Accident with London bus and cyclist - advice required

[vickster]

Yea, I'm still waiting on the second offer. They are awaiting a report from my physio, I need to see another medic, and I am still not pain free so I shall be waiting (told it could be another year to be painfree from the scarring and another 2 years for the numbness to go )

 

[ianrauk]

A friend in the insurance business gave me an excellent rule of thumb for these things:

The first offer is what they hope to get away with.
The second offer is what they think they can get away with.
The third offer is the maximum amount they will pay without going to court.

Always turn down the first two offers and accept the third.

Exactly how it worked for me.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

How quickly did they make their first offer?

 

[classic33]

Yes, that's not unusual. My point was that if the OP needs a phone, he'd be best replacing it and submitting the receipt as part of any claim

And keep hold of the origanal handset, until the matter is sorted. The same with everything else that may be claimed for. Clothes, make no attempt to clean them.

 

[ianrauk]

How quickly did they make their first offer?

If you are asking me... it was well over a year. But we then had to too and fro over physio costs, then they offered a part 36 which we turned down, had to threaten court and then they paid up.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Yea, I'm still waiting on the second offer. They are awaiting a report from my physio, I need to see another medic, and I am still not pain free so I shall be waiting (told it could be another year to be painfree from the scarring and another 2 years for the numbness to go )

It's well worth waiting until everything is resolved, otherwise you don't know the long-term prognosis.

 

[classic33]

How quickly did they make their first offer?

Five months from the date of the incident in my case. Just checked.

 

[vickster]

It's well worth waiting until everything is resolved, otherwise you don't know the long-term prognosis.

No indeed, I'm fortunately not in any great rush for the cash lost

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

And keep hold of the origanal handset, until the matter is sorted. The same with everything else that may be claimed for. Clothes, make no attempt to clean them.

I washed my shirt to get the blood out and because it stank to high heaven!

If you are asking me... it was well over a year. But we then had to too and fro over physio costs, then they offered a part 36 which we turned down, had to threaten court and then they paid up.

The insurers for the driver have been pretty good. They offered private physio as soon as they admitted liability. They have also involved a company that specialise in getting people back to work quickly (its in their interest after all!) My solicitor just got that report and is sending it to me this week once he has reviewed it. The hardest part for me is the financial side of things. Luckily I do not have a mortgage or rent to pay, but only getting SSP for 4 months has been hard, as my income now is only £40 a month more than my bills and that does not include food or petrol etc. Its not so bad now I have had the first interim payment, but its hard not knowing when the next will be and for how much. I ended up selling a lot of stuff to keep my head above water. I think ther should be something put in place once they have admitted liability to sort that out.

 

[classic33]

I think that's part of the process. Wear you down to a point at which you'll be willing to accept any offer they make to you.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I think that's part of the process. Wear you down to a point at which you'll be willing to accept any offer they make to you.

Unfortunately that's exactly it: if they know someone is desperate for cash, they are likely to lowball their offers.

 

[classic33]

Unfortunately that's exactly it: if they know someone is desperate for cash, they are likely to lowball their offers.

I'm aware that the longer it goes on and if it seems like you're asking for "money now!" then the offer will be low.

 

[fossyant]

I received an interim after 6 weeks for damage to bike and property, one about two years later for physio, but the case only settled after 3 and a half years.

 

[vickster]

The solicitor offered to arrange physio for me, but I was already seeing someone under Bupa at the local hospital which isn't in their network. I continued as I preferred to stick with the same physio and importantly, she has access to my surgeon

If you need physio to get back to work etc, you shouldn't be out of pocket - the costs just get rolled into the claim

@fossyant - did it take so long to settle as you weren't healed and thus didn't want to, or did the other side drag their feet?