Dealing with auto accident insurance settlement?

Skippy asked:


Got rear ended by a drunk driver white sitting at a stop light. He tried to flee, was caught by the police sitting at intersection. His car sustained $2500 in damages, ours only $500. The impact speed was at 25-30 mph. Our bumper was destoyed, his car was destroyed.

We are three people in auto. We were taken to hospital. Total hospital bill =$3000. Followup medical care=$3000 per person. Total medical =$12,000.

Insurance co offered us $5300, leaving me with about $7000 in unpaid medical expenses. Is the first offer given by an insurance co usually their last? Or is this there throw it out there and see if it sticks.. I countered with a letter, showing our total loss which equaled $14,800. They laughed told me to get an attorney. It’s been horrible this whole experience. Attorneys say our case it not big enough and we could get a little more, BUT, after I paid them, I would probably still owe $7000 or more in medical.

What can a person do in this situation?