Crash compensation claim

Vivtalk

Hello I am in the process of using a no win no fee solicitor to process a claim following an accident. I want to be sure I am getting the right amount for my claim. Whilst I know they are all unique it would be good to understand a ball park figure if anyone has any knowledge on this.

This is what happened..
Waiting at a roundabout stationary. I was hit by a car transporter lorry from behind. I was pushed onto the rounabout.
Whilst the lorry wasn’t travelling fast the impact was enough to completely wind me and throw me forward. My face, neck and back were all in pain and I attended a&e later that day.

It has also really affected me mentally. Not only to I relive the force of it hitting me and the sound of it. But I now struggle to drive anywhere where I have to go over major junctions or motorways where I am likely to be near lorries. It’s really affected my confidence. To top things off the driver stopped, shouted at me then drove away (I managed to get his number plate) but I was left in the outer lane of a very busy roundabout with cars and Lorries flying past. I couldn’t move my car out of the way and I couldn’t get out of my door without risking being hit by in coming traffic. My husband was down the road and cane up to help stop traffic and get me out of the way.
I was there for 30 mins absolutely terrified that I was going to get hit again whilst being left on the roundabout. It still upsets me to this day.

I have just had my medical assessment 7 weeks after the incident and they have recommended physio. I am still in pain mostly my back now but a little in my neck too

Does anyone have any idea of what would be an acceptable settlement?

Car_54

Impossible to say. It will depend largely on medical assessments of the long-term effects on your health (which may take many months to finalise), and their impact on your earning capacity.


Has the medical assessment addressed the mental aspects?

SHAFT

If you have legal advice why not ask the solicitor?

comeandgo

Maybe wait a few months for a better diagnosis, you should be able to see if any long term damage.

foxy-stoat

Vivtalk wrote: »

Does anyone have any idea of what would be an acceptable settlement?

Lets cut to the chase, how much are you after?

Ectophile

Get a proper expert on your side - a lawyer who deals with personal injuries. They will give you much better advice than a bunch of random people on the internet.


Don't get rushed by the other party into accepting a settlement until you know how bad any long-term injuries are.

pramsay13

I would be looking for compensation for any loss suffered until now and in the future.

If you are paying for the physio I would be looking to get that money back.

If you have not been able to work then I would be looking for an amount for lost wages assuming it is not paid from elsewhere.

If you are struggling to do tasks and need to hire people to do them, e.g. house cleaning I would also be looking to claim for that.

If you are unable to go out and need to pay someone to drive you I would also be looking to claim for that.

If you don't have a clear idea of what these would be it would be worth holding off until the picture is clearer.

Mutton_Geoff

Vivtalk wrote: »

the driver stopped, shouted at me then drove away (I managed to get his number plate) but I was left in the outer lane of a very busy roundabout with cars and Lorries flying past

Did you call the police? Failure to stop after an accident is an offence.

Secondly, was your car driveable after the lorry hit it? Despite your initial shock, it’s important that you protect yourself from further harm (even the “run, hide, tell” advice given by the government for terrorist attacks is applicable). Leaving yourself stationary on a roundabout, presumably inside the car is extremely dangerous. You were lucky not to be hit again.

Finally, be aware of the large % of your money that the no win no fee people will take from your award. Does your home or car insurance policy not have legal cover?

Vivtalk

I did report it to the police. They took a full statement and classed it as a hit and run, however I had a call a couple of weeks later from them to say they did not have the resource to be able to pursue it.

I understand that staying in the car is extremely dangerous but I couldn’t get out! The traffic was flying in a constant stream passed me and where I had been landed there was no option to get out of the passenger side either. My husband had to drive out and stop the traffic.

The car was driveable but Again I had nowhere to pull up.

The no win no fee has capped their fee at £250 as the maximum

SHAFT

Vivtalk wrote: »

I did report it to the police. They took a full statement and classed it as a hit and run, however I had a call a couple of weeks later from them to say they did not have the resource to be able to pursue it.

I understand that staying in the car is extremely dangerous but I couldn’t get out! The traffic was flying in a constant stream passed me and where I had been landed there was no option to get out of the passenger side either. My husband had to drive out and stop the traffic.

The car was driveable but Again I had nowhere to pull up.

The no win no fee has capped their fee at £250 as the maximum

Two points for the future.

999 is there for emergencies and £250 for legal advice won't get you very far.

Mutton_Geoff

SHAFT wrote: »

Two points for the future.

999 is there for emergencies and £250 for legal advice won't get you very far.

The £250 cap is likely a con. The rest of their expensive fee will come from any award the OP will receive so it will be they that lose out. Insurance companies are not likely to agree to extortionate no win no fee agents fees so most likely it’s the claimant who will pay.