Key Points of This Article:
- Progressive Auto is just one of many large car insurance companies responsible for paying Michigan no-fault benefits, such as medical bills, lost wages, and prescriptions.
- The group is known to take advantage of no-fault claims and ignore its duty to protect the insured by dropping further coverage as soon as an agreement has been made.
- Adjusters have become selfish in pushing claimants to sign away their future rights in a time when those injured are experiencing added stressors and turmoil due to medical bills and wage loss.
- Individuals who are recovering from an injury may not know any better than accepting insurance payouts without recognizing the harm it may have to future benefits and medical treatment coverage.
How to Handle a Michigan No-Fault Claim with Progressive Auto Insurance
Progressive Auto Insurance has been touted as one of the largest auto insurers in the U.S., known for its competitive rates and quick turnaround time adjusting injury claims. Still, it’s fast claims process can sometimes steer Michigan drivers in the wrong direction when filing a no-fault benefit claim and then denied further coverage. The group provides insurance coverage to motorists of all types, including motorcyclists, and boat, RV, and commercial vehicle operators, and even provides home insurance policies. But when Progressive is the company responsible for paying out Michigan no-fault benefits related to car accident injuries, such as medical bills, lost wages and prescriptions, the outstanding coverage and support just isn’t there. Let’s review an all too familiar story told by many of our personal injury clients requesting access to their no-fault benefits through Progressive Auto Insurance in Michigan.
- You have been injured in a car accident.
- Progressive is the insurer listed to provide and payout no-fault benefits.
- You are starting to feel stressed because you have a stack of medical bills waiting to be paid, and hospital billing departments are calling you around the clock demanding payment or threatening to send you to collections.
- Your paid sick leave at work has been used up. You have had to use all of your vacation days too. And you don’t have any more paid time off to fully recover from your injuries but can’t afford any additional lost wages.
- Several co-pays for prescription drugs add up each week and need to be charged to your credit card.
- Hospital therapy and rehabilitation bills are sure to be on the way shortly.
- You start feeling anxious over all the financial burdens this accident and injuries have created.
- Then, finally, a claims adjuster from Progressive calls you. This is likely someone you have never talked to before, but you feel desperate for help so you tell them everything.
- The adjuster offers to send you a check for what sounds like a decent round number and more money than you currently have.
- But once you look at your total medical bills, the payout is maybe enough to take care of the emergency room bill from the day of your accident and provide a little extra money left over to pay for prescription drugs and cover wages from a few days away from work.
- As the reality sets in and you are feeling ready for help, the adjuster also quickly mentions that if you accept the money, you will never be able to turn to Progressive Insurance again for the payment of future no-fault benefits. The adjuster continues to inform you that this includes future medical treatment, future lost wages that may occur, or anything additional to help you during the difficult and costly time ahead.
This scenario is becoming extremely frequent for Michigan’s insured motorists who find themselves injured in a car and truck accident and stuck paying out of pocket for their recovery expenses. Progressive, more than any other car insurance company in the state, has become extremely aggressive and greedy in trying to rally these policyholders and claimants to sign away their future rights. Sadly, the group is often successful because adjusters will call within a few weeks of the car crash, when injured individuals are at their most vulnerable, and are faced with many financial demands. They do this as quickly as possible, and before injured individuals have had the chance to contact or visit with a personal injury lawyer who can explain what they would be giving up by taking a quick payment offer or settlement.
Progressive Case Review by Attorney Eric Steinberg
“In 2019, I had a client who went through a tough, and in my opinion, an unnecessary situation with Progressive Auto Insurance. She was involved in a bad car wreck in Detroit and went to an area hospital for diagnosis and the treatment required for her injuries. Soon after, she received a large emergency bill. She had also missed several days of work and lost wages due to her injury. She then went to her family doctor and was told to begin physical therapy, thereby incurring even more medical expenses.
Before contacting my office, a Progressive Auto Insurance adjuster offered her a check for almost $2,000. My client, who is behind on paying her medical bills because her health insurance doesn’t pay for auto accident-related treatment, jumped at the chance for some financial help. Fortunately, she did not give up her rights for all future benefits. But it was too close, and others we have worked with haven’t been as lucky. The Progressive adjuster who dangled the money in front of my client was surely encouraged to do so by her supervisor and the higher-ups at Progressive.”
Claims Adjusters Are Failing at Their Duty to Protect the Insured
This practice by Progressive adjusters handling the personal injury protection (PIP) and no-fault claims of unsuspecting claimants needs to stop. Claims adjusters must protect their insured customers and are not permitted to choose the profits of their company over the well-being of policyholders, all of whom who spend a lot of money for this protection.
At the Lee Steinberg Law Firm, P.C., we have a dedicated team of Michigan car accident lawyers available to speak with and answer questions about no-fault claims and insurance payouts. We can run through the available options Progressive Auto Insurance is offering so you can understand the future benefits and money and coverage you may be unknowingly giving up.
Are You Being Pushed Around by Progressive Auto Insurance?
If you or a person you know has been in a Michigan car, truck, or motorcycle accident, and has Progressive Auto Insurance, please have them contact our office at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733). The call is free, and there is never a fee until we win your case.
Also read: How GEICO Auto Insurance Limits Michigan No-Fault Benefits
