Hi all,

Before anyone guns for me I want to get the facts out from the start. Having recently been in a road traffic accident which was NOT my fault, I have been approached by several "injury lawyers" requesting that they take my case for compensation. I have since the accident not been able to work, although my employer is very forgiving. However, I am out of pocket for several things and would like to claim this and all my costs back. I dont agree on this claim culture that we seem to be in, but I do think that I have been inconveinienced both financially and health wise through no fault of my own. (Not to mention not being able to work on the kit!)

Has anyone any good or bad experiences with personal injury claims and what should I look for and what should I avoid? Or indeed any recommendation to a company that has been good to deal with.

Any imput welcome.

Thanks

Andy

Two areas of caution;

If going No Win No Fee, Read the small print, and make sure that there is no fee or "Costs" if unsuccessful in your claim. "Costs" arent always described as a fee, particularly if youre liable for court costs.

Beware the companies motives for taking your issue up. If the above doesnt apply, then maybe theres another reason they would? - They are out to make money after all.

Some of these companies are sharks.

If you have legal cover on your own insurance policy, it is better to search out a specialist legal company to represent you rather than these ambulance chasers, who only bet on certainties or screw you. The choice of solicitor is yours not the insurance company, so a google search on motoring legal, or something similar should get you in touch with someone worth dealing with.

Its a company insurance and they have said to deal with the other sides insurance?

You'll always get bombarded with such requests because the lawyers pay a referrers fee to anyone who referrers someone to them who subsequently goes to court. So you get the tow-truck drivers referring, the insurers themselves referring, car repair centres referring etc etc. Basically shed loads of people referring your details to the PI shits.
The whole thing stinks if you ask me. If someone has a case which requires compensation they'll seek out a lawyer, having lawyers touting for trade with likely punters is asking for fabrication IMHO.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12703857

I'm not saying you shouldn't go for it BTW, just that the referrer fee system actively encourages the compensation culture that puts up all our fricking insurance bills year on year.

Go and talk to your usual solicitor.

They will advise and do the same job; it's not specialised as these people would like you to think.

I was sued, by my now wife, when she was in the car I crashed, and we made a few quid.

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Go and talk to your usual solicitor.

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I was sued, by my now wife, when she was in the car I crashed, and we made a few quid.

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If you only want reasonable costs etc, then try to talk to the insurance company themselves explaining waht you want and why. The difficulty is that they do not like speaking to the actual punters.

A couple of years ago some daft driver (ess) failed to stop at a roundabout and drove in th eside of my family bus (only me in the car thankfully)
I was furious, especially as she said she didn't see me and I must have been speeding. Notice the problem with her argument.
Anyway, I got all the details, did a bit of research and told my company that I was claiming entirely off her policy.
After a couple of calls I started taking a very "professional" approach, and asked to speak to a claims manager re case xxxxxxx and I was put through. I took the chaps name and so on, and then explained who I was. He was surprised and had assumed initially I was a solicitor.
Anyway, a chat with him, sent photos via email and some google earth images to show the roads etc. He got back to me a couple of days later, had spoken to their insured who maintained it was my fault, but he had explained it didn't look good for her if it went to court. He offered to settle, I read the 2 quotes I had received, he agreed to send me a cheque to cover the lower of the 2 quotes. Fair enough.
Next he went on. Car hire?? nope, I could arrange lifts etc for a few days. Out of pocket expenses? Prescription charge from doctor. Personal injury.? "well" i said "I have been to the doctor about my neck, and been prescribed a strong anti-inflammatory and painkillers" which was the total truth. He immediately offered me £1000 NOT to pursue a personal injury claim. apparently this was far far cheaper than anything else for the company. My claim "may" have been worth £1500 if I had pursued it, but the legal costs probably the same again, or more.

I felt it rude to refuse the offer, and a cheque arrived a couple of days later. Interestingly I never signed anything, or sent any letters. Only a few emails and the telephone call.

Did I feel bad about the money? a bit. I don't like the personal injury stuff. But I had been honest, and had never asked for the money, it was offered. Maybe I should have haggled
anyway, that went on my Triumph project. And I fixed the bus with a door from th ebay, still not perfect, but sevicable.

i sorted my own claim too when my wifes car was written off. Dead easy, they are usually pleased to do it that way as it saves the solicitor costs - which can be an awful lot more than the money you get!

Tot up your losses, and send them a letter asking for it. Tell them you will approach a solicitor if they dont pay up.

I went down this route... Got a statement every month for this account, and the amount kept going up (by about £20)... Turns out I owed that, it was insurance in case I didn't win. Which I didn't, because after a few years of this dragging out I ended up kicking off and asking my solicitor if it was time for them to fight MY side of the argument...

So overall one wrecked car, which someone else caused, and no-one wanted to entertain that idea so I got £200. To pay off a £3k car...

I got royally screwed and was told (again by my own solicitor) to "notch it up to experience"

I never go anywhere without my phone, and I've made sure ever since that it has a camera on it.