RTA - Personal Injury

Wife got slightly injured in an RTA recently. Insurance company say we need to chase third-party ourselves (see pp).

Whats the best way to do this ? What are these no win- no fee companies like? I'm assuming they make their money by taking a large cut of any winnings you may get? How much?

Are any of these companies reputable? Or is it better to pay for solicitor up front ?

They pick up the tab for any damage the driver caused to other people. They also pay for damage to the vehicle being driven, if 'comprehensive'.

It must be unusual to be in a car and sustain personal injury with no damage to the car, but in that case the insurance company don't care, just as they wouldn't if she were walking.

Don't go to a claims company, go to a solicitor.

The solicitor will probably agree a no win no fee agreement with you. Depends on the value of the claim, but make an appointment and check that there is no fee for first interview. See

Tell that to my brother!

Some pillock did an emergency stop in the middle of a green traffic light, my brother nudged the back of their car (OK, this means he was travelling too close, but on the whole you don't expect people to do this).

Their car was totally undamaged, as was his, despite the fact the front numberplate took the full force of the impact. Didn't stop them putting in a compensation claim for whiplash from the driver, and 4 weeks later, another one from the passenger. The passenger one was done later because the drivers solicitors asked him who else was in the car, and they then approached the other person, asking if they wanted to put a claim in.

The "independent" medical report stated that the driver was "a pleasant, affable man". Bit irrelevant if you ask me!

This wasn't the first time it had happened either. The driver had been rear- ended on at least 2 other occasions (that he told my brother about). This makes me suspicious that they're either serial whippy compo claimers, or there's this odd pattern of slamming the brakes on for no apparent reason.

Pete.

There's a solicitor/legal company in Runcorn, which has a big advert on the side of their building...

"How much is your pain and suffering worth?"

Rather distasteful if you ask me.

Pete.

It is actually very helpful. Normally the client asks the solicitor to value the claim but here, the solicitor plainly won't know the answer so you can avoid using him.

There are people pulling the brake light fuse from their cars and slamming on the brakes in order to claim compensation.

I agree. Runcorn's a dump.

;o)

The Accident Group? Compulsory liquidation.

Get a solicitor on no win no fee. Remember a smart defendant may counter claim, seek security for costs and various other mechanism to frustrate your claim, particularly if you are trying it on.

Depends on the policy. Comp policies usually pay the insured out for mutilation, but not much else.

Any damage to 3rd parties, only leg off etc. for self.

'comprehensive'.

Er have you considered whether his brake lights were working?

Make sure that the solicitor is a member of MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors' society). They don't take a cut of damages and most will not only offer you a no win no fee agreement but a "win, no fee agreement"

See

Instruct a solicitor who is a member of MASS (Motor Accident Solicitors' society). They don't take a cut of damages and most will not only offer you a no win no fee agreement but a "win, no fee agreement"

See

Yes, the brake lights were working fine.

The problem is that my brother was in a crappy old Fiat Uno, and the other bloke was in a new Almera Sport (I know! contradiction in terms) with ABS.

It's very uncommon for a driver to be going through a green light, and then stamp on the brakes, doing an emergency stop in the _middle_ of the junction.

I know my brother should have kept a suitable distance behind so that he could safely stop in the distance, but back on Planet Real, you anticipate other drivers behaviour, and this behaviour was very odd, almost as though he _wanted_ to be rear-ended, to claim 2 x Whiplash injuries. This had happened at least twice before.

To me, to be rear-ended 3 times says that you're very unlucky, or have a driving style that leaves a little to be desired.

Pete.

Pete Smith (pete snipped-for-privacy@lethe.org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

I s'pose they could have been bimbling through on autopilot, seen a flash of red - maybe a ped x-ing light - and had a brain fart that they'd gone through on red, and panicked.

This is fair comment for the real world.

Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal has said that even though you are driving absolutely immaculately and precisely in accordance with common sense, the law and the Highway Code, you are not entitled to assume that any other driver on the road will do likewise.

Geoff Edwards Leeds, UK

e-mail: snipped-for-privacy@sixwillow.com (replace the stopspambot bit with some version of my name)

All sorts of things that cause accidents are uncommon, but you are still supposed to be able to cope if they happen.

Well, yes, back on Planet Real people drive six feet behind the car in front and we have 300,000 injuries a year in road accidents ...

You know what you do to become a member of MASS? You just pay a subscrition.

If you or your wife are members of the AA or RAC they provide legal assistance. Other organisations, such as the CSMA, do the same.

Yes. It appears that the RAC do provide legal advice.

They also seem to provide their own legal claims product which is open to members and non-members. Just wondering if this is just another disguised 'claims direct' sort of thing...

Although at least they might be a bit more reliable and ethical than the rest of the bunch ?