Whiplash news
29/04/2009 Taxi driver accused of chancing for compensation
A taxi driver from Burley, Leeds has had his whiplashcompensation claim rejected by a court and been told that he will probably have to pay legal costs of around £16,000.
The 51-year-old had claimed that he suffered whiplash as a result of a rear-end collision with a council-owned van. However, expert witnesses giving evidence at Leeds County Court claimed that the force of impact created by the collision of the two vehicles was unlikely to have caused such a neck injury. Instead, the judge hearing the case rejected the credibility of the no win, no fee claim and suggested that the claimant was simply looking to "have a go for some damages".
The judge also heard detailed evidence of how the taxi driver had twice previously sought to make similar car crash claims.
The unsuccessful whiplash claimant did not comment to the media on the outcome of the case.
*Where replacement vehicle costs can be recovered from the insurance company of the person who caused the accident.
Where this person is untraceable or uninsured, or where there is a dispute over liability, a replacement vehicle cannot
be provided.
