Retro

I was involved in a minor road accident on Wednesday morning. A woman, blinded by the sun, drove into the MPV queued up behind me, which shunted it into my car.

It was a massive jolt (all of my compartments in my car flew open) but my car managed to survive virtually intact. The middle car is a write off as is the car of the woman liable.

Anyway, I knew I'd been thrown about a bit straight away, but since then I've had pain in the neck and shoulders - not too bad but akin to stiffness with some restriction in movement.

The insurance company asked if I wanted to claim on the injury, saying that I wouldn't be in pain if this woman hadn't hit my car (which I guess is a good point). I'm loathe to claim unless it gets worse, just because I don't think it's that big a deal and not debilitating.

But people I've spoken to are quite surprised by my action. So would you claim in my position? I'm not asking for advice - just interested in people's opinions on injury claims.

btw if I'm forced to miss golf on Saturday I may have a completely different attitude.

Fred_the_Red

Depends how much you will get after.

Retro

I have no idea really. I've heard people mention £500 and others thousands... but I don't know if they're based on anything credible.

Rob1981

I'd like to think I wouldn't claim on principal, because like you I wouldn't want to make a big deal out of it unless I was genuinely hurt (broken bones etc). in practice, with the money sitting there, I'm not sure what I'd do.

at the end of the day, claims like this are commonplace nowadays. and if everyone else is doing it... that's why your insurance premium is so high after all.

Jearm84

some plank plowed into the back of us when i was a kid-gave my mum whiplash and brought on arthritis in her neck something like 15 years before it should have appeared

it may be a little niggle now but get it fully checked out as it could really bother you in later life

as for claiming, up to you really-but imo sun or not she should have had control of her car which includes being able to see at all times

Retro

Part of my issue was my ignorance of the impact on the liable woman. Now she screwed up and made a mistake, but anyone can do that. I wasn't sure initially if me claiming would impact her - but someone I spoke to said her insurance premium is screwed and so I'd only be shafting the insurance company - which appeals more. This fella made a very convincing argument all-round tbf.

Sir Bert Preast

Did she admit the mistake? If she did, I wouldn't claim unless I was really ****ed up or off work. OTOH, if she tried to make out it wasn't her fault when it clearly was I'd hit the bitch up for every penny I could.

Principles. :thup:

prong

It's something that I used to be dead against but in recent years I've developed (they'd be suing me if the roles were reversed) a more cynical view.

Also far too greedy to turn the prospect of cash.

Retro

This particular stretch is a nightmare. The sun appears low at around 8am straight in your face - and it is blinding. I had to edge up to the cars in the queue, as did the woman behind me... but this woman clearly wasn't quite as cautious.

She admitted total liability immediately and was very aplogetic.

cms186

Tbh this is the bit that would make my mind up personally, if your pain is minor, and the person responsible was very decent about what happened, I would be inclined to leave it be, although that might change were my financial situation even worse than normal, or I didnt have a shred of decency.