Should I just accept this offer and try and get on with my life?

karen24_2

I'll try and keep this as short as possible so you don't get bored and move on. I need some advice from here as my insurance appointed solicitor talks to me like I'm a neurotic idiot.
In November 2009 a car ran into the back of me causing whiplash and severe pain in my right arm and they admitted liability immediately, several months on in April 2010 after lots of physio treatments I felt I was on the mend and my solicitor advised I accept a settlement of around £1800 for my injury. I decided to settle at that time so I could move on and maybe have a nice holiday with my young children who were in the back of the car at the time of the accident, but luckily had no physical injury.
The third party insurer were dragging their heels about the value of the claim due to the amount of treatment I received and my solicitor were worse than useful at sorting this out.
After a lot of pushing my solicitor they finally issued court proceedings and I thought things were sorted. My solicitor has recently contacted me that the offer is now around £1500 after deductions and that I should accept even though I have had constant pain in my arm, shoulder and hand with a lack of strength ever since.
My solicitor doesn't seem to understand when I explain that I am not happy with this amount, as so much extra time has passed since my initial agreement to the higher offer and that the additional 10 months of pain have made me change my mind.
I now need to decide whether to pursue this further or just accept this and move on.
Thank you for reading, Karen

gregd_3

It does seem a pretty low offer considering you needed physio and also suffered other injuries in addition to the whiplash.

What do you mean "after deductions"??

My understanding is that the third party's insurance co would pick up the legal fees.

karen24_2

I've just re-read the letter and it appears I got a bit mixed up, the actual total compensation amount is £3000 but out of that they're deducting my treatment costs and the loss of earnings paid back to my employer. I guess I feel hard done by as because I needed more than the normal level of treatment I get less cash compensation than other people who don't have much of an injury.
My physiotherapist said a lot of her clients who are referred by the insurance company don't have anything wrong with them and just want to have the minimum amount of treatment in order to get the maximum compensation.
I have said many times that if they could have fixed my arm I wouldn't want any money at all, it feels all wrong to me that no claim is based on it's own merits it's just a figure they pick off a sheet.
Thank you for your reply.

karen24_2

I've decided to accept the offer and hope they don't wait another ten months and offer me less as I really want an end to this now. The solicitor don't really leave me much choice, as if I decide to take it further and I get a judge who doesn't agree with me I could end up with a massive bill for all the costs involved.
I wonder if the young lad who ran into me at 30 miles an hour and caused all this stress has suffered as much?

mikey72

You could just sack your soliciter and get another one. Or tell him you want £3000 with no deductions.
He's keen to settle as he gets paid regardless.

dogbot

If you are still experiencing pain after that amount of time you should be continuing to seek treatement!