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Leading trade union target="_blank" title="UNISON">UNISON has secured compensation for a member from Welling, Kent. The compensation was secured by UNISON’s free legal help scheme via title="Personal Injury">personal injury specialistsThompsons Solicitors.
The road traffic accident took place in June 2006 on the road near the Elephant and Castle roundabout in Kent. Kenneth Beaumont was involved in a rear end shunt as he stopped his vehicle to let a bus out of a junction. The third party was driving a works van owned by Falco Construction Limited.
Whiplash Injury
Mr Beaumont, aged 64, was stationary with a passenger by his side, when the vehicle collided into the back of his car. He sustained a whiplash injury to the neck and shoulder following the accident. A successful claim was made against the other driver’s insurance.
Mr Beaumont explains: “Before the accident I was unaware that my union membership covered road traffic accidents as well as accidents at work. The specialist support provided by UNISON and their solicitors Thompsons was excellent. I doubt I would have had such good legal representation and secured so much compensation if I’d simply used the solicitors offered by my insurer.”
Mandy Luxton from Thompsons Solicitors explains: “Whiplash is a very common but serious injury. Kenneth’s claim demonstrates the importance of union members using their union’s legal service for non-work related accidents. Motor insurance companies are increasingly referring claimants to their own panel solicitors, who may not provide the same independent legal advice as a specialist provider.”