Is This A Scam Please?@ Years Ago Son Was Rammed In His Car Causing Significant Neck Injury.

[ferlew]

2 years ago son was rammed in his car causing significant neck injury.
He did get some compensation, but left with lasting damage.
Someone rang him today, quoting his name and details about the accident.
They said they may be able to get him some more compensation.
He told them to ring again tomorrow.
Thoughts please anyone?

TIA

[ferlew]

Oops, sorry about the extra bit in title. I meant to delete it.

[boxtops]

An injured person has 3 years to claim - that three years is either from the date of the accident or from the date they became aware of the injury resulting from the accident. However, it depends (IMO) whether or not the discharge form he would have signed when he accepted the final settlement was "in full and final settlement" which means the claim can't be reopened.

If it were me I'd want to know a) how did a strange company get my details, and b) what's in it for them - is it a no win no fee company? Don't let him give them any money up front "to start the investigation". It sounds very odd to me.

[pauln90]

Insurance companies sell on your details. I was approached several years ago in a similar cold call fashion after a slight accident,and they had all the details.. Fortunately I wasn't in the car when it was hit so told them where to go

[Tuvok]

Could be - a few weeks ago one of those anoying witheld/unknow number phone calls was "someone in your house had a car accident...."

When I told the chap "no one here drives" he still tried to carry on with his script!

Don't go with anyone who calls on spec - find a firm the old fashioned way - by himself!

[factor-fiction]

I got a text yesterday telling me my accident was worth £3753. I was impressed by the precision but maybe they had the wrong number as I haven't had an accident. So it could just be a speculative call in his case. But it's more likely the details were sold on- perhaps by the garage who did teh repairs

If he had accepted the earlier payment as full and final settlement I'm not sure he could revisit teh claim anyway.

If he wants to claim he should do it himself or use a firm he knows

[ferlew]

Will pass on all comments, thank you very much.

[boxtops]

Let us know what happens if/when they ring back, ferlew!

[ferlew]

Will do Boxtops.
We have set up a system this morning whereby if anyone rings him, and he doesn't quite know what to do, he will ask them to ring me to speak for him. We have agreed a password.
He suffers really bad panic attacks, and will agree to anything just to stop stressing himself out.
Currently waiting for CBT.

[hc4361]

Too late now, but he should never have accepted compensation so quickly if he was still experiencing pain and other problems.

It is highly unusual to make a second claim when the first has been settled.

[Prudie]

Totally agree with Pauln90 and doubt it's any scam. I was hit up the back last year and although told the insurance that no-one was hurt they definitely passed on details of the accident and I got lots of cold calls almost pressurising me into making a claim for some time afterwards. They had all the facts about the accident and confirmed they got it from my insurers.I wouldn't worry and just ignore if you're not interested. It's no different to the constant nowinnofee ads on TV.

[jno]

I get scam calls that mention my accident, when I haven't had one. But this sounds genuine, if they got the details from the insurer.

And actually, if it's no-win-no-fee I'd be tempted to go with it; what has he got to lose? He has, after al, suffered already and is still doing so.

[boxtops]

I still think there would be a stumbling block if he signed "in full and final settlement" - that usually closes the case for good. I do agree with hc though, if medical issues were ongoing, I wouldn't have opted to settle yet, until we'd seen about more long-lasting consequences. Worth a try, I guess, if this company aren't asking for a fee. If they are asking upfront for money, it rings alarm bells.

[factor-fiction]

I'm not 100% sure, jno, but I understood 'no win no fee' cases are not actually risk-free- I think you have to buy an insurance policy to insure against losing

[Eve]

An "after the event" insurance policy common.

I get calls and texts (often clumped together) and I don't even drive! I weirdly got some after helping out at the scene of a car/bike accident I witnessed but the only people who had my details were the ambulance service as I rang them.

Some calls are just fishing exercises that if they call or send out mass texts then there is a likelihood they will get a few hits from people who have had accidents.

[ferlew]

We are waiting for the so called "we will ring tomorrow" call.
(Well, I am.)
Initially, his pain abated, in the meantime, he has got progressively worse.
He constantly drops things, I asked him to get me a trolley the other day, he dropped the £1 coin 3 times trying to get it in the slot.
Will await any developments tomorrow re phone call.