Accident Claim

[EcclesCake]

CAB have been pretty useless with their advice so throwing the net wider.

How does one go about quantifying losses/costs with regards to a knocked off your bike type incident.

There are so many trivial trips that wouldn't have been required that are harder to quantify vs the quantifiable expenditure.

Suggestions appreciated.

[Bazile]

But for you not being knocked off your bike -

Any reasonable costs/losses that you incur - eg travel to A&E / Physio
Loss of wages/ Income etc

We really need to know for example - are you self employed / work for someone / do you drive and used your vehicle for trips that you would not have undertaken etc etc

[ummmm]

Can you get anyone to recommend a solicitor?

When I was knocked over a solicitor took it on (not a no win, no fee one) as it was 100% not my fault.

How is he?

[rockyracoon]

When my OH can tear himself away from Ripper St, I'll ask what the cyclist he knocked over claimed for, I'm sure the insurance company sent him a letter letting him know.

[EDDIE51]

Put in a claim for about twice what you actually expect to get then let the insurance company make an offer.
My son got £1500 when a lorry knocked him off his bike.

[ummmm]

Were there many injuries though, Eddie?

[rockyracoon]

The chap asked for an interim bike and a new bike (not sure why), taxi's to and from medical appointments and new clobber. I'm sure there was a lot more but OH can't remember, it was a couple of years ago. What he ended up with we don't know as the insurance company didn't tell him.

[rockyracoon]

You're a lot slower on the uptake than the chap OH knocked over. The solicitors letter came the very next day.

[EDDIE51]

Ummmm he broke a finger which is still set at an angle. He also got cuts and bruises. Luckily he was working at a large supermarket and the van that hit him was one of the company's own vans. It was in the supermarket car park so all on CCTV.

[ethandron]

Have a look at MASS, it's the Motor Accident Solicitors Society, whose members are specialists in this type of thing.
In my admittedly very limited experience of something like this, I'd always use a solicitor. They can take all the hassle out of the form filling and what to reasonably claim for, and their fee is paid by the guilty party's insurance as part of the claim.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks all. We've noted all that kind of loss Rocky that's the easy bit, its whether we are justified in claiming for not being able to attend family events and take a short break, hadn't been booked so no financial loss but still an annoyance.

Thanks Eth, will check MASS out.

[rockyracoon]

I think you can claim for trouble and upset, though how you would quantify that financially is anyones guess.

[ummmm]

It's just a guess. When I was knocked over I had my 4 year old son with me. He suffered a bump on the head and a few grazes but they awarded him £1,500 for the trauma. He did suffer though, he developed a fear of busy roads.

[EcclesCake]

It seems only fair to me that a claim for losing a month of your life as you can't drive, not even get in a car at the moment, loss of freedom must be a justifiable claim. Hopefully a solicitor can give us some guidance.

I'm not a compo chaser but do feel that something is deserved.

[rockyracoon]

Absolutely.

[ummmm]

I agree, Eccles. It was my doctor who sent me to a solicitor.

It's soul destroying being in pain constantly.

[Bazile]

Anything that can be directly quantified , e.g. loss of earnings / taxi fares / damaged clothing etc , are known as 'Special damages'

Anything that cannot be directly quantified , e.g pain / suffering , loss of amenity / Psychological injury are known as 'General damages '

The amount of money awarded for General damages, will depend on medical evidence or the claimant's own statement , depending on how you or your representative decide to proceed .

There is nothing stopping you making a claim against the other party's insurer, directly by your self , if you so wish.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Bazile. We just don't know where to begin with the general damages, hopefully a solicitor will guide.

[Bazile]

Was this a motor cycle or pedal cycle ?

[EcclesCake]

Bicycle. Totally innocent party.