Been in first car accident tonight - what do I need to do

lexilex

Been to an out of hours gp this afternoon who confirmed I had whiplash and has given me some stronger painkillers and recommended physio, but told me I'll need to go see my GP asap so will ring them first thing Monday morning.

If the damage was to my car only I would have been fine with them paying rather than going through insurance, but because of the injury I've told them it's going to have to go through insurance.

I'm very wary though that they're going to start trying to get out of it. My sister was in a similar situation last year, in an accident involving two other cars. One of the car drivers admitted responsibilty, infront of both my sister and the other driver involved, yet he still ended up lying and getting out of it.

I've just rang my insurance back to ask them to pursue the claim. They've said because I'm only third party, fire and theft (I'm 19 high insurance cost) I have to ring the other car drivers insurance company myself, eventhough I've paid for legal cover but then she also said when their legal team ring me on Monday about the injuries they may be able to give me advice about claiming for the damage, so going to wait until after I've spoken to them before I do anything else now.

I'm not actually sure what I can claim for with the whiplash, I'm a student so it's not like I'm working and can claim for a loss of earnings

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Its very very difficult to come up with a valid reason for ploughing into the back of someone else's car.

lexilex

That's what I'm hoping! Especially since she admitted infront of the PCSO that she saw me slow down as were approaching the traffic lights but just didn't react to it.

I'm worried though that I've got to ring her insurance up about this myself, does this mean I'm going to be fighting it myself?

geri1965_2

Not if you have legal cover - that's what it's for.

lexilex

Thanks, I must look so thick, but I've not a clue what I'm doing.

So I basically ring her insurance to inform them of whats happened but then my insurance will fight for me?

bestpud

lexilex wrote: »

Been to an out of hours gp this afternoon who confirmed I had whiplash and has given me some stronger painkillers and recommended physio, but told me I'll need to go see my GP asap so will ring them first thing Monday morning.

If the damage was to my car only I would have been fine with them paying rather than going through insurance, but because of the injury I've told them it's going to have to go through insurance.

I'm very wary though that they're going to start trying to get out of it. My sister was in a similar situation last year, in an accident involving two other cars. One of the car drivers admitted responsibilty, infront of both my sister and the other driver involved, yet he still ended up lying and getting out of it.

I've just rang my insurance back to ask them to pursue the claim. They've said because I'm only third party, fire and theft (I'm 19 high insurance cost) I have to ring the other car drivers insurance company myself, eventhough I've paid for legal cover but then she also said when their legal team ring me on Monday about the injuries they may be able to give me advice about claiming for the damage, so going to wait until after I've spoken to them before I do anything else now.

I'm not actually sure what I can claim for with the whiplash, I'm a student so it's not like I'm working and can claim for a loss of earnings

We were hit by another car while we had third party insurance (it was 12-13 years ago though) and they did not expect us to deal with the other insurance company!

It seems to me you are just looking for some cash here?

I know you have whiplash but if it is not going to cost you financially, (as in you won't lose earnings and you won't have to pay for someone to care for you), and it is not going to significantly alter your life, then why are you looking for compensation?

Seems to me you have been hooked by the compensation culture out there! If you needed compensating, it would be obvious to you why - heck, you can't even think of a feasible excuse to grab some cash!

Yes, you may have long term damage but the likelihood is you will be fine within a week so at least give it some time before you claim for a life long disability!!!

But don't worry. If you are hell bent on squeezing money out of them, it won't be long before you have the compensation vultures on the phone - they'll tell you exactly how to behave and what to say! :rolleyes: Just your conscience you need to sort then...

lexilex

Well this is what I'm asking, I've been told by my insurance to claim for the injuries, but I don't know what I can claim for. Obviously it's causing pain and discomfort, and I'm not been able to do things I can usually do. I can't drive, I've not been able to go to football as I usually would do. But I aren't losing money from work as I am a student.

I'm not just trying to get money as you put it. I'm just doing as I've been told by others and my insurance. And the reason they have told me to do this is it COULD take months to clear up, as someones already said in this topic, it can go on for years, then it may effect work earnings, but I will have missed my chance then to claim. I'm just doing as I have been advised to do by my insurance.

anewman

lexilex wrote: »

Well this is what I'm asking, I've been told by my insurance to claim for the injuries, but I don't know what I can claim for. Obviously it's causing pain and discomfort, and I'm not been able to do things I can usually do. I can't drive, I've not been able to go to football as I usually would do. But I aren't losing money from work as I am a student.

At the end of the day the dozy cow should have been watching where she was going, she didn't, she injured you. I would argue you have experienced losses. Albeit not financial, but a loss that could be compensated for by money - I believe the legal term is "damages". How much is for a court to decide and I'd say only a solicitor can advise if it's worth pursuing. Don't feel bad about claiming, it's your right to do so, and it's not like it's coming directly out of her purse.

bestpud

No it is coming out of the insurance we all pay!

lexilex

I do feel bad about claiming, infact I feel bad about the whole thing. I feel sorry for them having to find the 400 excess 5 days before christmas. I know I shouldn't, it was her fault, but I know if it was the other way round I'd be so worried. Then I think, well it was there choice to have such a high excess, I made sure mine was low when I was shopping round.

I so aren't part of the compensation culture. I don't agree with people claiming unneccessarily at all. I never intended last night when this happened to claim, I just wanted to be diagnosed so I could get some stronger painkillers which aren't available over the counter, which the dr last night didn't give me. It's only after different people have been saying how bad whiplash can be that I thought I better tell my insurers and they've told me to claim.