Whiplash Claim - 'Accident Advice Helpline'??

martd

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me if Accident Advice Helpline are worth a go?

They have contacted me earlier today after i'd completed "How much could you claim" form.
My wife had a car accident (non fault) recently and they say they can help us with compensation.

We would have been claiming though our insurance company but will AAH be able to get more for us?

Any opinions gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Martin

Rallydriver

A claims management company won't do anything for you except pass your details to a solicitor of their choosing and taking a nice big fee for doing it. You might as well choose your own solictor that suits you.

martd

Thanks Rallydriver.

What happens with our own insurance company (or insurance companies in general)?
Would they do the same?
Are insurance companies any good with getting compensation?

Cheers

anotherbigspender

martd wrote: »

Thanks Rallydriver.

What happens with our own insurance company (or insurance companies in general)?
Would they do the same?

They normally ask if you have been injured on the forms and when you call to report the accident. What did you say?

In most cases, if you answer yes, they will pass your details on to a 3rd party.

What are the extent of your wife's injuries? Did she seek medical attention at the time of the accident or as soon as practical afterwards?

martd

Thanks for your reply Anotherbigspender.

She had very back neck and back pain a short while after the accident so she went to our local A&E and they strapped her to a board and sent her to hospital by ambulance.

About 4 hours and a set of Xrays later the diagnosis of whiplash was given.
She lost two days of work and is still in a bit of pain (happened Friday morning).

We told the insurance company this, and we're now waitng for the legal team to contact us.

Rallydriver

martd wrote: »

Thanks Rallydriver.

What happens with our own insurance company (or insurance companies in general)?
Would they do the same?
Are insurance companies any good with getting compensation?

Cheers

Depends what they do with it. I have no real experience of this, I'd guess they just pass it on to a solicitor and collect the referral fee like a claims mgmt co.
Look up solicitors that do personal injury in your yellow pages that are local to you and try one of them. Careful with the contract though, go for no win no fee but make sure there aren't any costs hidden in there like insurance incase you lose.

emmell

When my mum and dad were in an accident (dad's fault) and I was dealing with the insurance on his behalf, they informed us that my mum could claim for her injuries. They dealt with everything as they said my mum was a genuine claim, and involving a third party company would delay the payment. They also said that my mum would end up receiving the same payout but the third party (ambulance chasers) would also receive a substantial payout.
My mum didn't want to claim because my dad was already upset that he had nearly killed them, but the insurance company explained it was her right. My dad did ok too, he got double what he had paid for the car from auction.
It was very traumatic at the time and if it wasn't for my dad's insurance company being so helpful we would have never known that my mum was entitled to anything at all.
ML.

hundredk

emmell wrote: »

When my mum and dad were in an accident (dad's fault) and I was dealing with the insurance on his behalf, they informed us that my mum could claim for her injuries. They dealt with everything as they said my mum was a genuine claim, and involving a third party company would delay the payment. They also said that my mum would end up receiving the same payout but the third party (ambulance chasers) would also receive a substantial payout.
My mum didn't want to claim because my dad was already upset that he had nearly killed them, but the insurance company explained it was her right. My dad did ok too, he got double what he had paid for the car from auction.
It was very traumatic at the time and if it wasn't for my dad's insurance company being so helpful we would have never known that my mum was entitled to anything at all.
ML.

Your mum was a third party and effectively claimed off your dad, presumably she wasn't on the insurance so no conflict of interest?

Same accident - your mums injuries were genuine yet others were ambulance chasers?

vaio

emmell wrote: »

When my mum and dad were in an accident (dad's fault) and I was dealing with the insurance on his behalf, they informed us that my mum could claim for her injuries. They dealt with everything as they said my mum was a genuine claim, and involving a third party company would delay the payment. They also said that my mum would end up receiving the same payout but the third party (ambulance chasers) would also receive a substantial payout.
My mum didn't want to claim because my dad was already upset that he had nearly killed them, but the insurance company explained it was her right. My dad did ok too, he got double what he had paid for the car from auction.
It was very traumatic at the time and if it wasn't for my dad's insurance company being so helpful we would have never known that my mum was entitled to anything at all.
ML.

Some scary conflicts of interest here, the insurance company has a responsibility to minimise payouts, I don't really see how this sort of claim can go through without someone to look after your mothers interests

geri1965_2

There is no conflict of interest - the passenger is a third party just as the occupants of the other vehicle are. Assuming the passenger is aware of their right to seek legal advice at any stage, they are not being taken advantage of.

In response to the OP, it probably won't make much difference if you pursue your claim with a solicitor instructed by AAH or one instructed by your own insurers. I expect they will be much of a muchness. It might be worth approaching some other solicitors directly, as some of them will pay you money to take your case on (it saves them paying the referral fee to AAH or whoever else instructs them.

hundredk

geri1965 wrote: »

There is no conflict of interest - the passenger is a third party just as the occupants of the other vehicle are.

I read emmell's post as tho her mum wasn't a named driver on the policy in which case this is true.

If she was a named driver then there is a conflict of interest because she would no longer be a third party:)