In the recent case of Skillen V NIG Limited in Livingston Sheriff Court, Skillen claimed compensation from the insurers of a third party vehicle for injuries and losses she sustained in a road traffic accident. The insurers of the third party vehicle, which caused the road traffic accident, were NIG Limited.  Skillen was a passenger in a stationary vehicle which was struck from behind by the third party vehicle. As a result of the road traffic accident Skillen claimed compensation for injuries suffered to her leg, neck and back.

When Skillen gave evidence in Court she said that at the time of the road traffic accident she had been taking pain killers to treat a pre existing back condition and following the road traffic accident she had pain radiating into her leg.  However, a medical report prepared prior to the Court hearing stated that Skillen had not required to take pain killers as a result of her pre existing condition for 18 months prior to the road traffic accident and stated she had not experienced pain in her leg.  This discrepancy in evidence made the Sheriff question the reliability of the evidence given by Skillen.

The Sheriff accepted that Skillen had suffered whiplash type soft tissue injuries to her back and neck from which she recovered after 10 months. However, the Sheriff felt that Skillen had not given much evidence to show how the injuries she suffered in the road traffic accident affected her life.  The Sheriff made an award of compensation of £1,800 to Skillen for pain and suffering caused by the injuries she sustained in the road traffic accident.

If you have been injured in a road traffic accident, or any other type of accident in the last three years that was not your fault, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Call our specialist claims team on 0800 0891331 and we will help you claim the compensation you deserve on a No Win No Fee basis which means there will be NO cost to you.