UK road accident solicitor sets out how to claim compensation for a dislocated shoulder, whiplash neck injuries, concussion, headaches, post traumatic stress following a car accident in Newport in Wales
Car Accident Victim Wales Question
I am a sales person and I do a lot of driving for work. My work place is in Chester and a few months ago I had some appointments arranged in Wales – Wrexham, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Newport.
I set of early in the morning from Chester and had attended my appointments in Wrexham, Aberystwyth and Swansea. I was driving to Newport in the dark approaching Newport town centre I stopped at a set of traffic lights which had just turned red.
I could see in my rear view mirror some head lights in the distance – I had waited for 10 seconds and looked again in my rear view mirror to see two white lights right behind me – instantaneously my car was thrown forward with great force and the next I knew I was being helped from my car by ambulance paramedics who took me to hospital in Swansea.
I understand that a Mercedes white van driver went up the back of my car – he had been using his mobile phone and was distracted. The white van diver had failed to notice my car – a brand new Volkswagen Gold GTI. The collision was with such force my Golf was damaged beyond economic repair, so it has been written off.
I understand that the Mercedes van driver is being prosecuted by the police for driving without due care and attention.
I suffered significant injuries – including a dislocated right shoulder, severe whiplash to my neck and concussion including continuous headaches affecting my ability to work and concentrate for long periods. My job as a salesman requires a lot of driving and concentration.
I believe I might also have PTSD as I am extremely nervous when in a car, even as a passenger – having panic attacks now and recurrent dreams.
How do I go about claiming for compensation for my car accident in Newport and how can I calculate the amounts of average compensation payout I can claim for my dislocated shoulder, whiplash, concussion, headaches and psychological injury?
Road Traffic Accident Solicitor Response
From the facts you have described I believe the issue of liability (who is at fault) seems quite clear. The Mercedes white van driver is being prosecuted and as such the evidence in the police report (the police will have attended in such an accident) will be conclusive in determining his civil liability for your RTA.
As he was a van driver – it is likely he was driving as part of his work and as such the claim would be against the driver and his employers. Either normal motor insurance or workplace motor insurance would cover the liability of the driver. As the driver is not being prosecuted for driving without insurance you can rest assured that a valid policy of motor insurance was in place.
Compensation calculator whiplash, shoulder injury, concussion & PTSD
The main issue to resolve in your claim is the calculation of the amount of compensation you can claim for the whiplash to your neck, your dislocated shoulder, concussion and psychological injury.
To make a claim you will need the help of a specialist road traffic accident solicitor who will ensure liability is formally accepted via the Mercedes van driver’s motor insurer.
Thereafter medical evidence will be obtained from an independent orthopaedic surgeon (describing your dislocated shoulder injury, whiplash neck injury, head injury, concussion and headaches) and a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist (describing your psychological response whether post traumatic stress disorder or some other adjustment disorder following a RTA).
It could be that the dislocated shoulder and whiplash have led to damage to the nervous system. There could also be damage to your head and brain as a result of an impact in the car crash and this could be the reason for the headaches. Headaches can also be as a result of deferred pain from your whiplash and shoulder dislocation injury. It might therefore be necessary to obtain an MRI scan and x-rays together with a report of a neurosurgeon who can comment on damage to the nervous system and brain in a RTA.
The medical experts will also comment on your ability to work and whether this affects your short and long-term earning ability together with any disadvantage on the open labour market.
A specialist solicitor will also include other losses in your claim – such as vehicle damage, medical expenses, care and assistance in the home, travel expenses to hospital and GP.
To see a page I have written setting out calculations for average compensation payouts for the injuries you have suffered click: shoulder dislocation claim payout, whiplash neck injury claim amounts, post traumatic stress disorder calculator.
Commencing a Newport car accident claim / Wales
If you would like to discuss your Newport car accident with me in person or to commence a claim for compensation for a dislocated shoulder, whiplash, concussion and PTSD click Car Accident Claims Chester Wrexham Aberystwyth Swansea Newport Wales.
