Last updated on March 3rd, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Melanie Stringer
In the first case, Melanie’s client was a passenger on a bus that was hit when it was travelling along a main road by a car pulling out of a car park.
Low offer for road traffic accident
When Melanie contacted the defendant driver of the vehicle, the driver accepted liability for the accident, but offered a settlement of only £1,200, saying that if Melanie’s client did not accept it, he would state that the client was being fundamentally dishonest.
With the assistance of counsel, the case was assessed as having good prospects and so Melanie pursued it by rejecting the offer and issuing court proceedings. She put together evidence, including vehicle damage documentation, medical records, witness evidence and CCTV footage. As the court date drew closer, the defendant offered to settle the case for £6,500. Melanie’s client was happy with that and it was accepted, meaning the case did not have to go to court.
Passenger injured when travelling in a car
The second case involved a woman who was injured when she was travelling as a passenger in a car that was hit by another vehicle. This was a nasty accident in which the client suffered multiple injuries and severe repercussions. The driver of the defendant vehicle accepted liability for the accident, but Melanie advised her client to delay settlement due to ongoing injury symptoms as she wanted to ensure that the correct level of compensation was obtained. Melanie obtained three medical reports from an orthopaedic consultant, a psychologist and an MRI scan. The defendant made an offer of around £12,600, but it was felt that this was not enough, and it was rejected. The case went to court, where Melanie’s client was awarded almost £15,000. Again, the client was extremely pleased with the result of the case.
If you have had an accident as a passenger in a car or on public transport, please contact our road traffic accident experts who will assess your case, free of charge, and let you know what your prospects of success will be. You can also find out more on our web pages.
