car accident compensation claim + then future accident related to first?

jennyftblock

Long story short I had a car accident, car hit me and wrote off my car within a second. I was lucky to still be alive, back problems and sciatic nerve issues and was just about to finish my final treatment of physiotherapy. the other car driver admitted full liability and I will be claiming injury compensation (say what u all want I was off work for 8 weeks, am a single mother to twins and was in agony plus I got a few pennies for my car back even though I had a new engine put in a few months before the accident blah blah)


anyway treatment was due to be finishing up next week and I was walking down the street on my way to work and my leg gave way. I went head first into the wall and then pavement, rushed to a + e and spent a night in hospital with a fractured eye socket and a swollen eye/facial bruising and stitches. I have had to take more time off work as doctor didn't advise me to drive without the use of one of my eyes ha anyway I feel like I am just the most unlucky person in the world however have sciatic nerve problems since the car accident could the 2 be linked, given it was my left leg that went (never happened to me before) and would I call the insurance company dealing with my first injury to speak to them, would I get more compensation or just laugh it off as really bad luck and wait for the third strike?

dacouch

Do you have a solicitor dealing with the first claim?

jennyftblock

hi, no just the other car insurance company, I didn't want to go down the no win no free route.... The person who hit me's insurance company- well their 'injury' department who are apparently getting ready to compensate me once i've seen their GP's next week

tasticz

please get a no win no fee on the case and don't go see their doctor next week if you go and see them this could really jeopardize your case

third party doctor will be acting in the insurers best interest and you could receive under settlement

forgot to mention any money you accept from third party insurers will usually be a full and final settlement so if you have any problems in future you are on your own so its a good thing to get a solicitor acting for you...

sithemadmonkey

No win no fee has got a bad name only because of people who fake/exaggerate a bit of whiplash to get a bit of cash. The whole system was supposed to help people like yourself, who are genuinely injured and in actual need of compensation for it. Get yourself a solicitor who specialises in these things, it's the only way of ensuring a fair settlement - especially if your case is complicated by follow-on injuries etc.

All I can say is get well soon, and best of luck with the compensation!

jennyftblock

thank you all so much, I have had a few scans of this website and mostly people saying go through insurance company for injury claims, but I see having the fall has complicated things so I will look into it thanks again

Quentin

jennyftblock wrote: »

thank you all so much, I have had a few scans of this website and mostly people saying go through insurance company for injury claims, but I see having the fall has complicated things so I will look into it thanks again

Your "scans" have lead you to an incorrect conclusion!

Where you see advice to go to the third party insurer that is in cases where no injury is involved, just damage to your property!

Throughout this forum you will see advice to always get your own legal advice over personal injury compensation.

There is a clear conflict of interest if you go through the (third party's) insurance company over compensation.

bouncydog1

Also whilst an early settlement might help with immediate cash flow, the solicitor acting for you can ask for an interim payment. By the sounds of it, your injuries may be more serious than initially thought so it is important you have a solicitor to fight for you to be properly compensated.

Hope u soon feel better.

Aretnap

Dealing with the third party's insurer yourself is generally fine where you're only claiming for property damage, as the issues are usually fairly straightforward. If your car is written off and the other party offers you some money for it, you don't usually need a lawyer to tell you whether the money they've offered is a fair valuation for it. Also, you can't usually claim legal fees for a property damage claim of less than £10,000, so the cost of legal advice may well outweigh any advantage it offers anyway.

Personal injury claims are another matter as the issues are more complicated. An offer in full and final settlement of eight weeks wages plus a couple of thousand pounds for pain and suffering might sound like a good deal now - but if you find you're still having problems in two years time and having difficulty working you might come to regret accepting it. The new injury complicates things further. A good solicitor will ensure that you're treated fairly, that you get what you're entitled to, and that the settlement isn't finalised until you can be sure of the long term outcome (though he'll be able to arrange interim payments if you need them to pay your bills now). To reflect the fact that you have greater need for proper advice,the small claims limit for personal injury claims (ie the size of the claim at which you can also claim legal fees) is a mere £1000.

Don;t feel that you're doing something wrong. You're not someone who's trying to cash in on an accident by pretending to have a sore neck - you're someone who's suffered real harm, and the system has been put in place precisely so that people like you and your children can have that harm put right - at least as right as it can be put with money.

[Deleted User]

Make sure whoever you select will let you keep 100% of the compensation though. The insurance company will pay their fees. There are some scams out there where they grab some of your money too.

Quentin

DELETED USER wrote:

Make sure whoever you select will let you keep 100% of the compensation though. The insurance company will pay their fees. There are some scams out there where they grab some of your money too.

This is ill founded.


You will have to scour round to find any firm prepared to do this




Virtually all lawyers now charge after a successful claim.


Compensation awards have been increased as you now normally can expect to pay up to 25% of your compensation to your solicitor after a successful claim.