Accident - what to do next?
Discussion
Earlier today the other half was sat stationary in traffic when an old fella has smashed into the back of her, pushing her car into the car in front. Damage is pretty severe - the impact was sufficiently hard that the drivers door wont open on the car now, the car is a write off without a doubt.
Chap who hit her immediately said "I couldn't see you the sun was in my eyes". I'm guessing that's effectively an admission of liability, although in a rear impact that may not really be a factor anyway, it's basically his fault I believe?
Police and Paramedics attended, because our 1 year old nephew was in a baby seat in the back, he seems to be ok. By the time I arrived the car in front had left so was clearly not badly damaged. RAC had to recover our car as it wasn't driveable.
The other half is now in casualty as she seems to have hurt her neck quite badly. Within 2 hours the RAC have been on the phone offering to pursue a no win/no fee personal injury claim. I suppose that's the world we live in now.
Anyway, my question is, what do we do next? Insurance have been informed, she was third party only. Car is now back at our house god knows what I'm going to do with it. I'll go out this weekend and buy her a new car as I have no idea how long the insurance will take to come through.
If she is injured, should we pursue a claim via the insurer, or via the RAC - or someone else? I'm loathe to ring the "national accident helpline" but I guess it's an option.
Anyone with experience of such matters that can comment your input will be most appreciated!
Chap who hit her immediately said "I couldn't see you the sun was in my eyes". I'm guessing that's effectively an admission of liability, although in a rear impact that may not really be a factor anyway, it's basically his fault I believe?
Police and Paramedics attended, because our 1 year old nephew was in a baby seat in the back, he seems to be ok. By the time I arrived the car in front had left so was clearly not badly damaged. RAC had to recover our car as it wasn't driveable.
The other half is now in casualty as she seems to have hurt her neck quite badly. Within 2 hours the RAC have been on the phone offering to pursue a no win/no fee personal injury claim. I suppose that's the world we live in now.
Anyway, my question is, what do we do next? Insurance have been informed, she was third party only. Car is now back at our house god knows what I'm going to do with it. I'll go out this weekend and buy her a new car as I have no idea how long the insurance will take to come through.
If she is injured, should we pursue a claim via the insurer, or via the RAC - or someone else? I'm loathe to ring the "national accident helpline" but I guess it's an option.
Anyone with experience of such matters that can comment your input will be most appreciated!
Search members directory for Anniesdad and call him up.
Steve has handle 10's (if not 100's now) of these sort of things and should be able to help you, even if it isn't a case he can take on himself due to the secondary impact.
Everyone i know who has used him only has good things to say.
Steve has handle 10's (if not 100's now) of these sort of things and should be able to help you, even if it isn't a case he can take on himself due to the secondary impact.
Everyone i know who has used him only has good things to say.
As above for the accident and insurance stuff. Ask Anniesdad, he comes recommended by lots of PH'ers. Not through personal experience yet though (touches wood...)
Anyway, on the injury fron, my advice is WAIT! I have been unfortubnate enough to be involved in this situation twice, both times having severe whiplash which led to time off work and a year long recovery, unfortunately once you get it you are supceptable to the injury a second time far more easily.
Don't use ambulance chasers, or the RAC or whatever, use a local (read recommended) solicitor AFTER your wife has started to feel better, at least 3 months from now before you start persuing it. The solicitor will then take into account treatment she has had and send her to see a private consultant, who will decide if she requires further physio, then probably also ask her to come back for a second assessment some time later. (unless she declares herself "fit" in the meantime). You have UP TO 3 years to lodge a claim for an accident, so your first priority is to make sure she is OK and well on the road to recovery. 2nd priority is get her a car sorted! Then you can start thinking about solicitors etc.
Anyway, on the injury fron, my advice is WAIT! I have been unfortubnate enough to be involved in this situation twice, both times having severe whiplash which led to time off work and a year long recovery, unfortunately once you get it you are supceptable to the injury a second time far more easily.
Don't use ambulance chasers, or the RAC or whatever, use a local (read recommended) solicitor AFTER your wife has started to feel better, at least 3 months from now before you start persuing it. The solicitor will then take into account treatment she has had and send her to see a private consultant, who will decide if she requires further physio, then probably also ask her to come back for a second assessment some time later. (unless she declares herself "fit" in the meantime). You have UP TO 3 years to lodge a claim for an accident, so your first priority is to make sure she is OK and well on the road to recovery. 2nd priority is get her a car sorted! Then you can start thinking about solicitors etc.
Excellent chaps most helpful indeed. I'll PM anniesdad presently. She's back from the hostpital with some sort of collarbone injury and is in a sling, and apparently has been given a variety of pills called something like diazepam and cocodamol (sp???)
Unfortunately I'm at work so can't keep an eye on her, but she's with her sister who was also in the car so she should be ok.
As a counterpoint to a lot of the threads around here these days - the traffic officer who attended was absolutely superb. Polite, courteous, helpful and went above and beyond by taking home the other half's sister and our nephew, including all the pushchairs, and parephenalia.
Unfortunately I'm at work so can't keep an eye on her, but she's with her sister who was also in the car so she should be ok.
As a counterpoint to a lot of the threads around here these days - the traffic officer who attended was absolutely superb. Polite, courteous, helpful and went above and beyond by taking home the other half's sister and our nephew, including all the pushchairs, and parephenalia.
_dobbo_ said:
Earlier today the other half was sat stationary in traffic when an old fella has smashed into the back of her, pushing her car into the car in front. Damage is pretty severe - the impact was sufficiently hard that the drivers door wont open on the car now, the car is a write off without a doubt.
Chap who hit her immediately said "I couldn't see you the sun was in my eyes". I'm guessing that's effectively an admission of liability, although in a rear impact that may not really be a factor anyway, it's basically his fault I believe?
Police and Paramedics attended, because our 1 year old nephew was in a baby seat in the back, he seems to be ok. By the time I arrived the car in front had left so was clearly not badly damaged. RAC had to recover our car as it wasn't driveable.
The other half is now in casualty as she seems to have hurt her neck quite badly. Within 2 hours the RAC have been on the phone offering to pursue a no win/no fee personal injury claim. I suppose that's the world we live in now.
Anyway, my question is, what do we do next? Insurance have been informed, she was third party only. Car is now back at our house god knows what I'm going to do with it. I'll go out this weekend and buy her a new car as I have no idea how long the insurance will take to come through.
If she is injured, should we pursue a claim via the insurer, or via the RAC - or someone else? I'm loathe to ring the "national accident helpline" but I guess it's an option.
Anyone with experience of such matters that can comment your input will be most appreciated!
Inform insurers first. They will not wish to absorb costs. They may have own ambulance chaser recommends.Chap who hit her immediately said "I couldn't see you the sun was in my eyes". I'm guessing that's effectively an admission of liability, although in a rear impact that may not really be a factor anyway, it's basically his fault I believe?
Police and Paramedics attended, because our 1 year old nephew was in a baby seat in the back, he seems to be ok. By the time I arrived the car in front had left so was clearly not badly damaged. RAC had to recover our car as it wasn't driveable.
The other half is now in casualty as she seems to have hurt her neck quite badly. Within 2 hours the RAC have been on the phone offering to pursue a no win/no fee personal injury claim. I suppose that's the world we live in now.
Anyway, my question is, what do we do next? Insurance have been informed, she was third party only. Car is now back at our house god knows what I'm going to do with it. I'll go out this weekend and buy her a new car as I have no idea how long the insurance will take to come through.
If she is injured, should we pursue a claim via the insurer, or via the RAC - or someone else? I'm loathe to ring the "national accident helpline" but I guess it's an option.
Anyone with experience of such matters that can comment your input will be most appreciated!
Check them out. Shop around too.
Insurance ist stupid here.
I know as person who hit me that day push me into other car. It was all nasty as I am told as I was - er - "out for count" for a while 
The car she pushed into will claim off your insurer. You claim off the old geezer. You go to CAB/any specialist with free half hour for advice. Weigh up - go with one you judge to deliver the goods of compensating the injury/replacing your loss.
Good Luck. But odds in your favour all the same
RX8Dave said:
Did that happen under the railway bridge in Hemel ?
I passed that one and it looked nasty. Whether it was or wasn't, hope your wife's OK.
Dave
Hi Dave, this happened in deepest darkest weston-super-mare so must be a different incident. Thanks for your kind thoughts in any case!I passed that one and it looked nasty. Whether it was or wasn't, hope your wife's OK.
Dave
I have used Anniesdad before. Amazing service. The first person I'm going to be on the phone to if anything ever happens to me motor again.
His website is http://www.europaconsultants.co.uk
Hope your missus is getting better Ben.
Rob
His website is http://www.europaconsultants.co.uk
Hope your missus is getting better Ben.
Rob
Quick update if anyone cares! The third party's insurers paid in full, SWMBO is still in a pretty bad way and signed off work for another week yet, but seems to be making slow progress.
Anniesdad's colleague helped me loads - although I didn't need to use them in the end he was still extremely helpful and pointed me in the direction of a good personal injury solicitor.
New car on the drive but she can't drive yet though, still only has about 30% movement in her neck.
Anniesdad's colleague helped me loads - although I didn't need to use them in the end he was still extremely helpful and pointed me in the direction of a good personal injury solicitor.
New car on the drive but she can't drive yet though, still only has about 30% movement in her neck.
_dobbo_ said:
Quick update if anyone cares! The third party's insurers paid in full, SWMBO is still in a pretty bad way and signed off work for another week yet, but seems to be making slow progress.
Anniesdad's colleague helped me loads - although I didn't need to use them in the end he was still extremely helpful and pointed me in the direction of a good personal injury solicitor.
New car on the drive but she can't drive yet though, still only has about 30% movement in her neck.
Make sure you keep all wage slips - the other party will request them anyway for paperwork backing to whatever they end up paying out to compensate for loss of earnings (which should be in addition to the compo for the injury) I am sure your solicitor will have already got this in hand. Anniesdad's colleague helped me loads - although I didn't need to use them in the end he was still extremely helpful and pointed me in the direction of a good personal injury solicitor.
New car on the drive but she can't drive yet though, still only has about 30% movement in her neck.
This ist her neck. She must have taken some stiff jolt when he hit her car. The car she was pushed into - his insurers will have claimed from yours. You need to establish this from them. You need to try to recoup any losses in this respect within your compo claim if/as best you can. I am sure good solicitor will advise und ask all the right questions there. (When the person hit me when taken ill - he pushed me into other cars - who claimed off my insurance - but this all got redressed when it eventually hit the courts some years later in my case as there was a lot of whining on the part of the deceased's insurers
(like claiming his policy had "expired" as he was probably already dead at point of impact. 
Judge laughed that one out of the court room as I recall ) It always galling when something happen that not your fault - even if insurers cough up to put right. It even more galling if they do not bother to stop though
Hope your girlfriend make fullest recovery.
I'm sure your PI solicitor will have told you this but record everything that has happened and continues to happen to her health wise; every day she has a blinding headache and can't get out of bed, every family BBQ and party she misses because she feels dreadful. How depressed she feels about the potential longterm nature of her injuries.
These things are all relevant to the "value" of her claim, sadly major "whiplash" injuries may well cause her difficulty for a great length of time. You are unlikely to be in a position to assess quantum (value) for some time, probably a couple of years and by that point both of you WILL have forgotten how god awful this summer, autumn and winter were for both of you and a detailed record will help you be in a position to ensure the retrospective part of the claim is valued correctly.
Good luck, hope she feels better soon.
These things are all relevant to the "value" of her claim, sadly major "whiplash" injuries may well cause her difficulty for a great length of time. You are unlikely to be in a position to assess quantum (value) for some time, probably a couple of years and by that point both of you WILL have forgotten how god awful this summer, autumn and winter were for both of you and a detailed record will help you be in a position to ensure the retrospective part of the claim is valued correctly.
Good luck, hope she feels better soon.
Thanks again for the thoughts and advice.
Wildcat - we've been assured by our insurers that all claims against Abby have been removed from their database and her insurance is entirely clean - not even a no fault claim. I haven't determined if this is because the party in front didn't claim, or because they claimed direct from the third party.
Piglet - Abby has been keeping a diary of pain, medication, and side effects (of medication) as well as things like not being able to go to the gym - (normally 4 or 5 times a week) and not being able to lose weight to fit into her dress in time for our wedding in October - apparently all these things are important.
I feel much better now with a solicitor on the case - when the settlement cheque says "full settlement for any and all claims against the insured" you wonder how you are going to get back your other costs...
I certainly wouldn't wish this on anyone and I'm not even the one who is in pain all the time!
Wildcat - we've been assured by our insurers that all claims against Abby have been removed from their database and her insurance is entirely clean - not even a no fault claim. I haven't determined if this is because the party in front didn't claim, or because they claimed direct from the third party.
Piglet - Abby has been keeping a diary of pain, medication, and side effects (of medication) as well as things like not being able to go to the gym - (normally 4 or 5 times a week) and not being able to lose weight to fit into her dress in time for our wedding in October - apparently all these things are important.
I feel much better now with a solicitor on the case - when the settlement cheque says "full settlement for any and all claims against the insured" you wonder how you are going to get back your other costs...
I certainly wouldn't wish this on anyone and I'm not even the one who is in pain all the time!
Fidgits, she's fine on the diazepam and codeine together - it was the tramadol that messed her up. It is apparently the strongest pain killer they prescribe, anything stronger is IV only.
Andy, I didn't know the seat needed to be binned, I'll pass this along. Ta for that!
Andy, I didn't know the seat needed to be binned, I'll pass this along. Ta for that!
Edited by _dobbo_ on Friday 31st August 15:19
TPS said:
_dobbo_ said:
Thanks again for the thoughts and advice.
Wildcat - we've been assured by our insurers that all claims against Abby have been removed from their database and her insurance is entirely clean - not even a no fault claim. I haven't determined if this is because the party in front didn't claim, or because they claimed direct from the third party.
Even if it is a non fault claim you would have to declare to all insurers that you have been involved in a claim for the next 3 to 5 years.Wildcat - we've been assured by our insurers that all claims against Abby have been removed from their database and her insurance is entirely clean - not even a no fault claim. I haven't determined if this is because the party in front didn't claim, or because they claimed direct from the third party.
When you ask for a qoute you will hear
Have you been involved in any claims/accidents wether to blame or not in the past (3) (5) years.
If you said no and it was found out you have this could cause major problems in the event of another claim.
Hope your other half recovers soon from her injurys
Edited by TPS on Friday 31st August 15:20
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