Crisis, what crisis?
We are not rich people. We have a modest salary and like the majority of people in this fair isle, we get by. The last thing you want when you are treading water is to be sued. Today, in the post, legal documents arrived announcing that the Missus is being sued. How comes?
Well it all began on a dark January night this year. The Missus was driving back from work when she hit another car. Don’t worry, it wasn’t a smash. It was a gentle tap. The cars were in near-to-stationary traffic, when the Missus hit the gas when shouldn’t. Such was the impact that the damage to the Lockmobile was a cracked number plate which I repaired for a cost of £10. The lady in front suffed a bump to her car, but the damage was minor, and she immediately complained that she was recovering from a previous whiplash injury. Details were exchanged and the Missus went on her way and reported the incident with her insurance company. Because it was such a small incident, we didn’t think much of it. Hardly any damage, the Missus saying she did it, pay out and good night.
The insurance company investigated, but it wasn’t like most claims where everything is settled really quickly. They came around and took pictures of the Lockmobile and things just took a long time to process. Well it seems that our insurance company isn’t paying this woman and as a result of this, the Missus is now being privately sued for damages.
The claimaint wants upto £5000 for personal injury and another £600 for the damage to her car. This is from a 75-year-old woman who has no employment and who spends her days being a “housewife”, according ot the legal documents. £5500???? (That’s about $10,000 for US readers) Where the heck are we going to get that money? We’ve never been sued before and while the Missus will admit to damaging the car, the whiplash injury seems a little hokey to me.
It reminds me of the time when the Missus got rear-ended by another motorist at high speed. It caused over £700 damage to her car and the whiplash was minor. This was 1996 and she got about £500 for her injuries. But this is different…this is worrying. In her decade of motoring, she’s never had an accident in her life before this, is an unbelievably safe driver and pays her car insurance with gusto. I’m really scared that we are going to get taken to the cleaners for an accident that happened at about 5mph in stationary traffic. We’ve never been in any kind of trouble before and I actually feel sick to the stomach.
Any advice from anyone in the legal industry would be helpful or anyone who’s been through the small claims court. Any links/URLs will be gratefully received.

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