the firm will be taking a portion of the settlement. The settlement will also be used to cover the auto repair costs and doctor visits - whatever is left is mine. At this point I didn't really care about the cash as much as just getting my life together...meaning me without pain and having a working car...
The firm set up my doctor and physical therapy appointments - I attend everyone of them - my back and wrist doesn't hurt and healed from the injury. They also gave me back my car full repaired 4 days later - amazingly I think it looked better than before the accident! I get regular updates on my case - roughly twice a month.
Fast forward 5 months later - I get notice that the case was finally settled for a rather large sum. However I will only receive a few grand, after all the fees, repair costs, doctor visits are applied. I was rather bummed at that time - however looking back - These guys were the best option I could have gone with. My car was repaired, I was repaired, the traumatic experience only lasted a day with these guys overseeing everything.
In retrospect back then I only really had two other options:
- Do what the insurance company told me and get screwed financially
- Attempt to find a doctor, lawyer and keep on top of the law suit and not fall into a deep financial hole -- oh yeah you are a scared 20 year old and know no one around town to help you when this happens...
What these guys really do for you is handle this big nasty mess of an accident - make sure you are medically taken care of, your car is taken care of, deal with the insurance companies, go to court for you, saving you tons of worry and grief and allow you to just go on with your life like nothing happened. Would I have like to have a bigger chunk of that settlement? Of course, however the most important thing is that I was ok mentally and physically, not disabled, and could go on to ace my midterms and continue my scholarship.