I was involved in a car accident last august as a passenger in a stationary car with a car in front of us (my partner is the driver in our car) as waiting for a caravan and a trail of cars headed towards us to clear a bridge as no room for two lanes. This was from just leaving a small welsh village

We then got rear ended by a vehicle behind us that failed to stop. How she missed seeing our car as its bright green I don't know but she certainly hit us with quite an impact the car moved about 2 metres at least just missing the car in front which was quite a way due to a side road in between us. Our car was damaged and has since been fixed on her insurance. Her car was written off although hers was quite an old car. We all were wearing seatbelts.

Fortunately no one was badly hurt - although we suffered with stiff necks first, this for me slowly turned into very painful mid and lower back pain once the stiffness eased. I was asked whether I want to claim injury damage and was sent some forms to fill in. Although I have to admit wasn't sure but I was assured by the solicitor who contacted me ( I don't know why they contacted me) and asked me to complete paperwork and attend an assessment medical.

During this time (end aug) having a really bad night of agony I was advised to go to casulty where I was advised I had torn neck / back muscles which may take a while to heal but could take painkillers like ibruofen to help.

I was sent for an assessment that I wasn't over impressed with as mine was the first appointment ina quite snobby clinic. the doctor strolled in 20 mins late blaming traffic although I got there in plenty of time. The assessment was rushed possibly as he was late.

i got the medical report and from it they are offering me quite a high sum (£1000 - £1400) but the medical report they have given me a copy of is very wrong with several errors although the doctor does say in it the patient did not exaggerate symptons so maybe I didn't say enough.

After 6 weeks of constant ibroufen ended up with bad stomach and toilet problems now been told by local chemist that I should not be taking ibruofen as a long term solution as ibroufen is not designed for that. but I need painkillers as cannot take time of work so need something that works. She told me to go to GP which has resulted in very strong painkillers which to credit do help. Physio has also been arranged to start december which i'm quite anxious about, I mean its mad, all this for a bit of back pain but I had no idea how painfull and difficult it can make life! I will never raise my eyes in disbelief anymore when someone complains about backache. It truly is unpleasant

Right now I'm in agony and if I don't take a painkiller I get shooting pain down my back right down to my bottom. I need to wait till physio but can anyone recommmend any sort of exercise that might help to ease it as I hate taking so many painkillers - thats just not like me.

In regards to claim I don't know whether to take what is offered as I wasn't expecting anything anyway or wait till the physio. In the medical it constantly refers to strain injury but the doctor at casualty said torn muscle

any advice please?

what I should mention is that as my car was sationary and both my partner and I had seatbelts on I was reaching for a map and so did not have my back against the seat like my partner which is why he is ok and I am not

I would speak to your solicitor 1000-1400 is not a high sum for your type of injury aside from that you are still having ongoing problems.

1 who provided your solicitor? (ill bet your insurance company)

2 what kind of agreement have you signed with your solicitor (are there any deductions from your compensation?)

3 has your solicitor advised you accept the pt36 offer?

4 with regard to the Ibuprofen - they should help towards easing your pain but unfortunately they have an affect on your stomach. You should alwasy take some kind of gastric protection medication when taking any NSAID long term.

yes it was the insurance company but not mine, i think hers instructed them to contact me? our insurance was not involved

they have returned a slighty amended medical report but i'm not happy with it

don't know whether to just take the money as wasnt expecting anything anyway but don't like that the medical report is inaccurate

my physio is booked for end of dec for 4 weeks

in the letter from the solicitor they recommend that from the medical report i am entitled for between 1000 - 1400

i havent signed anything, they haven't asked me too but they sent an interim cheque for 500 which i banked

im now on codeine when it hurts which is annoyingly more lately

as an update, I had a new medical check last month with an different independant consultant.

I stated that I was confident the back pain went in about Aug 09, the physio helped and that the only reason this 2nd medical was being done was because my doctor and I disagreed with the original medical report.

The consultant said that he had carried out several 2nd checks after other people (who had medicals with the main ones used by the solicitors) also refused to sign the medical.

The new report is spot on and I've signed it. They have offered me just over £2k which is an amazing amount considering I did not think I was entitled to anything and would not have made a claim if the solicitors hadn't of contacted me!