£115,000 settlement for accident victim after initial insurance offer of £400

Posted 12/10/2014

Roger Loomes, a personal injury specialist at Ashtons Legal, has obtained a settlement of £115,000 for Mr S who was injured in a low speed accident when his vehicle was hit by a reversing Landrover.

Mr S began to suffer severe headaches after the accident and these were later diagnosed as accident-induced migraines. He initially took normal over-the-counter tablets to treat his headaches which resulted in internal bleeding and in due course compartment syndrome in one of his legs.

Roger comments: “Defendant insurers often jump to the conclusion that a low speed accident will not result in significant injuries and therefore make a low early financial offer and hope the claimant will settle. Fortunately for Mr S we helped him to obtain a proper medical diagnosis and his settlement has now given him the chance to progress with a course of treatment which will help to minimise his headache symptoms in the future. He was far less fortunate in suffering compartment syndrome as a result of his choice of over the counter medication and he has unfortunately been left with some long term side effects from this. The chain of events affecting Mr S were unusual but demonstrated the importance of clients not jumping to take the first offer made by a defendant insurer rather than instructing a lawyer who will really fight their corner to obtain the compensation they deserve in order to get their lives back on track after an accident.”