It is difficult to reconcile the view the public is encouraged to have about whiplash and compensation with the reality of the cases we see on a day to day basis.

 It is not until you have actually been in a road crash that you realise how frightening it is. Minor injuries are not irrelevant as some would have you believe.  Solicitors see clients who are angry, distressed and in great pain. The fact that most go on to make a full recovery is little consolation during those difficult first few weeks.  As experienced personal injury lawyers we have clients for who even a relatively modest injury is a life changing event.

Much is made nowadays of the “compensation culture” but this is not actually the position. And do not forget that compensation is just that; payment to compensate for your losses and put you back in the position you would have been in but for the negligence of another.

Maybe there are fraudsters out there: they tend to keep away from experienced practitioners such as us. We applaud the efforts of the insurance industry to cut out bogus claims.  The people we see are worried, often embarrassed and apologetic at having to claim. We generally make it a rule to see partners or parents if symptoms linger; we often find clients have been modest in the claims they have made.   People generally underplay their symptoms.

What is pleasing is to see victims’ claims concluding at the right time for the right amount; and not the quick, under value early settlement that insurers will try and press for.

 At Penmans Solicitors we believe that it is our job to help people on their road to recovery.  It is particularly rewarding if the things we helped organise have helped; be it physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or a more sophisticated rehabilitation and pain management course.  As well as dealing with the claim on a “No Win- No fee” basis our network of local health providers are ideally placed to provide the early treatment that is so often key to a speedy recovery.