Passenger Whiplash Claim Advice

Jake_Stevens

Hello all,

I was involved in a car accident last night where I was the passenger in a vehicle that rear ended another vehicle at about 30mph. I have had to take today off of work, and I am in moderate pain with some back and shoulder pain included.

The driver of the vehicle is my friend, and has admitted to me that the accident was his fault. Where is the best direction to take this claim? Directly to his car insurer? What can I expect in the process of this and how long will this take, will I have to go to court for this?

I don't know if I should contact his insurer or go with a third party company that will do the process on my behalf. Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Jake Stevens.

Quentin

Always better to get your own specialist solicitor to fight your corner for you. (Beware any private messages you may get from ambulance chasers lurking here to look for hot leads like this!)


Expect this to take months at least and maybe over a year to be resolved.


Court hearing is unlikely but cannot be ruled out completely.

Jake_Stevens

Thanks for the advice, is there any way for me to get a specialist solicitor on a no win no fee basis that will also not cost half the settlement? My friend will admit responsibility so there should be no issues in that regard.

MacMickster

Is a little bit of pain and stiffness (which will almost certainly be gone within a couple of weeks) worth potentially losing a friendship over - just for a few pounds compo?

Jake_Stevens

It won't be a loss of friendship, the lady who we crashed into is claiming for injuries and damages so this claim won't rise his premium any more than it already will be as she is claiming as is. Is this correct?

MacMickster

Jake_Stevens wrote: »

It won't be a loss of friendship, the lady who we crashed into is claiming for injuries and damages so this claim won't rise his premium any more than it already will be as she is claiming as is. Is this correct?

She may be claiming for injuries and damages, but that doesn't automatically mean that her claim will be successful. She may merely be trying it on, so yours may be the only claim to actually be paid out.

Alternatively, without strong medical evidence, your friend's insurance company may suspect that the 2 of you have decided to make a little money out of a bad situation by claiming that you were injured. They may be even more inclined to investigate your claim thoroughly. Any evidence of collusion by your friend in a fraudulent insurance claim could make him uninsurable in the future.

DomRavioli

Jake_Stevens wrote: »

It won't be a loss of friendship, the lady who we crashed into is claiming for injuries and damages so this claim won't rise his premium any more than it already will be as she is claiming as is. Is this correct?

I don't think you quite grasped the point.

You're suing your friend. In a lot of cases you will lose said friend.

Nothing to do with premiums.

Poppie68

As the accident only happened last night you are obviously going to be a little sore today but you may find after a few days or a week on painkillers that the pain disappears, if it is still prevalent after a couple of weeks or more maybe look at putting in a claim then?

Quentin

Ignore all this about suing your friend!


Your friend admits blame, but he won't be paying the claims that will ensue, his insurer will (not just the OP's but for the damage to both cars and injuries to all passengers and drivers involved )


A no win no fee solicitor will only take 25% of the payout at most not half!

Quentin

Jake_Stevens wrote: »

It won't be a loss of friendship, the lady who we crashed into is claiming for injuries and damages so this claim won't rise his premium any more than it already will be as she is claiming as is. Is this correct?

Yes.


He will also be able to get his own car repaired as part of the claim, all this will count as one claim (including all injury claims as well as damage repairs/loss of earnings etc), and your friend will just have to pay his excess (and can avoid that if his own car can be repaired at a back street garage for less than the excess, in which case he should not claim for his own repairs)

Jake_Stevens

Yes, my friend know's that it's acceptable for me to claim and it won't come at an expense from his pocket. There are damages to the other car that have been claimed, and she will win as we hit her when she was stationary from behind. From my point of view I can't see this making any difference to my friend, and he will support me whatever I do and I know that.