“You have the right to an Attorney…” Don’t be “hoodwinked” by insurers!
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) said that…
“The Injured person is then formally required by the letter to ring the wrong-doer’s insurer to confirm that they have indeed instructed the solicitor. There is no legal requirement for the injured person to do this, and not phoning the insurer will not prevent the claim from proceeding. But the client will not know this.” https://www.apil.org.uk/blog/new-insurance-company-tactic
The best way to avoid falling victim, twice, following an accident is to retain the services of a solicitor before any settlement is agreed.
An experienced personal injury solicitor will give you an idea of what you are likely to receive in terms of compensation. He will have access to the guidelines for the monetary value for your injuries, called ‘damages’, set down by judges and relevant case law. In addition to damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity a claimant might be entitled to loss of earnings, medical expenses, travelling expenses, care costs, pension loss, loss of enjoyment of holiday, being placed at a disadvantage on the open job market and loss of congenial employment to name just a few.
Depending on the circumstances a solicitor may be able to persuade the insurer to make an interim payment of compensation whilst a suitable rehabilitation package is found and undertaken ‘and’ before any final settlement amount is agreed.
If an insurer contacts you directly following an accident offering a settlement amount, contact a solicitor ‘before’ you make a decision you might regret. You DO NOT have to talk to them and you WILL NOT lose any right to make a claim if you refuse to talk to them.
At Berlad Graham LLP we have experienced personal injury and clinical negligence experts who can assess your case and advise you of the ‘best’ way forward to achieve the outcome ‘you’ want. There is no need to make a decision until you have fully informed yourself of all the options.
Call Jonathan Aspinall on 020 7887 1943 or email jonathan.aspinall@berladgrahamllp.com now and avoid making a hasty and, potentially, wrong decision.
You could also visit the website – www.berladgrahamllp.com – to see our experts and expertise.
