Foster mum secures more than 39 times the original offer after Highlands car crash

When Wendy was involved in a car crash she thought the law firm appointed by her insurance company would be able to help her with her injuries.

But she was left disappointed and had she accepted the offer made before any medical reports, she would have been significantly worse-off financially.

The foster mum didn’t realise she had a choice or that she could come directly to Digby Brown for help. 

She had just left Lossiemouth to take her foster daughter to a routine health appointment in April 2024 when another car drove into the left-hand side of her car.

The impact of the crash pushed Wendy and the five-year-old child across Elgin Road and into a tree.

They were both able to get out of the car safely and across the road before the emergency services arrived.

The 55-year-old said: “My first concern was making sure my foster daughter was okay. 

“She was shaking and cold so I gave her a cuddle and managed to get her woolly hat from the car. 

“The driver who caused the crashed checked to make sure we were okay and got quite upset when she saw I had a wee one.”

An ambulance and three police cars arrived at the scene of the crash.

Paramedics checked them over and found Wendy had whiplash, bruising and pain in her hip and left-hand side as well as her hand but her main concern was making sure the little girl as okay. 

Other than having a small red mark on her neck from the seat belt the young girl was physically fine.

Five days after the accident Wendy contacted her GP as the pain in her left hip was so bad she couldn’t stand or put any weight on it.

She was sent for x-rays which confirmed the impact of the car hitting the tree had severely damaged her hip. 

Wendy said: “For eight months I was housebound, I couldn’t drive and I had to give up my childminding business.

“My friends helped with everything from the food shop to getting the wee one to school.

“It was very difficult, especially when the pain forced me to stop working. 

“I had built up a bond with the children and their families and it was really hard knowing I wouldn’t care for them again but I still keep in touch with all my childminding families.”

Wendy contacted her insurance company who put her in touch with a different law firm to handle her personal injury claim.

She thought it would have been straight forward as police said the driver had admitted fault and had been charged - but she was wrong. 

Wendy said: “Hardly anyone at the other law firm spoke to me about what my options were.

“It felt like they were just in a hurry to close the case and they didn’t think about the knock-on effect the accident had on my life. 

“Then the offer of £1,600 came in and I thought ‘that’s not going to cover much.’

“That’s when I started exploring my options.”

After speaking with friends and family Wendy got in touch with Digby Brown. 

Sarah Hassan, Associate in our Inverness office, took on the case. 

She instructed a medical expert to review Wendy’s hospital reports and carry out further examinations. 

They concluded the accident had made the arthritis in her hip worse and she would need a full hip replacement much sooner than expected.

Sarah’s investigation uncovered the financial impact the accident had on Wendy as she could no longer work, or that she was having to pay to hydrotherapy physiotherapy sessions to help with her recovery, something she continues to do regularly.

Months after Sarah took on the case the insurance company made an offer to settle, but it was rejected as it did not accurately reflect the impact the crash had on Wendy’s life. 

Two more offers were made and rejected before a final offer, 39 times more than the original offer made - and accepted.

Wendy said: “When the final offer came through, I was gobsmacked.

“As someone who is self-employed, this money will help cover my lost earnings and expenses and allow me to pay back into my pension pot.

“Sarah really cared and worked her boots off for me. She kept me informed at every stage, which is far more than the other law firm did.

“When this all happened I felt like I had to go with who my insurance company recommended but now I know that’s not the case.

“I would recommend Digby Brown to anyone. Don’t feel you have to go with the solicitor your car insurer appoints—you have a choice.”