A day in the life of a Personal Injury Claims Management Company

Lots of people talk about claiming compensation for their accident. Lots of people want to make a claim. But not many people know what happens in the day to day management of an accident claim. Cast your eye below to see what has been happening so far today at Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd.

Helping Clients

As always, we have been busy talking to our clients and Solicitors regarding claims. I have just spent 40 minutes on the phone taking details of a claim. A retired gentleman on Holiday with his Wife in Torquay sustained some really nasty injuries tripping on a very badly damaged footpath. They are extremely keen to lodge a claim for compensation. So what did I do?

As well as needing information about their accident from the clients so we can build a viable claim for them, we needed witness information. In this case, I was after a Hazard Witness. As it happened, the Gentleman who owned the Holiday accommodation where the client was staying has come forward to act as a Hazard Witness. It transpires that this Gentleman has complained to Torbay Council on more than 4 occasions over the last year about the dangerous and hazardous footpath outside his Holiday Flats. Yet no remedial action or repair has been carried out by Torbay Council. Indeed, they have not even inspected the area. Clearly this witness is far from happy with the Council. As a result of ignoring the complaints made to them, the Council could well be held liable for the injuries sustained by our client. Thus the supporting Hazard Witness Statement will assist greatly in our Solicitors obtaining a successful outcome for our client. So after speaking to the client, I called the Hazard Witness and discussed the pathway in question. He is more than happy to assist with the compensation claim and we now await his statement. This is a good news story. We have tracked the witness down and he is happy to cooperate. It is not always like this! But some of the investigating work we do in tracking down folk who can play a vital role in the success or failure of a claim can be fun (even if it can be hard work!).

Accident Claims. More than meets the eye

You see, there is more to making an accident compensation claim than many would believe, especially those that pedal the myth about the compensation culture. It is not enough to say you fell and were injured. We need evidence. Public Liability related claims need to be supported by photographs of hazardous pavements. Independent Witnesses need to be found who are willing to state that a defective and dangerous area of footpath has been in situ for a considerable period; it is dangerous and has been ignored by the Council responsible for the maintenance of the footpath. It is with such information and proof, that we can achieve success with a No Win No Fee claim.

Building a viable claim

Fielding calls (the phones are ringing around me this morning) from people wishing to find out if they have a viable compensation claim and sorting the wheat from the chaff is one part. But we also do many other things too. Such as liaising with Solicitors about the details of the enquiry when needed, making sure we have the full details about the accident, losses and injuries so we can commence our claim file, starting an accident claim application, speaking to witnesses, reviewing photographs, appointing regional claims managers to visit accident sites, submitting claims to our Solicitors, and much, much more beside!

What is our involvement in your accident claim?

Our job is to provide our Solicitors with all the information that they will need to enable them to successfully pursue our clients accident claims. We work tirelessly to do so and 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday is a busy time for the team here at Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd. We work hard to make sure that our clients are in the know, the evidence is gained, the witnesses are involved and the claim is watertight. At Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd, we manage your accident claim. Giving you the very best chance of success in your rightful pursuit of Personal Injury Compensation.

Who you gonna call?

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

Do you know if you are entitled to make a No Win No Fee accident compensation claim?

You have been injured, it was not your fault. But can you claim compensation?

With so many armchair Solicitors and many well meaning, but misinformed people ready to tell everyone what they think they know about making a claim, we find that often the injured party either does not know that they could make a successful claim, or has been informed that they could and should, when they cant! So, to help potential claimants decide if the cause of their injuries will enable you to lodge a claim for Accident Compensation, basic accident claim criteria information is needed (see below).

Remember, there are always exceptions to rules and each accident claim needs to be assessed on its own merits. We advise all persons injured in non fault accidents considering a claim to call us and discuss their accident claim circumstance with our experts. You may think you dont have a claim when you do.

Basic Criteria

Limitation: This is the time frame in which a claimant HAS to register a claim in the courts. An adult (over 21yrs) has 3 years from the date of an accident to ensure a claim is registered. Therefore, if accident injuries were caused 3 or more years ago, the claim is out of limitation and any rights to make a claim become statute barred.

Remember, an Accident Claim Solicitor or Claims Management Company usually require AT LEAST 6 months of a 3 year period remaining so that they can prepare a claim properly (although there are exceptions to this).

Exceptions

Adults have 3 years; children have until their 21^st birthday (or 3 years). CICA claimants (Criminal Injuries) have 2 years (although older claims can be considered) as do MIB claimants (victims of uninsured and untraced drivers).

Liability: For an individual to successfully pursue a No Win No Fee accident compensation claim there needs to be a liable 3^rd party to pursue for the compensation. If the accident was your fault, you have no claim. However, if your injuries arise from an accident at work, a road traffic accident or a slip/fall in a public place, you may be able to claim compensation. It boils down to a duty of care at the feet of the persons, authority or employer who owns or operates the location where you were injured.

Like who?

For example, Council Highways Departments have to monitor, inspect and repair footpaths and roads within a reasonable time frame and ensure that defects of a certain size and of a certain age are removed. If they dont, person injured on a hazardous pathway could make an accident compensation claim. Employers have to provide Health & Safety training and equipment and follow strict laws governing employees safety at work. Failure to do so could result in a serious injury and leave them open to a claim for work accident compensation. Drivers of cars, motorcycles and pushbikes have a responsibility to drive safely and pay attention to road conditions and traffic. If they fail to do so and cause a Road Traffic Accident, an injured person could easily pursue a whiplash claim or similar for their injuries and losses.

Proof: Individuals MUST prove that they were injured and that it was someone else's fault. If they fail to do so, their accident compensation claim will fail. Persons wishing to pursue compensation claims MUST have sought medical treatment either at a Hospital or GP and it MUST be noted on the medical records. Also, the injuries have to be of a certain severity.

How?

As well notes on medical records, injured parties MUST always ensure that accidents at work are recorded in employers official accident books. Injured parties MUST report this themselves, ensuring the record is an accurate report of what happened. A person injured in any public establishment, such as a Hotel, Shop or Restaurant, again must ensure a record is entered in an accident book. Road Traffic accident victims should ensure that their insurers have been informed and if necessary, also inform the Police. Whilst Police cannot always attend an accident, they will make a log of any report and issue an incident reference number.

Now I know. Or do I?!

As stated earlier, each case has to be looked at individually, but the above gives some pointers as to if you could make a claim. Our advice remains the same, contact us for an honest opinion. It is free and you may well be entitled to compensation. We know Accident Compensation wont make the pain go away, but it does help you to get back to where you should have been if you were not injured in the first place. Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd, will know if your claim is worthy of consideration by an expert Personal Injury Solicitor, so to let us discuss your accident and we can then decide if it is in your interests to make a claim for Accident Compensation.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box on this page.

No Win No Fee Accident Claim Checklist

The No Win No Fee Accident Claim Checklist

Of course we are going to be confident in ourselves and we are going to claim to be the best (and we are!) Hopefully the information that we have given you in our blogs to date is a good help for you, with the aim being that we have given you the information and understanding you need to enable you to make an informed decision and have the peace of mind you need to relax whilst your Personal Injury Compensation Claim is managed in a way you understand and in your best interests.

How do I know if my accident claim management company can be trusted?

In the sometimes murky and alien legal world, selecting a trusted accident claims management company can be a real game of roulette! So, dont leave your claim in the hands of chance! Come to Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd.

Like the calm and clearer air after a Thunder Storm, we arrive like a refreshing breeze with our quick reference Accident Claim checklist. This gives you some good points of reference to check with your selected Claims Management Company. See below!

Checklist:

· Does the company you are speaking with have regulatory approval?
· What credentials do they have?
· What experience do they have?
· How many specialist Accident Compensation Solicitor Firms sit on their panel?
· is their agreement & No Win No Fee service transparent?
· Will they provide written guarantees to you?

Direct 2 Solicitors tick all these boxes for you – so go on, give us a call!

· We are approved as a regulated company in respect of regulated Claims Management activities (Authorisation Number CRM 3364) by the Ministry of Justice
· We are members of the Industry Trade Organisation – the Claims Standards Council
· We have a strong knowledge of the criteria that make a viable Work Accident, Road Traffic Accident or Public Liability Accident claim and a team that will take all of the strain of making your accident compensation claim away from you, leaving you free to concentrate on the important things in your life – your recovery and return to work
· We work with over 12 leading Personal Injury Specialist Solicitor practices, all regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and members of APIL – Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. This gives you the best chance of gaining the specialist help you are after. We also work with the Government funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) assisting victims of violent crime in gaining compensation as well as the Insurance Industry funded Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) with victims of uninsured and untraced drivers.
· We are transparent and will explain in full exactly what our No Win No Fee service means, who pays us, what we earn and how it affects you.
· If any client requires the peace of mind, we are happy to guarantee in writing what we say verbally.

Has that made the murky world a little clearer? At Direct 2 Solicitors Ltd, we tick all of the boxes to give you the confidence to let us manage your claim for Accident Compensation.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back" box at the top right of this page.

How to avoid a bad No Win No Fee Claim experience!

Scared of the dark? Wont walk under ladders? Dont cross on the stairs? A few odd superstitions and irrational fears that humanity has developed over time. So, you see some people avoiding the above, for no reason other than an old wives tale! Fair enough I guess? But it is amazing how many people don't avoid some of the real pitfalls in life and do things like enter in to a very important legal matter, such as making a Personal Injury Compensation Claim. They often do so without understanding what they are agreeing to and just how see through the company that they are instructing is.

Transparent Accident Claim Service

Direct 2 Solicitors, has a very transparent arrangement and we make a point of disclosing what we get paid when successful, what our Solicitors pay us and what if any fee you would pay if your claim was successful. Unfortunately, we have been approached by clients who have chosen badly when making their claim with a cowboy outfit that have deducted high sums from settlements that had not been explained clearly at the outset, or that they had not queried at the outset. Also, we have heard from clients who have been unable to make contact with the person running their claim. Numerous messages left, unanswered letters and a lack of support is the last thing you need when dealing with a complex and alien matter like a Personal Injury Claim. Direct 2 Solicitors are available Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm on 0800 9177456 with an answering service outside those hours. We guarantee to call you back the next working day if a message is left.

One shot for success

Remember, You only get one chance to make a claim for any accident, so it needs to be right. Often at such a late stage when things have gone wrong, we can do nothing to help these individuals other than point them in the direction of the Claims Regulation team at the MoJ. We have also had clients come to us late in the day when another Claims Management Company or Solicitor has all but ruined their chances of success. Most people know that you have 3 years to make a claim, but most dont know that any Claims Management Company or Solicitor will need at least 6 months of that period remaining in order to ensure that they can prepare a decent case and get it registered in the courts in time, should that be needed. In the past, some firms have wasted time by not acting on a claim or failing to place it promptly. We work hard to ensure that any claim is seen by the full extent of our panel in the quickest time frame. Indeed, we only allow a Panel Solicitor 5 days to view and consider a claim and accept or reject the chance to litigate on that matter. If they fail to say yay or nay in that time, we take it away and try it with another.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back..." box at the top right of this page.

What Everybody Ought to Know About No Win No Fee

So, you want to make a claim for the injuries you sustained after your accident at work, but where do you go to do it? How do you make a claim? What do you look for? What do you need to make sure has happened (or not!), to give your work accident claim every chance of success? The world of Personal Injury (No Win No Fee) claims can appear to be a murky one, especially if you have not had the experience of making a claim in the past or you are not an insurance expert! If you are new to the world of making an accident compensation claim, the process that you will be asked to go through when making your work accident claim will be a new, and maybe frightening experience for you.

Well, we have this lovely new blog and we are going to use it to tell the world that there is a safe place to take your claim and a trusted partner to manage the process for you!

Why?

We have been in the fortunate position, or unfortunate (depending on what side you view it!) of helping numerous people with their claim for compensation. Many of them badly injured, away from work and struggling to cope financially.

Well, we are happy to be in that position and to take the stress of making a claim away from the injured client. When making a claim, it is obvious that evidence will be needed to enable a successful outcome. We know what questions to ask. Was the accident recorded in an accident book? Were there witnesses? Was there a lack of training or equipment that lead to the accident? Have you seen a doctor? What is the diagnosis?

Questions and answers!

Clearly, the right questions need to be asked and at Direct 2 Solicitors, we know what we need to ask. Do you know what you need to ask? Make sure that any claims company you approach can confirm that they are regulated and approved by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Ask for their authorisation number and if you want, check it out on the MoJ website: www.claimsregulation.gov.uk to ensure any authorisation is still active. Ask about charges, who pays what to who? What are your liabilities? How long will the Claims Company take to decide if they can manage your claim? How many Solicitor firms do they work with? What experience do they and their Solicitors have? Can you always contact them? Basically don't be a fool and protect your interests.

If you are in need of a reliable and approved Claims Management Company to manage your accident compensation claim, look no further. Email us at: webenquiries@direct2solicitorsltd.co.uk, call us on 0800 9177456, or get us to call you, using the big blue "Call me back..." box at the top right of this page.