Bump in the van this morning...

[weakerthan]

Bad day :( ....

10 seconds after leaving the office, a guy in a car went into the back of my van(he accepted full liabilty). No visable damage to the van but his cars number plate was shattered and the bumper cracked. Our line manager came out with our yard mechanic and all he said was that the van was fine and to carry on with our day as normal. Even though I was visibly shaken up by the incident he never asked me and my partner if we were ok or got a first aider to look us over.

An hour or so later both me and my partners' necks began to get sore and my head began to throb. In the meantime my partner (a union member) had been on the phone to a rep to voice our worries about the absolute lack of concern. He wasn't overly happy with the situation, but advised us to carry on where we felt possible and he would give our line manager a ring.

We got back to the office later and had our accident report interviews and I informed the line manager that my neck was very sore and was having trouble turning my head. He point blank refused to accept this, citing the fact that the van had no damage and I didn't mention any injury at the time. He said if I was so worried that I should go to the hospital which I did and the doctor has told me that I do have whiplash and that I should rest for a few days until it eases.

My question is.....Is there potential for a grievance against said line manager for not carrying out the correct accident procedure?

Should I have even carried on driving a vehicle that had potential damage (when I mentioned this to line manager he said it was impossible for a vehicle that has no visable damage to have any invisible problems!?)

It would have been nice to be given the option to sit down for 5 minutes to calm down, should we have been spoken to by a first aider?

So sick of these lazy managers caring about nothing but covering their own back!! Thanks in advance for any input!

[DGP1]

I think we've all had bumps in the vans, if there's no damage then you weren't hit too hard and as long as you where wearing your seltbelts properly then you shouldn't have any injuries (my opinion as a first aider).
As for the managers not caring.............how long have you worked for RM to not realise that we mean nothing to them, they only care about the mail getting out.

If you feel sore and unable to go into work tomorrow then don't, phone them and tell them that you've hurt yourself in the accident and you'll hopefully come in within a day or two.

[Lincox]

If you genuinely have whiplash then you are entitled to make a claim against the third party driver.

[michael61]

if he,s not genuine why did he state that doctor at hospital say he had whiplash

[dvbuk55]

if he,s not genuine why did he state that doctor at hospital say he had whiplash

You know like man flu - well when women have a bit of bump it's called womenlash.

[fng]

if he,s not genuine why did he state that doctor at hospital say he had whiplash

Because, as with back pain, it is so easy to fake......not saying he is....... not saying he isnt ...... just saying its easy to do.

[AODBOD]

Have had accident in van before and did not start to feel my neck/shoulders tightening up until about an hour after the incident. 2 hours later was very painful was off work for about a week. Did get compensation about 9 months later think it was £2300 but the pain was bad - I used to think whiplash was just uncomfortable when you actually get it you know how bad it is.

[combo_king]

they definently dont care about us, one the boys put a transit van upside down in a field last year on the final rural collection, 15 miles out n the sticks, i went up to empty the back off it out, all my dom was concerned about was me getting the collection keys out the van and making sure the boxes were scaned, crazy

[weakerthan]

Thankyou to everyone for your replies.

I returned to work yesterday after being pressured into (and agreeing to doing) indoor duties. I say I was pressured into it because I was called in for a meeting the day after the accident even though I had phoned in sick (in hindsight I shouldn't have agreed to go in) and was told that my partner had agreed to return to work and so what was stopping me? Bearing in mind my partners next working day wasn't until today (and he hasn't returned!).

Annnyyway, I was called in for my back to work interview yesterday morning and was asked if my pain was all gone now. I told him, no, it's day 3 since the accident and my back is still really sore. He then said he wasn't happy for me to do any work without a fit for work note, and insisted I make a doctors appointment for that day... which I did (but continued with indoor duties for 3 hours until leaving for my appointment!). I also informed him that I was concerned I had being pressured into returning.

My doctor has subsequently signed me off work for 1 week. (I do not think my manager had planned for that!)

I'm now beginning to worry that I'm going to have 2 absences against me due to returning to work for 3 hours, even though my manager stated I shouldn't be doing anything without a fit for work note, and then going off again!

Should absences resulting from RTA's whilst on duty count towards stages? Will it count against me that I went back and then went off sick again?

I've still had nothing but attitude from the managers, no concern whatsoever. Where is the duty of care in this place!