Originally Posted by
Nachoman
You have two cases. The first one is easy. Since your case is obviously worth more than $15,000.00 you first need to settle your case with the insurance company for the vehicle that hit you. After that, you begin the second phase, which appears to be (depending on the amount of your underinsured motorist coverage) a fight with YOUR insurance company over the total value of your claim.
This is precisely why you need an attorney. If you screw up the settlement with the driver's insurance company, you can release your underinsured motorists claim.
Anybody that's read my comments in other similar threads will know I don't think people should go rushing to lawyers. However your situation is sufficiently complex both legally and medically, I would get an attorney involved.
Also, while I'm not admitted in California, I supervise enough litigation in California to know that things are often different in California. Thus I wouldn't rely on any informal legal advice from anyone not admitted in California.