dude at body shop didn't reply to my email. looks like i am going to have to drive up there tomorrow
AFAIK the impact absorption is in the two pillars joining the crash bar to the chassis. The bar across the middle only serves to transfer any single point impact between both energy absorbing structures. E.g. hitting a tree.
I'm not an expert in these things, but if there is no deformation to the two pillars, and the bar is not kinked, then it should be fine to absorb more impacts.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=1&f=96&t=897764&mid=0&nmt=ML (W164) tow bar fitting
View attachment 105819
Note the kink in the pillar to cause uniform deformation at a set energy level.
I had someone drive into the back of me Dave, this was 5 years ago. Nothing major it seemed at the time, minor damage to the car. I have had issues ever since that lead to Fibromyalgia and this was impossible to claim for years down the line even with some medical evidence. So if your neck is playing up in any way Dave, I would firstly go see your Doctor and keep a list of everything. Most no win no fee claims don't cost you anything (I have experience of this), sadly I didn't have the Legal Cover (I do now). The only down side to no win no fee is they don't persue it if its hard to claim unless you kick there butts and refuse to accept the initial £2500 offered for the whiplash. Yes I did say £2500 for whiplash Dave. Almost standard offer if they think you might actually be ill to shut you up.
That should be worth at least a grand.
Standard offer starts at about £1000-£1500.
How long after your accident did you try claiming out of interest?
yesDoesn't sound right Dave, do you walk with a stick normally
its a firm called New law, provided by "call fiat first" paid for by my legal coverDave, remind me, who is going this PI claim? Is it a company you have instructed, or insurance recomended
the repair and hire car was all sorted out by "call fiat first" its a total con and nothing really to do with fiat its really a company called gemini vehicle solutions. the same company seems to run a lot of car manufacturers accident care side of things.Did you get the car paid out from your own insurers, or is the solicitor pursuing the repair costs too? What other costs is the solicitor pursuing - excess, hire car, loss of use, inconvenience etc? You might be able to bump it up over whatever limits there are for costs recovery - it was a grand in the old days, but it's probably all changed now.