Author: numan
I WASN’T WEARING A SEAT BELT, CAN I STILL CLAIM?
Not wearing a seat belt, does not mean you are not able to claim.
You are still entitled to make a claim but the insurers may make a reduction to your damages ranging from 15-25% depending on the level of injury suffered and the circumstances of the claim.
WHAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN?
If an accident happens and the vehicle had been stolen at the time of the collision, then you can still claim for your losses.
The possible situations are as follows:
- Vehicle is stolen, but it was insured, the culprit not found = MIB UNTRACED
- Vehicle is stolen, but it was insured, the culprit found = insurance company will deal with the claim
- Vehicle stolen, not insured, the culprit found = MIB UNINSURED
WHAT IF THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NOT INSURED OR CANNOT BE LOCATED?
In the case of a Road Traffic Accident; when making a claim against another driver, in most cases, they will be insured and we would make a claim against their insurers. However, a significant amount of drivers are uninsured or cannot be traced and in this instance, we would make a claim to the Motors Insurance Bureau (MIB). The MIB was set up to compensate victims of untraced and uninsured drivers. So don’t let this hold you back from making a claim.
WHAT SHALL I DO IF AN INSURER CONTACTS ME DIRECTLY / OR MAKES AN OFFER OF SETTLEMENT?
If an insurance company contacts you direct or any other company other than us wanting to discuss your claim then please pass them our details and hang up.
Insurers try to contact clients direct and attempt to severely under settle claims in the hope a client will be tempted with the offer.
We will make sure your compensation reflects the level of damage you have suffered and based on past experiences, the offer made by the insurers is ALWAYS beaten significantly by us when a client takes our advice.
WILL YOU ARRANGE TREATMENT FOR ME?
If you require treatment, such as physiotherapy or CBT for psychological injury, chiropractor etc then we can arrange the treatment for you to assist your recovery.
The treatment provided to you will be paid for by the Defendant insurers therefore you will not need to worry about the cost.
I HAVE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS CLOSE TOGETHER, CAN I STILL CLAIM?
Yes you can as long as the second accident either made the original injuries worse or there were different injuries in the second accident.
CAN MY CHILDREN CLAIM FOR INJURIES?
Children under the age of 18 can make a claim as long as they suffered physical injury. If there is no physical injury then the non physical injury has to be a recognised psychological injury, i.e. depression, PTSD etc.
Even if the physical injury is minor, we will always recommend a claim is made as this will be in the best interests of the child.
For a child to claim, a litigation friend (an adult, I.e. parent) will need to act on behalf of the child.
HOW MUCH COMPENSATION WILL I GET?
This will depend on the facts of the case and the losses suffered.
Injury claims can vary significantly as all injuries are not the same. A simple whiplash claim with a recovery of 6 months can attract an award between £2000 – £2500 and if the injury is over 12 months then the claim could be worth over £4000 but this will depend on various factors.
WILL I HAVE TO ATTEND YOUR OFFICES?
You will not need to attend our offices unless you wish to do so. We can take instructions over the phone, by letter or email. You are entitled to use any solicitor and are not restricted to local solicitors.
WILL I HAVE TO ATTEND A MEDICAL EXAMINATION?
This will depend on the nature of your injuries and the period of injury suffered. If your injury was minor then we may be able to request an offer from the insurers without the need for a medical examination but this will have to be assessed on a case by case basis.
If your injuries are ongoing or were more than of a minor nature then we will always recommend you see a medical expert to assess your injuries. The expert examination will be arranged locally to you, with a time convenient for you and we will always claim your reasonable travel expenses. The examination is very straightforward and can take between 15-20 minutes.
Even if you have recovered from your injuries, a medical examination may be required to assess what injuries you suffered from medical experts perspective.