Somebody wants to sue me, what to do?

pemalu

I was driving 4 young children (all under 10, 2 of them are my neighbour's kids) to school this morning, traffic was slow at 08:35. I pressed the break a little to late & thump a supermarket van in front of me. It was a v small thump, no damage to any cars involved but the driver went out to tell me that he's going to call my insurance about his neck. I went to the supermarket half an hour after, the manager hasn't received a call from the driver re. accident. I called my insurance to report. I've been seeing many advertisements inviting people to sue for injury that already passed. I can't put my mind to rest, not knowing if & when this driver will sue. How long would this guy have to claim injury?

mjdh1957

First, don't worry too much. You and your passengers were't hurt, and that's the important thing.

If the other driver does sue, then you are not personally going to have to pay him, it will be covered by your insurance. So that's one less thing to have to worry about. although I imagine having a claim might in itself be stressful.

Insurance companies will probably be used to people claiming phantom whiplash injuries from minor bumps, so if he is trying to deceive then they will deal with him.

yung

glad you are all ok, I will not be worry about it just keep your insurance informed and do not open any correspondence regarding this RTA send it to you insurance comapany they will deal with it.

marybishop

If he wants to claim personal injury damages he will have to be seen by a doctor working on behalf of the insurance company who will give him a thorough examination. I think insurance companies are wising up to false or exaggerated claims, particularly if he doesn't bother visiting his own GP in the next couple of days (it can't be that bad, can it). I shouldn't worry, as the OP said it will be dealt with by your insurance company anyway. If he'd been in that much agony surely he would have phoned his manager to report it straightaway.

oakdale_minx

I wouldn't worry. The main thing is you and the children are ok.

If he is serious, he will need to go to a GP or hospital to get it down on paper how he feels and get himself checked out and if he hasn't reported it to the bosses at the supermarket pretty soon, they I can't see he would take it any further.

Seems like he was probably just trying it on - immediately getting out and saying he was going to contact his insurance about his neck is a bit of an odd thing to have in your mind if you really are injured.

I was in quite a bad accident 11 years ago as a passenger on the M3 going up to London. I damaged a joint at the base of my neck and a joint in my hip (which are still bothering me now all these years on ). I did claim compensation. I was in a company car at the time and the driver of the car wasn't even contacted by the company insurance people.

Storm

I would recommend writing down now your version of the accident & take pictures of your car showing that there's no damage. You can then pass these on to your insurer should he try to make a claim, and showing there's no damage to your car will help prove that it was very low impact.

ftbworried

Take it from me as someone who's had MANY car accidents (I'm thinking of giving up actually! driving, i mean, not having accidents!). It's nothing you need to worry about. If he DOES sue you then he's really 'sueing' your insurance company - its likely that once you've filled in the forms sent by your insurance that you'll never hear from them ever again.

Also, dont be made to feel like a criminal by this the other driver- accidents are just that, accidents - you didnt mean to do it. We have insurance to take care of situations like this so don't worry about it.

climbgirl

I don't think you've got much to worry about here - he may have just been reacting from shock and if he does go ahead and sue, it'll be the insurance company he deals with, not you.

I would second what Storm says though - take as many detailed pictures of your vehicle (and maybe even the passengers to show no injuries?) and write down your version of events in detail. You might need this later on and it'll be handy to have just in case.

Pobby

I wouldn`t worry,this guy sounds like he is trying it on.When my wife had her car written off she was examined by paramedics at the scene of the accident and was found to have suffered whiplash,damage to small of back,bruised knee and chest.This was noted.A visit to confirm with a gp followed by the insurers doctor.A pretty complicated procedure.Right now a claim is going through and she is receiving physio.

RibenaBerry_2

If the man was really terribly hurt then I apologise in advance for what I'm about to say..... but aren't you sick of people threatening to sue over nothing at all?

My husband was at a council building a while back and a women got up from a table and tripped on the table leg. It was a normal table and a normal chair, she just didn't look as she got up. Unfortunately, she fractured her arm. However, she was ranting the following day about sueing the council for her injuries. I mean, I know it would get thrown out (they're liable for health and safety and negligence, not blooming carelessness and not looking what you're doing), but honestly...

hbl_2

The statutory limitation period on personal injury claims is 3 years, much shorter than other stat lims to stop people going, oooh my neck hurts, must be that accident I had 5 years ago... Er, no...

Don't sweat it, this is how insurance companies make their kwan.