Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to go to A&E?

58 replies

MummySparkle · 22/11/2014 18:24

Someone just reversed into the back of my car with me and both children in it. We were stationary with engine off in a parking space at sainsburys when it happened. Got shunted forward about a foot and a Big Bang. The impact was square on, by a similar sized car, no dent but a few scratches.

Both children (22months and 5months) seem fussy and were crying afterwards. Still seem out of sorts now but not crying.

I don't know whether to take them to get checked out or whether I'm being a crazy worrypot and A&E will send us home again :/

OP posts:
EnlightenedOwl · 22/11/2014 19:09

Well I wouldn't go to A & E. Out of hours doc at best. But up to you.

ILoveSimonCowell · 22/11/2014 19:10

You probably don't need to go. Probably everything will be fine. However YOU MUST GO. You would never forgive yourself if something was found not to be fine. It'll be horrible, but hopefully they'll see them quickly.

Inselaffe · 22/11/2014 19:13

Go to A&E - don't bother with 111. I was in a nasty car accident a few months ago and I wish I had insisted on being scanned - I felt 'okay', although shaken, but within 48 hours was in incredible back pain. They now think I have possibly fractured some vertebrae / done some damage to my spine but have been shunted to the back of the queue as I am no longer considered an urgent case and am on a massive waiting list for a MRI as if this had happened normally outside of an accident situation.

I also had a whiplash and broken rib (diagnosed fairly quickly after the accident - they said the back pain was muscular). Even the smallest impact can cause damage. Please don't take a chance. If you phone 111 all they will do is try and send an ambulance for you.

yellowdinosauragain · 22/11/2014 19:14

I'm a doctor. I used to work in a and e and I can tell you right now that people attend for far less than this. So if it will help reassure you then go without a second thought.

That said the chances of there being anything more serious than whiplash with this kind of low impact collision, with children strapped in their car seats, is incredibly low. So in your shoes I wouldn't take them. Give them calpol and brufen and keep an eye. Plenty of cuddles. You can always decide to go if anything changes.

hollie84 · 22/11/2014 19:14

I wouldn't go to A&E on a Saturday night, it doesn't sound like an immediate emergency. I'd take them somewhere (out of hours, minor injuries or even A&E if nowhere else is available) tomorrow morning if still out of sorts though.

Havingabeer · 22/11/2014 19:22

Go. It won't hurt. Mine are 3 and 20 months do the same age gap and I'd do the same if it happened now or in a couple of months.

Lariflete · 22/11/2014 19:26

The same thing happened to us a week ago at a roundabout. Slow speed impact, the kids were grouchy for a day or two and I had sore neck and seatbelt mark down my front for a couple of days but we were all fine 48 hours later.
Because the other driver admitted fault, their insurance has sorted out repairers and are also sending me a cheque to replace the car seats.
Hope you are all ok Flowers

CSIJanner · 22/11/2014 19:50

It's early - A&E won't be too bad/busy now. Go now if you can. And yes - claim for the damage and car seats. Hope you all are okay and feel better soon.

legoqueen · 22/11/2014 19:51

Go now, before it gets too busy, best to have them checked out as they are so little & are behaving oddly.

afreshstartplease · 22/11/2014 19:53

I would definitely go

Senigallia · 22/11/2014 19:54

I'd take them

formerbabe · 22/11/2014 19:56

I wouldn't worry that its a Saturday night...a&es have separate sections for children (at least my local one does) so they won't be queuing up behind the pissheads and binge drinkers!

vanessalightyear · 22/11/2014 19:59

Similar thing happened to me but lower impact. DS was around 12 months so still in rear facing but it was the front of my car that was reversed into. Luckily it was middle of the afternoon so I just drove straight to my gp who did agree to see him after a little wait. It was mainly for my reassurance but I'm glad I did.

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 22/11/2014 19:59

If the impact was enough to shunt your stationary car a foot, have you also had the car checked? There may be hidden damage to the chassis and it should be properly checked....

And if you have doubts about DC and they are acting out of normal patterns it's worth getting them checked over.... They aren't big enough to tell you what's up...

vanessalightyear · 22/11/2014 20:00

Also yes insurance replaced the carseat no bother.

aermingers · 22/11/2014 20:03

Rather than A & E do you have any out of hours GP services in your area? Or a walk in centre? You can normally access them by calling 101. I agree you probably need to get them checked over but A&E on a Saturday night might be scary for little ones. I'd see if there was an alternative if possible, may well be less traumatic and also shorter waiting times. If not I would say go to A&E.

Itsfab · 22/11/2014 20:05

If the insurers won't replace the seats, you must.

Mine offered £100 but a equivalent quality seat was £125. DH had already bought the seat but I did get the £25 off the insurers eventually. I told them either they or the woman was paying it but I wasn't being out of pocket when not my fault.

mausmaus · 22/11/2014 20:06

I'm in the 'go' camp.
when we had a car accident at easter we were checked over by an ambulance crew but the whiplash only showed a few hours later.

the dc being grizzly/not quite themselves would worry me. my dc were shocked after the impact but minutes later fine and chatty to the ambulance crew.

Altinkum · 22/11/2014 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheFriar · 22/11/2014 20:14

If you are worried in any shape or form then go to A&E

I hate it when people say that it's because of people overreacting like this that the NHS/A&E is in bad shape. They aren't the ones who won't be able to look at themselves in the mirror if there is something going on.
Also whiplash can be very serious for an adult. It can be much more than a few hours of discomfort and should be checked out by GP too (physio is quite often recommended. Again your insurance should be able to cover that sort if things)

Original poster
MummySparkle · 22/11/2014 23:47

Pants! I typed a reply earlier and it seems my phone lost it :(

I got through to a lovely nurse on 111, reassured me that the DCs are fine. And she's logged it on their systems so I will get through quickly if things change. They are both sleeping peacefully now.

I will be sorting the car out tomorrow if possible, if not then Monday. Think it will need a new rear bumper as the foamy bit is probably squashed. Need to take new pictures of the visible damage tomorrow morning.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I was really shaken up earlier and my brain wasn't thinking clearly.

Fingers crossed all are still well in the morning :)

OP posts:
Jollyphonics · 22/11/2014 23:54

Just to warn you, your neck will hurt more tomorrow, because that's how it goes with whiplash. You need to take painkillers and keep mobile. Your kids probably won't have it because they're more flexible.

Jollyphonics · 22/11/2014 23:59

And to the person who suggested you go to A&E as it would "massively help your claim" - you do realise that A&E depts are at breaking point don't you?

Chocolatefudgebrownieicecream · 23/11/2014 00:02

Yes if you are still up and can take them I would take an anti inflammatory (like ibuprofen) to help with the stiffness tomorrow (today just).

wobblyweebles · 23/11/2014 00:10

I was taken to A&E by ambulance after a shunt on the M4, all three vehicles written off. They did pretty much nothing - just gave me a neck collar thing to wear.

Swipe left for the next trending thread