injury claim help

katykatkins

i don't entirely know where to put this, so apologies if it's in the wrong place.
I have a bit of a story and I really need some advice with what to do next ... just wondering if anyone can help.
2 1/2 years ago, (september 05) my mum fell over in a supermarket - they had not cleaned up a whole lot of egg white on the floor (which I'd told them about) and she slipped. Over the next 8 months, her condition got a lot worse, to the point she was stuck laying on the sofa for 5 months. She had surgery for a severely slipped disc in april of 05. In the november, my dad was made redundant and could not go back to work because my mum needed a full time carer, she couldn't go to the toilet alone, or take a sip of water without help.
This was a major change for her, in july 05 she went to Kenya on a trip to help AIDs widows and orphans, during which she climbed a mountain!! She was a very active woman who never sat down during the day - always busy, now, 2.5 years on, she cant even go to tesco on her own to get food shopping.
She has put in a personal injury claim because we couldn't afford to pay the medical bills - she had to have her operation privately because the NHS couldn't get her in for a year (!! but another matter entirely.)
Finally they have decided on an amount to give her - £12,500 for pain and suffering and £5000 for my dad over the last 3 years for caring for her. Does anyone else think this is more than a little ridiculous? My dad couldn't get another job becuase he was caring for her - prior to this he was earning £100,00 a year! Don't you get something like £3000 for loss of a tooth or something? what do you get for loss of your entire life and wellbeing?
The medical expert for the supermarket is "sceptical" and had my mum followed - something she was very worried about - she thought she was being stalked! They say that because a friend took her to the supermarket and carried all her shopping for her, she is living a normal life. They also say she walks "briskly" - I haven't seen my mum walk briskly for 3 years... this is obviously a lie, unless they had their video player on fast forward?
Can anyone help with what we should do next? This feels like a huge insult..
I have to write an account of what my mum can and can't do... I asked if they have a limit on the amount of pages because her life is nothing compared to before the accident....
Sorry this is so long, i just need to get it off my chest and find SOMETHING we can do about it...

geri1965_2

It's really very difficult to say without having seen your mum's medical report and what the prognosis is.

You do not have to accept the offer that's been made - I assume you have a solicitor acting for you, have you discussed it with him/her? What is their opinion?

BTW you wouldn't get £3,000 for one tooth - serious damage to one front tooth would be £1,300 - £2,300 but you can't really compare the two as if you lose a tooth, it's gone for good.

katykatkins

The prognosis that how she is now is how she will be for the rest of her life, in constant agony.
In my opinion, a tooth is cosmetic, but my mum has lost 3 years of her life that she can never get back...
The opinion of the solicitor is that we should have produced more evidence to show how she was before - they didnt tell us we could do this.
We've just recieved a report from the supermarket's medical expert who contradicts everything that any other medical expert says!! What are we meant to do about this!!
Thanks for replying, I know that my first post was a bit long!!

geri1965_2

Is that the advice from your own solicitor? It doesn't really make much sense. What is his/her view on the offer made - do they think it's reasonable and are they recommending acceptance?

FWIW, I consider that this far down the line, if you are still miles apart from any agreement with the other side, you might as well let it go on for another 6 months and then issue proceedings. The court will then give directions and they may say the experts should get together and come up with a joint report (hopefully someone who is a solicitor may come along and explain the process better as I am only a loss adjuster/claims handler).

How is your claim being funded?