A teenager who had to have partial amputations of two of his fingers after he was involved in a car accident has been awarded compensation for his injuries.

The 18 year old was a passenger in a car which hit an embankment and flipped over. He suffered a serious cut to his head and his fingers were broken. Parts of his little finger and ring finger later had to be surgically removed.

Immediately after the accident, the driver’s insurance company contacted the young man and offered him £5,000 to settle the claim. He considered accepting the offer but decided to take legal advice first.

After negotiations on his behalf with the insurance company, the offer was increased to £13,000.

It is often the practice of insurance companies to try to settle claims quickly for less than their full worth. Victims may still be in shock and unable to think clearly about how an injury will affect their lives. There is no obligation for the injured person to accept the insurance company’s first offer. It makes sense to take independent legal advice in order to achieve an appropriate damages settlement.