Offer made on RTA injury claim

wozzza72

Hi
I was involved in an nasty RTA 2 years ago, my solicitors have advised the claim should be worth £7k but have had a first offer made today of £4k. Does anyone have any experience of the way insurance companies work with payouts? Is this just a ridiculously low first offer to tempt me to accept? I have rejected this offer. 
Thanks 

BOWFER

I have experience of offers for personal injury, although it was years ago.
Their first offer will always be low in the hope they tempt you, especially if it's dragged on for ages.
Your solicitor should know what the injury is 'worth' from previous cases, although I'm guessing if it's only £7K is must have been something pretty minor.

michaelphelps28

I used to work as a paralegal many years ago but doubt if things have changed that much since.
Two things I would say,
A) I very much doubt that any Insurance Company would make their final offer first and you were right to reject it - did not your solicitor in fact advise this?
You say a "nasty" accident - even £7K seems low by today's standards - particularly if you have any residual injury problems.

Hope this helps

michaelphelps28

Sorry don't know where the emoji came from!

Sandtree

You are paying a solicitor so why are you not seeking their advice rather than strangers on a forum?

As with anything, you rarely give your best offer first but certainly in my claims handling days it wasnt a case of significantly lowballing and so first offer is almost always in the ballpark of where they intend to go to unless something material has not been considered.

BOWFER

I got nearly £7k in 1987, that was for a broken wrist, multiple cuts and bruises etc.
That was for being totally wiped out by a car driver turning right in front of me on my bike.
Only a few years later a mate got more for being knocked off his bike while sitting at some lights by someone behind and having a 'bit of a sore shoulder' for a while.
£7k must be a broken nail these days.

AdrianC

michaelphelps28 said:

Sorry don't know where the emoji came from!

It's automatic. Put a capital B and a RH bracket, and it turns it from B ) into

wozzza72

Yes solicitor has advised me to reject it but it's kind of worried me that the first offer was so low, I was expecting a low first offer but maybe in the region of £5 to £5.5k.

When I say nasty I was hit stationary from behind by someone doing 50mph. No long term damage, but bad back in a few places, neck and knee, the usual stuff but enough to cause me 18 months of sleepless nights due to the back pain, no sports etc. And the smash scared the hell out of me for months. Have had physio for a long time as well. 

Sandtree, am asking strangers on a forum as the solicitor is very black and white. 'Strangers' on here have lots of experience of these things and it's easier asking 'strangers' for opinion rather than keep asking a solicitor stuff all the time, especially when they usually take a week or so to reply to mails.

BOWFER

Do you have medical proof to back up the sleepless nights etc.?
A letter from a doctor saying your sleep will have been compromised etc?
I had to attend several medical assessments, I can't remember if my solicitor or the guilty party's people arranged them.
I do wish I'd been less 'stoic' in the interviews and played up on them a bit, as my playing down of the injuries undoubtedly let them off the hook a bit.

strawb_shortcake

The compensation payout values has dropped in recent years, so the days of bigger payouts are a bit behind us.
I was in a similar accident to yourself, suffered damage to my legs, back and neck. MRI showed permanent damage to my back, and I have some scarring on my leg, but that has faded but still noticable. 
Both my leg, neck and back can play up at times but three years on it's much less frequent. My sleep was affected for around two years. 
I was finally awarded £14,000 after an initial £3,000 offer. It was hard work to get there and I had so many appointments with different medical agencies, but if I could have swapped having had the accident for the money then I'd have done it in a heartbeat. 

So, yes I think you should get closer to the estimated figure, but it might not be that easy or quick.

Good luck 

wozzza72

Jeepers, it's been two years nearly since the accident now!