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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask if you would claim compensation after a minor accident?

57 replies

Figaro88 · 29/05/2019 08:51

I was involved in a minor accident on Friday I was hit head on by another car at low speed. I have my hand on the horn the crash forced my shoulder to slightly move out of the socket but to not fully dislocate, AC separation. The other driver left the accident so I rang the police it was all caught on cctv so there is evidence. Dh thinks we should claim I'm not so sure so wanted opinions of what you would do.

OP posts:
LouiseMiltonSpatula · 29/05/2019 09:45

That is not a minor injury. I would definitely claim under those circumstances.

Lougle · 29/05/2019 09:46

Birthdaykake, I posted as the first poster after the OP when I saw it, but had a few threads up at once. Once I posted, I saw all the other posts and the OP's updates.

endofthelinefinally · 29/05/2019 09:49

My dc was in a collision 4 years ago. It was entirely the fault of the other driver.
It took nearly 3 years to get a fairly small amount of compensation. It has all been spent on physio; we are still paying for physio and this is likely to be ongoing for years.
Whiplash can be serious.

BirthdayKake · 29/05/2019 09:50

Ok Lougle sorry

endofthelinefinally · 29/05/2019 09:51

Posted too soon.
Shoulder dislocation can have long term effects too.

Original poster
Figaro88 · 29/05/2019 09:54

Thank you to everyone that has posted so far I thought you would tell me I was greedy and that it is people like me that make everybodies premiums so high. That is because that is how I feel, although I agree that I shouldn't feel guilty at all as the other driver didn't even have the decency to stop.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 29/05/2019 09:56

What would you claim for? Is your shoulder permanently damaged, or will it heal with no long term effects? Initially the injury as it is. Mid term for pain and suffering, especially if she needs and operation. Maybe loss of earnings if she is self employed, or only gest SSP from her employer; Long term continued pain and suffering. Shoudlers are total bastards and often don't heal fully. 30 years on and mine still aches, twinges and causes sleepless nights!

Just because some claims are bullshit shouldn't stop honest people for claiming what hey are fully entitled to!

TwoOddSocks · 29/05/2019 09:57

I'd be more sympathetic to the other driver if they'd stopped at the scene and seemed apologetic and sorry but since you have an injury that's going to cause you major inconvenience and probably pain for a while and they didn't even bother to stop yes I'd claim.

Omzlas · 29/05/2019 10:01

That's not minor OP, not by a long shot. Please claim.

Rahul88 · 29/05/2019 10:08

I would claim. The OH had a crash that seemed reasonably minor at the time and ended up needing 6 operations. It’s not always clear in the immediate aftermath how serious something is.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 29/05/2019 10:11

If I had to have time off work or there was a cost to treatment I'd claim. If I could work with the sling and it was just discomfort then no as there are no costs involved.

I would claim for my car damage though.

Brefugee · 29/05/2019 10:16

Claim for all out of pocket expenses (including medical treatment and taxis etc if you can't drive) and don't be shy. That is why we have insurance (but don't over egg the pudding).

OH was involved in a minor accident and weeks later the other party claimed whiplash. But the insurance investigator saw him partying in town 2 days later so he got done for attempted insurance fraud instead Grin

smartiecake · 29/05/2019 10:22

Definitely claim. A young lad drove into my car earlier this year with me and my kids in. I was stationary at a junction and he drove straight into the back of us. My car was written off. We all walked away ok no serious injuries but I am still having physio for my whiplash and it has been 4 months since my accident. I have a claim in for that, first ever time i have had an accident.

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 29/05/2019 10:36

The fucker drove off! Yes, claim! Claim for anything and everything you can and milk the bastard for all he's worth. If he ends up bankrupt, well at least he won't be driving drunk again any time soon.

TwittleBee · 29/05/2019 10:44

I claimed personal injury despite there being only a minor scratch to my car OP ! I felt like it be seen as being greedy but the anxiety it caused me was horrific as the driver who pulled out on me started intimidate me, thankfully a couple stepped in. A couple days later when I went to my pregnancy scan it was discovered my baby had died, dates indicated it was the day of that car crash, my doctor said was probably caused by the extreme anxiety. So despite the "minor accident" the impact on my life was huge.

Greyhound22 · 29/05/2019 10:49

Wouldn't think twice about it.

The dickhead didn't even stop! There could have been injured kids in the car - which yes to me sounds like they were drunk or similar and have caused you an injury that you wouldn't have had if not. I bloody would claim and I'm someone who has had my car scraped and told the (very upset) man not to worry and carry on.

BirthdayKake · 29/05/2019 11:00

So sorry TwittleBee

Original poster
Figaro88 · 29/05/2019 12:01

I am so sorry *TwittleBee

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 29/05/2019 12:13

Just as an aside - because of all my shoulder problems and operations I have a knob on my steering wheel which enables me to drive with one hand.

Wer2Next · 29/05/2019 12:17

Maybe a claim against private medical intervention if you should need it or private physio if the nhs won't cover.

ThePants999 · 29/05/2019 12:19

I have no truck with people trying to claim compensation for things that were genuinely accidents or even their own fault, like tripping over paving. But if someone else's stupid actions cause you harm, I totally support claiming from them.

DaisyGrabber2000 · 29/05/2019 12:30

Had an uninsured hit & run that wrote my car off.
I was ok but shocked. Physically I had bruising and arm ache that lasted just a few weeks but still have pain in my thumb (two plus years on).
Insurance paid for my car but because the culprit was uninsured I had to pay my excess and couldn't claim personal injury.

I claimed through the uninsured drivers scheme - did it myself - so I don't think you need a lawyer for these things. That will eat up any compensation.
They arranged for a medical examination (this was over a year after the incident so I thought what was the point but they asked questions that brought it all back). I was honest and not money grabbing!
I was surprised to get compensation. I claimed because I was so angry at being hit by an uninsured driver and wanted to have it recorded properly.

LittleSF · 29/05/2019 12:31

If you want to know what a minor claim is, google "Maria Bailey" and swing - she's an Irish politician who fell of a swing in a hotel bar while holding a bottle of beer in one hand, a bottle of wine in another, ran a 10k race three weeks later but sued the hotel because there wasn't instructions on how to use the swing.

The story is headline news in Ireland at the moment - she went on the main radio station to defend herself and it got worse, and worse and worse...

birdonawire1 · 29/05/2019 20:16

Of course you should. You've been injured and will have a lot of pain and inconvenience from this accident. I hope the police were informed as it's illegal to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging details.

CatsThinkMiceSmellLovely · 29/05/2019 20:25

Depends on what it was love X

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