Car Accident - Injury Claim?

blueocto

Hello fellow money savers, I have a question I hope some of you may be able to express your opinion on.

Basically, I stopped at a roundabout to give way to a car coming round on my right (as you do) and was hit in the rear by a van. My claim is currently going through the insurance.

Within an hour of the crash I had a terrible pain in my lower back and a 'growing pain' feeling in my right thigh, it was so sore I could hardly sit down.
The following day, I visited the doctors whom stated that there was no 'muscle spasm' but it would ache for approx 1 week and to take painkillers. If it was to get worse, to go back immediately.
That evening, my shoulders and neck gradually became stiff which continued until the 3rd day after the accident.

Now the insurance companies dept. that details with injury claims and loss of expenses have asked if I wish to put in a claim, but I dont know if I should?

I have lost a day's pay from work, as I am currently on probation for a new job, in training, I've got behind in my training with having the day off, had hardly any sleep and as you can imagine, absolutely petrified of driving in these wintery conditions at the moment.

Would that be worthy of a claim? Im not the kind to claim anything, just not the way I was brought up, but family and friends advise me that I should.

Any thoughts, advice or similar experiences? It would be much appreciated!

ukjoel

Sit on it a week - No need to respond straight away.
If you must respond straight away tell them you are undergoing medical checks and will get back to them with results.

Go and see a chiropractor/back specialist rather than a GP.
They can sign you off work, get x rays taken and work out what the pain is caused by.

A lot of time pain from accidents like these can take a while to fully materialise and you need to keep your options open.

DirectDebacle

ukjoel wrote: »

Sit on it a week - No need to respond straight away.
If you must respond straight away tell them you are undergoing medical checks and will get back to them with results.

Go and see a chiropractor/back specialist rather than a GP.
They can sign you off work, get x rays taken and work out what the pain is caused by.

A lot of time pain from accidents like these can take a while to fully materialise and you need to keep your options open.

Some sound advice there but I would advise lodging an injury claim with your insurers asap. As time passes periodic medical reports will be requested either by your insurers and/or the other parties insurers. Thus there will be a history from close to the time of the accident and not some while after.

Make a note of all expenses incurred e.g. taxis, bus fares etc to medical appointments, cost of medication, loss of wages and so on. Keep receipts.

There is no way of knowing how long 'soft tissue' damage will take to repair itself. I hope it is a quick process for you.

I appreciate your reluctance to claim compensation but you are doing the right thing.

If the 'compensation culture police' appear on here with their usual banalities don't let them put you off.

Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery.

littlerat

I'd suggest lodging a claim. I don't have loss of earnings but lodged 1 after an accident a few weeks ago (well didn't realise I was at the time actually, but when I told them my injuries I got put through to solicitors automatically), was now 4 weeks ago and far from getting easier my pain is doubled and I can barely move, which considering I'm a carer for my Dad and therefore could do with doing housework, walking dog etc it's proving to be quite a problem.

After about a week mine seemed to be easing off, has a couple of good days, then spent half of the next 2 weeks in bed, I was only able to get out for toilet and meals really, so be prepared for it to come back with a vengeance!

Mankysteve

While iam the first to moan about compensation culture that's going on this country. If you've lost earning from something that was caused by someone else bad driving then of course you should make a claim even if it only for the lost income.

blueocto

Thank you so much for all your replies, they are very reassuring.

I think I will try to make an appointment with a sports physio that I know well, to see if he can detect any underlying issues with my back, like you've mentioned, last thing I want is to speak to the claims dept, to find that it rears it's ugly head in the future.

I'll keep you updated!

karen24_2

I had a similar accident back in November, my insurance company sent me for an assessment and I've been receiving treatment for my injuries. Definitely put in a claim, you never know if you are going to get worse and need more time off work etc.

DaveMacD

There's a world of difference between claiming because you didn't have your eyes open and tripped on a pavement, and what you have gone through, minding your own business and then getting rear-ended. If you've lost money (wages, bus fare, taxis) then you really are entitled to it, and you shouldn't feel that you are doing anything wrong by claiming. Would you feel guilty for claiming if you'd ended up crippled?

gsmmad

I would suggest putting a claim in, reason is the injury's can get worse and sometimes can seem to get better but then they come back. You can never really know. I think you should be compensated for your injury's. You can put a claim in and they will instruct a medical adviser to have a look at your injury's. They will do a report on there finding and you may get some physio if you wish. Then you will get paid for your injury's. The fact that the third party will pay for the damages to your car means there already got a claim against there name, if they pay you out 10,000 for the claim or 100 pounds. It will still be one claim against TP.

Mr_Warren_2

A few years ago, in the rush hour, i just VERY LIGHTLY bumped an Audi TT in the rear. I confirm my speed was not even being registered on the car speedo. The woman got out as i did, we both inspected the bumper that had scratch marks from normal everyday use. She got on the phone to her husband, chatted a while and we exchanged details. Got home, rang my insurance to tell them what had happened. They asked if it was my fault, as we were all moving in one direction and i had bumped her rear, i confirm that yes, it was my fault.
I did not hear anything for many months until my renewal date came up. On my renewal document i saw a comment relating to "accident at fault date etc". I immediately contacted my insurance Co (MoreThan) who confirmed the woman had made a claim for a) neck injury with Dr certificate and b) re-spray to bumper with car repair shop inspection document.

I was absolutely stunned !!!! the insurance said that with a medical certificate there was nothing they could do !!

So go and see your doctor and claim against the other driver. That's the kind of society we are in.

Pitlanepiglet

Mr_Warren wrote: »

A few years ago, in the rush hour, i just VERY LIGHTLY bumped an Audi TT in the rear. I confirm my speed was not even being registered on the car speedo. The woman got out as i did, we both inspected the bumper that had scratch marks from normal everyday use. She got on the phone to her husband, chatted a while and we exchanged details. Got home, rang my insurance to tell them what had happened. They asked if it was my fault, as we were all moving in one direction and i had bumped her rear, i confirm that yes, it was my fault.
I did not hear anything for many months until my renewal date came up. On my renewal document i saw a comment relating to "accident at fault date etc". I immediately contacted my insurance Co (MoreThan) who confirmed the woman had made a claim for a) neck injury with Dr certificate and b) re-spray to bumper with car repair shop inspection document.

I was absolutely stunned !!!! the insurance said that with a medical certificate there was nothing they could do !!

So go and see your doctor and claim against the other driver. That's the kind of society we are in.

Other than the fact I don't drive an Audi, I could be the woman you hit. I was hit in the rear at traffic lights in May 2008, the bike rack (half inch mild steel) attached to my towbar was damaged but no structural damage to the car itself. I got out of the car, I spoke to the driver who hit me, we exchanged details.

Within the next 45 minutes, my neck started to hurt and 18 months on, I am still struggling with the soft tissue injury which ultimately effected my upper and lower back. I have had in excess of 20 chiropractic sessions, similar amounts of phyiso and some sports massage. I was fit and active at the time with absolutely no history of back pain.

I can't carry a heavy handbag, I can't carry my rucksack that I used to carry to work, I've had to buy new pillows and a new mattress, I've spent pounds and pounds on painkillers and heat pads and I've had to change many things that I do as the back and neck pain doesn't allow me to do the things I used to do.

In short, you have no idea what you are talking about - the lady you hit may well have seemed fine at the time but you were the tit who couldn't drive correctly and may well have cause her a huge amount of discomfort since the accident.

Soft tissue injuries are difficult to manage and to give any certainty to - I was told 6 to 9 weeks recovery time initially, yet I'm still in pain. My physio currently says it will resolve sometime within 3 to 5 years of the accident date.

OP, keep in touch with your GP and do speak to a physio or similar. This may well resolve but it might not and you are entitled to compensation to reflect your pain and suffering and any care that you might need - ie any assistance with caring and housework.

Do you have legal expenses cover? If so they will appoint a solicitor to act on your behalf.