PI Claim

terryuk73

I'm looking for a bit of advise, last week I was envolved in an accident where another driver collided into the side of my car. As a result of this both myself and my gf had to goto hospital and were diagnosed with soft tissue injuries to our lower back.
The other drivers insurance company called and offered us £1100 compensation each as full and final settlement later the same day. The injury seems to be healing ok, so I'm wondering if this is a reasonable settlement figure? or what the average is.

Also can anyone recommend a decent solicitor should it be required. I have legal cover on my policy but so far they havent been that helpful.

thanks

Quentin

Contact a claim handler solicitor to fight your corner.

You need someone fighting your corner for you (the third party insurer acted unethically to try and get you to take a final settlement on the day of the incident, knowing you had injuries which take time to heal - how could you possibly know then what you would have to go through before you are fully fit, and what level of compensation was correct).

Bonse_2

definitely speak to a solly.

Lower back injuries can affect the rest of your life - don't be hasty to accept quick pay-offs.

Did the Dr at the hospital give you any advice of whether it will affect you later on or just say that it'll be healed in 3 to 4 weeks or w/e.

terryuk73

doctor told both me and gf that should heal within a week, and to goto gp if not healed

stator

£1100 is not a generous offer. As above wait until you are fully recovered. Then if you are fine make them a counter offer, saying that if they pay this amount you will avoid the fuss of a personal injury lawyer. If they don't accept that then go to a PI lawyer.

geri1965_2

What insurance company was it?

terryuk73

its admiral

adamc260

Quentin wrote: »

the third party insurer acted unethically to try and get you to take a final settlement on the day of the incident

Not really? All a solicitor will do is send you off for a medical which tells you pretty much what the doctors will in a hospital, then send you off for a load of physio that most likely isn't required (sometimes is), then at the end, they get you a settlement figure and get a large settlement fee that ultimately adds to the cost of the claim?

Yeh, very unethical indeed.

Quentin

Of course its unethical to contact the patient on the very day they suffer the injury (possibly when shock has set in) with a very low full and final offer! (In the almost certain knowledge the patient hasn't had time to collect his thoughts about how to progress the events of the day)

adamc260

Quentin wrote: »

Of course its unethical to contact the patient on the very day they suffer the injury (possibly when shock has set in) with a very low full and final offer! (In the almost certain knowledge the patient hasn't had time to collect his thoughts about how to progress the events of the day)

I think peoples ideas of what amount you get for injury is rather cloudy

Crazy_Jamie

Quentin wrote: »

Of course its unethical to contact the patient on the very day they suffer the injury (possibly when shock has set in) with a very low full and final offer! (In the almost certain knowledge the patient hasn't had time to collect his thoughts about how to progress the events of the day)

The most important piece of advice here is to wait until the injuries are healed. The doctor has suggested that the injuries should heal within one week. If that is right, there is no reason not to wait such a short time. However, if the OP and his girlfriend are both fully recovered by then, the offer of £1,100 each in respect of the injuries is actually more than reasonable in the circumstances.