I am ATM in the middle of two claims for the car accidents that I had....one in may 2006 and the other last october.
I also had a car accident in april 2000, and that one was claimed for too.
NONE have been my fault!.
accident #1, I was 28wks pregnant, broke ribs, whiplash, prem labour......total award was over £8000, but the solicitor took £2000!, so we obviously got £6000. the car was sorted extra to that, and we also got out of pocket expenses, lost wages for DH, car seat replacements, pushchairs, other small items too.
DD2 and DD3 were also in the car, but we didn;t file claims for them as they were small, and so not overly effected, and they were injury free.
accident #2, i am still in the process of claiming for regarding me, but I damaged left sacro illiac joint (hip in laymans terms), whiplash, plus I got post traumatic stress after too. the sol's say that I am also claiming for care (had lots of help with the kiddies and cleaning etc after), DH wages for taking time off plus other stuff, and we are also claiming injuries.
DD2 was in this accident too, and she damaged her knees (strains), and we settled for her to the sum of £1600, which is held in a court appointed trust fund.
this accident, all five kiddies involved and all were injured so all are claiming, as am I, especially as it has re-injured all my old injuries and given me more......ribs and hips (both sides now), plus my 3rd whiplash!.
we are claiming as it this is why we pay premiums!! also, why should the other driver get off scott free when he was negligent in his care and attention?
I realise accidents DO happen, and to be fair, the first two were just that....accidents. the third one however was his negligence and he is/was proscecuted for undue care and attention (I think that was what the police said...DH dealt with it all as I was out of it for a few days on diazapam!)
If your solicitors recommend you go for a cliam, then do. I know that they make money out of it, so in some ways it is their wages they are looking out for, but injuries of this kind are and should be able to be sue'ed over IYGWIM.
if nothing else, you say that your children have been effected......they should therefore gain something out of this as it can go a long way towards something when they turn 18yrs (as that is when they are elligable for it). My DD2 has already earmark her's for further ed, altho she has yet to get there, and things change rapidly in short times, let alone 5yrs in her case!
How are you feeling now tho?? don;t forget that even if a full claim doesn;t go thro, you can claim for private physio to help with the healing process. I did, and got fab accupuncture too, which really helped.
goodluck