Whiplash

sicknote64

Hi there
Im wondering what the legal process is for whiplash claims. I got rear ended by a beautiful car recently, wasnt my fault. It was at low speed. Im now having pains in my neck and struggling sleeping. I have been to A&E to be assessed by a doctor which is where I work. I often see people on a daily basis coming into A&E claiming whiplash, some look very genuine and others are in it for the money.

Im in a lot of discomfort, had to change my lifestyle around, no more sports or gonig to the gym as the neck is stiff and uncomfortable. My daughter was in the back of the car and she was traumatised for a few days afterwards.

since the accident I have been inundated by solicitors asking to represent me for my injury claim. They are all backstabbing the others and telling me, I should do this and do that and this is what I will get through them and what I would get through others.

Can I just have some simple unbiased advice on the process of claims, how long they take and do I have to meet the person, do I have to go to court, do I have to present my symptoms to someone to prove myself?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!

maninthestreet

Surely you've already been called by personal injury ambulance chasers???

victor2

If you don't fancy using any of the ambulance chasers and have legal cover on your insurance policy, ask your insurers about claiming.
I'd stop referring to whiplash though, if you want people to take you seriously.
If the other insurers decide to defend the case, then I suppose it could go to court and they would want documented proof of your injuries and lost earnings (which they would want anyway). However, many seem to come to an agreement and settle without any court hearings.

InsideInsurance

sicknote64 wrote: »

Can I just have some simple unbiased advice on the process of claims, how long they take and do I have to meet the person, do I have to go to court, do I have to present my symptoms to someone to prove myself?

1) You are unlikely to get simple unbiased advice in general in my opinion but especially when you have something that is worth a fair amount of money to whoever gets your business.

2) How long they take can be a piece of string question. Some people decide to deal with it themselves, call the third party insurers and can on rare occasionally literally be offered a figure there and then for settlement and cheque sent in a couple of days time.

Others can drag on for years and years depending on severity of injury, disputes on liability, disputes on valuation of injury etc etc. I'd argue an average for a straight forward case is 6 - 18 months

3) You only go to court if you cannot come to an agreement outside of court. Vast majority of cases are not litigated.

4) Depends on the severity of the injury. A medical report is often prepared with your seeing an "independent" medical expert to assess the severity of the injury, any complicating factors and prognosis for the future. Again in very minor cases sometimes a GP report may be accepted in place of paying for a consultant report.

Hintza

sicknote64 wrote: »

It was at low speed.

What speed? Less than 10?

mkirkby

Ohh please come on guys....

It's the OP's 1st ever post and their username is sicknote64!!!

Not on the ball today are we?

worried_jim

mkirkby wrote: »

Ohh please come on guys....

It's the OP's 1st ever post and their username is sicknote64!!!

Not on the ball today are we?

Allow me the honour-

fivetide

Surely:

victor2

OK. Bit slow there, should have seen it coming!

Happychappy

Was this in Liverpool ?

dacouch

mkirkby wrote: »

Ohh please come on guys....

It's the OP's 1st ever post and their username is sicknote64!!!

Darren Anderton has had an accident and now has whiplash?