Accident claim news
07/03/2007

Teenagers could claim whiplash compensation for crash

Three young passengers may consider claiming whiplash compensation after the driver of the vehicle they were travelling in jerked her steering wheel for a laugh and crashed the car.

In South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, it was heard how a 18-year-old driver who had only been driving for five months drove at 40-50mph in a 30mph zone and then mounted a kerb and crashed into a lamppost.

The three passengers suffered multiple personal injuries in the car crash and were taken to Ipswich Hospital where they received treatment for whiplash, chest and back injuries and bruising.

According to police, the driver said that she was "dancing with the steering wheel" and jerked it from side to side. She didn't realise that there was a sharp left bend approaching and lost control of the vehicle.

The female motorist said in court, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I could have killed my passengers and other people because of my stupidity."

The teenager was banned from driving for six months, given a £90 fine and ordered to pay £35 costs.

In the future, her friends who suffered passenger injuries in the road traffic accident may consider consulting personal injury solicitors to make whiplash compensation claims.