We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Should I accept Personal Injury offer?
Options

Charliuk74
Posts: 8 Forumite

I was a passenger in a car in June 2017. We were pushed off the road into a ditch and then had to jump into a river and climb up a steep bank to get out of the ditch.
My husband and I have received reports from psychologists and orthopaedic surgeons.
My husband and I have received reports from psychologists and orthopaedic surgeons.
It’s all been very slow as our first solicitor went into administration and then the 2nd solicitor took a year to reach our files, hence it’s gone on for so long.
My report states that my pre existing arthritis in my hip has been escalated by 5 years and my symptoms are 40% worse that it should be had the accident not happened. An MRI has now been requested as I am struggling to drive due to hip pain which has only been like this since the accident.
I received a pre med offer 18 months ago of 7.5k and refused it, but I’ve now received an offer of 12.5k before the MRI has even been booked.
I really wanted the MRI to find out what is going on with my hip, but will the cost of the MRI come off my award? What if there is nothing showing on the MRI? Would it be better for me to just accept the offer now, or are they just trying to settle now in anticipation of a higher pay out after the MRI?
I really wanted the MRI to find out what is going on with my hip, but will the cost of the MRI come off my award? What if there is nothing showing on the MRI? Would it be better for me to just accept the offer now, or are they just trying to settle now in anticipation of a higher pay out after the MRI?
My husband on the other hand has not received any offers and has an MRI booked for this coming Saturday.
Thanks for reading!
0
Comments
-
Do you have a figure at all that you would be happy with?
If so, what is it and how do you come to that figure?
If you say that you have no idea - this is when you rely on the people that are advising you , that is your solicitor.0 -
I have no idea really.... my solicitor has t said which way to go, just advised what could happen either way and said so have to decide.I know my hip is giving me problems and I know this pain is a direct result of the accident, but I’m not sure it can be proven.0
-
Its not something anyone can advise on really as each situation is different. So many thinngs to take into consideration- Do you have quantifyable losses? Have you had physio? Are you able to work? Are there going to be problems going forward affecting your income/life which can definately be attributed to the accident? Have you had to endure numerous medical appointments and operations? Who did the reports you refer to? Have you been sent for an independant report or is it one you have obtained yourself?
My husband was hurt in an accident and he ended up unable to work and was retired on ill health grounds and in his case he was made an offer which his solicitor advised him to decline. Eventually the other side increased the offer and he was told by his solicitor at that point that to fight for more they would need to get a barrister to look at the case and assess the chances of getting an improved offer in court. He finally settled out of court. However, I knew someone who was offered £100,000 plus and was advised to turn the offer down by his solicitor. He was sent for more tests which included a further scan and because he had previously hurt his knee playing rugby some 25 years earlier he lost his case at coury and walked away with £12,500 so its very much a game of chance.
The fact that you have a pre existing condition with your hip will make things difficult.
What is your solicitor advising you to do.0 -
Charliuk74 said:I have no idea really.... my solicitor has t said which way to go, just advised what could happen either way and said so have to decide.I know my hip is giving me problems and I know this pain is a direct result of the accident, but I’m not sure it can be proven.0
-
swingaloo2 said:Charliuk74 said:I have no idea really.... my solicitor has t said which way to go, just advised what could happen either way and said so have to decide.I know my hip is giving me problems and I know this pain is a direct result of the accident, but I’m not sure it can be proven.1
-
swingaloo2 said:Its not something anyone can advise on really as each situation is different. So many thinngs to take into consideration- Do you have quantifyable losses? Have you had physio? Are you able to work? Are there going to be problems going forward affecting your income/life which can definately be attributed to the accident? Have you had to endure numerous medical appointments and operations? Who did the reports you refer to? Have you been sent for an independant report or is it one you have obtained yourself?
My husband was hurt in an accident and he ended up unable to work and was retired on ill health grounds and in his case he was made an offer which his solicitor advised him to decline. Eventually the other side increased the offer and he was told by his solicitor at that point that to fight for more they would need to get a barrister to look at the case and assess the chances of getting an improved offer in court. He finally settled out of court. However, I knew someone who was offered £100,000 plus and was advised to turn the offer down by his solicitor. He was sent for more tests which included a further scan and because he had previously hurt his knee playing rugby some 25 years earlier he lost his case at coury and walked away with £12,500 so its very much a game of chance.
The fact that you have a pre existing condition with your hip will make things difficult.
What is your solicitor advising you to do.The pre existing condition does complicate things, which is why I’m not sure an MRI can prove anything, but at least I would know what is going on with the joint.
I am going to call the solicitor tomorrow as they don’t recommend going either way.0 -
Be very careful about pushing too hard for a higher payout, although only you can decide if you think the offer is 'reasonable'. Cut a long story short, somebody I knew was offered a payout after suffering an injury at work. They wanted to accept but their solicitor said they should hold out for more. They took the solicitor's advice and the case dragged on for several years with the insurer disputing the extent to which the injury affected their daily life. This affected her mental health too, and she said she wished she had simply accepted the initial offer.
0 -
Don't the solicitors usually tell you the scale of potential payout? Years ago I was, like you, a passenger in a car crash & suffered damage to a disc in my spine. My solicitors gave me a scale of potential payouts which ranged from the lowest they expected to be offered right up to the highest. When an offer came through it as only £350 off the top & they advised taking it.0
-
TELLIT01 said:Be very careful about pushing too hard for a higher payout, although only you can decide if you think the offer is 'reasonable'. Cut a long story short, somebody I knew was offered a payout after suffering an injury at work. They wanted to accept but their solicitor said they should hold out for more. They took the solicitor's advice and the case dragged on for several years with the insurer disputing the extent to which the injury affected their daily life. This affected her mental health too, and she said she wished she had simply accepted the initial offer.0
-
Penguin_ said:Don't the solicitors usually tell you the scale of potential payout? Years ago I was, like you, a passenger in a car crash & suffered damage to a disc in my spine. My solicitors gave me a scale of potential payouts which ranged from the lowest they expected to be offered right up to the highest. When an offer came through it as only £350 off the top & they advised taking it.I think if they had offered 12.5k without the deductions I would have jumped at it, but once the deductions are taken it would be a lot less.I also really need the MRI, so it’s a dilemma.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards