Should I accept offer for my ds

[dopeysaurus]

Morning! I'm new to this do please be gentle! My ds started secondary school in Sept and travelled on the school bus for the first time. Unfortunately the bus driver breaked suddenly and my ds was pushed forward, hitting a bar, busting his lip to to the point it's left a permanent lump and scar. He still talks about it now (it happened in Sept) and the lump and scar is really noticeable.He has been offered £250 compensation today but I've always been told not to accept the first offer. Help!!!

Money isn’t a very busy topic, I’d repost this in Legal Matters - it’s more appropriate there anyway. That’s also a quietish topic, so maybe put it in Chat, too.

I would speak to a solicitor, who will know what the usual compensation is (I studied law a very long time ago, briefly, so can’t help - but I vaguely remember some tables that are used for guidance on what each type of injury is “worth”).

Have you had medical advice on the cost of any possible (?) private plastic surgery to remove the lump?

I daresay there would be a question around whether the driver was at fault. Breaking suddenly sounds like they were responding to another driver driving badly. So there may not be much of a case. That’s why a solicitor would be more useful.

I work in an area related to injury claims so have a little experience, I would say £250 is too little bearing in mind he has permanent scarring/lump.

At the time I never sought medical advice because it was a bust lip although I wasn't aware it would leave a scar and lump. My ds is almost 12 and is becoming conscious of it. I haven't thought about surgery to have it removed as it would probably leave a larger scar. I have advised them I won't be accepting the offer.

My ds has a scar and bumpy lip thanks to a council park bench. Council refused to accept liability. I swore a bit (lot), then moved on. Sorry your ds is still affected.

You can’t pissubly make a good decision about fair compensation if you don’t know potential medical costs! I don’t think you should judge whether surgery would leave a bigger scar or not - you’re not an expert. I think you were right to reject the first offer, but even if they double it, you won’t know without speaking to a solicitor whether you’d be likely to get more, and you won’t know whether it would be enough to cover corrective surgery.

Ex injury claims handler here. £250 is very low. I wouldn't accept

Thanks stoppedat1 I've taken some legal advice and been advised the same. I'll wait to see what they come back with. Thank you